Now that we’ve seen what “spiritual gifts” are, we can examine the passages that say these gifts would cease. 1 Corinthians 13 shows that they would cease once they had fulfilled their function. The key question, of course, is: when… Lees verder
In the previous blog post, we looked at the Greek word pneumatikos in connection with spiritual gifts. This word points us to the source of the gifts: the Spirit. The origin is the same for all: the Spirit of God… Lees verder
First, it’s important to note that while the term “spiritual gifts” is common in Christian usage, it doesn’t appear literally in Scripture. In the Statenvertaling (State Bible) and Herziene Statenvertaling (Revised State Bible), we encounter the expression twice (1 Cor.… Lees verder
There is considerable disagreement within the various groups within Christianity about the so-called spiritual gifts. Why is this? Is Scripture so unclear about what spiritual gifts are, why they are given, to whom, and (until) when? The New Testament lists… Lees verder
Until now, we have dealt exclusively with Paul’s letters regarding the topic of the snatching away. After all, it is the fullness of the nations who will enter in the snatching away (Rom. 11:25), and Paul is the apostle of… Lees verder
We’ve almost reached the end of our writing about the snatching away, though without intending to be exhaustive. There are several expressions in Paul’s letters that we won’t discuss individually (at least not now), but which do refer to this… Lees verder
In 2 Thessalonians, Paul also discusses the snatching away at length, although he uses different terms to indicate this event. Although Paul had written extensively on this topic to his readers in his first letter, confusion had arisen among the… Lees verder
God has not appointed us to wrath, and therefore we are snatched away from the earthly scene before the wrath of the dragon breaks out (Rev. 12:12, 17). This dragon, who represents Satan (Rev. 12:9), seeks to devour the male… Lees verder
When reading the Bible, and therefore also Paul’s letters, we must keep in mind that they are later divided into verses and chapters. This is often very convenient, but it can sometimes also mislead us. In the previous blog post,… Lees verder
We have seen who will be caught up in the snatching away, but also why and for what purpose we will be taken up. In short, that is to take up our heavenly position in Christ. For this purpose, we… Lees verder
Many believers wonder what happens to their children during the snatching away. Do they go with them, or are they left behind? This is sometimes the subject of philosophical debate, and indirect evidence found in Scripture is often invoked, and… Lees verder
In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul expounds the gospel of God (1:1), which had been entrusted to him by the resurrected Christ and which he would proclaim among the nations (1:5). His ministry as an apostle, which is also… Lees verder
The expression “the day of Christ” and similar terms, such as “the day of our Lord Jesus” (2 Cor. 1:14) and “the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8), are found exclusively in Paul’s letters. These are similar… Lees verder
Earlier, we saw how Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12, speaks simply of the Christ when he points to Christ Jesus and His body. They belong together and are one. Therefore, the current situation, with our Head in heaven and us… Lees verder
If we wonder why we are being raptured, there are several answers. The answer that is perhaps most obvious to us can be found in the context of events here on earth. The snatching away is not an isolated event,… Lees verder
We share in Christ’s position. Just as Christ is now hidden and unrecognized by the world, so too are we. But this also means that when Christ claims His position (Ps. 2:8) and subdues this entire creation, we too will… Lees verder
Romans 8 is a long chapter that, among other things, discusses our life on earth versus the wonderful heavenly future we have (Rom. 8:18). We now have a debased and perishable body, but our body will be redeemed, and we… Lees verder
In the previous blog post, I discussed the first part of 2 Corinthians 5, where Paul speaks about how living believers are changed at the moment of the snatching away, being clothed with a new body. But the explanation goes… Lees verder
Paul also speaks about the moment of the snatching away in 2 Corinthians, but this is rarely seen because he uses different wording here than in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4. Here Paul speaks of our body, the… Lees verder
In the previous blog post about 1 Corinthians 15, we saw that at the moment of the snatching away, two trumpets will sound, whereby the dead in Christ will be resurrected in a transient state, and the believers still living… Lees verder
While 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15 are the best-known Scripture passages that speak of the rapture, not everything in these passages is equally well-known. This is all the more reason to discuss both passages first, because much of… Lees verder
There are different ways to discuss a topic like the snatching away. You can discuss all the Scripture passages in the order given to us in the New Testament. You could also answer some questions, such as who, what, why,… Lees verder
The expectation of modern believers is the snatching away. In many circles, this event is referred to as the rapture of the church. Both terms require explanation. I personally prefer “the snatching away”, as it best approximates what Scripture itself… Lees verder
Finally, we look at the division of the Hebrew Tanakh, the books we find in the Old Testament. The original division of the Hebrew Scriptures is very different from that of the Old Testament. Tanakh stands for: 1. T for… Lees verder
The organization of the Bible as we know it is based on the Vulgate. This is a Latin translation that was created between 390 and 405 AD. However, various manuscripts of the Greek source text, which are older than the… Lees verder