[Ohio]

Dispensationalism definitely has value in the study of the Bible, but like anything, can be taken to extremes. Those who teach pre-trib rapture of the entire church are simply forced to shoehorn too many scriptures which indicate otherwise.

I first heard this from Hal Lindsey, who based this teaching solely on the absence of the word “church” after Revelations 3. While this speculative fulfillment of prophecy was quite appealing to us as immature Christians, the Bible never said as much.

Much of prophetic scripture concerning the believers during the end times seems to address us individually, rather than as a collective. Consider, “one is taken, one is left.” Israel, however, noting Daniel’s prophecies, often views the collective.