The Narrow Path Ministries

I am sure I have heard that once the gospel was preached to everyone on this planet then the rapture would occur. In fact, this is one of the reasons that I thought dispensationalists evangelized.

Now I am being told that the gospel being preached everywhere only applies to the second coming, and not the rapture.

If anyone has direct sources which talk about the gospel being preached related directly to the rapture, then I would greatly appreciate it. I am off to Thomas Ice's site as soon as I click "Submit."

Thanks!

Actually, I don't think it applies to either the "Rapture" or the "2nd Coming" directly (especially since I don't differentiate between the two).

Matthew 24:14 does say
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

But what "end" is it talking about? I believe it is talking about the "end" of the Jewish temple-period which occurred in AD70. This fits with the fact that Jesus said all these things (spoken of in Matthew 24) would take place in "this generation" (the generation he was speaking to)

In fact, in some true sense, the Gospel did go out into all nations before AD70. The NT confirms this:

Colossians 1:5-6
You have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing

Colossians 1:23
This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven

Romans 16:25-26
The revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations

mattrose wrote:Actually, I don't think it applies to either the "Rapture" or the "2nd Coming" directly (especially since I don't differentiate between the two).

Matthew 24:14 does say
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

But what "end" is it talking about? I believe it is talking about the "end" of the Jewish temple-period which occurred in AD70. This fits with the fact that Jesus said all these things (spoken of in Matthew 24) would take place in "this generation" (the generation he was speaking to)

In fact, in some true sense, the Gospel did go out into all nations before AD70. The NT confirms this:

Colossians 1:5-6
You have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing

Colossians 1:23
This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven

Romans 16:25-26
The revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations

Yes, yes, yes. I understand this. I am looking for what dispensationalists have quoted regarding the preching of the gospel as being somehow connected to their rapture. They also believe that the "gospel of the kingdom" is a different Gospel in that it is time specific to only their tribulation period! It doesn't matter that the parallel verse in Mark 13:10 does not distinguish between the two. etc. etc. etc. etc.

I am not aware of any dispensationalists who post on this forum. So, unless we import some, there may be no one to provide your "direct sources".

Paidion wrote:I am not aware of any dispensationalists who post on this forum. So, unless we import some, there may be no one to provide your "direct sources".

So, what you are saying is that unless they come directly to this foum, you know of no sources of this thinking...???

Wouldn't a SDA actually meet the requirements of a dispensationalist?

preteristmouse

No. They don't believe in the pre-trib rapture.

Well what did Thomas Ice say?

mattrose wrote:Well what did Thomas Ice say?

His site is impossible to do searches on unless you are looking for a specific article or title or author... I guess he makes it difficult for a reason

The rapture has always been understood as an event that could take place at anytime. It requires no specific sign prior to it taking place - according to dispensationalism. Zola Levitt wrote a couple of books on the subject concerning the signs of the end and in them he tells the reader that it could happen even before they finished reading his book. He supported the the pre-tribulation Rapture position where the Lord might come for the Church at any time. He says the most obvious evidence for the pre-tribulation Rapture is the concept of surprise. Otherwise, according to Zola, date setting would be made based on the idea that the seven year period had started and the countdown to the Rapture could easily be predicted. He seperates the Rapture from the second coming not calling the Rapture a coming at all but instead us going in order to preserve us against God's wrath.