1. Contemporary Jewish literature during Paul’s time viewed the characteristics of Michael having eschatological pre-eminence as the chief opponent of Satan and Restrainer of God’s people. 2. Michael is viewed as a celestial restrainer of God’s people in Daniel 10–12, the passage serving as the source for Paul’s exposition in 2 Thessalonians 2:3–8. 3. […]
1 and 2 Thessalonians
VIDEO | Will People Get Saved after the Rapture during the Day of the Lord’s Wrath?
Will people such as Gentiles get saved after the rapture during the day of the Lord’s wrath? And if so will those who are saved experience the day of the Lord’s wrath? I first responded to the pretribulational theological interpretation of this question before I answered with my prewrath response. I also addressed how the […]
The Gathering of the ‘Elect’ in Matthew 24:31 Does Not Refer to Israel — It Refers to All Believers from All the Nations – Ep. 56
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/thebiblicalprophecyprogram/056-The_Gathering_of_the_Elect_in_Matthew_24.31_Does_Not_Refer_to_IsraelIt_Refers_to_All_Believers_from_All_the_Nations.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedI responded to the pretribulational claim that the gathering of the elect in Matthew 24:31 refers to the salvation of Israel. For example, Thomas Ice thinks the term “elect” in Matthew’s Olivet Discourse refers to Jews who will be gathered. He links v. 31 to Deuteronomy 30:4. […]
Review of My Radio Debate on Eschatology with Tommy Ice – Ep. 55
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/thebiblicalprophecyprogram/Review_of_My_Radio_Debate_on_Eschatology_with_Tommy_Ice.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedIn this episode I reviewed my recent radio debate on the rapture with Tommy Ice. I responded to Ice’s deeply mistaken view that church instruction in Jesus’ ministry began with the Upper Room Discourse and not before. I argued that the Olivet Discourse is a teaching for […]
Who Is Saying ‘Peace and Security’ in 1 Thessalonians 5:3?
I replied to a pretrib objection to the prewrath position that says 1 Thess.5:3 contradicts prewrath: “While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1 Thess 5:3). This objection was easily answered as I […]
VIDEO | Pretribs Make the Same Categorical Error as the Thessalonians by Confusing Persecution with God’s Judgment
The Thessalonian believers in Paul’s second epistle were suffering because of persecution. They made the mistake of thinking that they were experiencing the day of the Lord’s wrath because of this. Paul writes back and reassures them that the day of the Lord’s wrath has not come, because two events must happen first: the […]
What Exactly Is the Identity of the ‘Star’ of Bethlehem? The Bible, Astronomy, and Scholarship Par Excellence
Colin R. Nicholl is one of the most careful New Testament exegetes I know today. In the April 2000 volume of The Journal of Theological Studies, Colin R. Nicholl published the seminal article, “Michael, The Restrainer Removed (2 Thess. 2:6-7),” making the strong case that Michael is the Restrainer. His article would be published in […]
RAPTURE DEBATE between Alan Kurschner (Prewrath) and Thomas Ice (Pretrib) | AUDIO and VIDEO
Watch the debate here. Listen to my post-debate commentary Click here for a PDF transcript of the debate THE CHURCH WILL FACE THE ANTICHRIST BEFORE THE RAPTURE Affirmative: Alan Kurschner | Prewrath Denial: Thomas Ice | Pretribulational Moderated by Kerby Anderson The Hope Center, Plano, Texas September 25, 2015 Debate Format: Part 1: […]
Does Apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Refer to a ‘Physical Departure’ (i.e. the Rapture)?
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion (apostasia) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction – 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV (some versions render “rebellion” as “apostasy” or “falling away”) Second Thessalonians chapter two has been the nemesis for pretribulationism. […]
A Glaring Contradiction in Calvary Chapel’s Pastor Jack Hibbs Pretribulational Rapture
I could cite many other pretribulational teachers committing this all-so-common inconsistency in their rapture theology. But I will use Jack Hibb’s statement as representative. On a recent program of Jan Markell’s Understanding the Times with Jan Markell, her guest Jack Hibbs repeatedly stressed the “imminency” of the rapture that he claims will be “unannounced” that […]
Does Paul Teach There Will Be a “Gap” of Time between the Rapture and the Day of the Lord’s Wrath? – Ep. 40
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/thebiblicalprophecyprogram/040-Does_Paul_Teach_There_Will_Be_a_Gap_of_Time_between_the_Rapture_and_the_Day_of_the_Lord_s_Wrath.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedI talked about the apostle Paul’s teaching of the temporal relationship between the rapture and the beginning of the day of the Lord’s wrath and its implications. Prewrath eschatology teaches that the rapture and the onset of the day of the Lord’s wrath will happen back-to-back on […]