Rapture

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This article is about the use of the term in Christian eschatology, primarily in US Protestant Premillennialism. For other meanings, see [[:Rapture (disambiguation)]].

The Rapture is an event in certain systems of Christian eschatology (the study of the end times) whereby it is believed that all Christians will be taken from Earth by Jesus Christ into Heaven. Although almost all forms of Christianity believe that those who are "saved" will enter Heaven, the term "rapture" is usually applied specifically to the belief that Christians will be taken into heaven prior to the second coming of Christ, and there will be a period of time where non-Christians will still be left on earth before Christ arrives to set up his earthly kingdom.

Etymology

The word "rapture" comes from the Latin verb rapere which means "to carry off, abduct, seize or take forcefully" (compare rape). It was used in the Latin Vulgate (about 405 A.D.) translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which is the primary biblical reference to the event in question, rapiemur "we shall be caught up" translating the original harpagēsometha (passive mood, future tense of harpazō).

History

The earliest known extra-biblical reference to the rapture is from a sermon attributed to a fourth century Byzantine, Ephraem of Nisibis, in which he is quoted as saying, "For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins." [1][2]

Although the doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead — as said to be taught by Jesus — was common to all Christians and part of the Nicene Creed, little attention was paid to the area of eschatology later known as 'Rapture' until the Protestant Reformation, aside from this ancient reference; thus the Christian denominations that have beliefs concerning a rapture are mostly those that appeared after the Reformation.

The later popularization of the term is associated with teaching of John Nelson Darby and the rise of premillennialism and dispensationalism in the United States at the end of the 19th century. The doctrine of the rapture was further popularized by an evangelist named William Eugene Blackstone, whose book "Jesus is Coming" sold more than one million copies[3], and then by its inclusion in the Scofield Reference Bible.

Among Christians who do believe in a Rapture, there is substantial debate about the timing of the rapture relative to the seven-year Tribulation. Critics of a "Pre-Tribulation" Rapture, the belief that the Rapture will occur prior to the Tribulation, often attribute that doctrine to a 15-year old Scottish-Irish girl named Margaret MacDonald (a follower of Edward Irving) who had a vision in 1830. However, there are at least three other Pre-Tribulation references prior to Macdonald - in a book published in 1788, in the writings of a Catholic priest Emmanuel Lacunza in 1812, and by John Darby himself in 1827.[4]

The Rapture gained popular interest in wider circles during the 1970s, in part thanks to the books of Hal Lindsey, including The Late Great Planet Earth.[5] Many of Lindsey's predictions in that book, which assumed that the rapture was imminent, were based on world conditions at the time. The Cold War figured prominently in his predictions of Armageddon, and other aspects of 1970s global politics were seen as having been predicted in the Bible. Lindsey believed, for example, that the 10-headed beast cited in Revelation was the European Economic Community, a forebearer of the European Union, which at the time consisted of ten nations.

The doctrine of the Rapture continues to be an important component in Christian eschatology today. Many Christians continue to feel that world conditions point to the Rapture occurring soon[citation needed]. Although this belief is emphasized in the USA, where it is widespread in certain circles, these views continue to find wide resonance around the world [citation needed]not through the study of End-times books, the political events around the world, and the continued spreading of the Christian gospel, and particularly Evangelicalism, to all areas of the Earth.

Varying views

There are three main viewpoints (within the premillennial school) concerning the timing of the Rapture.

Pre-tribulation

A popular view, and the view taught in dispensationalism, is referred to as the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, or simply "Pre-Trib". This is the belief that the Rapture will occur at the beginning of the 70th Week of Daniel, the final seven years of this age. Christian believers will be translated into immortal bodies in the Rapture before the great persecutions by the Antichrist as he comes into his Beast role midway through the final seven years. According to this view, the Christian Church that existed prior to that seven year period has no vital role during the seven years of Tribulation. However, one should keep in mind that the Bible affirms that the Church is made up of individual Christians. If the rapture occurs according to pre-trib doctrine, many others will believe in the Jesus Christ of the Bible and will be saved, despite having missed the "rapture" and will now have to go through that tribulation period with everyone else on the Earth. When those people become new Christians, they will be part of "the Church" on earth during this time period. They will witness during the first three and one half years, and they will also witness during the last three and a half years, or 1260 days of the Great Tribulation, which follow. The pre-trib rapture is sometimes presented as minority opinion among Christians, but it has become popular in recent years around the world and through the work of dispensational preachers such as Tim LaHaye and Hal Lindsey.

