The "rapture theory".... Maybe I'll just be Catholic?

Question

The rapture theory says something like "The dead shall rise and all believers will be taken to Heaven in the blink of an eye." If this is true, I wonder where the dead Christians are now.

It doesn't make sense that they would go to Heaven after death, just to do it all over again. Provided, of course, that this theory is valid. I'm not so sure about it, but I had it drilled into me as a kid. Along with taking everything literally. It didn't stick though, I disagree with most of what I was taught. Some of it was just down right wrong. Nobody even told me who came up with the theory. That would've been nice to know.
Insight anyone?

Answer 1

The rapture is a man made theory.

Referring to Jesus' coming in the clouds. But that was not to be taken literally. When you cross reference those scriptures, it brings out how Jesus is going to be "seen and heard by all" through the fact that it will a world wide thing. Everyone would know without a shadow of a doubt.

Answer 2

Okay the rapture theory is a terrific use of the word 'theory' though we have a dissenter among us. Indeed "Rapture" is a made up idea in mid 1880's.

If you think about it, the "Rapture" in essence is saying that Christ will not have a "Third" Coming...His first which we all know about, then the "Rapture" which will be people alive and supposedly flying airplanes if you want to believe the wacky "Left Behind" series. Then Christ will come AGAIN the Last Days? Kookie, heh? It doesn't fly, does it?

Christ promised to return again, a second time and that's it; it is during the Final Judgment....wayyyyy after everything is said and done and Satan is chained forevermore.

Now there is something that is called "Resurrection of the Body". When someone dies and they're soul either goes to Heaven or Hell. That is the soul. Yet, the body is does not go through the torments of hell or the happiness in heaven. During the Final Judgment; both the body and soul will be reunited and together have torment or happiness. Not really 'fair' that the body subjected itself to temptations and sin and cost the life of the soul to be damned; and vice versa.

Do not confuse the two. I think people may and perhaps that is why the Rapture is so prevalent among Fundamentalist Christians.

Answer 3

The rapture is very Biblical, and makes sense considering God's pattern when judging a people. First comes condemnation, then warning, then removal of His people, then judgment.
Also, the "restrainer" must be removed before the man of sin can be revealed. The "restrainer" has to be God, the Holy Spirit. Only God can restrain Satan. If the Holy Spirit is to be removed, the Church must go with Him.
To those who think the rapture was made up in the 1800's, a sermon by someone named "Psuodo-Ephraim" spoke of it well before then. Here is the info on this.

"The actual historic person is often referred to as St. Ephraim of Edessa, the Syrian. Edessa is a city in modern Turkey, near Antioch, which is now called Antakya. He was born in the city of Nisibis, Mesopotamia in 306 and died in 373. He was a monk, a poet, a hymn writer, and teacher. It is said that Ephraim attended the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, accompanying his bishop, James of Nisibis.
Ephraim (or alternately "Ephrem") the Syrian is recognized as a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. He grew to be one of the primary figures of importance in the Syrian church. Of his writings, we still have copies of his commentaries on the Old and New Testament, numerous sermons and some 72 hymns.
None of that is particularly controversial. That's reasonably settled history. However, history also has produced a person who has come to be known as "Pseudo-Ephraim." This was a person who wrote under the name "Ephraim the Syrian," probably to give his writing credibility and added weight. But, historians doubt that these later documents were actually penned by the original saint.
Now, one of these documents in question is called "Sermon on the End of the World." There is considerable variation over the time of its authorship, although estimates range anywhere from 373 to 627 AD. Now, this sermon is relatively short, just under 1500 words. It is preserved in four Latin manuscripts, but there are also Greek and Syriac versions remaining. Evidence leads scholars to conclude that the first version of the sermon was most likely written in Syriac, translated into Greek, and from there into Latin.
What's interesting about the multiple early manuscripts, all dating from around the same period, is that the original sermon appears to have been so popular that it was quickly translated into the major languages of the day in order to circulate it widely among the early Church. This was not a hidden, or "shadowy" bit of teaching. This was a popular and well-read document."
The portion of the sermon that deals with the rapture is as follows:
"For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins."
A good rule of thumb is that if the Bible says one thing and you believe something different, one of you is wrong, and it isn't the Bible.

