Why I believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, part 1
Recently a friend of mine presented me with a PDF of 19 reasons that they don’t believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. So I’m going to do a breakdown of all 19 arguments they gave me, as to why I do believe that all believers in Jesus will be escorted to Heaven before the final 7 years of this age.
First a few definitions for those of you who are not as familiar with the prophetic nature of the bible and some of the terminology used around it. These definitions vary slightly based on which stance you take in your interpretation of scripture, but for my sake, these are my definitions:
The Tribulation - A 7 year period that is started by a treaty involving most of the middle east countries and Israel, and culminates with the return of Jesus to earth (Daniel 9:24-27)
The Rapture - The removal of the church by Jesus before the tribulation, to take us to heaven to be with him (John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)
Post-Tribulation (post-trib’ers) - those who believe the rapture of the church occurs after the tribulation
Pre-Tribulation (Pre-Trib’ers) - Those who believe the rapture of the church occurs before the tribulation period
The Argument, #1
“Matthew 24:29-31 states in rather plain language that the rapture happens “immediately after the (Great) Tribulation.” Those who embrace a pre-trib view generally respond to this by asserting that “the elect” in this passage applies to the Jews, not the church. Post-trib’ers would respond by showing there is no scriptural proof of this. To the contrary, a study of the word “elect” or “election” in the New Testament reveals that every time the word is used, it refers to the church, not to the Jews. The most poignant case of this is Romans 11:7. Even in Matthew 24 itself, Jesus uses the word elect (verses 22 and 24) to refer to the church, not to the unbelieving Jewish people. Further support of verse 31 being the rapture of the church are the verses that follow it. Verse 40 speaks of two being in the field – one is taken, the other left. Both camps agree this refers to the rapture. Matthew 24:29-31 is the rapture and Jesus gave us the timing – it occurs after the Great Tribulation.”
This first argument lays out 3 points we have to address:
The rapture of the church is described in Matthew 24:31, “immediately after the tribulation of those days” - so the rapture must be after the tribulation!
The word “elect” in this passage refers to the church not the Jews, and there is no scriptural proof to refute this, and every time the word “elect” or “election” is used in the New Testament it refers to the Church, not the Jews. The “most poignant” example of this is Romans 11:7
Vs 31 is the rapture, and vs 40 further clarifies that by adding details of of people being taken and left. Both Pre and Post-trib’ers agree this is the rapture (well…. hang on now.)
My response in TL:DR form (too long didn’t read):
Point #1 and #2 Is God dealing with the fact that he has his “chosen” people , the Jews, spread out all over the world, and Immediately after the (70th week of Daniel) tribulation of those days, Jesus will send forth his Angels on a regathering mission to bring the believing Jews back to the promised land to rule and reign with Christ Jesus fulfilling all the promises and covenants God made to them in the old testament.
Point #3 is God dealing with the fact that there are gentile believers who have been “chosen” as well, and they need to be separated from the non-believers who have survived to the start of the Millennial reign, because at the beginning of it, there will be no one alive who doesn’t believe.
But don’t take my word for it, let’s flesh it out…
Flesh It Out
“29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. ”
“32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. ”
Point #1 - The rapture of the church is described in Matthew 24:31, “immediately after the tribulation of those days” - so the rapture must be after the tribulation!
… But actually, I believe this is describing the regathering of the Jews back to the land of Israel as promised by God all over the old testament, not the rapture of the church. The language used here and the individuals performing the work don’t align with the verses related to the rapture. We will look first at 2 verses describing the rapture, then look at 3 different promises from the old testament that God made to the Jews in regard to their homecoming and see which event this discussion in Matthew 24 is pointing to.
Rapture vs Regathering
The Rapture
The Rapture of the church is described and alluded to throughout the entirety of the bible, and if you have an upcoming 80 hour road trip, may I suggest Andy Woods 74 part sermon series as good road trip audio - but lets look at 2 of the main verses that I used in the definitions area above.
“3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Jesus speaking here to the disciples (minus Judas who has just left the room) at the last supper, describes how Jesus is leaving, to prepare a place for “you”, his followers, and Jesus will come back and take you, his followers, to be with Jesus, so we the followers can be where Jesus is.
Jesus is doing the work. Jesus comes back to where we are, and Jesus takes us to where he is.
“16 For 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 first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
The exposition Paul gives in 1 Thessalonians is the quintessential rapture breakdown. Again, Jesus comes from where he went, raising his dead followers back to life, and rapturing, or “catching away”, or “caught up” here, the followers who are living at this time to meet Jesus and the now resurrected followers of Jesus with Jesus in the clouds, and we will be with him forever.
