Let's Learn - Hidden In Plain View - The Rapture

I was just thinking about the rapture this morning.   Listening to Chuck Missler, a teacher who some may have hesitation about, because he's probed the boundaries of Biblical truth and its intersection with myth, non-biblical metaphysics, and science.   All that as a caveat, here was what I found interesting.   The Biblical doctrine of the rapture is a much maligned doctrine in this day and age, not only by non-believing skeptics, but by some in the Reformed believer's camp as well. 

I understand the word for 'rapture' is not in the English language Bible, but the doctrine comes from First Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 17, where it says in the King James, 'caught up', and it talks about meeting the Lord in the air.

The concept of the rapture is where all Christians, from all over the world, will be snatched or taken up to heaven, some time prior to a period of time on the earth commonly known as the 'tribulation'.   The tribulation is a seven year period of time, when God pours out His judgement on planet earth.  In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus compares the time prior to the tribulation with the time prior to the flood of Noah's day, [Mat 24:37 KJV] 37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.   At a later time, I'll talk about why God would pour out His wrath (anger) on the people of planet earth, but for now, I'll let it suffice that He did it in the past, and He'll do it again in the future.   So the rapture is described as a future event, where God moves His people out of the way, so He can execute His fury, and vengeance on people who haven't humbled themselves and received forgiveness for sins by trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

One complaint I hear against the teaching of and the adherents to the doctrine of the rapture is that the rapture is a 'hidden' doctrine.   In other words, the rapture is not an explicit doctrine; it must be inferred from various Bible verses.   I don't think this is a valid objection, because so many doctrines in the Bible are inferred, i.e. compiled together from many different Biblical texts.

All that said, the most direct verse, used to conclude the rapture is indeed an expected future event is found in First Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 17; [1Th 4:17 KJV] 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

There are other places in the new testament where the word for 'caught up', in Greek it's harpazō ( ἁρπάζω) occurs.   Namely, in Second Corinthians chapter 12, verses 2 and 4; [2Co 12:2, 4 KJV] 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. ...    4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Again, the words 'caught up' appear in Revelation chapter 12 verse 5; [Rev 12:5 KJV] 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.

Lastly, we have a sort of 'rapture' described in Revelation chapter 4 verse 1; [Rev 4:1 KJV] 1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Think about it.

God bless...

Let's Learn - Scribe vs Recorder... 1 Kings 4

1 Kings 4:3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder; 

First Kings, chapter 4 describes Solomon's 'officials'; the cabinet of his administration.   Just as Trump (like him or not) has surrounded himself with men and women to help him accomplish his agenda, so Solomon did the same thing, some 3000 years ago   Lets look at the office of 'scribe' versus the office of 'recorder', as detailed in verse three.

Scribe

What is a 'scribe'?   Someone who keeps a detailed account of conversations.   At work or at church, a scribe is someone who keeps the meeting minutes.   A good scribe would be someone who could take shorthand, to be able capture every single word that everyone said.  My mom was a legal secretary; when I was little, I remember seeing what amounted to hieroglyphics, in her steno pads.   They were meaningless to me, but they were a word-for-word transcription of a dictated memorandum, or meeting she had with the lawyer.   The modern-day version of a scribe could be called a stenographer, or the fancy shmancy word for it is amanuenses.
To dig a little deeper, the Hebrew word for scribe is caphar ( סָפַר).  The Hebrew word caphar begins with the letter Samech(remember, Hebrew reads right to left).   So, although caphar is transliterated with a 'c', it starts with the 's' sound.   The ancient, pictorial form of the letter Samech, was a thorn, and carried the meaning to 'grab' or 'protect'.   Thereby, we come to understand that a caphar , 'grabs and protects', words.

Recorder

What's difference between a scribe and a 'recorder'?   Interestingly, the word for recorder rhymes with the word for scribe, in Hebrew.   It is zakar ( זָכַר ), and it carries the meaning to remember, or to memorialize.   Here is my own commentary on what a recorder is, as opposed to a scribe; a recorder s a historian.   A historian, weaves a narrative, providing background, and 'connecting the dots', so-to-speak, between seemingly unrelated events.   Where a scribe would be a very technical profession, a recorder would be more academic.   A recorder would have to see the 'big-picture', and be able to relate it in a comprehensive way.

So What?

So there were two separate offices of scribe and recorder in Solomon's administration.   Each had their own distinct role, but why should we care?   Well for one, that we have a Bible at all, owes to the fact that down through the ages, God appointed scribes and recorders to capture His word in an orderly, accurate fashion.

Psalm 45:1 says, [KJV]  To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
That term, 'ready writer' is the word caphar in Hebrew.

In the New Testament, Matthew was a government employed, tax collector.   He would have had transcription skills.   And Luke, as a physician would also likely have received that type of training.

All that to say, this is just more evidence that God superintended the writing and the transmission of His word in the Bible, and you can trust it.

Personal Application

How can we apply this to our lives?   We can be diligent to write things down.   Keep good notes in meetings at work...  It'll help us to remember our TODOs.   Also, take some time and reflect on the details, to try to assemble a comprehensive picture of where we were, where we are, and where we're going.   As God's people, we ought to try to remember what went well to give God the glory.   As well, we ought to reflect on our failures, so we don't make the same mistakes again.

God bless...