My fellow Mormons: Do Mormons believe in the rapture?

Question

I realize this question has been asked before, but I'm hoping to get answers from people who have not answered before, or who have gained additional knowledge since answering before.

A friend asked me this question yesterday. She asked her husband and he said he didn't know. My answer was, Sort of. We believe that during the Second Coming the City of Enoch will return with those who were "taken up" originally. They will eventually take with them others who are worthy, but there will still be good people on the earth after this happens. It is my understanding that the Christians who do believe in the rapture believe that ALL the good people will be taken up, and that those who are left behind are therefore not good. It doesn't make sense to me that God would handle it that way.

What do you think? Do we believe in the rapture? Only a Mormon answer will be picked as Best Answer, if that matters to you. Those who can be respectful are welcome to answer as well.

Senator, yes, I've heard those scriptures before. Thanks.

Universal Pants: At the risk of seeing a lot more answers like Johnusmaximus', unfortunately my friends husband IS the Bishop.

I missed most of yesterday's Sunday School lesson which was the first lesson on Revelations, so I'm not sure if this came up during the lesson, or what.

Please, don't thumbs down those who are waiting to see the answers. They are just wanting to see what we believe on this subject just like I am. The only difference is they are not LDS.

I appreciate the answers so far. I think this is one of the topics that really isn't discussed much in church. I have a real world source that I may consult. It's easier to go to a real person as I won't get a violation notice for chatting when talking with a real person. But please keep the quality answers coming.

WOW! So many great answers, it's going to be hard to pick a BEST Best Answer.

It occurs to me that my comment to Universal Pants could be misunderstood. To clarify, I don't mean that unfortunately he is the Bishop, but I mean unfortunately he didn't know, and he's the Bishop so therefore the Bishop doesn't know either.

Such great answers! I think I'll give her the answers you shared and let her decide who the Best Answer is.

Answer 1

There is no specific doctrine or revelation that specifically spells out the final days before the Savior's return. It is enjoyable to sit down with other Latter-day Saints and compare notes on scripture, talk, readings, and ponderings. The 'rapture' as associated by most people when 'suddenly good people disappear from earth' -- no, we do not believe in it. The scripture quoted by the senator - where the righteous are caught up does not state 'in the air'. [see http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?search=caught+up]. It is also often associated with the time when the 'wicked will be burned as stubble'. I personally do not see this as people flying in the air, but more of the necessary change the telestial body must have in order to receive the glory of the Lord. The Saints will be caught up in the spirit and 'quickened' - and the earth will be renewed and receive it's paradisiacal glory. In order for the glorified Savior to dwell here, this earth must have at least a terrestrial glory [see D&C 88 for starters]. All that dwell upon the earth must needs be changed also. For those who have abided by a terrestrial glory, they will be quickened. The wicked will be burned. I do not know how literal this burning will be. I do know that when the wicked/sinful/rebellious stand before one who truly has the Light of Christ within, they cannot abide it. They are ashamed. They turn away. The knowledge of their wrong doings are written upon their minds and hearts -- I know, when I have erred, I am embarrassed, and burn with shame. Ah, there's that word - burn. I wonder if perhaps, those who have not chosen the side of Christ in this life, if they will not burn with shame and embarrassment - weeping [it's not my fault!], wailing [i didn't choose to be this way!], and gnashing their teeth [arguing? or merely grinding their teeth in anger]. They cannot abide in the glory of the Risen Lord.

There will be a change from the telestial to terrestrial, but the righteous will not be taken from the earth before the great and dreadful day of the Lord's return. My reasons here are several -- first, the gospel will never be taken from the earth. second, if all righteous persons are removed from the earth, who will do temple work [which is the reason the Lord is returning, to complete the work for all mankind, making sure that all have the opportunity to receive the ordinances necessary to the salvation and exaltation of man]. third, it is necessary for the wicked to thoroughly damn themselves through their actions and choices - there must needs be opposition. If all righteous are gone, there is no opposition.

