Introduction
The theme of this thesis will focus on applying hermeneutical principles to Rapture passages, and is not intended to be a commentary but a systematic hermeneutical discourse on the topic of the passages. The major New Testament passage John 14:1-3 in support of the doctrine of the Rapture compared with 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) will be explained following an outline consisting of the four main topics of 1) Observation, 2) Interpretation, 3) Application and 4) Special Prophetic Elements, and sub-topics will be explored as they apply.
Bernard Ramm stated concerning the Protestant biblical interpretation of prophecy, Hermeneutics is an art and a science, and the specific interpretations of the interpreter reveal to what degree he is an artist and scientist.” 1 In the fields of biblical hermeneutics there are many principles and such tools are only beneficial in relation to the ability, training and intelligence of the interpreter. 2
This writer concedes that a linguistic veil exists between himself and the original texts of Scripture because he is unable to read the Hebrew and Greek testaments. For the purposes of this thesis, he will avail himself of the wealth of books, exegetical work and sources of knowledge by great men and learned scholars who have firmly established the great doctrines of our Christian faith. In support of Bernard Ramm, this writer agrees that scholarship is the critical function in interpretation of Scripture and that such scholarship is not free from prejudices which are common to all men, scholars or laymen. Biblical interpretation has as its goal the discovery of meaning and intention of the text which is exegesis - to lead the meaning out of the text and shuns eisogesis - bringing a meaning to the text. 3
This writer acknowledges his limitations in the Biblical languages but submits his spiritual qualifications for interpretation that he is born again, has a passion to know God’s word, loves the Lord, has a deep reverence for God and depends on the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction.
Foundational to the Protestant system of hermeneutics is the divine inspiration of the Bible and this adds a new dimension to interpretation and thus is the point of departure from the classicists, this new dimension having a moral or spiritual aspect, a supernatural aspect and a revelational aspect. 4 Charles C. Ryrie gives a definition of inspiration concerning the doctrine of the Scriptures as God’s superintending of human authors so that, using their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error in the words of the original autographs His revelation to man. He states that revelation is a disclosure; especially God’s communicating His message to man through nature, providential dealings, preservation of the universe, miracles, direct communication, Christ and the Bible. 5 Inspiration, according to Paul Lee Tan, is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit on human writers in producing the Scripture which stands inerrant in all its parts and embraces God’s complete revelation to man. 6 Revelation, defined by Tan, is a truth made known by God to man which man would otherwise not be able to discover or discern. 7
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that is concerned with the theory of knowledge and the study of the nature or grounds of knowledge and truth especially with reference to its limits and validity. It is concerned with how we learn truth and is at the foundation of hermeneutics which is the study of the methodological principles of interpretation, as of the Bible. Biblical engineers use hermeneutics to unlock the truth of Scriptures for the purpose of teaching practical living which ultimately affect how we live, our joy of the Lord and our walk with God.
A survey of the literature by Biblical scholars concerning the doctrine of the Rapture reveals that much confusion exists concerning this Scriptural truth. John F. Walvoord, one of the world’s foremost interpreters of Biblical prophecy writes, “The blessed hope of Christ’s return for His church is one of the precious legacies left by Christ to His own and continues to be a beacon light to Christians beset by the problems of modern life. Christ is coming, and He may be coming soon.” 8 The truth of the Rapture of the church and its revelation is an essential part of a total theological system. The following list paraphrased from Walvoord will summarize the theological issues concerning the Rapture:
Principles of Interpretation. It is important to use a literal, grammatical and historic hermeneutic paying strict attention to what Scripture predicts about the Rapture to achieve a true understanding of the doctrine. The facts will support the pretribulational Rapture.
The Place of the Church in Relation to the Rapture. It is important to determine that the church is a special body of saints that begins on the day of the Pentecost and culminates at the Rapture. Failure to do this is one of the main causes for the posttribulational interpretation.
The Importance of a Proper Definition of the Tribulation. The term “the Tribulation” is not accurate for the total period between the Rapture and the Second Coming. Contrast this term with the unprecedented trouble that Scripture calls “the Great Tribulation.” An understanding of the terrible judgments that fall in the Great Tribulation rule out the thought of the church going through this period.
The Doctrine of the Imminency of the Rapture. Thus established, the pretribulation Rapture position maintains that the Rapture could happen at any moment. Every Rapture passage portrays no preceding events. Events that follow in heaven or earth are completely different from events that follow the Second Coming. Even though Rapture passages are few, the imminent return of Christ at the Rapture is one of the most important practical concepts of Christian hope.
Order of Events Relating to the Rapture. The events that occur between the Rapture and the Second Coming in heaven and on earth must be itemized to correctly interpret prophecy and its literal fulfillment. It is essential to clearly understand this to determine that the Rapture comes before these events. Failure to do this and confusion concerning the events that precede the Second Coming are major causes for not arriving at a pretribulational position.
The Rapture and the Second Coming are Separate Events. Christ takes the Church to heaven at the Rapture. At the Second Coming, he brings the Church from heaven to earth. These two events have purposes that are totally different. Only by careful attention to the details revealed in the prophecy concerning the Rapture and the Second Coming, can the distinction be arrived at.9
The Rapture has been variously interpreted and the following four leading views have emerged:
Posttribulationism. This is probably the leading view that the Rapture will occur as a phase of the Second Coming of Christ after the Great Tribulation and holds that as Christ reaches the air above the earth, the Church will be Raptured, meet Him in the air and then return immediately with Him to earth. This view is held by some premillenarians and held by all amillenarians and postmillenarians.
Midtribulationism. This is a far less popular view that holds that the Rapture will take place in the middle of the last seven years before the Second Coming of Christ, before the Great Tribulation but not before the entire seven years.
Partial Rapturism. The few who hold this view say that only those specially qualified will be Raptured at the beginning of the last seven years and that there will be subsequent Raptures as others qualify.
Pretribulationism. This view widely held by premillenarians holds that the Rapture will occur more than seven years before the Second Coming of Christ and is predicted to occur before the end time trouble.
As the skilled theologian Walvoord states, only one of these four views is correct and Bible scholars have argued these difficult and complex issues for years.10
This thesis will focus on applying literal, grammatical and historical hermeneutical principles of interpretation in approaching the passages selected to determine what Scriptures will reveal about the Rapture in consideration of these major positions and the theological issues.
