Rapture in the Bible?

Question

I was wondering if anyone can tell me where in scropture does it talk about the rapture. As far as I can see there is not a rapture of any sort. The reason I feel this way is because in revelation 18:4 it states .... And I heard another voice from heaven saying, " Come out of her, my people , lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. What I gather from this is we must move out of this Empire Babylon, which as far as I can tell and almost 100% positive that this Empire is the United States and it's coming of the New World Order. So if anyone is knows where in the Bible it speaks of a rapture of some sort please edify me on this.

Answer 1

The word "rapture" does not occur in the Bible. The concept of the Rapture, though, is clearly taught in Scripture. The Rapture of the church is the event in which God removes all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgment to be poured out on the earth during the Tribulation period. The Rapture is described primarily in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 describes the Rapture as God resurrecting all believers who have died, giving them glorified bodies, and then departing the earth with those believers who were still alive, who have also been given glorified bodies. "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. 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" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).



1 Corinthians 15:50-54 focuses on the instantaneous nature of the Rapture and on the glorified bodies we will receive. "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The Rapture is the glorious event we should all be longing for. We will finally be free from sin. We will be in God's presence forever. There is far too much debate over the meaning and scope of the Rapture. This is not God’s intent. Rather, in regards to the Rapture, God wants us to “encourage each other with these words.”

Answer 2

Yes the Rapture is in the Bible. The verses mentioned before (1 Corinthians 15:50-54, & 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ) are some of the more commonly quoted verses, but there are a couple more less common ones that you should throw into the pot with the rest so that you get the right stew going... Matthew 24:29,30,&31 tell that the Day of the Lord and the gathering of the elect (the rapture) won't happen until AFTER the great tribulation. (but before the wrath) The wrath of God is not poured out upon the earth until the 7th trumpet of Revelation; When that trumpet sounds, we go up and graves are opened for the dead to rise... (Daniel 12:2) That trumpet could very well be the same trumpet Paul refers to as "The last trump".
Keep reading the Bible; Learn of these things for yourself...And it's still the best roadmap back to God.

Answer 3

Matthew 22: 1,14
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming.

In the Rapture the Church is taken out. It is a private love affair. The Second Coming is visible; when Christ returns with His Church as King of Kings.

Can't find it? Most every time you read a story about a good woman in the Bible, and what happens to her, you are reading about the Rapture. The entire book of Ruth is about the Rapture of the Church. The Song of Solomon is about living the Christian life in the spirit and ones experience in Christ leading to the Rapture.

It should be clear that you cannot have an event that "all flesh sees it together" and the same event when it comes as a thief in the night and one is taken from a bed and the other left or one taken from the field and another left.

In general, the first part of the Revelation deals with the Rapture, the middle with the Tribulation, the very end with the Second Coming. Then there are references to both salted throughout the book. Unless you are Jewish a lot of this book does not apply to you.

You are right about coming out of this world, don't fail to do it. You should not be here for chapter 18.

The Rapture is underway now in August 2006. You can read about it by reading something that 2,000 years ago was a parable of the kingdom being presented at that time. It stands today as a parable of the wedding supper (Rapture).
Matthew 22: 1,14

Answer 4

Revelation:

In chapter one, John relates the circumstances that led to the writing of this book. In chapters 2 and 3, Jesus gives special messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor. Suddenly John is caught uo into heaven, where he sees a vision of God Almighty on his throne. All of Christ's followers and the heavenly angels are worshiping God. John watches as God gives a scroll with 7 seals to the worthy Lamb, Jesus Christ. The Lamb begins to open the seals one by one. As each seal is opened, a new vision appears.

The 1st four seals shows riders on horses of different colours - war, famine, disease and death are in their path. The 5th seal shows those in heaven who have been martyed for their faith in Christ. The 6th seal shows on one side a huge earthquake, stars falling from the sky, and the sky rolling up like scroll. On the other side there are multitudes before the great throne, worshipping and praising God and the Lamb. The 7th seal shows God's judgments announced by 7 angels with 7 trumpets.

The final 3 chapters oof Revelation catalogue the events that finalize Christ's victory over the enemy: Satan's 1000-year imprisonment, the final judgment and the creation of a new earth and a New Jerusalem.

Revelation concludes with the promise of Christ's return, an offer to drink of the water of life that flows through the great street of the New Jerusalem, and a warning to those who read the book.

Answer 5

The word "rapture" isn't in the Bible.

Just a thought...

If the Jews are God's "chosen people" and they have suffered since the beginning of time, and Christians and Jews both believe in the God of the Old Testament... Then why would God save believers from the tribulation?

If this life is a test, then why would God spare people who love him from the ultimate test?

Just my opinion... Outspoken Christians who like to protest abortions, gay marriage etc also believe in the rapture. It's a form of elitism. Look how good I am because I love God, sure I sin, but I'm forgiven. The rapture is just another extension of this... I am loved by God, so I am spared from what the rest of you unsaved sinners are going to go through. Of course, no one is going to come out and say that.

Answer 6

Mathew 24 vs 40,41 +
The word rapture is not found in the bible. It is the word used to refer to a happening that will take place one day. What it refers to can be found in Mathew, Mark and Luke, as they tell what Jesus had told them.

Answer 7

1Cr 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Cr 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Th 4:17 Then we which 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.

I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!

Answer 8

There is no secret rapture the Bible says that every eye shall see Him and every mouth shall confess. If it was secret the Bible wouldn't say every eye shall see Him.

Answer 9

You have really asked two questions. First the rapture.

“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.

Now about Babylon. In Revelation, it represents false forms of religion, and the call is to get out of churches that do not teach what the Bible does.

Answer 10

who cares what the Bible says, did you know that all 12 apostles wrote Gospels, yet only 4 are in the Bible, there are many other books that should be included as well...know why? because they were all written by men therefore are flawed, so to say the bible is the inspired, inerrant word of God is Blasphemy in itself. Yeah all you christians out there get pissed off and write me a dirty email, keep believing exactly what you are told to and never question anything or dig for real true answers. Ever wonder why in the bible it refurs to preachers as shepards and the congregation as sheep?