what is rapture?

Question

house speaker:
i dont believe Jesus is the Messiah. this question was just out of curiosity and seeing it mentioned alot on this site.

Answer 1

Most of what you will read are pre-millennial views: the view that Christ's return will usher in a future millennium of Messianic rule mentioned in the book of Revelation before the final judgment. The believers of this doctrine also hold to the notion of a Rapture of the righteous beforehand.

Others hold that there will be only one second coming of Christ, at the time of the Final Judgment.

Then there are mixtures involving the views of the seven year tribulation and whether it is happening now, will happen later, etc.

These doctrines all fall under the general heading known as the study of end times, or eschatology.

Personally, I am an orthodox preterist.

For explanations of the various eschatological beliefs see: http://www.religioustolerance.org/millenni.htm

Some groups, such as the folks over at http://worldwide.familyradio.org believe the final judgment will be upon us sometime in mid-2011!

See also http://www.timehasanend.org/public/en_time_has_an_end_cont.html

Answer 2

In religion rapture means many things, specifically it means joining with Christ.

Fundementalist, non denominationals, and Evangelicals believe it is the moment when Christ will return to earth and remove all mortal Christians and present them with their immortal bodies. It is important to note that this theory is not supported by any mainline Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox Christian Church and did not come about until 1800s in Scotland.

The Fundementalist and other mentioned above think that there are 4 points at which this can accure:

Pretribulation rapture: Taken (out of context I may say) from the book of revelations believing that there will be 7 years of Tribulation, the Christian Church that exists will have no role in the tribulation and Jesus will take all those that are already faithful to him to heaven before that.

Mid Tribulation rapture: Taken again out of context from the book of revelation. That midway through the Tribulation when the AntiChrist commits his "desecrates the Temple in Jersulem" all Christian will then be removed from the earth and granted their immortal status.

Pre Wrath Rapture: When the AntiChrist has been revealed, all Christians will be removed and given their immortal life before God releases his wrath on the world.

Post Tribulation Rapture: Christian believers will be on earth as witnesses to Christ during the entire seven years of Tribulation and right up until the last day of the Second Coming until Jesus leaves the earth for the second time. This has supporting evidence within various scriptures.

For most (mainline Protestant denominations, Catholic, Orthodox) Christians the belief is that we experience our immortal life and rapture upon on our death.

It is a popular conception among fundamentalist they can determine the time of the rapture by clues in the bible. For example the Millerites on several occasions believing the deciphered the day dressed in white robe and climbed into the trees (I guess so the would not get stuck in them during their ascent) and waited for the rapture.

The rapture has no support in mainline Christianity, historical teachings, academic or historical biblical interpretations.

Answer 3

The rapture is what Paul talks about in his letter to the Thesalonians in 1Thesalonians 4 verse 17. So much for the rapture not being mainstream Christianity when the biggest proponent of Christianity speaks of it. People never will stop attacking the Word of God sigh. Basically what it is is God removing his people before sending great tribulations on earth for its wickedness. Kinda like God removing Noah and his family before punishing the people of his time in the great flood. Also How God took Lot and his family away from Sodom before destroying it with fire and brimstone. Seperating the wheat from the chaff that's what the rapture is about. Blessings and great question. I wonder if your a Messianic believer.

Answer 4

The rapture is the term used to describe an event foretold by Jesus in the Bible. (Matthew...Chapter 24 I think) It is when Jesus will come down and physically take every believer off the face of the planet so that they will suffer no harm during the tribulation period. That period is described in the book of Revelation. Some people believe that this rapture event will take place prior to the 7 year tribulation, others believe that it takes place in the middle of the tribulation and the old liners believe that it takes place at the second coming of Christ to earth...Judgement Day per se.

Answer 5

The Rapture is the end of the world, when God comes and takes everyone who is christian and has been living by his word with him back to heaven. And everyone who hasn't been living for him stays here and it becomes armagedon, and satan takes over the earth and everyone breaks out in war. And the people who are working for satan will be giving people "the mark of the beast" which in the bible doesn't specify what it is, but people think it could be a micro chip that is put into your body somewhere, and if you let them put it in you, then you will go to hell. All of this will go on for 7 years, then God will come back again for those who have become christian in that time. But none of that will happen until Israel is wiped off the map. When that happens, all hell is going to break loose.

Answer 6

The word "rapture" doesn't appear in the Bible. It is taken from the Greek word "rapare" which means "to snatch away or seize", and is used to describe the moment the Resurrection occurs. The Bible says that "IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE (something that will occur QUICKLY), all the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then those who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP (snatched, seized) to meet Him in the midway air."

Answer 7

The word "Rapture" comes from the Latin word "Rapare" which means to take away or to snatch out but there are no verses that has the word "rapture" in the bible.

I guess that means people are making it up or adding a word to revelation.

Answer 8

It is a word that discribes an future event in the Bible.

There is a disagreement as to when it will happen (some do not think it will happen), but I believe that before the Great Tribulation begins, Jesus will call His bride (believers) to meet Him in the sky. We will not die, but our bodies will be changed in the twinkling of an eye (in Genesis Enoch was translated up to Haven).

Answer 9

Rapture is a noun, singular, with early uses being noted in 1600, meaning "the act of carrying off." It is borrowed from the Middle French "rapture," which is derived from Latin "raptus," "a carrying off," based on the verb "rapere," meaning "to seize." It is related to the word "rape."

Answer 10

The rapure is when Jesus comes in the clouds and takes his followers back with him into heaven. then after his people are gone he also takes his holy speirt from the earth. after that the people of the earth have no guidens from the holy speirt. all heck will brake loose. then God will pour out his jugment on the none belivers. 2/3 of the humans will die.

i hope most of us will not be there