What is the Rapture?

Question

- http://4rapture.tripod.com/---I found this site...could this be coming to us all sooner then we think..

http://4rapture.tripod.com/

Answer 1

The rapture that is known by most Christians a a fictituous event that is not depicted in the Bible.

I have heard of this view many times before, but there are a couple questions I have about it. The most troubling problem with this theory is that it seems to negate the vary words of Jesus.

“Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, ‘Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?’ He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.’’” (Matthew 13:24 – 29 KJV)

Now that is an interesting story, and it can be a little confusing; fortunately, because the disciples found this story a little confusing they also and asked Jesus to explain if further. Because our God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), Jesus explained what this parable meant.

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, ‘Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.’ He answered and said unto them, ‘He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.’” (Matthew 13:36 – 42 KJV)

A closer study of this parable would seem to completely disprove the theory of a secret rapture of the church. Let’s take a look at what Jesus had to say about the time of the end through this parable. There are two groups on the earth represented by the wheat (the good or the church) and the tares (the evil). The workers of the field (probably representing angels) are troubled by the tares that the evil one (the devil) has planted. They ask the farmer (Jesus) if they should gather the weeds now and purify the field (the world). The farmer (Jesus) said that it should not happen that way because some of the wheat may come up with the tares. He then declares, “Let both grow together until the harvest (the end of the world): and in the time of harvest (the end of the world) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” I find it hard to be a proponent of a secret rapture for the church when Jesus said that both the good and the evil will grow together until the harvest (the end of the world). How can the church be raptured, leaving the evil on the earth, when Jesus said they will be together until the very end?

There is another issue raised by this parable. Many well intentioned Christians use the story in Matthew 24:40 & 41 and Luke 17:34 – 36 as key proof of a secret rapture for the church, but if we examine this story about the end times with the earlier story Jesus told about the end times in Matthew 13, we get a completely different picture from what most Christians interpret this story to mean. Let’s look at what Jesus said in these verses.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:40 – 42 KJV)

“I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:34 – 36 KJV)

Now I do not think that I am wrong in thinking that most Christians interpret these stories to mean that the man taken from the field, the woman that is taken while grinding, and the man taken in his sleep are the ones that belong to the group that is the church and are ruptured. This does not seem to be a plausible explanation however. Jesus gives an order for things to happen back in Matthew 13. “Gather ye together first the tares (the evil), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat (the good or the church) into my barn.” Jesus clearly says that the evil will be gathered first. If we take this understanding and apply it to Matthew 24 and Luke 17, we get a very different understanding. The ones that are taken are not in the group we want to be in. The ones who are taken are the tares (the evil) that are being gathered to be burned, but the ones that are left are the wheat (the good) that are saved.

There is another metaphor that many well intentioned Christians use to support a secret rapture for the church; I feel that this too is an invalid interpretation of a story.

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43 & 44 KJV)

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:39 & 40 KJV)

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15 KJV)

Here again, most Christians would attempt to say that this metaphor of a thief in the night is depicting a secret rapture for the church. I believe that most Christians have misinterpreted this too. First, Jesus explains what this metaphor means. He says that the meaning is not that the second coming is a secret but we do not know when it will occur. If we knew what day the Lord was to come, we would get ready the day before it, but since we do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), we must be ever ready! Just examine what Peter had to say of this metaphor in 2 Peter 3:10; he says that when the Lord comes as a thief,” the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therine shall be burned up.” Now I am not sure how all that could be kept a secret from anyone or how people would be able to live on the earth when it has passed away, burned up, and all the elements in it have melted.

Answer 2

The rapture is taken from the scripture 1 thessalonians 4:17. However it does not actually say the word rapture. I believe that word came during the Great Awakening in the United states.

In that scripture, Paul has gotten old and is in prison. He has realized that he may not be alive before Jesus comes again. So he writes to the Thessalonian church that
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not precede them 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 shall 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 so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.


Some mainline christian churches believe that the rapture will happen prior to the events outlined in the book of Revelation. Some do not however.