Post-tribulation

The other main view is termed the Post Tribulation Rapture (or "Post-Trib"). This view admits the concept of "rapture" from 1 Thessalonians, but does not see an intervening 7-year period (or 3 and half-year period depending on scholar) between the rapture and the "second coming" of Christ. This viewpoint is that Christian believers will be on earth as witnesses to Christ during the entire seven years and right up until the last day of this age. This includes the final three and one half years of the age believed to be the time period of the Antichrist in his malevolent role as the Beast. The post-trib view is supported by Matthew 24:29-31 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days...they shall gather together his elect..." Both views hold that Christian believers will be either removed from, or protected from, the Doomsday judgement when the wrath of God falls and the wicked are carried off at the end of the age.

Both Pre-tribulation Rapture advocates, and post-Tribulation advocates would agree with the following:

  • The tribulation is the period of time when those on Earth who say that they want to live life on the Earth without God, get to actually try to do this - on their own without God. The fact that they were not "raptured" into Heaven to be with God during this time period, means that they chose to stay behind, since they could have voluntarily chosen to believe God and the Bible Prior to the Rapture.
  • Although no one can be sure when the Seven Year period of Tribulation occurs, there are several passages in the Bible (primarily in Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation) that state specific events numbered down to the actual day - within the seven year period. Therefore after the seven year period of Tribulation has begun, people will be able to understand and predict the various catastrophes coming to the planet by studying an accurate version of the Bible.
  • The Tribulation - the seven year period of Great Difficulty - still can be divided into two time periods:
    • The First three and half years when God is simply absent from the Earth, and
    • the Second three and half years when Satan actually rules the planet through his Emissaries. (The Tribulation is the overall seven year period. The "Great" tribulation usually refers to the last 3 and half years of the tribulation)
  • The end of the Seven Year period is marked by the return of those people who were Raptured along with all of those who have gone to Heaven until that point in time. All of those people return under the Guidance of Christ who comes to judge the Earth and its inhabitants for deciding to align themselves with the forces of Satan. (the Bible presents Satan as a fallen archangel, a spiritual being of great and wicked power who deceives the world into following him).

It is called the Great tribulation because the saints of God are beheaded for not worshipping the antichrist. This is also known as the hour of temptation and when the saints are killed. This is also the time that the days are shortened for the elects sake. They will not take his mark therefore they face great tribulation (Revelation 6:9-11, Revelation 20:4). God is not absent from the earth but speaks through them by his spirit while they are in prison that even the gainsayers can't resist. The two witnesses preach for three and one half years and the spirit of God raises them up at Christ's return.

Mid-tribulation

A third view is that believers will remain on Earth for the first half of the Tribulation and will be raptured at the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation, which is the start of the Great Tribulation. Each of these Tribulation theories has added credibility through various scriptures; however, each has weaknesses that can diminish theory credibility as well. For example, an argument against the Pre-Trib theory exists in Mark 13: 19, 24-26 (NAS) which reads,

“For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will…But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory” “…After that tribulation…, Then they will see…!” Surely this provides substantial footing for those who advocate the mid-trib stance. The words “after” and “then” render the question, “After, or Then what!?” To these questions one must answer, “After the tribulation!” The problem with these assertions is found in verses such as Matthew 24:42 (NAS), “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” and Mark 13:33 (NAS), “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is.”

Alternative Rapture Viewpoints

Pre-wrath rapture

The Prewrath Rapture view teaches that at the midpoint of the "70th week of Daniel" the "abomination of desolation" will begin the Antichrist's Great Tribulation (this is not God's wrath; rather the object of persecution during this time will be the church, not the ungodly). Then according to Jesus sometime during the Great Tribulation--we do not know the day or hour--it will be cut short (not the 70th week cut short, rather the Great Tribulation which is Antichrist's persecution) with the Coming of Christ to deliver the righteous (rapture) and then the subsequent Day of the Lord's wrath against the ungodly will follow.

For a visual understanding of the Prewrath Rapture compared to other views, Click Here.

