In 1 Thessalonians, Paul writes to those in Thessaloniki about the final return of Jesus Christ, when the “Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,” and the dead in Christ will rise and they will meet the Lord in the air (4:16–18). Paul uses technical language to describe welcoming and celebrating the royal king as he returns to his city (similar to the entrance liturgy of Ps 24:7–10).  Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

In other words, the rapture-gospel movement is a modern phenomenon that was nonexistent for eighteen hundred years of church history, before becoming a cultural touchstone and a central tenet of dispensationalist theology in the last two centuries. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

In other words, the rapture-gospel movement is a modern phenomenon that was nonexistent for eighteen hundred years of church history, before becoming a cultural touchstone and a central tenet of dispensationalist theology in the last two centuries. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

In other words, since “antichrist” functions as a representative symbol for anyone opposed to Christ, anyone who does not follow the slaughtered but standing Lamb (Jesus) is antichrist. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Disciples reject the state’s powers to control the church and dissident disciples shaped by Christ refuse to let the way of the dragon’s power take hold in the churches. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Dissident disciples live with government but do not surrender the lordship of Jesus to any part of it. Disciples reject the lordship of the president and of Washington DC and call government to be a servant for the people in a way that mimics the service churches provide in their communities. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

The book of Revelation reveals to us that the way to counter the government’s overreach is to begin with worship of the One on the throne, the Lamb in the middle of the throne, and the Seven Spirits around the throne. Dissidents see their preeminent act as worship. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

A dissident disciple does not grasp for power over others. Instead, the dissident disciple, following the way of the Lamb, serves the other. Their politics is a politics for others. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

No government is the new Jerusalem. Babylon extends its reach into every legislature, every justice system, and every executive branch. We do not live in new Jerusalem, and that means we must have the suspicion of a discerning dissident. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Thinking proximity to power will make the church more influential is as likely as the corner shop thinking Amazon will be the source of that business’s flourishing again. Babylon tolerates no rivals. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett