Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 4/4/2011

Question
*Please note that ALL CAPS is for emphasis, not yelling.

I was wondering about what the Baptist denomination teaches concerning the "rapture" and millennialism specifically with regard to the Olivet Discourse.  In that regard I have two specific questions:

1) In the days of Noah and Lot, who was taken from the Earth and who was left on the Earth?

2) Matt. 24:37-39 says: "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  And knew not until the flood came, and TOOK THEM ALL AWAY; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

Luke 17:26-27 says: "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and DESTROYED THEM ALL."

Does Jesus teach in the Olivet Discourse that those who would be taken are those who would be destroyed and those who were "left behind" are the righteous?

Thank you for your time and answer.  I will definitely read, respond, and rate.

Answer
Hi Erine,
  To answer you questions.  
  1. It was the unbelievers who were drowned.  As unbelievers they went down to Hades and are there now awaiting the final judgment of Revelation 20:11-15.
  2. Matthew 24:40-42.  Those taken are the unsaved who are removed from the earth.  The ones left will be believers who will go into the Millennial kingdom in the natural bodies.  The are the remnant of Israel and also believing Gentiles.
  If you would like to read a detailed explanation of the Olivet Discourse I have an article at http://bible-truth.org/OlivetDiscourse.html  titled "Is the church in the Olivet Discourse?"

  If you have further questions or comments please write.  My regular e-mail address is cpabrams3@gmail.com.

   Would you allow me to respond to your statement  "what the Baptist denomination teaches concerning the "rapture" and millennialism . . ."    We are Baptists because we believe and follow the all Bible and in particular the teachings of the New Testament.   This is not Baptist teachings, but rather what the Bible, God's word, says.  We use the name Baptist, or a good number of us do, because traditionally Baptist were people who believed literally God's word and followed it.   So we do not see our doctrine as "baptist" but as biblical.  We are not seeking to advance the Baptist name, but rather the Gospel and cause of Christ.  We are not Protestants, but simply Bible believing people.  Let me also qualify something else.  Not all who use the name Baptist hold to its traditional meaning and there are many Baptist who do not follow God's word.  In this day of apostasy more and more once sound biblical churches are going that route.
So I am first and foremost a Bible believing child of God, saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ.
I have an article at better explains what a true Baptist is.
Cooper P Abrams III
Romans 12:1-2
http://bible-truth.org
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