N.T. Wright on the (Non) Rapture

N.T. Wright on the (Non) Rapture June 27, 2016

In a discussion of Matthew 24:26-28, which is commonly taken by premillennial pretributionalist dispensationalists (there’s an eschatological mouthful) to be one of the key “rapture” texts, N.T. Wright articulates a very counter-position to the rapture notion, which is actually a quite recent development in interpretation:

While they [Jesus’ disciples] were waiting for the moment to arrive, however, there would be many voices urging that Israel’s vindication was to be found in this or that new movement. They would long to see one of the days of the ‘son of man’ but would not see it, and would be an open pry to invitations to look at this or that conspiracy or uprising as the way towards vindication. But when it happened there would be no mistaking it: it would be like lightning flashing from east to west, and on that day…they should not stop to pack and get ready, but simply run.

At that time there would be division between families and colleagues: one would be taken, another left. It should be noted that ‘taken’ in this context means being taken in judgment. There is no hint, here, of a ‘rapture,’ a sudden ‘supernatural’ event which would remove individuals from terra firma. Such an idea would look as odd, in these synoptic passages, as a Cadillac in a camel-train. It is a mater, rather, of secret police coming in the night, or of enemies sweeping through a city and seizing all they can. If the disciples were to escape, if they were to be ‘left,’ it would be by the skin of their teeth.

From Jesus and the Victory of God, p. 366.

Image by Pat Marvenko Smith. via Flickr CC 2.0 (cropped)
Image by Pat Marvenko Smith. via Flickr CC 2.0 (cropped)

 

 


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