Pre-tribulation rapture already in process

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 The fourth view is a more recent addition that claims that the Rapture is a three step process according to I Thessalonians 4:13-18. The three steps being the Shout voice trump. The Shout being a message to turn the hearts of the children (last day Christians) to the fathers (Apostolic). Malachi 4:5-6 John the Baptist fulfilled the first part of turning the hearts of the fathers (old covenant) to the children (new covenant)] Therefore, the Rapture has already started and will be completed with the Voice of the Resurrection and the Trump which calls them to the feast in the sky also called the wedding supper.

"Secret rapture"

A common interpretation that is quite popular is sometimes referred to as the "secret Rapture". Corinthians says Christians will all be transformed in the twinkling of an eye. Thessalonians says Christians will be caught up. This seems to be quickly, as snatching up is not a slow process. However, when Jesus returned to heaven his followers saw him go up. When Elijah was taken up Elisha saw him go up. Some views posit that there is no scriptural instance of a person vanishing instantly in the past, which is what the "secret Rapture" interpretation teaches; however, in the Old Testament, Enoch was "raptured" by God instantaneously: "And Enoch walked with God: and he (was) not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). Nevertheless, the rapture does not necessarily have to have a precursor of the same type to make it possible.

Tradition and the timing of the rapture

Some challenges of the validity of The Rapture are based in the famous "fig tree" parable of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, specifically Matthew 24:36: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only". However, it should be noted that Matthew 24:36 does not specifically refer to the Rapture, but rather to that time when Heaven and Earth pass away. This event takes place at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

Another biblical reference frequently cited by Rapture theorists, Matthew 24:40-41, does not refer to the Rapture either: "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left." This parable is repeated Luke 17:35-37: "Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, (literal translation) Wheresoever the (dead) body (fallen in battle) is, there will the vultures be gathered together." This does not refer to the rapture of the church. Jesus answers that these people are taken to a battlefield and are dead and putrefying, having fallen in battle, pointing to an event later in time referred to in Revelation 16:14: "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."

Date setting

File:1992 Rapture.jpg
Rapture posters such as this one were spread across New England

Specific dates for the Rapture have been predicted by many people. The major evangelical website Rapture Ready offers a detailed list.[1]. A more extensive list is available from A Brief History of the Apocalypse.

Some notable predictions include these:

  • 1989 - Publication of The final shout: Rapture report 1989, by Edgar Whisenant. More predictions by this author appeared for 1992, 1995, and other years.
  • 1992 - Korean group "Mission for the Coming Days " predicted October 28, 1992 as the date for the rapture.
  • 1993 - Seven years before the year 2000. The Rapture would have to start to allow for seven years of the Tribulation before the Return in 2000. Multiple predictions.
  • 1994 - Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church in Los Angeles predicted June 9, 1994.
  • 1997 - Stan Johnson of the Prophecy Club predicted September 12, 1997.
  • 1998 - Marilyn Agee, in The End of the Age, predicted May 31, 1998.
  • 2000 - Many "millennial" predictions.

Obviously, none of these predictions have come to pass.

Scriptural basis

According to the Rapture interpretation, in the near future dead believers in Jesus will be brought back to life and believers who have never died will be changed in the "twinkling of an eye" and both groups will be taken up to heaven.

Image of person ascending to Heaven. The Greek word is pronounced "harpazo", which means "I am caught up".

Supporters for this belief generally cite the following primary sources in the New Testament:

  • "Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left." (Matthew 24:40-41)
  • "(Christ) shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Philippians 3:21)
  • "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:52)
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, says that the "dead in Christ" will rise first in the Resurrection of the dead, then all who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Generally, an elaborate set of predictions about the end times is constructed from these sets of verses, together with various interpretations of the Book of Revelation and the predictions of Christ's return in Matthew 24:30-36. In general, believers in the rapture consider the present to be the end times, and offer interpretations of the various symbolisms in the book of Revelation in terms of contemporary world events.

Criticism

Many Christians who do not agree that there will be a Rapture of the Church point out that it is a relatively new doctrine, first popularized in the 1800s and elaborated on subsequently. There are whole denominations holding this view, such as the Roman Catholic Church and all the Orthodox Churches.

