January, 1997 STUDENT'S CORNER Up until 1994, there were three theories taught by Bible believers concerning the

Rapture of the Body of Christ. It is true that many members of the Alexandrian Cult believed one of these theories, but the original theories were not invented by people who majored in Greek and Hebrew; they were invented by Bible students who spent time in the Book. The three theories that were taught before 1 9 9 0 1994 were: 1. Post-Tribulation rapture. In this view the Body of Christ went through all seven years of Daniel's seventieth week and was raptured in Matthew 24:31, AFTER the Mark of the Beast had been doled out for three and one half years (Rev. 13:1-18). 2. Pre-Tribulation Rapture: in this one, the Body of Christ is caught out before Daniel's seventieth week began since that week was Israelish (see Daniel 9:24) and contained saved Jews and Gentiles as separate groups (Rev. 7:9), outside any "Body" of Christ. 3. A Mid-Tribulation Rapture: the Body of Christ would be caught up in the middle of Daniel's seventieth week, before the "great tribulation" (Matt. 24:21) started. But as the deadly date of 1989 passed (three nines, occurring eleven years before the "end"A.D. 2000 [2 Pet. 3:8]), some adjustments had to be made. 1989 would allow s e v e n y e a r s for Daniel's seventieth w e e k (A.D. 2000 minus s e v e n years equals 1993) and four years for Christ's birth if it was 4 B.C. (1993 minus four equalling 1989). But no rapture took place in 1989. One Charismatic writer swore the rapture would take place in 1990, and it didn't. One of

B.B.B. Page 3

The Fifth Theory on the Rapture

out of school), swore it would ample, see Charles Haddon be in 1989, which it wasn't, Spurgeon only hoping he and another student (who we was saved in Ps. 87:6!!!) had to ship) put it out all over The first man into the ring the c o u n t r y (publicly) was Part One of Two an e x t r e m e l y that we were t e a c h i n g an wealthy conParts absolute defiverted Jew nite rapture in September of named Rosenthal. His theory 1995, which we weren't. (the fourth) was that the Now, as Bible-believing Body of Christ would go twoChristians all over the coun- thirds of the way into the sectry began to "wax faint" (Luke ond half of Daniel's seventi18:8), they began to look eth week (the last three and a r o u n d for e x p l a n a t i o n s . one-half years: Rev. 11:1-3, When they did this, they quit 12:1-6) but be hauled out looking for the Lord to come before the "wrath" fell (Rev. (Phil. 3:20), although this is 16:1; 1 Thess. 5:9). This what Paul commanded them w o u l d give e v e r y s a v e d Christian in the Body of to do (Tit. 2:13). So, they began to fish Christ a chance to take the around to prove that His Mark of the Beast (Rev. coming was never "immi- 14:12) and to go to Hell nent." This means that, when (Rev. 14:9-11). (Rosenthal Paul said "us" and "we" in 1 counted on some "eternal Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1 decree" of Calvin to be sure Thessalonians 4:17, he was that no "elect" child of God lying like a Hardshell Baptist would do such a thing. Nuts. using the "editorial we" for Bats in the Belfry.) s a v e d a n d lost, w h e n Now, to show you how wound up by cancelling every verse in Revelation 20, from verse one to verse eleven. He applied 2 Peter 3:10 to Revelation 19; thus he did away with the temporary incarceration of Satan (Rev. 2 0 : 1 - 2 ) , the literal 1,000 year reign of the saints on earth (Rev. 20:4), and the revolt at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:8). This pathetic perversion of the Holy S c r i p t u r e s was brought about by a simple conversion of "the day of Christ" (2 Thess. 2:2) into "the day of the Lord" (see any NIV, NASV, CEV, etc.). Now this in itself would not have been deadly, for the reference in the AV was a reference to the Deity of Christ (cf. the Holy Spirit in Acts 21:11)showing you that the F a t h e r is Lord (Jude), the Son is Lord (Phil. 2:11), and the Holy Spirit is Lord (see 2 Cor. 3:17). Since Continued on page 7

By Dr. Peter S. Ruckman our students (who dropped preaching. (For a good ex- nutty R o s e n t h a l got, he

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Music Begins And Ends With God

The musical componentspitch, tone, duration, timbre, etc.were created just as clouds, water, hills, stars, magnetism, and atoms were. The word of God was the author of every one of them (Heb. 11:1-2). This work by Dr. Peter S. Ruckman examines the history of Music and Musicians from before the days of Jubal (Gen. 4:21) to the most current music of today.

liN Dr. I ' l L i i - s , Kiiiklllau

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