You cant miss the similarities between these two passages.
Jesus is doing the work. Jesus coms back to where we are, and Jesus takes us to where he is - raising some of us back from the dead in the process, and upgrading all of us to brand new bodies at the same time!
The Regathering
The regathering of the Jews to the land of Israel is a promise God made throughout the Old Testament, but specifically in Deuteronomy 30 -
“When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, 2 and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. 4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. ”
God’s promised regathering here references the “most distant land”, “Unto the outmost parts of heaven” in the KJV. The Hebrew here is qāṣê (H7096) šāmayim (H8064).
The connotation is the [end, extremity, border, outskirts] of [heaven, heavens, sky, atmosphere]
The lesson for the Jew here is that no matter where you end up, God hasn’t lost sight of you, and He will bring you back.
“He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. ”
God’s promises to assemble (āsap̄ - H622) the scattered (dāḥâ - H1760).
The connotation is to [gather, receive, remove, collect, to gather harvest] the [driven away, overthrown, outcast]
His promise is to gather them from the four quarters (kānāp̄ - H3670) of the earth ('ereṣ - H776)
That is the four [extremity, edge, border, corner] of the earth.
The lesson for the Jew here is that you are driven away from your land, even to the furthest point you can get, but God will gather you again - and it will be as a sign to all the Nations that Yahweh is God.
“12 In that day the Lord will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, Israel, will be gathered up one by one. 13 And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem. ”
God promises to “gather” (*lāqaṭ - H3950) Israel one by one coinciding with “a great (gāḏôl - H1419) trumpet (šôp̄ār - H7782)”*
The 1st reference to the trumpet in scripture is the voice of God - Exodus 19:16
This is the only time in the O.T. that “great trumpet” is used.
The lesson for the Jew here is that this personal regathering by God is individual and unprecedented, and it will put the entire world on notice that Yahweh is the God of Israel and the Jews are the people of God.
The promise had a pre-requisite of obedience, as stated in Deuteronomy 30:2 and Matthew 23:39 - Matthew 24:31 is the fulfillment of the promised regathering.
“and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, ”
“For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” ”
“And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
Notice the familiar language that Jesus uses in Matthew 24:31 to bring to mind the old testament scriptures the Jews would recognize?
“loud trumpet” - Isaiah 27
Four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other - Deut 30 and Isaiah 11
Four Winds (*anemos - G417), from one end (akron - G206) heaven (ouranos - G3772) to the other (akron - G206)*
The connotation is the four [quarters of earth (literally the strong’s definition)], from [the farthest bounds, uttermost parts, ends, extreme] of [the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible, the universe, the world]
Jesus choice of words here a clear reference the “most distant land under the heavens” as Moses prophesied in Deut 30:4. From the Thayer’s greek lexicon: “The ancients conceived of the expanded sky as an arch or vault the outmost edge of which touched the extreme limits of the earth; hence such expressions as Matthew 24:31”. It’s similar to saying from one horizon to the other.
The understanding from the Jews listening to, and hearing the recounting of this conversation, was that Jesus was describing the fulfillment of the regathering promised to the Jews by God through Moses and Isaiah. As Jesus was using the same language, same analogies, and had now given them an anchor on the prophetic calendar of God for when this would happen.. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days”
Point #2 - The word “elect” in this passage refers to the church not the Jews, and there is no scriptural proof to refute this, and every time the word “elect” or “election” is used in the New Testament it refers to the Church, not the Jews. Jesus uses the word twice (v22, 24) to refer to the church.
Lets look at it from the NIV translation -
The book of Matthew has (3) uses of elect - 24:22, 24:24 and 24:31. The book of Mark also contains (3) references: 13:20, 13:22, 13:27 - all of which are Jesus referencing this group as it relates to his discourse on the end of the age, in which I believe contains no “church” members, as we have already been raptured to Heaven, but instead references the believing Jews, as outlined in point #1
The usages indicate (3) actions by God on behalf of the “elect”
God protects them from extinction (to then be gathered home.. see point #1)
God protects them from deception as the deception of that time will be so intense that if it weren’t for God’s choosing of these people they would be lead away from the truth.
God brings them home (again.. see point #1)
Romans has (2) election and (1) elect
Romans 9:11 - Paul is giving a commentary on God choosing one person over another, and using Jacob and Esau as examples of how God’s “election” of one over the other was purely God’s sovereign choice, and nothing to do with the “works” of either individual. Certainly here in this instance this word is not referring to the Church, but rather God’s chosen person, Jacob.
