Beloved, do not
believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are
from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
(1 John 4:1)
Thomas Ice (PTRC) claims to find the rapture in 2 Corinthians 5, a claim which I will show to be completely inaccurate below:
Thomas Ice (PTRC) claims to find the rapture in 2 Corinthians 5, a claim which I will show to be completely inaccurate below:
http://www.pre-trib.org/articles/view/little-used-rapture-passage
First of all, Ice refers to the rapture as "the blessed hope" which is entirely false:
The key verse the PTRC use to promote the pre-tribulation rapture deception: Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:13). The PTRC works on the presupposition that "the blessed hope" IS the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. There are some very serious problems with this presupposition. The relevant word in Titus 2:13 is "appearing" epipháneia, literally an epiphany, a fitting manifestation or a conspicuous appearing. This emphasises the impact that Christ's visible appearance will have on the entire world when every eye shall see him, both the saved and the unsaved (Revelation 1:7). In the New Testament epipháneia occurs six times and it is always used of Christ's coming (once of His first coming, 2 Timothy 1:10). The context is the appearing of the glory further confirms this understanding since the glory will not be manifest until Christ's second coming to the earth. The blessed hope is therefore synonymous with the parousia i.e. the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:3, 27, 37; 1 Corinthians 15:23).1
First of all, Ice refers to the rapture as "the blessed hope" which is entirely false:
The key verse the PTRC use to promote the pre-tribulation rapture deception: Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:13). The PTRC works on the presupposition that "the blessed hope" IS the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. There are some very serious problems with this presupposition. The relevant word in Titus 2:13 is "appearing" epipháneia, literally an epiphany, a fitting manifestation or a conspicuous appearing. This emphasises the impact that Christ's visible appearance will have on the entire world when every eye shall see him, both the saved and the unsaved (Revelation 1:7). In the New Testament epipháneia occurs six times and it is always used of Christ's coming (once of His first coming, 2 Timothy 1:10). The context is the appearing of the glory further confirms this understanding since the glory will not be manifest until Christ's second coming to the earth. The blessed hope is therefore synonymous with the parousia i.e. the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:3, 27, 37; 1 Corinthians 15:23).1
As His "coming" (Greek, "parousia")
expresses the fact; so "brightness, appearing," or
"manifestation" (epiphaneia) expresses His personal
visibility when He shall come.2
Ice: "First, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." This is significant in that the "judgment seat," or "bema" is the special judgment for church age believers only, not the end of the millennium great white throne judgment of unbelievers. Since verse 10 is part of Paul's passage where he has expressed his desire to be taken in the rapture, it supports the notion of pretribulationism since the bema will take place after the rapture of the church, while in heaven, in order to prepare the church for her return with Christ at the second coming (Rev. 19:1-10)."
Ice: "First, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." This is significant in that the "judgment seat," or "bema" is the special judgment for church age believers only, not the end of the millennium great white throne judgment of unbelievers. Since verse 10 is part of Paul's passage where he has expressed his desire to be taken in the rapture, it supports the notion of pretribulationism since the bema will take place after the rapture of the church, while in heaven, in order to prepare the church for her return with Christ at the second coming (Rev. 19:1-10)."
For we know that if
the tent that is our earthly home is
destroyed, we have a
building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly
dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we
are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would
be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is
mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this
very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we
are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the
body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the
body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we
make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the
judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due
for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2
Corinthians 5:1-10)
In verse 1, Paul speaks about his earthly home which he describes as a "tent" being "destroyed" from the Greek word kataluó - the same word Jesus Christ used for the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:2). It seems unmistakable that Paul is talking about physical death, since the rapture does not involve the destruction of the body: .....the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52-53).
Paul wrote to the Philippian Church in a similar vein about being torn between life and death:
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:19-26 cf. Romans 14:8).
Furthermore, Paul knew that he must stand trial in Rome and that he would be martyred (Acts 23:11; 27:24; 2 Timothy 4:6).
These passages certainly do not speak of the rapture, but of physical death!
The Judgement Seat of Christ (Bema) is the "Day" spoken of by Paul, when the works of believers will be revealed by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The scriptures tell us that the Bema occurs on that day i.e. the day of universal judgement (note that Paul does not say it will happen after some fictitious pre-tribulation rapture) (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Revelation 19:8).
Ice: "Second, Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 the following: "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." Here Paul taught the doctrine of the resurrection, while in 2 Corinthians 5 he links it with the rapture. Although 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 stands on its own as a rapture passage, it is further strengthened by Paul's rapture teachings in 2 Corinthians 5. Paul is writing to the same church in both epistles, thus, he is speaking of the same subject-the rapture-both times when he addresses the subject of the resurrection."
Paul does speak about the rapture in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. However we cannot link the two passages in the way that Ice does, since 2 Corinthians 5 does not speak about the rapture as already demonstrated. Is it inconceivable that Paul would speak of different subjects in his letters to the Corinthians?
Ice's subsequent points are simply further ramblings in order to justify 2 Corinthians 5 as a pre-tribulation rapture passage.
In verse 1, Paul speaks about his earthly home which he describes as a "tent" being "destroyed" from the Greek word kataluó - the same word Jesus Christ used for the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:2). It seems unmistakable that Paul is talking about physical death, since the rapture does not involve the destruction of the body: .....the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52-53).
Paul wrote to the Philippian Church in a similar vein about being torn between life and death:
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:19-26 cf. Romans 14:8).
Furthermore, Paul knew that he must stand trial in Rome and that he would be martyred (Acts 23:11; 27:24; 2 Timothy 4:6).
These passages certainly do not speak of the rapture, but of physical death!
The Judgement Seat of Christ (Bema) is the "Day" spoken of by Paul, when the works of believers will be revealed by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The scriptures tell us that the Bema occurs on that day i.e. the day of universal judgement (note that Paul does not say it will happen after some fictitious pre-tribulation rapture) (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Revelation 19:8).
Ice: "Second, Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 the following: "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." Here Paul taught the doctrine of the resurrection, while in 2 Corinthians 5 he links it with the rapture. Although 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 stands on its own as a rapture passage, it is further strengthened by Paul's rapture teachings in 2 Corinthians 5. Paul is writing to the same church in both epistles, thus, he is speaking of the same subject-the rapture-both times when he addresses the subject of the resurrection."
Paul does speak about the rapture in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. However we cannot link the two passages in the way that Ice does, since 2 Corinthians 5 does not speak about the rapture as already demonstrated. Is it inconceivable that Paul would speak of different subjects in his letters to the Corinthians?
Ice's subsequent points are simply further ramblings in order to justify 2 Corinthians 5 as a pre-tribulation rapture passage.
Further Reading:
http://www.poweredbychrist.com/Pretrib_Rapture_Dishonesty.html
http://post-trib.net/macpherson/tribpages.html
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/the-seven-year-pre-tribulation-rapture.html
http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/
http://www.solagroup.org/articles/endtimes/et_0006.html
http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/an-open-letter-to-t-a-mcmahon-of-the-berean-call/
https://www.moriel.org/component/k2/item/2631-a-response-to-david-reagan-s-in-defense-of-the-pre
https://www.moriel.org/articles-new/2015-12-06-13-31-51/bill-walthall/item/2633-a-welcome-yes-to-thomas-ice.html