[Reposted from 2014 for re-study and remember that the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for his bride is in fact exactly 'what saith the scripture' - despite the wildly-increased opposition to the great doctrine. Those many opposing are only exposing their own unbelief of the word of God - showing that they essentially believe nothing. Study to shew thyself approved receive the word of God exactly as written [KJV only] and be not swayed by the strongly-deluded naysaying multitude of these present days who will find out too late - Matt. 25:10-13]
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A. C. Gaebelein (1861-1945), the author of this little pamphlet, is well known. His writings are widely available online, including a complete commentary of the entire bible, many commentaries of individual books of the bible, and numerous books dealing with different issues related to prophecy. His staunch defense of the doctrine of a pre-millennial and pre-tribulational rapture is also well known to any who have read his expositions of scripture. In addition to the commentaries and books, in 1894 Gaebelein and a partner began publication of a periodical called "Our Hope", with Gaebelein in 1896 becoming chief editor. Quoting a biographical sketch of ACG: "Historian David Rausch noted: 'Our Hope, was a key periodical in the fundamentalist movement of the twentieth century, through this periodical, Gaebelein brought the teaching of biblical prophecy to the forefront of the movement and coupled it to in-depth, scholarly biblical studies' (Arno C. Gaebelein, 19). The journal continued publication until 1958, when it merged with Eternity." [link].
The "Our Hope" magazines cannot be found online though, which make this particular pamphlet so interesting as it apparently was taken from one of the issues. Dated 1902 (at the low low price of five cents) it appears to be the earliest example of Gaebelein's work that can be found. If for no other reason, that alone makes it of much historical interest. Of Gaebelein's writings that can be found online there are a few books dated between 1905-1910, with the major body of the work coming after about 1910 and spread out over the next thirty years.
The subject is very apparent from the title - making a case for the "pre-trib" rapture byway of scripture - which he continued to do for the next 40 or so years. Of special interest is a quote from this writing, which was a thought carried unchanged through all of Gaebelein's writings over the many years to follow - the statement that what separates those who believe and look for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ from those who would find these things incomprehensible being a true love for the Lord Jesus Christ himself: "...it should be remembered that intelligence in the revelations made respecting His coming, as in all truth, can only be in proportion to our love of His person, for that is ever accompanied with lowly and loving reception of the word"
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THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE COMING OF THE LORD FOR HIS SAINTS AND WITH HIS SAINTS - A. C. Gaebelein 1902
Revelation 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth"
That there is a marked interval between the coming of the Lord Jesus to take His saints up to Himself, and His coming with His saints, cannot well be disputed. Indeed, if we had not in Scripture distinct instruction as to the first stage of our Lord's coming, His coming for us, and our rapture, it would have been impossible to understand those many passages which speak of His "coming with us," and our "manifestation with Him" (Zech. 14:5 - ["and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee]; 1 Thes. 3:13; Jude 14; Col. 3:4). It is certainly necessary that there should be a "gathering unto Him," before there can be a coming or manifestation "with Him."
Then, the first of these is never brought into view in connection with the Lord's public testimony, nor does it ever appear in the Apostles testimony to the world. But this is in admirable harmony with all that is known of Jesus' love to His own. The first distinct announcement of His coming for us was given just at the moment and in the circumstances in which it might be expected. "On the night on which He was betrayed," when the traitor had "gone out," and "it was night," when for the first time the disciples began to feel the sorrow of the parting and absence of which He had often spoken; then it was that His love placed before them His coming again in its earliest stage and first object and intent, as the first point of their blessed hope. They had before heard of "the days when the Bridegroom should be taken away," but, possibly occupied with the glory of the Kingdom, they had failed to realize what His absence meant. But it was very different now. He said, "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me; and as I said to the Jews, Whither I go ye cannot come; so now I say to you" (John. 13:33). There might still be very little intelligence among the disciples, but there was that night, through the word spoken, love's deep exercises towards His precious person: and consequently "sorrow filled their hearts because of what He said," and their common sorrow was, as usual, expressed by Peter. There was, we well know, much selfwill and self-confidence mixing with his love to his Lord, but it was surely love that asked, "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?" We are thus entitled to say that it was just because He had roused into exercise, and drawn forth their expression of their love to Himself, that Jesus now for the first time declared to His disciples His coming again, in its first intent and act. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3).
