Steve and Rich continue last week's discussion on eschatology, the rapture, the Millennial Kingdom and Jesus' return. If you didn't listen to last week's episode, we would highly recommend that you do that before diving into this week's conversation as there is a lot of context you'll need. Today's episode starts with Sarah sharing a cringey story from 8th grade, but we promise it leads into what is discussed. Rich points us to the end of 1 Thessalonians 4 as to where to get an understanding of the rapture. The rapture is the God caused removal of the Church from the world. Rich and Steve both believe that this will occur before the tribulation and before the millennial reign of Christ. Steve points us to John 14 where Jesus says He is preparing a place for those who believe and will receive them. The truth is that there is not one singular passage that would give definitive answers as to when this all takes place - though there are scriptures that support the views presented. Steve and Rich explain why they hold to the premillennial view, highlighting that the tribulation is not about purifying the church. There are multiple places in the New Testament where the church is promised that it will not see the wrath of God. A lot of scripture is presented to support the premillennial/pre-tribulation rapture view! Steve points out that Paul calls the rapture the "blessed hope" and what that means for the views discussed. Rich brings up the idea of the picture of a wedding and marriage and how that applies to the occurence of the rapture. This and a whole lot more is brought up in this conversation!      

Spark notes for three different views on the rapture discussed: 

Pre-tribulation rapture - Jesus returns for the church prior to the tribulation 

Mid-tribulation rapture - believers go through about 3.5 years of the tribulation with the calling of the Two Witnesses being considered the midpoint (can also be called pre-wrath)

Post-tribulation rapture - believers go through the entire time of the tribulation and the resurrection and rapture are combined as Jesus returns

Desert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefs

DSCC Fall 2023 sermons on Revelation - https://dscchurch.churchcenter.com/channels/17606/episodes

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