Let me tell you something: Ordinary Time Week 22

Psalm: Psalm 78:1-7 or Psalm 70

Old Testament: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
or Amos 5:18-24

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

This is a tough teaching this week because it concerns things that are mostly mysterious and un-experienced, but which are also hotly debated and deemed crucial to some. This week, we have a discussion of the “Day of the Lord,” “the Rapture,” or the “wedding feast.” The idea is that Jesus will return again and God will set up his Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. This idea is difficult for us to discuss because I think most of us, myself included, didn’t realize there is another way to believe. For those of us who grew up during the era of “The Late Great Planet Earth”[1] or a few decades later the “Left Behind”[2] series, we might have thought this was the one and only way to understand the end times and Christ’s return. But I would encourage anyone who thinks this to do just a little bit of research on the topic and you will discover how this idea is a very fringe idea not held by the vast majority of Christians throughout time and even not a majority idea held by Christians today. The idea really gained popularity in the United States during the 19^th century and is held today mostly by Evangelicals and Fundamentalists. As an Evangelical myself, I am guilty of thinking that my beliefs are most right and historical, but this isn’t the case.

The best book I can recommend to explore this topic is “Surprised by Hope” by N.T. Wright. Other than my seminary classes, which not everyone has the privilege of having sat in, this book has shaped my understanding of these things. But, you may just want to start by reading a few paragraphs of the Wikipedia entry.

If you have time, read the Amos passage about the coming of the day of the Lord. We generally look on this day as something good, however, for the Israelites, it was a day of justice and judgment. God was sick of their false worship that only honored themselves and so when he came on the day of the Lord it was to send his people into exile. I don’t think I can leave this passage without quoting the words of what God is looking for from his people, which were later famously used by Martin Luther King Jr.

“But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
Really as an aside, that alone is a good prayer and something to work for.

Let us now turn towards 1 Thessalonians 4 which is the one place in the New Testament which directly mentions the “rapture.” That word itself is never used in the New Testament but comes from the French/Latin rapture/rapio, the Greek word is ἁρπάζω (harpazo), “to seize, or to snatch out.”

The passage in question is, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thes. 4:17) I don’t want to get technical and detailed here, mostly because I don’t have the expertise or space to get that in depth, but I also want to encourage you to read something by N.T. Wright or others who do have the expertise to present these ideas. Wright discusses many ideas in Surprised by Hope, not just on the rapture. In fact, the main thrust of the book, other than obviously the hope we have in the Lord, is the bodily resurrection to come when Christ returns.

However, I want to focus particularly on his words which concern this passage from 1 Thes. When a person of high rank, particularly a king or emperor, would visit a city in ancient Rome, the people of that city would come out of the city to meet him and usher him back into the city. It would be considered disrespectful to have the emperor, who not only ruled you, but was also considered divine by some, come to a city and the people basically not throw a parade and usher him in. What could be more important than to show honor and respect to the emperor? This royal welcome is what Wright says Paul is imagining in 1 Thes. 4. The people didn’t go out of the city to stay with the king in the countryside; they welcomed him into his city. In the same way, when Jesus returns, his followers will be taken up into the clouds not to stay up there, but to usher Christ back to his kingdom here on earth. As this argument stands here alone, it may not be convincing. In fact, it may seem rather weak. However, I think Wright does build a compelling argument based on history and biblical interpretation.[3] Remember, the idea of the rapture as presented in the Left Behind books is not only a relatively new way of understanding this passage, but also basing a whole theology off of only one verse. Whenever an idea is only mentioned once in the Bible, we must be careful when we build a whole worldview around it.

This week, there is not really a challenge or action involved. I think this view of the return of Christ does have implications for how we act and think in terms of creation, salvation, death, evangelism, and probably every aspect of our theology. Perhaps this week we have a call to pray and a reminder that Christ will return. That is the message of Matt. 25.-- Jesus, the Bridegroom, is throwing a party when he comes, so be ready! We pray that God’s kingdom would come, on earth as it is in heaven. In the words of Rev. 22:20, “Come, Lord Jesus.” May we wait expectantly.

Grace and Peace.

[1] A 1970 book by Hal Lindsey. I confess that I have never read this book, but it is one of those book names that always seems to come up in this discussion.

[2] Books written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins from 1995-2007. I did read most if not all of these books.

[3] These ideas mostly come from pages 128-136, but really the whole books needs to be read.