Second Thessalonians chapter two has been the nemesis for pretribulationism. Or what I refer to as the 800-pound gorilla in the Bible of the pretribulationist. This biblical passage has convinced more ex-pretribulationists that their pretrib theology is wrong than any other Bible passage. The reason for this is straightforward: The fundamental premise of pretribulationism is […]
Thessalonians
Did Jerome in the Latin Vulgate Understand Discessio in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as ‘Defection’ or ‘Physical Departure’?
(This is a guest post by Dr. Dean Furlong) Latin Vulgate: “ne quis vos seducat ullo modo quoniam nisi venerit discessio primum et revelatus fuerit homo peccati filius perditionis” (2 Thess 2:3) I want to thank Dr. Alan Kurschner for inviting me to write a guest post on Jerome’s translation of the Greek word […]
How Did the Syriac Version Translate the Greek ‘Apostasia’ in 2 Thess 2:3?
Many pretribulationists believe that the Greek word apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 means “a physical departure” (i.e. the rapture). This claim has been thoroughly debunked many times (see the two articles at the end of this post). In Koine Greek, the word never means “a physical departure,” but rather “a non-physical departure,” either a political […]
A Response to Pastor J. D. Farag’s Misinformation on 2 Thess 2:3 Claiming that ‘Apostasia’ Refers to the Rapture (Video)
(*Send the following article to those who follow J. D. Farag) In the video below at 24:25, pastor J. D. Farag claims that since the Geneva Bible renders the Greek word apostasia as “departure” then that is proof that it is referring to “the rapture.” This is not only wrong on his part but it […]
What Did the Early Church Fathers Believe about the Rapture? (Audio)
https://bibleprophecytalk.com/bpt-what-did-the-early-church-believe-about-the-rapture/ BPT- What Did the Early Church Believe About the Rapture “In one sense there is no real debate about what the early church fathers believed about the timing of the rapture. However those holding to a pretrib rapture position have offered up various theories concerning the Didache, Pseudo Ephraim and a host of other […]
Craig Blaising on the Difference Between Israel and the Church (Video)
In this lecture, progressive dispensational theologian Craig Blaising explains why God works with Israel and the church at the same time. (See also my five part podcast series on this very topic below.) Blaising also gives an excellent explanation on the nature and relationship between Israel and the church. While Blaising maintains his pretribulationism, his […]
The Day of the Lord Begins with the Rapture
Part 1 of 3: “The Co-reference between the Parousia and the Day of the Lord” Part 2 of 3: “The Second Coming (Parousia) Begins with the Rapture” Addendum to the three-part series: “Does the ‘Day of Christ’ and the ‘Day of the Lord’ Refer to the Same Event?” This is Part 3 of 3 […]
The Second Coming (Parousia) Begins with the Rapture
Part 1 of 3: “The Co-reference between the Parousia and the Day of the Lord” Part 3 of 3: “The Day of the Lord Begins with the Rapture” Addendum to the three-part series: “Does the ‘Day of Christ’ and the ‘Day of the Lord’ Refer to the Same Event?” This is Part 2 of […]
The Co-reference between the Parousia and the Day of the Lord
Part 2 of 3: “The Second Coming (Parousia) Begins with the Rapture” Part 3 of 3: “The Day of the Lord Begins with the Rapture” Addendum to the three-part series: “Does the ‘Day of Christ’ and the ‘Day of the Lord’ Refer to the Same Event?” This is Part 1 of 3 The Co-reference […]
Does the ‘Day of Christ’ and the ‘Day of the Lord’ Refer to the Same Event?
Pretrib interpreters maintain there is a difference in meaning between the terms the day of the Lord and the day of Christ. The term the day of Christ (Phil 1:6, 10; 2:16) has been thought to refer to the rapture and not God’s wrath, while the day of the Lord is believed to refer to […]
The Second Coming Does Not Begin with Armageddon
It is a deep-seated assumption among many pretrib and posttrib interpreters that the Second Coming begins with the battle of Armageddon. For example, they identify Matt 24:30–31 as the same setting as Rev 19:11–21. But this is not correct. Three events associated with the Second Coming will occur before the battle of Armageddon: (1) the […]