There certainly will be an increase of wickedness and fortunately, we do have a prophet and apostles who speak for the Lord and let us know when scriptures have been fulfilled, what we need to do to prepare, and that we need not fear. We know that in the last days, there will be a 7 year war [see revelations]. We know that midway into that war, Jerusalem will be overrun by the Gentiles and that 2 witnesses or prophets will be in Jerusalem crying repentance. These 2 men will prophesy and preach for 3.5 years and then they will be killed, their bodies left in the street and the people will rejoice that they have killed these two men of God. Then, these witnesses of Christ will rise after 3 days. And the Savior will set foot upon the Mt of Olives, splitting it in two and giving the remaining Jews in Jerusalem an escape from their enemies.

Merry Christmas

Answer 2

I would like to point out that the reason we have built temples is to help finish the work that needs to be done or else the earth will be "wasted." Whether that is a conditional or exact phrase is sort of open to interpretation, but I don't think there is a need to cleanse the entire earth where the temples and other righteous people have already lived. There are, however, other places on the earth that would need to be cleansed. Think, for example, of some of the concentration camps and prisons where truly unspeakable things have happened. I do not see the resurrected Jewish people being particularly interested in coming back to live anywhere near where those places are, unless they are completely eradicated and replaced with something entirely different. Or a more moden fictional example, in the movie "Forrest Gump" you might recall the scene where Forrest has the rickety old house where poor Jenny was abused as a child completely razed and removed. As I understand it, the "Rapture" as a doctrine was developed in the 19th Century, and because it was mysterious and amazing at the same time, people got really caught up in it and combined it with a lot of other predictions about when the world was going to end. It is my opinion that we will actually continue to live life much as it is for a long time, with the resurrection taking place first at the beginning of the millennium, and those who have not yet died continuing to live to about 70-72 and then being "twinkled" - which is just a way of saying an instantaneous change in our bodies rather than going through physical death. It is the "meek" that will inherit the earth, not the wicked, so it might be more correct to say the wicked will be moved someplace else. I think the rapture as a whole is more tied into the First and Second resurrection, where as other answerers have said, the sheep will be separated from the goats. Or look at it this way, you can still live in your house while it is being remodeled, so you wouldn't have to go to an entirely different country. Hope this opinion helps, based on years of Sunday school lessons and common sense.

Answer 3

The mormons believe that the idea of a "rapture" will be solely for LDS, as a short hop into heaven to be permanently sanctified, then its back down to the earth where they will rule the world for Jesus Christ forever. It's all about them, you know. Always has been. Always will be. Personally, I don't know if the rapture will happen in a certain sequence or not. Each Tribulation perspective has its own validations. But what the Lord does clearly say without any mystery is, to encourage one another with His imminent return in power and glory. I hope the rapture happens to the church universal, but if it doesn't I'm still gonna keep my eyes peeled for those parting clouds. So consider yourself encouraged!

Answer 4

No. There is no mention of the rapture in the Bible, BoM, D&C, or PoGP!

It was made up by some people in England(I think a little girl).

We believe in the second coming but not where people will fall asleep and when we wake up everyone whos is good will be gone. We believe in the thing where the good people are on the right, the bad on the left, speration of the sheep from the goats, that whole thing in revelation.

Answer 5

When Christ comes again, the faithful will be "caught up in the air to meet him" (I can't remember where that scripture is, dang it). I'm not sure if that is literal or symbolic or both.

The common belief of the rapture is that the good will be taken before the "tribulation." The basis for much of the rapture doctrine comes from Revelation, which the LDS have a very different interpretation of. We believe that the 4 horseman have already come and gone, one at a time, throughout history. Before the 2nd Coming, times will get really bad, but the good will still be here living through it with the rest. There is another scripture that says for the righteous sake, the Lord will not let those bad times last too long. (again, I can't recall the reference, sorry)

Edit: Oh, and I forgot the typical reference to Blondie. "Rap-ture" is a great song. The man from Mars eats your head. It's great.

