Is the "rapture" no more than an exercise in literary fabrication?

Answer 1

God beams up his chosen people and leaves the rest to rot with the devil (because they didn't accept that god sent himself to kill himself to save his children from himself). What an exquisite religion.

Answer 2

Perhaps, perhaps not. The term "rapture" (or any variation of that term) does not appear in the bible...the closest approximation is the phrase "caught up" or "taken away" and those phrases could have many meanings outside the specifics of the term "the rapture".

I've heard some good speakers justify the idea of a "pre-trib rapture" that will remove all Christians from earth before the seven year tribulation begins using references to various passages in the bible. I've also hear some good arguments, also using biblical references, that the rapture is a fairy tale. I've also heard good arguments for "mid-trib" and "post-trib" rapture.

For me, I don't "believe" anything where the rapture is concerned. If I'm totally honest, I have to admit that I would sure like to believe that I won't be around to experience any of that nasty stuff described in Revelation, but I'm more of a "worst case scenario" kind of gal...I'll prepare myself as it I'll have to live through it to the end...seems like a much better strategy than hoping you won't be there and then failing to recognize the signs that it has actually started (when it does)!!

I'm always dismayed by Christians that say, "oh, we won't be there for that" when the discussion turns to topics like the antichrist. Sounds like a great way to be deceived by him to me ("oh, he can't be the antichrist because the rapture hasn't happened yet"!!!!!).

If I have to choose between literary fabrication and truth, literary fabrication seems safer (if less comfortable) than believing any one of the stories to be true (esp. "pre-trib").

Answer 3

This “rapture” business began in the early 1800’s with Christian fundies. Of course, they claim that the “rapture” is mentioned by early soothy-sayers but this claim is apparently unfounded. No Surprise there.

By the time Constantine’s scholar finally gathered enough verbal accounts ( written down as spoken by the faithful as best as they could remember from old wives tales) of the early years and they were available to the 1st council of Nicaea; the catholics built the 1st bible. Since then it has been written and rewritten by several special interest groups and each couldn’t avoid the urge to, shall we say, “improve” certain passages to fit then current needs and prejudices.

This “rapture” business is almost certainly the construct of 19th century fundies and therefore, complete nonsense.

Jim D

Answer 4

The doctrine of a physical "rapture" really only dates to the late 19th or early 20th C, and a "vision" by a woman whose name I don't recall. I'm sure it's on Wiki somewhere.

The actual biblical passages, taken in context as a whole, rather clearly refer to a spiritual event taking place in believers . . . an achievement of physical immortality through fully inculcating the divine person of the xian godman, Yeshua bin Josef. You'll find this taught in the Latter Rain and Kingdom movements, and in Gnostic texts.

Whether or not it will (or even can) actually occur is, of course, open to interpretation.

Answer 5

It plain and simply false doctrine, and anyone who preaches it is preaching false doctrine, period.
I teach from the manuscripts; you can go right now to your regular Bible and look up Mark 13 and read it: its a chronological list of events that lead up to the gathering back to Christ, and Christ gave the list himself.
There is not one item on the list that suggests that any portion of the population will be missing, gone, raptured, anything.
The Bible is quite clear that the true Christ will NOT RETURN or gather back to any of us for any reason, until antichrist sits in Jerusalem professing to be God.
Thats the Living Word of God; no rapture;
its an insult to God that he cannot protect his own - no, they have to be escaped out of here. Well, a true soldier of Christ does not wish to be escaped out; we will stand
with our God and do the Work He needs
us to do, not fly away.
Have you seen the pictures of empty cars crashing on the highways and the people being lifted up to the clouds as the chaos breaks out below?? Well, read Ezekiel 13:18 to find out what God says about that one:
"I hate those who teach my people to fly to save their souls". I think thats well stated.
Oh, and the "left behind" series?
If you read in Scripture where two are grinding at the mill, and two are working in the field, one is taken, the other left - if you back up to capture the subject and object of what is being discussed, you will find that the subject is that the Antichrist comes FIRST before the true Christ. What does that mean? IT MEANS YOU WANT TO BE THE ONE LEFT BEHIND - THE ONES TAKEN ARE TAKEN BY ANTICHRIST IN DECEPTION.

Answer 6

The rapture is in fact Biblical, but this "Left Behind" idea of people suddenly disappearing at any moment is not. The first link below takes a verse-by-verse look at what the Bible actually says about the end times, in contrast with the "Left Behind" fiction.

Answer 7

Not an exercise in literary frabication, but literary imagination.

Answer 8

rapture = A state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion

Answer 9

If you believe the Bible is literary fabrication then it woulld be. Personally I believe the Bible is truth, therefore the rapture is truth.

Answer 10

I don't believe so.
"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."