Actually the big signs after the birth pang sign are the following: a war upon Israel that is divinely thwarted (looks like this did not count), some-one comes forward to promise a false peace (ultimately this is the Anti-Christ), and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.

Hope that helps,
Vic

Answer 3

St.Paul tells us about the rapture in the two letters(Epistles) to the Thessalonians.The word rapture itself is not in the Bible but it's the Latin translation(from Jeromes Vulgate) of the Greek word to snatch or catch away.Thats where you get the (awful) word rape from,to snatch someone away.
St.Paul tells us in his Epistles that (speaking of the 2nd coming of Jesus and the 1rst ressurrection of the dead)That "the dead in Christ shall rise first,then we who are alive will be caught up in the air to meet Jesus and thus we shall always be with Him".The" caught up" is the Rapture.Horrible things are going to happen on this Earth.But the believers ,dead and alive will be taken out before that happens,then there will be a 7 year "tribulation period"where the Anti-Christ comes to power but that's a different question.Hey roosterman...the Catholics don't buy into the "rapture". Its's the Evangelicals.

Answer 4

The Rapture is an event in certain systems of Christian eschatology (the study of the end times) whereby it is believed that all Christians will be taken from Earth by Jesus Christ into Heaven. Although almost all forms of Christianity believe that those who are "saved" will enter Heaven, the term "rapture" is usually applied specifically to the belief that Christians will be taken into heaven prior to the Second Coming of Christ, and there will be a period of time where non-Christians will still be left on earth before Christ arrives to set up his earthly kingdom.

Answer 5

The Rapture is an event in certain systems of Christian eschatology (the study of the end times) whereby it is believed that all Christians will be taken from Earth by Jesus Christ into Heaven. Although almost all forms of Christianity believe that those who are "saved" will enter Heaven, the term "rapture" is usually applied specifically to the belief that Christians will be taken into heaven prior to the Second Coming of Christ, and there will be a period of time where non-Christians will still be left on earth before Christ arrives to set up his earthly kingdom.
The word "rapture" comes from the Latin verb rapere which means "to carry off, abduct, seize or take forcefully" (compare rape). It was used in the Latin Vulgate (about 405 AD) translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which is the primary biblical reference to the event in question, rapiemur "we shall be caught up" translating the original Greek harpagēsometha (ἁρπαγησόμεθα) (passive mood, future tense of harpazō (ἁρπάζω)).

Answer 6

The rapture is the second coming of Christ to carry those away from the tribulation period that is to follow. Only problem is before the rapture there is going to be a second Christian persecution. Those that are alive and remain will be caught up to Him. Then the dark days of the anti-Christ shall rule.

Answer 7

At what point do you wake up and realize that the Rapture is a fantasy? When will you realize that Jesus is not going to come to earth and rescue you from the mess you have had a part in making of this world? When are you going to realize that your life needs to reflect his teachings, and stop gazing into the sky awaiting his return?

Answer 8

The rapture is the precise moment when Jesus takes the souls to heaven.

And it is something people have been saying will happen soon for ages. Christians just need to relax. Just concentrate on being faithful and holy. And not worry about the precise moment it will happen. The preachers on TV drive me nuts because the majority of what they preach is fearing the end of the world. Just follow Christ.

Answer 9

Darby.
Rapture 1830 was formulated

The story goes that a woman was sick and delirious, Darby was at her bed side, she rambled and WA la the Rapture doctrine is formed. Spread like wild fire.

Don't you believe it!

There is a time at the END when Christ returns to earth the set up his kingdom that the faithful will be transfigured and rise to meet him and descend back to earth with him.
BUT the rapture says you will fly away from the anti-Christ with Christ to heaven. BS!!!!
We are here to be tested

Answer 10

The rapture is a belief by some Christians that God will resurrect believers that are on earth while those that have chosen to sin will be left behind.

Answer 11

The rapture is the event of God's people, those that have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, being caught up to meet Him (Jesus) in the air and going to Heaven with him until the 7 year tribulation period is over. ( See Revelations in the Bible).