Answer 4

The "Rapture" is not a theory it's a fact. The bible is REAL and what will happen will take place. The scriptures are spiritually discern and of course you wouldn't understand unless you do as Romans 10:9-11 (read if for yourself) if you have a bible. Check it out!

Answer 5

The origins of the doctrine of the rapture are hotly debated. The Orthodox, mainline Protestant, and Roman Catholic churches, which represent the majority of Christians worldwide, have no tradition of such a teaching and reject the doctrine, in part because they cannot find any reference to it among any of the early Church fathers and in part because they do not interpret the scriptures the way that Rapture-believers do.

Live long and prosper .

Answer 6

There is nothing mysterious about the spirit that returns to God at death. It is the breath of life.
"The body without the spirit ["breath," see margin] is dead." James 2:26. "The spirit of God ["the breath which God gave him," see margin] is in my nostrils." Job 27:3.

The spirit that returns to God at death is the breath of life. Nowhere in all of God's book does the "spirit" have any life, wisdom, or feeling after a person dies. It is the "breath of life" and nothing more.

These four people are four souls.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7.

Answer: A soul is a living being. A soul is always a combination of two things: body plus breath. A soul cannot exist unless body and breath are combined. God's Word teaches that we are souls.

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:20. "Every living soul died in the sea." Revelation 16:3.

According to God's Word, souls do die! We are souls, and souls die. Man is mortal (Job 4:17). Only God is immortal (1 Timothy 6:15, 16). The concept of an undying, immortal soul goes against the Bible, which teaches that souls are subject to death.

"All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth." John 5:28, 29. "David ... is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day." "For David is not ascended into the heavens." Acts 2:29, 34. "If I wait, the grave is mine house." Job 17:13.


No, people do not go either to heaven or hell at death. They go to their graves to await the resurrection day. King David will be saved in God's kingdom. However, he is in his grave now, where he awaits the resurrection.


"The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." "There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10. "The dead praise not the Lord." Psalms 115:17.

God says that the dead know absolutely nothing!


Though millions think it is possible, the dead cannot communicate with the living.
"So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." "His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them." Job 14:12, 21. "Neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:6.

No, the dead cannot contact the living, nor do they know what the living are doing. They are dead. Their thoughts have perished (Psalms 146:4).

"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12. "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, ... and the dead in Christ shall rise ... and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. "We shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, ... and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. ... For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

They will be rewarded. They will be raised, given immortal bodies, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air. There would be no purpose in a resurrection if people were taken to heaven at death.

"They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, ... Neither can they die any more." Luke 20:35, 36. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4.

No! Death, sorrow, crying, and tragedy will never enter into God's new kingdom.

Answer 7

Here is Catholic teaching concerning the "rapture":

The Rapture
1 Thess. 4:16-17 - Paul writes that "we will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." Many Protestants call this experience the "rapture" (even though the word "rapture" is not found in the Bible, although is derived from the Latin vulgate of this verse – “rapiemur”). John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15:52 - these are other passages that Protestants use to support the rapture experience. The question Protestantism has raised is “when will the rapture occur?” They have developed three theories – (1) post-tribulation; (2) pre-tribulation; and, (3) mid-tribulation. We address these theories later on. But first, here is some more background.

Rev. 20:2-3; 7-8 – John sees the vision of an angel who seizes satan and binds him for a period of a thousand years. Protestants generally call this period of a thousand years the “millennium.” The “millennium” is a harbinger of the end of the world, and the theories of when the “rapture” will occur center around this period of time. We should also note that the “thousand years” language is part of apocalyptic literature and should not be interpreted literally. For example, in Psalm 50:10, we see the cattle on a "thousand hills." The word "thousand" here obviously means a lot of hills. In Dan. 7:10, a "thousand thousands" served him. Again, "thousand" means a lot. In 2 Peter 3:8, with God one day is a "thousand" years and a "thousand" years is one day. "Thousand" is symbolic for a long time. It is not to be taken literally.

There are three ways that Protestants interpret the meaning of the thousand year “millennium” (and the interpretation leads to answering when they think the rapture will occur).

(1) Post-millennialism – this view interprets the “thousand years” as a very long time. This view also holds that God’s kingdom is being advanced in the world by His grace and the world will eventually be Christianized. Then Christ will return at the close of this period during a time of righteousness and peace. The problem with this view is that the Scriptures do not teach that the world will be even relatively Christianized before the Second Coming. For example, in Matt. 13:24-30;36-43, Jesus says the wicked and the righteous will co-exist until the end of the world, when they will be judged, and either inherit eternal life, or be thrown into eternal fire.