Many do not accept the "rapture" interpretation because they recognize that it is not clearly expressed in the Bible, but instead relies on extrapolations and inferences made from a patchwork of disjointed verses. Many further believe that if anything this significant were intended to be a major part of Christian teaching, then surely Christ would have made a plain reference to it in his own sermons as recorded in the Gospel, and not buried such a major prophecy in a few verses of the Apostle Paul.

One common criticism of the rapture is based on the principle that the necessity of believing in Christ would be proven, by the events of the rapture, to anyone left behind. Thus anyone left behind who had knowledge of the rapture theory, but previously did not believe in Christ, would essentially be forced, by the proof of this miracle, to believe. This would prevent any type of Antichrist from having any credibility.

Most Roman Catholics and many Protestants do not accept the concept of a rapture in which some are "taken up into Heaven" before the end of the world; this idea did not exist in the teachings of any Christians whatsoever until the 1800s, so it cannot be said to belong to Apostolic Tradition. Instead, most Catholics and many Protestants interpret 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 literally, and assert that the rapture will immediately follow the general resurrection on Judgment Day, when the living and the newly-resurrected-dead will rise up to meet Christ as he descends from heaven to judge the world. These people consider the rapture to be merely a minor detail in the Biblical description of the Second Coming of Christ.

Eastern Orthodox do not accept it either, as such a thing as "rapture" was never taught by any of their bishops, from the beginning. Instead of "being taken up into Heaven", these churches follow the scriptures (such as Isaiah) clearly describing a physical Kingdom of Heaven that will be on a renewed Earth, following the Great Tribulation, the Resurrection of the Dead, and Judgment Day. In this view, there is no "being taken up into Heaven", except perhaps in the sense that departed souls await their earthly Resurrection in some sort of Purgatory.

Barbara R. Rossing, a Lutheran ministress, challenges the idea of the rapture in her 2004 book The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation. In it, she discusses the history of dispensationalism, arguing that the Biblical verses cited in support of the rapture are grossly taken out of context and misinterpreted.

There are also a number of other scriptural problems with the rapture theory. Those scriptures offered in support of the rapture do not require a rapture for their fulfillment; there is no New Testament scripture that states there will never be a planet Earth that is absent in the New Testament church. Plus, inasmuch as the rapture theory requires belief that Christ will visit the Earth not once more -- but twice -- it's important to note that the New Testament speaks of Christ's return in the singular only.

The question to ask is, does the church meet Christ, then exit the area, or meet Christ as he returns in fulfillment of the angel's description in Acts 1:9-11:

"After (Jesus) said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'"

Thus, we find Jesus standing on the ground, taken up into the sky, then hidden in a cloud. The angel said Christ would return the same way: He will appear from a cloud, descend to the ground, and place his feet on the earth. From this it would appear likely that Christ will return just as the angel foretold, and that the church will simply meet him upon his return.

The word "meet" in the New Testament (Strong's, 529) is always used in the context of intercepting someone who is on his way toward the meeting place.

As for Christ's words, "as it was in the days of Noah", we again find reason to question the pre-tribulation rapture theory. The Bible indicates that in the days of Noah, it was the wicked who were taken, and the righteous (the eight members of Noah's family) were first lifted from the earth, then returned to it; the righteous thus were left behind.

Fallen angels also married human women according to one interpretation of Genesis 6:1-2, Genesis 6:4, Daniel 2:43, 2 Peter 2:4, and the Book of Enoch. However, the older interpretation is that these verses refer to intermarriage between descendants of Seth and those of Cain. The "Left Behind" series is liberal since its conception because Matthew 24:36 is largely ignored; fallen angels don't fornicate with human women and Nephilim don't walk the Earth in the series even though this is what Jesus is thought to have indirectly implied would come to pass in the Last Days.

The post-tribulation rapture is entirely consistent with the primary rapture text in I Thessalonians 4:17. The text there could just as easily be interpreted to mean that the church will rise to meet Christ as he returns to earth, the wicked below will be swept to destruction as it was in the days of Noah, (they will worship fallen angels) and then the church will descend to the earth with the Eternal King.

