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.

 

[prism]

1 Thessalonians 3:13 KJV
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Jude 1:14 KJV
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Zechariah 14:5 KJV
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

I'm not sure how the Lord comes with His saints if there is not first a rapture?
...unless the rapture is hypothetical

 

[makesends]

1 Thessalonians 3:13 KJV
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Jude 1:14 KJV
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Zechariah 14:5 KJV
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

I'm not sure how the Lord comes with His saints if there is not first a rapture?
...unless the rapture is hypothetical

I don't get how that is a problem to you. How many of God's elect have died already?

 

[prism]

I don't get how that is a problem to you. How many of God's elect have died already?

I don't see it as a problem. How many have died? Myriads have died (fallen asleep)...

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NKJV
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. [16] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

 

[CrowCross]

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

Interesting concept. Seems like a good possibility.

 

[Hazelelponi]

unless the rapture is hypothetical

I've been wondering about something like that these last couple days. Just how symbolic is that. we don't often consider it very symbolically do we?

Perhaps we should consider it more

 

[Eleanor]

1 Thessalonians 3:13 KJV
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Jude 1:14 KJV
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Zechariah 14:5 KJV
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

I'm not sure how the Lord comes with His saints if there is not first a rapture?
...unless the rapture is hypothetical

In 1 Th 4:16-17, I don't think Paul is presenting hypothesis in his teaching of the descent of Christ, nor in the resurrection nor in the catching up of the saints.

 

[prism]

In 1 Th 4:16-17, I don't think Paul is presenting hypothesis in his teaching of the descent of Christ, nor in the resurrection nor in the catching up of the saints.

I used the word hypothetical because the op used the phrase 'hypothetical question'