Romans 11:7 - The questioner’s “moist poignant” example of this “elect” or “election” referencing the church -
“I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.””
I quoted all of verses 1-8 to provide a full context for what Paul is writing about -
Paul is explaining that there is a small minority of believers in the Jewish population, a “remnant chosen by grace” (v5) and that their righteousness was not obtained through their adherence to the law, but by God’s free will to choose them for salvation. It was not because they “sought so earnestly” (v7) but because they were “chosen by grace”(v5).
The “elect”(v7) and the “chosen” (v5) are the same word - *eklogē.* It’s not indicative of Jew or Gentile, Israelite or Greek, Lutheran or Baptist.. its indicative of saved or unsaved. Chosen by God to receive the gift of salvation by faith in Jesus, or hardened.
Romans 11:28 - Paul is reiterating that the Jews are “enemies” of the gentiles in regards to the gospel, being that the Jews are the ones who disregard the gospel, who crucified their own Messiah.. however if they put their faith in that same Messiah, they become part of the “election” because God called the Nation of Israel to be his people, and his call is irrevocable.
1 Timothy 5:21 - Paul is charging Timothy in the sight of the “elect angels” - not the church.
2 Timothy 2:10 - Paul is reminding Timothy that no suffering is too great if it leads to a lost sinner joining the body of believers. This instance could certainly be understood as a non church member becoming a church member, but I believe that definition is shallow and doesnt capture the true meaning of the word in the context of all the other verses.
Titus 1:1 - Paul describes his ministry as an effort to “further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness”. Again this could specifically mean “the church” as far as those in the church are chosen by God to receive salvation, but I believe all the scriptural context is pointing to a larger definition.
1 Peter 1:1 - Paul addresses his letter to the “God’s elect”
2 Peter 2:10 - Peter encourages the believers (brothers and sisters) to confirm their “calling and election” by practicing the application found in vs 5-7. He says in vs 9 that if you dont have those qualities of vs 5-7, you are “nearsighted and blind, forgetting that (you) have been cleansed from (your) past sins.”
Lets look back at the text from the argument.
The word Jesus uses in these verse is eklektos (See here), which is used 23 times in the new testament, but only 8 times by Jesus:
(6) Instances reference this end times narrative across multiple gospel accounts: (Matthew 24:22, 24, 31; Mark 13:20, 22, 27) and (2) Instances that are not in reference to this end times narrative:
Matthew 20:16 (KJV), and 22:14 (KJV) - many are called, but few chosen… This is a reference to the “Kingdom of Heaven” - many are invited, but not all accept the invitation - Jesus’ ministry was to the Jews of the 1st century, so I believe this reference of “chosen” is describing the Jews of the 1st century who would accept the invitation, and by association the Church that was grafted into the promises of God (Romans 11:17, Ephesians 1:4)
Luke 18:7 - Shall God not avenge his own elect… Again, Jesus is preaching to Jews about a non God-fearing judge who was responsive to persistence. He was comparing how much God would hear the cries of his chosen people (the Jews.. see verses below) who persistently prayed to Him.
Jesus did discuss the church (ekklēsia - G1577)... twice.
“18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ”
“17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. ”
In the Septuagint (pre-Christian greek translation of the old testament), the word was used in reference to the congregation of Israel. Because no one knew the mystery that salvation would be extended to gentiles (Ephesians 3:6). I’m using all these verses to indicate that the word is indicative of your salvation not your heritage or membership.
Here’s a few old testament examples of God refering to the Jews is bāḥar (see here) and interestingly, one of its translations into English is "elect'" and rendered in the translations below as “chosen”
“6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. 7 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. ”
“2 for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.”
Another word used for "elect" is bāḥîr (see here)
“For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me.”
“No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. ”
I believe the biblical definition of this word “elect” is a reference people who God chose before the foundation of the world to be saved (Ephesians 1:4) - Jew, Gentile, natural branch, grafted in branch. We are all sinners saved by grace. If you understand from point #1 that the verse is in reference to the regathering of the Jews as promised throughout scripture, then this use of the word “elect” to signify the Jews makes total sense. If Jesus, a Jew, speaking to other Jews, as they sat on the mount of Olives looking at the Jewish temple, discussing the future of the Jewish temple and the Jewish people, randomly inserted commentary about a previously undisclosed group of people (the church) it would not make sense, it would not have answered their question, and it would have confused them. Instead he used terms, phrases, and quotes that the Jewish listeners would be familiar with and he began to connect the dots of the prophetic future that the nation of Israel would experience.
