The Rapture?

Question

Does anyone out there believe in the Rapture? No where is the term "Rapture" mentioned in the Bible. A man named John Nelson Darby popularized the term and a man named Scofield (who Editied something called the Scofield Reference Bible) used the term. Now, I mean no offense to anyone and you are free to believe what you wish, but really... if you do some research you will find that the term "Rapture" is only being used to sell books (i.e. The Left Behind Series). Scofield was a renowned womanizer and smuggler (oh, and a biblical scholar). I know there is scripture about the 2nd coming of Christ and that's great, really, I just wish people would stop taking everything that a televised evangelist or anyone for that matter says as "gospel". I have been watching specials on the book of Revelations and decided to do a little research of my own... Sorry for the rant, thanks for listening.

P.S. Another issue I have is that when Christ was asked about the end (Armageddon) he stated that he did not know when it would occur, that not even the angels in heaven knew and that people should stop asking. So, why are people constantly trying to figure out when the end will come? Isn't that being disobedient?

Answer 1

Raised many good points.
Sometimes we need to use words as labels to mean things. Obviously. The rapture IS a Christian doctrine, it is not made up.
Yes, there ARE indeed many people that are making money on us. There is much materialism and "shearing of the sheep" going on, and many of us are too (should I say it?)
blind and ignorant to see it happening- too in-tune with the prevailing world culture.
The left behind series was a real money maker, and I thought it was a horrible thing to put out. I never bothered with it at all.
The end times, and all its tribulations IS NOT entertainment, and they claimed it would be educational, buffalo chips!

You aren't the only one that can rant. This one's really got me going. I wouldn't know where to begin about the TV preachers. You are not the only one that can see how things are getting twisted, and they sure are.
Mix a little truth with whatever slant they want.
I know we cannot judge the message by the messenger...we must judge the message by the Bible.
Gee...I see I have some sore spots. I think I'd better really have a look around at how I am. I think it's a righteous indignation though.

Answer 2

It's actually the book of Revelation. The term rapture was used before the "Left Behind" series came out. Most of us do realize the word rapture is not in the Bible, but still use it. You also won't find Trinity or Bible but they are commonly used as well. The Protestants introduced the word rapture into the English language from the Latin raeptius. Jerome's Vulgate translated the original Greek verb harpazo used by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17-where it is translated "caught up." harpazo means "snatch, seize, take suddenly and vehemently." There are 3 scriptures that refer to this: John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

You make a good point in that "Rapture" is not a term used in the Bible.

I believe what the Bible says about the second coming of Jesus. What exactly makes you think that every Christian sees the word of televised evangelists as "gospel"? Did you ever consider the possibility that many of us study the Bible ourselves, and use its true Gospels as a reference? Also, how do you know that the term "Rapture" is used for the sole purpose of making a profit? Do you somehow have the ability to look into a person's heart and see them for who they really are? Last I checked, only God can do that.

Answer 4

You need to stop researching PEOPLE, and do a little BIBLICAL research, honey....the TERM "rapture" is not mentioned, but it's mentioned in other terms...read 1 and 2 Thessalonians...and then notice that after Revelation, the end of chapter 3, the CHURCH is not mentioned in the rest of the Bible. that's because it's been TAKEN AWAY or RAPTURED BEFORE the great tribulation starts!

Edit : God's Child...I am NOT a Protestant! I am a BIBLE believing born again Christian! Protestantism is practically indistiguishible from catholicism........

Answer 5

Yes, I believe in the Rapture. While you are correct in stating the fact that the word "rapture" doesn't appear in the Bible, the words "trinity" and "Bible" don't appear in it either! Yet these are descriptive words used to identify certain aspects of the Bible's people, places, events and etc. In the instance of the Rapture, it comes from the Greek word "rapare", meaning to "snatch away or seize". It is generally used to describe the moment in time in which the Bible speaks of the Church being taken out of the Earth "in a MOMENT, in a TWINKLING OF AN EYE." Something that is "snatched away or seized" is taken away QUICKLY, making the word "Rapture" a very vivid way in which to describe the event outlined in the Bible.

Answer 6

No, I don't believe in the Rapture.

However, If you are interested in Revelation, you may want to check out the book at the website below. I explains what ALL of the symbols of Revelation mean.

Pretty amazing read.

Answer 7

You will LOVE reading the section of Isaac Asimov's book "Isaac Asimov on Numbers" that relates to Revelations. Misunderstanding what this book REALLY means leads to the weird beliefs about it. Revolutionary Jews who didn't want to be executed used "numerology" (a Jewish form of divination or predicting the future) to taunt the Romans because the Romans would have been clueless about what they were doing. The Emperor Neron Caesar's number was "666" - sound familiar? Those ancient revolutionary Jews were pretty clever!

Answer 8

I would pity the people who read the "Left Behind" books if pity wasn't just a sleazy, backhanded form of insult. I'd rather attack them outright, since this mentality is dangerous and sociopathic. We really don't need a majority of grown adults here in the 21st century abdicating all responsibility for the preservation of our planet on the theory that Jesus is due to return any day to sweep them all up into heaven. It really would be better for all concerned if they'd just take the "Heaven's Gate" way out and leave the rest of us to clean up and move forward.

Answer 9

Darby got it from the account of a young girl hallucinating. Rapture is like everything else that religious people insist on believing in: It's a crock. It doesn't help that that looney-tune author LeHay runs around telling everybody it's imminent (of course, he's selling books all over the place, so if people believe it, he gets richer).

Answer 10

The term "rapture" is not in the Bible, but neither is the word "hamburger", but hamburgers are real. Instead of reading Revelations, read 1 and 2 Thessalonians. It clearly describes what we refer to as the "Rapture"