Posts

Showing posts from November, 2022

An All-Too Familiar Story:

-
Image
How Churches Drift Toward Death—and How to Turn Towards Life by Bart Denny I heard a story today that reminded me of too many I have heard before. It saddens me. It bothers me. The church I heard about seems to think they have it nailed, so I’m sure they won’t be seeking my consulting services—or anyone else’s. Not that a consultant’s report would make it beyond a file cabinet—stuffed away, never to be read. While I admit it may take many years—and that bad decisions will likely outlive most of the decision-makers—I remain less than optimistic about the church's future. There Are Patterns I’ll be the first to admit: I don’t know everything there is to know about church health, vitality, growth, and renewal. And I praise God that He still does what only He can do. I never want to box in the Holy Spirit. After all, we worship a God who parted the sea, turned water into wine, and reversed a crucifixion with a glorious resurrection. So no, I would never say that God can’t revive a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more

Did the Early Church Fathers Believe in a Pretribulational Rapture?

-
Image
by Bart L. Denny, Ph.D., Th.M. I wrote this article years ago, and while I still see value in some of the arguments presented, my view has become more settled with time. Let me say it plainly: No, the early church fathers did not believe in a pretribulation rapture —at least not in the way John Nelson Darby and modern dispensationalists since the 1800s have taught it. They didn’t believe in it for one very good reason: the Bible didn’t teach it that way , and they were far closer—both chronologically and culturally—to the apostles than we are. But what did they believe? Let’s explore. Reading the Fathers with a Clear Eye Some scholars and popular writers have tried to find early traces of the pretribulation rapture among the church fathers. The argument often goes like this: If these early Christians believed in the imminent return of Christ and held to a millennial reign, then maybe—just maybe—they also believed in a secret rapture of the church before a Great Tribulation. Sounds in...
Post a Comment
Read more