quick poll: how many christians here follow the rapture doctrine? why? how many are opposed to it? why?

Answer 1

I believe in the "rapture doctrine" because there is no other intelligible way to interpret these passages of Scripture:

"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. Therefore encourage each other with these words."
I Thessalonians 4:13-18

"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 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. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
I Corinthians 15:50-57

Why make complicated what God has made simple?
Why obfuscate what he has made plain?

Answer 2

THE RAPTURE IS NOT A MADE-UP DOCTRINE. IT IS NOT A FALSE TEACHING. IT'S IN THE BIBLE!

I follow the Rapture doctrine because it's the Truth. The Rapture is written of throughout the Bible in many instances. It is an actual event that will occur. The word "rapture" means "the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence." The Rapture is a term used to describe the event of the Church being taken away, of which is written of throughout the Bible. There are instances in which the actual word for "rapture" is used to describe this event. Such instances are 1 Thessalonians 4:17, where the Greek word is "Harpazo" which means the same thing that "rapture" means. There is another instance where Paul used the word "enrapture" in Philemon 15.
Anyone that honestly believes in the Bible believes that the Rapture is real. If they don't, then it's either because they don't believe in the Bible or because they haven't yet come to understand what it's saying in the Bible about the Rapture. But, if you read the Bible it shouldn't be difficult to understand that it's real. I'm mean, I think that it's really obvious. It says it right in the Bible.

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo = rapture) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

"Perhaps this is also why he is relocating, so as when the eternal hour arrives, he will be enraptured." (Philemon 15).

http://bibleprophesy.org/rapture.htm#more

Controversy About The Rapture
http://youtube.com/watch?v=69ISrYIkx2w
http://youtube.com/watch?v=T8R4YSAlyUo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x7rU9bsGhEw

Answer 3

Non-religious

There are 3 major theories on the Rapture found in Evangelical circles. 1) Pre-Tribulation rapture 2) Mid-Tribulation Rapture 3) Post-Tribulation Rapture.

Catholics certainly believe that "we will be caught up in the air" (1 Thess 4:17) when the trumpet sounds. So Catholics do believe in the "Rapture" if one is talking about the third option - Post Tribulation Rapture (although they understand the 1000 years to mean "a long time" Rev. 20:2-3; 7). The term "rapture" is derived from the text of the Catholic Latin Vulgate that was written in 390 A.D. It comes from 1 Thess. 4:17-"we will be caught up," [Latin: rapiemur]).

Answer 4

Opposed- Jesus explained in Matt 13 and John 15 that the wicked are gathered 1st and bundled by the angels to be burned. If you think Rev ch 4 and II Thess 2 is rapture then I believe its error. If rapture people are sincere why are they still here? They should be caught up like Enoch and Elijah. It will be like the days of Noah. Noah, Lot, 3 Hebrew boys, Daniel, and so on where not raptured.

Answer 5

Hi Drew, The doctrine of "the rapture" is totally unbiblical. It is part of the modern dispensational teachings abounding in various denominations that teach that you get a second chance at heaven if you miss out the first time.
This doctrine originated in the mid 19th century. It has developed from Jesus'discourse in Matthew 24:40,41. By taking these two verses out of their context in which Jesus used them which was the time of Noah. If these verses are understood in the context of the destruction of Jerusalem they give an entirely different picture.
The prominence that this false teaching has in the Christian churches today will cause many to miss out on the kingdom. I strongly suspect that there will indeed be a rapture, but it will not be of God but part of Satan's signs and wonders and those caught up in it will find themselves facing the second death (Revelation 20).
I have looked at some of the other replies to your question and shudder.
Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will not be led astray by the false teachers that abound. Wolves in sheep's clothing!
Always examine any teaching for yourself to see if it is Biblically based, is in context and makes sense.
Hope that this has been of some help to you.
H'chat.

Answer 6

If by rapture it is meant the faithful are taken from earth so that the wicked are punished only, no. I do not see that in the Apocalypse or in any other portion of the bible. Prophetic portions of the bible are very difficult to follow and are impossible to decipher prior to the event. It is not meant to be a secret warning but rather a counsel against despair. The whole rapture "doctrine" goes against the parable of the harvest where a man's enemy sows weeds in his field. Thes parable always start the same,i.e. "The kingdom of heaven is like...". This parable did not start out, "The kingdom of heaven is like, with the exception of the rapture in the end times,....."

Answer 7

Well except for the amillinealists (aka preterists, or kingdom now folks ) all Christians agree that there will be a rapture. The disagreement is on when it will happen not if it will happen. There are pre-trib,mid- trib and post trib believers all of which are pre-millinealists which believe we are living in the days before the kingdom of God is set up by Christ which will last for a 1000 years. Amillinealists think everything in revelation has already happened and that we are living in the Kindom now and when we convert all the world to Christ ,Christ will return again. I happen to be a pre-millineal post-tribulationalist as has most of all Christiandom for the past 2000 years. The pre trib theory which is very popular with evangelicals has only been a theory for about 150 years.
It is not a salvation issue as far as I am concerned and I dont break fellowship with pre and mid tribbers . As far as amillinealists go I dont break fellowship with them either. Although I think that their doctrine is a bit more dangerous than the pre trib rapture they still love Jesus, and so I call them my brothers and sisters as well. When the last trump sounds and Yeshua returns in all his Glory, we will see who is right then . Until then let everyone who names the name of Jesus in truth and obedience join hands and love one another as commanded by Jesus... Cap'nArlo

Answer 8

The rapture is on the last day.

The Bible teaches that when Jesus returns He will come with all of His saints on the clouds of glory - and every eye shall see Him. Then the dead will rise! He will separate the goats from the sheep. The goats which are not clothed in Christ's righteousness will be sent to hell for an eternity. But, out of the ashes of this present world God will create new heavens and a new earth where the Christ's sheep will dwell with God.

Answer 9

It's alluded to in scripture, not certain when
it will occur, though.
It could be mid-trib or actually at the end
of the tribulation from personal study.
I don't focus on it as a doctrine necessarily.
I think Christians are hopeful
to skip tribulation and hard times
that will possibly arrive sooner than
we think. I don't base my faith
on the rapture, just have faith in Jesus.
I don't think we will have the right
doctrine about end times, it will
unfold and there certainly is evidence
of end times begining to unfold!
It will end up looking different
than we imagine, yet fit even
more perfectly than we imagined,
like when Christ came the first
time. People were surprised at
what they saw in Him. They did
not expect certain things He
did, yet it fit perfectly!

Answer 10

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 are very clear on the subject. There is a rapture.