The "age of accountability" and the "rapture" hypothetical

[fastfredy0]

Background aside: My son have a 4,6 and 7 year old. He questions whether the 4 year old has been regenerated. So, with the rapture in mind, he went to a very good non-Christian friend of his and asked him to check his home for anyone "left behind" as a safety precaution.

Hypothetical Question
This question assumes the concept of the "rapture" is true. Would those who had not reached the "age of accountability" (babies, retarded, maybe me) be raptured or "left behind".

Aside: I'm not trying to test doctrine. I'm just thought it might be a thought provoking, fun question. (anyone wishing to use this for the directorial thesis is welcome to do so.) giggle

 

[Eleanor]

Background aside: My son have a 4,6 and 7 year old. He questions whether the 4 year old has been regenerated. So, with the rapture in mind, he went to a very good non-Christian friend of his and asked him to check his home for anyone "left behind" as a safety precaution.

Hypothetical Question
This question assumes the concept of the "rapture" is true.

The catching up (harpazo) of the saints to meet the Lord in the air at the second coming (1 Th 4:16-17) occurs at the resurrection.

Would those who had not reached the "age of accountability" (babies, retarded, maybe me) be raptured or "left behind".

Depends on whether they are elect before the foundations of the world or not.

Aside: I'm not trying to test doctrine. I'm just thought it might be a thought provoking, fun question. (anyone wishing to use this for the directorial thesis is welcome to do so.) giggle

 

[Hazelelponi]

As an amillennialist, I don’t hold to a pre-tribulation rapture, seeing 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17’s “catching up” as Christ’s second coming, not a separate event. Still, let’s explore the hypothetical.

Scripture teaches that children of believing parents are sanctified, set apart for God’s covenant. 1 Corinthians 7:14 declares, “The unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife…Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.” This covenantal sanctification doesn’t guarantee salvation—each must confess faith (Romans 10:9)—but places children under God’s promise (Acts 2:39, “For you and your children”).

If we assume a rapture, children under the “age of accountability” are sanctified by their elect parents’ faith (Genesis 17:7, “You and your offspring”). Thus, they’d be included with believing parents, not left behind, as God’s covenant extends to households (Acts 16:31).

I'm going by what I see Scripture to be teaching, I could be wrong on this but of course the hypothetical starts with positions I don't believe in in the first place so any explanation falls short.

Was there a normal response?

 

[fastfredy0]

Was there a normal response?

One can't have a "normal response" for an "abnormal" question.

 

[Hazelelponi]

One can't have a "normal response" for an "abnormal" question.

Well, might be good to know how to calm irrational fears.