Revelation 14:19-20

I have been a Christian for a long time. So it is rare that I change theological stances on things. It happens, just not frequently. I like to think I have everything figured out, but I know that isn't the case.

Anyway, Sunday I had a shift in my opinion on a topic. It isn't a point of salvation or anything so I won't argue too hard with anybody on it, but it did prove to be interesting... At least to me.

A friend came over for dinner and noticed my collection of the "Left Behind Series" on my shelf. I mentioned I liked it despite my objections to some of the underlying theology. That sparked a conversation and one thing led to another and BAM my theology changed.

Ok, that wasn't helpful. I guess I'll explain what happened. I have never been a fan of the pre-tribulation rapture idea. I mean, I like the idea of the Church avoiding all the uncomfortableness that is the end times, but based on what I know about G-d's way of doing things He doesn't seem to go out of the way to keep us out of unpleasantness (for His purposes of course). Also, the scriptural basis for a rapture let alone a secret one pre-tribulation seemed weak.

So to classify my position before this conversation I was generally a rapture agnostic. I brought up Matthew 24:37-44. It gets trotted out basically any time the rapture is discussed. However, Luke 17:27-37 has the same discussion and adds one little bit of information on the end that kind of throws a wrench in the whole "the taken one got raptured" idea. Luke 17:37 says:

And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

The disciples ask where these old blokes got off to and Jesus says they are d-e-d dead. So maybe the rapture will result in all Christians dying of a heart attack, but I kinda doubt that.

The conversation moved on to the 1000 year reign and such and the thought occured to me that there seemed to be a pretty strong correlation between the end times saga and the exodus. You have plagues followed by entering into a new more ideal land.

That got me thinking. What happened to the bad people in the exodus? Well, at the transition between captivity and freedom you have the Red Sea. The Red Sea where the Israelites walked through and the Egyptians walked through and got d-e-d dead. So... I immediately drew the comparison and it seemed to fit the Luke 17 verse from above.

Thus my theological stance of the rapture changed. I think that there will not be a rapture. The major transition that people see in scripture is the unfortunate, but necessary genocide of everyone who has rejected G-d (By G-d, and I am not advocating any kind of human on human violence here).

It is less appealing to our delicate sensitivities than a quiet disappearing and avoidance of coming unpleasantness. However, it lines with what I am increasingly seeing as a Exodus/Revelation parallel as well as fitting in with the concept of the separation of the wheat from the chaff.

I might be wrong, but I will think I am right until I don't.