The Rapture Exposed
A Theology of Hope for the End Times

Presupposition for this series: HOPE...is what we have to offer
each other and the world…

Four Week Series
Sept. 20:     Origins of Popular Views of the End Times
Sept. 27:      The Rapture Exposed
Oct. 4:          A Tale of Two Cities and Before the Judgment Seat of Christ
Oct. 11:        Toward a Theology of Hope for the End Times

Here’s the rub…

Dominant Apocalyptic myth of violence

Vs.

Our Story

(a gospel of peace, redemption and reconciliation)

nFuture is not a matter of speculation—it is connected to the present

nThe future is significant in informing our lives now—who we are and what we do now…makes a difference for the future, too.

nAs Christians, we are invited take both long view and immediate view—the Kingdom of God is now and not yet.

nThe Book of Revelation holds this tension marvelously.

 
Revelation is primarily a book of worship!

Hope and healing are the final installment

At the heart of Revelation is not Rapture or Armageddon, but hope!

Revelation is
--written to beleaguered churches amid persecution
--critique of empire
--critique of imperial violence
--offers alternative voice of hope and protest
--not a direct prediction (prophecy not same as prediction)
--not directly written for us in 21st Century
--Prophetic call to wake up and take heed (so can be applicable for us)

The Rapture Exposed

• Rev. 16:16 is the only mention of Armageddon, but it gets expanded into full story
• Left Behind notion makes for compelling story, but it is fiction
• Rapture is not even a word in the Book of Revelation
• There is no mention of a specific seven year period of Tribulation
• Rapture Theology is Escapism—John not interested in escaping but exhorting the faithful to persist amid persecution
• Slippery Slope: political implications of Rapture Theology

So what are our options?

• Tap into the fear of rapture theology
• Reject Revelation
  • (can’t be done)—it is Scripture and it is in the political mix today
  • Become cynical about it all
• Learn and teach what Revelation is really about
  • Book of worship and hope
  • Subversive to the empire

Historical and Literary Criticism: Go back to 1st Century

• Core of book: call to faithfulness to Lamb (against imperial Rome, amid persecutions)
• Early Christians were pacifists (nonviolent)
• Three Greek words for “world” in the NT

• What does Revelation say comes to an end?

• What does Revelation say will be renewed?

Gemma Augustea: Roman imperial eschatology (eternal domination)



What does Revelation actually say

• “Ge”—used six times, never is earth destroyed.
  • Rev. 11:18 …the time has come…for destroying those who destroy the earth.’
• Kosmos—used three times, never destroyed
  • Rev. 11:15  Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’
• Ouikumene—used three times, never attributed to God’s creation
  • Rev. 3:10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world …
  • Rev. 16:14  the kings of the whole world assembled for battle

Impetus of Revelation

• No mention of God destroying the “earth” (ge)…
• The earth shall be renewed (hearkens back to Isaiah)
• Judgment upon all as new age begins, but destruction is directed at oikumene, not gē  or kosmos.

• We Have an Opportunity

                Wake up!
                Reclaim Revelation for a future vision of healing and hope—not just for humans, but for the entire planet…

What is being unveiled in Revelation?

• Jesus the Lamb who comes again to judge AND who leads us out of imperial economy into God’s new economy (the Kingdom of God)
• Future vision of hope and healing

Next week: Before the Judgment Seat of Christ