Dear Art and faithful brethren that may read this. It has come to my attention that the positions of E.W.Bullinger (a former MidActs dispensationalist, converted to Acts 28 by Charles Welch) is brought into the light concerning the altering of his dispensational positions.
I would like to quote Bullinger from his word entitled "The Church Epistles). p.178 beginning in paragraph 1: "We come, now, to the last of the seven Text-books prepared and provided for our instruction by the Holy Spirit. And before we have done we shall see why, though written earlier than those to any of the other sic churches, it is placed last in order."
Bullinger did not believe in a latter writing for these epistles.
"Bullinger's handling of the Thessalonian letters has been very interesting to me. Before taking an Acts 28 position, he had no difficulty see the Thessalonian material as belonging to our present dispensation. He argued convincingly in his book, The Church Epistles, that 1st Thes. 4 gives a new revelation concerning us today, different from what was known before. "
Where did he state this? One thing that I had to realize about my own self once I crossed over the Acts 28 threshold was that I was, even unknowingly, clinging on to what I was "taught" earlier. As far as Bullinger goes, I see him the same way...he was good for his day, and I take him with a grain of salt. Personally, and I will not get into it, but there are things that I would change about Bullinger AND Welch IN SOME AREAS concerning dispensationalism where I feel that they have not carried out their positions to their logical ends. But, I do not follow men, I follow the Lord.
As far as Acts 28ers go, well hey, what can I say? You might meet an Acts 28er that holds to some crazy things...every denomination has their bag of nuts. BUT, I have NEVER MET an Acts 28er that DID believe that we WERE going through the TRIB. If they did it MIGHT be because they had heard the rumor about our "no rapture belief" and said "Hey, that makes sense...maybe that is right too!". Babes are not good representers and I fear that Bullinger may in some cases may hold to some views that needed to be dropped from his old system of interpretation. I really can't speak for the man.
Quite frankly, I hate the name RAPETURE because it is a man made name that is extremely devisive. I do believe that in Rom, Gal, Cor., and Thess that those people looked for the Lord's COMING with clouds, angels, Michael the archangel, the trump of God, etc. etc...
After Acts 28 when Paul writes the books of Eph., Phil, Col, Philemon, I.Tim., 2 Tim, and Titus Paul ONLY speaks of the Lord's APPEARING. NO angel, no Michael, no trumpets, no clouds...Christ is NOT COMING, rather we simple "appear" before him IN GLORY (NOT EARTH).
Let me elaborate on this point
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Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
OKAY, now, WHERE in heaven? It said in heaven, but where?
Colossians 3:1-4 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
I do not look for ANYTHING pertaining to this earth for my hope literally WHERE CHRIST SITS, not even JUST HEAVEN. The heavenly city itself will be below me for it is NOT far above all...
Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:20-23 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
My hope is literally far above all principality (this would include the heavenly city-angels and principalites are 2 functions for the same being. You may recall that MIchael is called BOTH a PRINCE and an angel.)Things that differ are never equal
I do not mind any earthly thing for my calling is where Christ sits. That is why it is called a HIGH calling.
Philippians 3:19-21 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:9-10 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
I hope that this will help. And again, about the did's and did not's of Bullinger... I would simply not worry about it and just continue to "follow Paul".
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Oh, yeah...about I.Thess. 4 and Matthew, I saw when I first read these texts that they were the same identical event. There are no difference, on simply emphasizes a different fact then the other. Just because the dead is not "said" to "rise first" in Matt. does not mean that it did not happen. This fact can be found in other places in the law...and lets just say that I am wrong and we can't find anyplace in the law that points to the fact that the dead of Israel will rise first-why rule out the possibility that Paul COULD have added further truths through the inspiration of GOD concerning the same coming?
It was only after my Pre-Trib, Baptist teachers talked me out of it that I changed my views. Doctrinally they HAVE be an early letter...At LEAST before "Acts 28:28". Things that differ are never equal. I had to learn to not let what I could know get in the way of what I do know.
For his grace,
Mike
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