(2) Pre-millenialism (also called “millenarianism”) – like post-millennialists, this view also interprets the “thousand years” as a golden age on earth when the world will be Christianized. But they believe that this period will occur after Christ’s second coming, during which time Christ will reign physically on earth. They believe the Final Judgment occurs when the millennium is over. But Scripture does not teach that there is a thousand year span between the Second Coming and Final Judgment. Instead, Jesus said that when He comes a second time in glory, He will immediately repay every man for what he has done. Matt. 16:27. When Jesus comes, He will separate the sheep from the goats and render judgment. Matt. 25:31-46. There is nothing about any period of time between His coming and final judgment.

(3) Amillennialism – this view also interprets the “thousand years” symbolically, but, ulike the pre and post views, not as a golden age on earth. This view believes the millennium is the period of Christ’s rule in heaven and on earth through His Church. This is because the saints who reign with Christ and to whom judgment has been committed are said to be on their thrones in heaven. Rev. 20:4; cf. 4:4; 11:16. During this time, satan is bound and cannot hinder the spread of the gospel. Rev. 20:3. This is why, they explain, Jesus teaches the necessity of binding the “strong man” (satan) in order to plunder his house and rescue people from his grip. Matt. 12:29. This is also why, after the disciples preached the gospel and rejoiced that the demons were even subject to them, Jesus declared, “I saw satan fall like lightening from heaven.” Luke 10:18. Nevertheless, during this period, the world will not be entirely Christianized because satan, though bound, is still in some sense able to prowl around and attack souls. cf. 1 Peter 5:8. Of the three, this position is most consistent with Catholic teaching (the pre and post-millennium views have been rejected by the Church).

2 Thess. 2:1-4 – concerning the Second Coming of Christ, Scripture teaches (and most Protestants believe) that Christ’s coming will be preceded by a time of rebellion, lawlessness and persecution. Protestants often refer to this period as the “tribulation” (although the word “tribulation” cannot be found in the Scripture passages Protestants use to support the “rapture”). So the question is, when will the 1 Thess. 4:16-17 “rapture” occur, in light of the tribulation and Christ’s Second Coming? Here are the three theories previously mentioned:

(1) Post-tribulational view – this view holds that the rapture will occur right after the tribulation and immediately before the Second Coming of Christ. This view can be consistent with Scripture and Catholic teaching to the extent it holds that the rapture and Christ’s Second Coming occur together, after the tribulation and the Church Militant on earth. See, for example, Matt. 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; 2 Thess. 1:1-12.

(2) Pre-tribulational view – this view holds that the rapture will occur before the tribulation. The problem with this view is that it requires three comings of Christ – first, when He was born in Bethlehem; second, when He returns for the rapture before the tribulation; third, when He returns at the end of the tribulation and establishes the millennium. Scripture rejects three comings of Christ. In Heb. 9:28, it is clear that Christ will appear a second and final time, when he comes in glory to save us. This view also is inconsistent with Matt. 24:24-31; Mark 13:24-27; and 2 Thess. 2:1-12 where the rapture and the Second Coming occur together.

(3) Mid-tribulational view – this view holds that the rapture will occur during the middle of the tribulation. The problem with this view is that it also requires three comings of Christ – first, when He was born in Bethlehem; second, when He returns for the rapture during the middle of the tribulation; third, when He returns at the end of the tribulation and establishes the millennium. As seen in Heb. 9:28, Scripture rejects three comings of Christ. The view is also inconsistent with Matt. 24:24-31; Mark. 13:24-27; and 2 Thess. 2:1-12.

2 Peter 3:8-15 – instead of worrying about when the rapture will occur, Christians should follow Peter’s instruction to repent of their sins, live lives of holiness and godliness, be zealous and at peace, and wait for the Lord’s coming with forbearance and joy!

Answer 8

Their soul is in heaven right now with Jesus. But in the rapture, our mortal bodies will be reunited with our souls and become immortal and incorruptible.

Answer 9

Good idea. Come home. No part of the Church EVER believed in the "Rapture" until it was made-up (by the twisting Scripture) until the 1800's.

Answer 10

Marget MacDonald in 1832