Answer 6

Huh, i don't understand your doctrine. I'm lds and we don't believe in the rapture the way other religions do. It's a large topic to discuss.

basically we believe that during the second coming the righteous will be resurrected (at that time, the unrighteous will have to wait 1,000 years but will also be resurrected) and go up into heaven.

Christ will appear at that time and reign on the earth for 1,000 years and be the head of his kingdom and rule and there will be one government.

The city of Enoch will return and there will be two great capitals, Jerusalem and another city in America.

Christ will also appear to the jews so the jews will understand that christ came once before and be converted. This will happen during the armeggedon when an army is about to overcome the jews. (revelations)

and about a million other events like the return of the 10 tribes of isreal, which will happen before christ appears.

Answer 7

I clearly do not need points or a best answer, but I'd like to answer the question. LDS do not believe in a rapture like that of the fundamentalist Christians. To be quite honest, you should ask this question of your Bishop, it's a good question and there is a lengthy explanation that would be in an accurate answer.

Edit: My understanding is that much like you've already described there will be a return (we all know where that will be), but eventually there will be divisions between the terrestrial, telestial, and celestial kingdoms. There will be no magical floating aloft of "saved" persons, or the sinners being left behind.

Edit 2: I knew what you meant! lol

Answer 8

This article sheds a great deal of doctrinal light on the matter.

"Book of Revelation Overview" by (Ensign, October, 1983)
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=c9859c84f5d6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

Basically, my knowledge of the "Rapture" changes and grows all the time, but this is what I personally believe about it, at the moment:

(1) Tribulation (temporal and spiritual difficulty) will come to everyone before the Saviour arrives.
(2) We will need to be temporally and spiritually prepared if we are to live (temporally and spiritually) through this.
(3) I personally do not think we will be taken up into heaven to avoid the tribulation.... We are taught so many things to help us be prepared to live through it all. That was the whole purpose in the restoration of the Gospel, I believe. (See JS-H 1: 39 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/39#39 )
(4) The 144,000 are LDS priesthood holders, who meet with the Lord before his coming in glory.

My hubby seems to think that the "one taken and one left" referred to in Matthew 24 are opposite to what most people think. ie, the ones taken from the earth are the wicked (impure in heart). The remaining people are the righteous.

Matthew 5:5, 8 MAY have some bearing on the topic...
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/5/5,8#5

I believe this may be referring to when the earth is renewed and receives her paradisaical glory (see A of F 1: 10 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/a_of_f/1/10#10 ). People who are not prepared for that "energy shift" will be instantly taken off to the next life, as the increased Light becomes too much for their souls to bear.

I believe that the concept of pre-tribulation rapture is completely wrong. We won't be saved from the hard times ahead... we have already been taught and warned enough to be prepared to live through those times.

The Lord himself seemed to emphasise the need to be prepared - See Matthew 24:29-52 http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/24/29-51#29

We should be prepared, physically and spiritually, for any eventuality. I think that the emphasis of our General Authorities on being prepared is rather telling... seems to be hinting that Jesus won't come until well after all the trouble is far advanced.

Answer 9

We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Resurrection, and the Millennium. The Millennium is the time when the remaining temple work will be completed, and when Satan will be bound. He will then be loosed for a short time, then he will be bound up again forever, and the Earth will attain it's celestial glory. Perhaps this is the time that others interpret as the 'rapture'? I need to take some time to study this particular doctrine, and compare it with ours. But as far as I know, we do not believe particularly in the 'rapture'.

Answer 10

When Christ returns to the world the second time all the righteous saints living and those that are in their graves will rise up and meet Him in the clouds.

We Latter-day Saints do not call this event the Rapture; we simply believe that it will occur.

Calling this the Rapture is simply a proper noun affixed to this great event for identification. We don't use it, but recognize the signs as indicated in the Bible.