Dr. Couch, is 1 John 2:28 a rapture passage? I have some who deny that it is. What do you think?
ANSWER: From the Greek text the passage reads:
This is clearly a rapture passage because it addresses those who were
alive at that time (circa. 90-95 AD) when "old" John did all of his
writing.
Though John's days were short, he still saw Christ's coming for His own
possibly in his short life-time. He speaks of "we" have confidence when
He comes! This means it could have happened in John's life.
Rapture passages always have a certain immediacy to the audience to whom
the letter is written. It always addresses "we," "you," or "us," as is
done here.
1 John 3:2 is also clearly a rapture passage. The construction "when He
appears" is the same construction as in 2:28, giving a clear sign that
both verses are rapture passages. According to the great Greek
grammarians Dana & Mantey, the "when He appears" should better read
"whenever He appears," as if taking any uncertainty away from the
construction of the verse. Another Greek scholar (A. T. Robertson) says
about "not shrink away from Him," could better read: "Not shrink away
from His face."
The bema judgment seems to take place shortly after the rapture of the
church. The "shrink away in shame" appears to connect to what Paul says
in 2 Corinthians 5:10 about being recompensed for what we do "whether
good or bad."
Those who do not hold to the rapture of the church really do not
understand what all is happening in all of these verses. In 3:2-3 John
adds: "When He appears, we shall be like Him just as He is. And everyone
who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
The hope of the rapure, truly believed and embraced, has a practical
application to change the life of the believer.
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
