carlgobelman
Puritan Board Freshman
So then what would you say is the proper view of this verse?
The context is Jesus speaking to the CHURCH of Laodicea. They have become like the putrid lukewarm water that flows into that city; in essence, they have become Christless. Jesus is asking his servants to let him back inside his church. Therefore, it's not a call to unbelievers to let Christ into their hearts, but for the church to return to its head and master.
-----Added 10/14/2009 at 06:36:39 EST-----
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Misused to support a pretribulational rapture.
I always got a kick out of this one because even in my pre-mill Dispensational days, I knew that this passage alone did nothing to support that view; there are absolutely no timing markers presented in this passage. You always had to combine this with other passages to make a 'case' for that view.
-----Added 10/14/2009 at 06:38:17 EST-----
Jn 3:16, we all know how its done, I need not expound on it.
If you don't mind, could you expound on it a bit?