Rapture? Or a new heaven and a new earth?

(Old Facebook Post)

Why do we let one passing reference to “the rapture” (mentioned only in 1 Thess. 4:17, in a manner open to alternate interpretations) determine our vision of where we will spend eternity, while we ignore at least four mentions of a “new earth” (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; and esp. 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1) and 1-1/2 whole chapters about a “new Jersualem” (Rev. 21-22a; see also Rev. 3:12; Galatians 4:26)?


My… concern… is that an emphasis on one uncertain interpretation of the idea of a rapture has eclipsed all that Jesus and Paul said about the resurrection–including the judgment of the saints but especially the redemption of our bodies and of all creation.


Follow-up for bonus points: Can anyone show me where the Bible says that when Christians die they go to spend eternity in heaven?


My big point is that the Bible doesn’t say “Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when you die and go to heaven,” but “Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13). I think the difference is very significant, and usually forgotten both in our evangelism language and our attempts to comfort believers. The NT writers had their eyes fixed on the final resurrection; do we?

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Did Enoch and Elijah die?

(Old Facebook Post – Revised)

It’s quiz time: According to the Bible, did Enoch & Elijah die natural deaths?

Hint #1: Read Heb 11:5, 13. (Use NASB or some other “word-for-word” translation, not NIV, etc.)


For the sake of time, I’ll cut to the chase: I think it’s quite likely that Enoch and Elijah did die, and that the popular interpretation we’ve all heard that “they just got took”… is inaccurate. Instead, they may have experienced something more like what Phillip did, when he “got took” to meet the Ethiopian eunuch, but later died. To study more, try visiting:
http://www.cgom.org/Publications/Booklets/Enoch_Elijah.htm

http://www.tftmin.org/archive/enoch-elijah-rip
http://fulfilledprophecy.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=19591…
(Go 1/2 way down, to post at Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:55 pm.)

I didn’t scour these sites for possible heresies, so of course compare all with the Word.

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