We could never have learned "the rapture of saints" from this passage alone; but without this passage accuracy as to the rapture of saints would be little worth. Accordingly, there is not any portion of the Bible to which suffering saints so often turn for comfort as that which we have just quoted. And this may show that all saints are, in their hearts, "waiting" or "looking for Him," though they may be ever so little taught, or ever so ill taught, respecting prophecy. At the same time it should be remembered that intelligence in the revelations made respecting His coming, as in all truth, can only be in proportion to our love of His person, for that is ever accompanied with lowly and loving reception of the word.
read full >>
***
A. C. Gaebelein (1861-1945), the author of this little pamphlet, is well known. His writings are widely available online, including a complete commentary of the entire bible, many commentaries of individual books of the bible, and numerous books dealing with different issues related to prophecy. His staunch defense of the doctrine of a pre-millennial and pre-tribulational rapture is also well known to any who have read his expositions of scripture. In addition to the commentaries and books, in 1894 Gaebelein and a partner began publication of a periodical called "Our Hope", with Gaebelein in 1896 becoming chief editor. Quoting a biographical sketch of ACG: "Historian David Rausch noted: 'Our Hope, was a key periodical in the fundamentalist movement of the twentieth century, through this periodical, Gaebelein brought the teaching of biblical prophecy to the forefront of the movement and coupled it to in-depth, scholarly biblical studies' (Arno C. Gaebelein, 19). The journal continued publication until 1958, when it merged with Eternity." [link].
The "Our Hope" magazines cannot be found online though, which make this particular pamphlet so interesting as it apparently was taken from one of the issues. Dated 1902 (at the low low price of five cents) it appears to be the earliest example of Gaebelein's work that can be found. If for no other reason, that alone makes it of much historical interest. Of Gaebelein's writings that can be found online there are a few books dated between 1905-1910, with the major body of the work coming after about 1910 and spread out over the next thirty years.
The subject is very apparent from the title - making a case for the "pre-trib" rapture byway of scripture - which he continued to do for the next 40 or so years. Of special interest is a quote from this writing, which was a thought carried unchanged through all of Gaebelein's writings over the many years to follow - the statement that what separates those who believe and look for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ from those who would find these things incomprehensible being a true love for the Lord Jesus Christ himself: "...it should be remembered that intelligence in the revelations made respecting His coming, as in all truth, can only be in proportion to our love of His person, for that is ever accompanied with lowly and loving reception of the word"
***
THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE COMING OF THE LORD FOR HIS SAINTS AND WITH HIS SAINTS - A. C. Gaebelein 1902
Revelation 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth"That there is a marked interval between the coming of the Lord Jesus to take His saints up to Himself, and His coming with His saints, cannot well be disputed. Indeed, if we had not in Scripture distinct instruction as to the first stage of our Lord's coming, His coming for us, and our rapture, it would have been impossible to understand those many passages which speak of His "coming with us," and our "manifestation with Him" (Zech. 14:5 - ["and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee]; 1 Thes. 3:13; Jude 14; Col. 3:4). It is certainly necessary that there should be a "gathering unto Him," before there can be a coming or manifestation "with Him."
Then, the first of these is never brought into view in connection with the Lord's public testimony, nor does it ever appear in the Apostles testimony to the world. But this is in admirable harmony with all that is known of Jesus' love to His own. The first distinct announcement of His coming for us was given just at the moment and in the circumstances in which it might be expected. "On the night on which He was betrayed," when the traitor had "gone out," and "it was night," when for the first time the disciples began to feel the sorrow of the parting and absence of which He had often spoken; then it was that His love placed before them His coming again in its earliest stage and first object and intent, as the first point of their blessed hope. They had before heard of "the days when the Bridegroom should be taken away," but, possibly occupied with the glory of the Kingdom, they had failed to realize what His absence meant. But it was very different now. He said, "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me; and as I said to the Jews, Whither I go ye cannot come; so now I say to you" (John. 13:33). There might still be very little intelligence among the disciples, but there was that night, through the word spoken, love's deep exercises towards His precious person: and consequently "sorrow filled their hearts because of what He said," and their common sorrow was, as usual, expressed by Peter. There was, we well know, much selfwill and self-confidence mixing with his love to his Lord, but it was surely love that asked, "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?" We are thus entitled to say that it was just because He had roused into exercise, and drawn forth their expression of their love to Himself, that Jesus now for the first time declared to His disciples His coming again, in its first intent and act. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3).
We could never have learned "the rapture of saints" from this passage alone; but without this passage accuracy as to the rapture of saints would be little worth. Accordingly, there is not any portion of the Bible to which suffering saints so often turn for comfort as that which we have just quoted. And this may show that all saints are, in their hearts, "waiting" or "looking for Him," though they may be ever so little taught, or ever so ill taught, respecting prophecy. At the same time it should be remembered that intelligence in the revelations made respecting His coming, as in all truth, can only be in proportion to our love of His person, for that is ever accompanied with lowly and loving reception of the word.
read full >>
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