What is rapture?

Question

And why don't us Catholics believe in it? Where in the bible does it come from?

Answer 1

There are many Christians who believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ will be in two phases. First He will come for believers, both living and dead, in the "rapture"; "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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" (1st Thessalonians 4:13-17).
In this view, the rapture—which is the transformation and catching up of all Christians, dead or alive, to meet Christ in the air—will be secret, for it will be unknown to the world of unbelievers at the time of its happening. The effect of this removal, in the absence of multitudes of people, will, of course, be evident on earth. Then, second, after a period of seven years of tribulation on earth, Christ will return to the earth together with His church, the saints who were raptured (Matthew 24:30, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:13, Revelation 1:7). He will be victorious over His enemies and will reign on the earth for a thousand years (the millennium) together with His saints, the church. After the thousand years, living unbelievers and the wicked dead now raised to life will be judged at the great white throne judgment. They will then be cast into the lake of fire, while the saved will live forever with Christ in a new heaven and earth (Revelation, chapters 19-22).

Many other evangelical Christians believe that Christ's return and the rapture will not occur until the seven years of the tribulation have ended. As far as the latter view is concerned, the rapture will not be secret, since it will be part of Christ's visible and triumphant return to end this present evil age (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). At this point, interpreters differ as to whether there will be a literal thousand year reign of Christ on earth or whether the white throne judgment and the new heaven and earth will immediately appear.

The crucial matter is not that all Christians agree on all details of what will occur in the final events of this world's history. Some of these events and their order of occurrence have simply not been made clear in the Bible. What is important is that all Christians hold in common that Christ will ultimately return bodily, visibly, gloriously, to reign and rule with His resurrected and transformed saints forever and ever. The details of this great event will be made known in God's own time.

Answer 2

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 3

All through the Bible God has removed his loyal people before judgments. Like the flood and Sodom. The rapture is when God removes his people before the tribulation period starts.
Christians alive at that day will not have to die but will be transformed immediately. A trumpet blast will usher in the new heaven and earth. The Jews would understand the significance of this because trumpets were always blown to signal the start of great festivals and other extraordinary events (Numbers 10:10).
Cross References:
1 Corinthians 15:51—2 Corinthians 5:2-4; Philippians 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
1 Corinthians 15:52—Matthew 24:31

Answer 4

That's the funny thing Karen.

Rapture comes from the world Raptus - in the Latin Vulgate. A bible Protestants do NOT believe in. Their bible is 6 books shorter than ours. They've pulled chapters and vereses out of two other books.

Yet one of their "big things" is drawn entirely from a misunderstanding of one word.

Dig out your bible and read 24. It's short. Read the whole thing.

That's where Protestants get their rapture theory from. From a Catholic perspective, it's that exact chapter which explains why we should not be running off to all these "apparitions." Jesus himself says DO NOT GO.

Anyway.

Generally, it's the section of verses 36 to 44 that they believe dictates when people will be "lifted up" to Jesus in the clouds.

Raptus, the Latin word, means to be "torn away." This is no gentle lifting to heaven. This is being torn away by demonic forces.

In the beginning of the chapter we have the persecution of christians. Then the tearing away.

Yet it is interpreted by Protestants as being lifted up on a cloud BEFORE the time of persecution.

However, Jesus himself says no Christian will be spared the trials to come. So where do they get that from?

Friend Deacon? That quote from 1 Thess refers to the End of Times, not the Rapture.

Answer 5

It's not in the Bible. It's a word the Catholics made up. It's basically where Christians think that Jesus will come back and take all the true Christians to Heaven and all the unborn children and regular children and leave everyone else on Earth to suffer 7 years of tribulation where the Antichrist will rule the Earth and people will be forced to take the mark of the beast(666) on their hand or forehead otherwise they will be killed and it's also a way to sell and buy things. Then the Anti Christ will be killed and resurrected with Iblis inside him and will proclaim himself as God with his false prophet and will persecute everyone who doesn't worship him. Then there will be a huge battle at some mountain called Armageddon and it will be between the Christians and the soldiers of the Anti Christ. Naturally the Christians will win and Satan and his minions will be cast into Hell along with all those who followed him. Then Jesus will rule on Earth for a million years in what will be known as the New Jerusalem. Then after this period Satan will be released one more time in order to try to deceive the people again. Also the Judgements get steadily worser with time. And 144,00 Jews will spring up from all corners of the globe and become Christians. And the Judgements are the Seven Scrolls, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. It will not be a very good time for people. Each of these judgements will kill off 1/3 of the population and most of these people will be going to Hell anyway. No I don't believe in it.

Answer 6

Rapture is a man made word. But it is in reference to the christians being "caught up" which is in the bible in the new testament. This is when the angles will sounds their trumphets and all 3 TRUE believers in the world will be "raptured" away to heaven!!!!

Answer 7

the rapture is an event the bible talks about in revelation. it has not happened yet and is yet to be fulfilled through prophecy. It says Jesus will come to earth again and take all those to heaven with him who have been born again. these people will not die but go up into heaven sort of like Elijah.

Answer 8

The rapture is IN the Bible. Have many of you not read 1Thesalonions 4:17. Paul talks about being caught up or "raptare". But to Karen please check out the Left Behind books. It'll tell you all about it. BTW I encourage you to place your trust more in the Word of God than in the traditions of men.

Answer 9

The word rapture does not appear ANYWHERE in the Bible. It is a modern theory that is a lie.

Answer 10

There is no rapture!
Salvation comes through suffering!
One awaits the resurrection!

I am not Catholic!