Point #3 - Vs 31 is the rapture, and vs 40 further clarifies that by adding details of of people being taken and left. Both Pre and Post-trib’ers agree this is the rapture (well…. hang on now.)
To get the context on vs 40, I included vs 32-40 at the top of this section, but here it is again:
“32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. ”
If we understand the rapture (harpazō - G726) to be the taking of the righteous believers off the earth, then contextually why is Jesus comparing this “taking” in verse 40 to the unrighteous in the days of Noah (vs 37-49)? The analogy is that just as the unrighteous didn’t see the flood coming in the days of Noah, the unrighteous again won’t see the final judgement coming at the 2nd coming of Jesus.
The Sheep and Goats Judgement
If we jump ahead one chapter in Matthew, Jesus is telling the disciples about the judgement of the nations at the end of the age. Its commonly referred to as the sheep and goats judgement. The synopsis is that however you treat Jews during the tribulation period will affect where you spend the Millennial reign, the 1000 years after the 2nd coming when Jesus is ruling and reigning from Jerusalem, in person, on earth (Revelation 20:1-10). I believe he is giving a brief outline of it here in Matthew 24:32-40 before he gives a more detailed breakdown further in His discourse in Matthew 25.
“31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. [THIS IS THE 2ND COMING, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST, AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION - TG] 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” ”
Notice who is doing what..
Jesus does the separating (v32).. sheep on his right, goats on his left.
The sheep (Believers (i.e. righteous - vs 37) who have survived the tribulation) are invited into the kingdom because of their belief in Christ, as evidenced by their love and compassion (v35) towards Jews and Israel.
The goats (non believers (i.e. cursed, unrighteous - vs 41) who have survived the tribulation) are sent to the eternal fire prepared for the Devil, because they were not believers, as evidenced by their hatred (v42) of the Jews and Israel.
The actions of the sheep and goats are the evidence of their faith, or lack of faith (James 2:26), and their actions are directed towards the third people group = “brothers and sisters of mine” (v47)
These are the believing Jews who will enter into the 1000 year reign of Jesus.
We are getting deep here, so hang on with me, if you are still here! But there are 3 groups of people who are with Jesus on earth to kick off His Millennial reign.
The Raptured church, all believers that were sealed with the Holy Spirit as a promise of their inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14), will be ruling and reigning with Christ (Revelation 20:4, Revelation 2:26-28, Revelation 3:21) in our glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).
The remnant of the Israel nation (Revelation 12:6), who called out to God for rescue and have placed their faith in Jesus as their Savior.
The “sheep”, or believing gentiles, who placed their faith in Jesus as their savior, as evidenced by their compassion towards the Jewish people during the preceeding 7 years
My Summary Response to all 3 points
I believe scripture interprets scripture and what it is saying is that:
Point #1 and #2: Is God dealing with the fact that he has his “chosen” people , the Jews spread out all over the world.
immediately after the (70th week of Daniel) tribulation of those days, Jesus will send forth his Angels on a regathering mission to bring the believing Jews back to the promised land to rule and reign with Christ Jesus fulfilling all the promises and covenants God made to them in the old testament.
Point #3: is God dealing with the fact that there are gentile believers who have been “chosen” as well, and they need to be separated from the non-believers who have survived to the start of the Millennial reign, because at the beginning of it, there will be no one alive who doesn’t believe.
Which camp do you belong to?
So dear reader, we reach the end of argument #1 - I’d love to hear from anyone who is still with us, what are your thoughts on all this? When do you believe the rapture will occur, do you believe the rapture will occur?
Actually, lets table that.
Regardless of the rapture timing, will you spend eternity with Jesus or separated from Him? Will you accept the free gift of salvation that He is offering you, or will you turn up your nose and turn your back on your creator who while you were yet a sinner, while you were yet powerless, while you were still His enemy became your sin and took the punishment from God for your sin in hopes that you would meet another saved sinner and hear about what Jesus did for them and come to the realization that he loves you more fiercely than you could ever begin to imagine. He has more compassion and grace for you than you could ever spend in two eternities. God emptied the treasuries of Heaven and sent His son, Jesus, to pay the price for the sins you and I commit each and every day that would separate us from right standing before God. He redeems and restores us because we could never do it ourselves. We don’t deserve it, we cant repay him for it and that’s just how He likes it.
“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.”
“16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”