Three Views on the Rapture, 2nd ed. (Counterpoints)

by Craig A. Blaising; Alan Hultberg; Douglas J. Moo

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2010

Overview

The rapture is a contested doctrine among evangelicals. Scholars generally hold one of three perspectives on the timing of and circumstances surrounding the rapture, all of which are presented in Three Views on the Rapture. The recent prominence of a pre-wrath understanding of the rapture calls for a fresh examination of this important but contested Christian belief. Alan Hultberg explains the pre-wrath view; Craig Blaising defends the pre-Tribulation view; and Douglas Moo sets forth the post-Tribulation view. Each author provides a substantive explanation of his position, which is critiqued by the other two authors. A thorough introduction gives a historical overview of the doctrine of the rapture and its effects on the church.

Key Features

• Provides numerous perspectives on the rapture
• Compares and critique multiple distinct views
• Includes contributions from a diverse assortment of distinguished scholars and theologians

Contents

• “A Case for the Pretribulation Rapture” by Craig Blaising
• “A Case for the Prewrath Rapture” by Alan Hultberg
• “A Case for Posttribulation Rapture” by Douglas Moo

Top Highlights

“The earliest Christian writings we possess after the New Testament indicate no real question in the first three centuries of the church regarding the timing of the rapture. The basic futurist (and premillennial) eschatology appears to have been taken for granted by most,⁶ and the rapture, when it was discussed at all, was assumed to be contemporaneous with the return of Christ to earth to establish his kingdom; that is, to be posttribulational.⁷ At the very least, where they speak of it, the ante-Nicene fathers consistently maintained that the church would witness the abomination of desolation and experience persecution under the Antichrist.” (Pages 14–15)

“The rapture is a theological term that refers to the ‘catching up’ of the church to meet the Lord in the air in association with his return and with the resurrection of believers.” (Page 11)

“But the more important aspect of rapture in the New Testament is bodily transformation. Theologically, rapture is best seen as a parallel to resurrection.” (Pages 185–186)

“posttribulationists hold that it will occur at the very end of the final seven years” (Page 13)

“they all agree that the timing of the Rapture is not absolutely clear in Scripture” (Page 275)

Product Details

• Title: Three Views on the Rapture: Pretribulation, Prewrath, or Posttribulation
• Authors: Craig A. Blaising, Alan Hultberg, Douglas J. Moo
• Edition: Second Edition
• Series: Zondervan Counterpoints Series
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2010
• Logos Release Date: 2015
• Pages: 304
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Rapture (Christian eschatology); Tribulation (Christian eschatology)
• ISBNs: 9780310499190, 9780310277200, 9780310528821, 0310499194, 0310277205, 0310528828
• Resource ID: LLS:CNTRPNTSTHRVWSR
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:53:36Z

About Alan Hultberg

Alan Hultberg is associate professor of Bible exposition and New Testament at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University.