Rebuttal

  • The Old Testament book of Exodus records that God appeared to the Israelites in a Theophany, as a visible pillar of fire or smoke, and bestowed daily miracles, yet many of the people rebelled against God.
  • Additionally, in Luke 16:31 Jesus states of unbelievers, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." (NIV)
  • When comparing the end times to the Flood, the Rapture of the Church can correspond to the translation of Enoch in Genesis 5:24. "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." (NIV) Meanwhile, Noah and his family who endure the judgement and survive correspond to redeemed Israel. It is theorized that those that became believers during the tribulation and were not martyred would retain their physical bodies for Christ's 1000 year rule on Earth after the Beast was vanquished to hell. This would explain an Earth "in the days of Noah", when the righteous were left.
  • After Revelation chapter 3, we see God calling John to, "Come up here." Some believe this refers to the end of the church age because it follows the passages in Revelation about the churches and because John is called and taken up.
  • Some believe that Jesus refers to the rapture in Matthew 24. These same people generally believe that Matthew 24:37 ("But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be") correlates to Genesis 5:24 ("And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him"). In Matthew, Jesus may be referring to a future rapture by referencing a past one.
  • Epharaem the Syrian said, in 373 AD, "For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins."
  • The doctrine of the rapture may be a new or re-discovery (e.g. found in the 1800s), but this doesn't discount its validity. Some cite Daniel 12:4 because it reads, "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."
  • Additionally, many Christians seem to pick and choose scriptures. Matthew 13:24-30 really could be used to challenge the "normal" thoughts about the Rapture and introduce a whole new thought process. Maybe the earlier scriptures regarding two will be together and one will be gone relate to the most wicked of the two being pulled from the earth.

The Rapture in the Media

  • The 1991 film The Rapture, about one woman's experience of the rapture, starring Mimi Rogers. However, critics have pointed out that this movies suggests that the understanding of the Rapture is based on a personal mystical vision, rather than a literal acceptance of Jesus Christ, and the personal need to repent from sins (ask God for forgiveness) and asking God to be saved. The movies takes note of the transformation of the Mimi Rogers character, but the basis for her transformation is only alluded to through her visions. Rapture advocates usually reject this movie as an authentic portrayal of the rapture.
  • The Rapture is a major component of the premise of the Left Behind books and their various spin-offs. Again these books greatly revived public interest in this concept.
  • Episode 19 in season 16 of The Simpsons, titled "Thank God, it's Doomsday" features Homer predicting the Rapture. After seeing a movie titled "Left Below" (a parody of "Left Behind"), he becomes paranoid and predicts that the Rapture will occur at 3:15 p.m. on May 18.
  • On August 2, 2001, humorist Elroy Willis posted a Usenet article entitled "Mistaken Rapture Kills Arkansas Woman". This fictional, satirical story, about a woman who causes a traffic accident and is killed when she believes the Rapture has started, circulated widely on the Internet and was believed by many people to be a description of an actual incident. Elements of the story appeared in an episode of the HBO television drama Six Feet Under, and a slightly modified version of the story was reprinted in the US tabloid newspaper Weekly World News. The story continues to circulate via electronic mail as a chain letter.
  • In Russ Doughten's A Thief in the Night, the Rapture was depicted as people disappearing. In Left Behind, it was depicted as people disappearing, but leaving their clothes behind in a pile. If they were driving cars, they careen into other cars upon losing their drivers. The view is echoed in the popular bumper sticker which reads "In case of Rapture, this car will be unmanned."
  • In Mark E. Rogers' "The Dead", those chosen for salvation disappear in a blinding flash of light. It is possible for people who have been left behind to redeem themselves in the eyes of God; those who do are immediately Raptured. Sacrificing oneself to help others is one way of being redeemed. Some characters are actually under attack by the reanimated corpses, or by Legion himself, at the time of their Rapture. The blinding flash of light totally disorientates the corpses who witness it, rendering them incapable of any action at all for a short period of time. The humans are literally "caught up" "in an instant" by God.

While some of these views may have been popular for many years beforehand, there is no doubt that these movies and novels have influenced some people's thinking on the "rapture".


See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.khouse.org/articles/1995/39/
  2. ^ http://www.bibleprophesy.org/ancient.htm
  3. ^ http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Books,%20Tracts%20&%20Preaching/Printed%20Books/JIC/jic-intro.htm
  4. ^ http://www.raptureready.com/rr-margaret-mcdonald.html
  5. ^ http://www.raptureready.com/who/Hal_Lindsey.html

Other Rapture Websites and Articles

Alternative Rapture Viewpoints

Rapture Fiction

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