What does the Bible say in regards to the Rapture? Is the rapture within the Bible?
The vast majority of Christians consider within the rapture. For many years it’s been a staple instructing within the Western Church. However few have truly taken a glance to see what the Bible says. They only consider the rapture as a result of that’s what was taught to them (which was my story for years).
I believe this matter deserves a more in-depth look and what we’ll discover may suprise you.
The rapture is tied shut with the subject of the final days. I’ve already written in regards to the final days and what the Bible says, you may learn that right here: Are We Residing In The Final Days (what the Bible actually says)
Some Clarification About The Rapture In The Bible
If you’re unfamiliar with what the rapture within the Bible is let me offer you a really transient definition.
The Rapture, as generally considered immediately, is the assumption that Jesus will take away (rapture) the church earlier than the nice tribulation. This might be abruptly and with out warning. One second Christians might be going about their enterprise and the following, gone. They are going to be taken to heaven whereas the remainder of the world is plunged right into a horrible tribulation. Following the nice tribulation is the Second Coming of Jesus through which He’ll return to earth in a triumph entry defeating His enemies.
There are some that view the rapture in another way than this description. However for the sake of readability that is how I’ll use it by this text.
It is a sensitive topic for some, as a result of this perception is held tightly. I do know that as a result of at any time when I point out one thing that has to do with ends occasions I get a slew of emails, feedback, title calling, and loads of accusations about my intentions. Few subjects carry as a lot warmth and opposition as this one. (and that’s okay with me, e mail me right here: [email protected])
So, earlier than we go any additional let me make clear a number of issues that sometimes come up.
There’s a distinction between the Second Coming of Jesus and the rapture. I firmly consider within the second coming, on this article we’re whether or not the pre-tribulational rapture is Biblical.
And to be upfront, I don’t consider within the rapture. Right here’s the 2 important causes:
- Church historical past doesn’t help it
and extra importantly: - It’s not discovered within the Bible
Let’s take a look at how the rapture grew to become commonplace.
How Rapture Theology Was Popularized
Arguably, the time when the rapture actually began getting it’s roots was in 1830. This idea was led to by a girl named Margaret MacDonald in the UK.
Margaret MacDonald put herself right into a self-induced trance in order that she might have a prophetic utterance. Throughout this trance she had a imaginative and prescient that the church could be pulled out of the world as issues had been getting unhealthy. She later wrote this imaginative and prescient down in a letter and a person named John Darby caught wind of it.
John Darby had a theological background so he took the imaginative and prescient that Margaret MacDonald had and used it in his work and lecture. What degree he was influenced by MacDonald is debatable, however there appears to be not less than some degree of affect. Darby traveled to the U.S. and introduced with him his instructing on the rapture. His work left such a legacy that ultimately C. I. Scofield was influenced.
Scofield revealed the first-ever reference Bible in the direction of the top of the 1800s. These are the Bible with the notes within the backside which are fashionable immediately. And it was a success within the 1800s and rapidly grew to become the most effective promoting Bible.
It was within the footnotes of this Bible that Scofield defined what the rapture was. And because the Bible bought and develop in reputation so did this perception of a rapture. What we must always pay attention to is that this theology grew due to what was within the footnotes of the Phrase of God, not the Phrase itself.
Research Bible’s are an unimaginable software. Nonetheless we shouldn’t confuse what’s God’s phrase and what’s a footnote. That is true of the Scofield Bible and all examine Bible’s immediately.
From there well-known evangelists, pastors, and different Christian leaders purchased into this theology and began spreading it additional and additional.
All this paved the best way for the e book The Late, Nice Planet Earth within the Seventies. Which outsold the Bible for a lot of the last decade. After which the notorious Left Behind Collection that solidified rapture theology as mainstream within the western Church. Which I bear in mind studying after I was a teen and being terrified.
That in fact is the abbreviated historical past, however I believe it’s necessary we perceive how this perception grew to become so prevalent in immediately’s church buildings.
The Rapture In Church Historical past
The purpose that I’m attempting to make is about Church historical past. Rapture theology has solely been fashionable for 180 years. It’s largely a more moderen theology, a brand new idea. Whereas some will argue there are situations within the early church that help a pre-tribulational rapture within the Bible, however I’ve but to see any clear proof. There’s definitely not sufficient proof to say it was a generally held perception.
All this doesn’t make it false, nevertheless it ought to make us pause.
If perception within the pre-tribulational rapture has solely been fashionable, commonplace, since 1830 meaning it wasn’t talked extensively about by the very individuals who laid the theological basis for the Church. Once more, that doesn’t imply it’s not true. However it ought to elevate somewhat concern that at any time when a brand new theology is launched and trigger us to look somewhat nearer.
So, what does the Bible say in regards to the Rapture? Is the rapture within the Bible?
What Does The Bible Say About The Rapture
I wish to take a look at three main texts which are usually used to level to the rapture within the Bible. There are a number of others, however these are the first sources which are thought of the clearest explains of the rapture within the Bible. Let’s take a look at these verses and see if the rapture is Biblical.
What does the Bible say in regards to the rapture:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Then we who’re alive, who’re left, might be caught up along with them within the clouds to satisfy the Lord within the air, and so we’ll at all times be with the Lord. Subsequently encourage each other with these phrases. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
I wish to begin with the verse I hear quoted essentially the most in help of the rapture. I can’t let you know what number of occasions I’ve seen 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 used as proof. And at first look this does look like describing the rapture.
However you need to learn it in context. This passage was written to an actual folks, an actual church. Paul says that these phrases ought to encourage them. It is a letter written to this church, to those folks. Subsequently these phrases had been mentioned as an encouragement for that church. That’s to not say this passage isn’t for us, nevertheless it’s not written to us.
The church in Thessalonica has Christians which are dying. They’re dying earlier than Jesus returns. And they’re fearful that those that die may miss out on the second coming of Jesus.
What Paul is doing in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 is encouraging them and providing them hope. He’s telling them that those that have died earlier than Jesus comes again are literally in a greater place as a result of when He comes again they’ll come again with Him. Paul says that we, the lifeless and the alive, will meet Jesus within the clouds when He returns.
It’s a phrase of encouragement for his people who find themselves going through demise and loss.
The greek phrase for meet (apantésis) is identical phrase used whenever you would go meet an emperor or official who was coming into your metropolis. You don’t look ahead to an emperor, or somebody particular, to return to you. You go to them, you meet them on the metropolis gates and stroll them in. That’s the image of this verse. That they’re going to meet with Jesus as he descends on the cloud. However they aren’t going elsewhere. They’re strolling with him into the “metropolis”, they’re coming again to earth.
For the church in Thessalonica once they first learn these phrases and noticed this image they weren’t considering of a rapture. They had been eager about seeing their family members once more. This passage meant for them the hope of reconnecting with these they misplaced. It was an encouragement to face robust within the face of demise as a result of for all who observe Jesus there’s nonetheless hope.
For us immediately it is a stunning image of hope that sooner or later all who observe Jesus will meet Him within the clouds. It’s a hope to not quit, to maintain following Jesus even when issues get robust. This passage isn’t speaking in regards to the rapture, it’s speaking about Jesus second coming. It’s a problem and an encouragement for all who observe Jesus.
Matthew 24
Two males might be within the discipline; one might be taken and the opposite left. Two ladies might be grinding with a hand mill; one might be taken and the opposite left. Matthew 24:40-41
Positive seems like a scene out of Left Behind doesn’t it?
However once more, what’s the context?
Again up and browse Matthew 24:36-41. What’s Jesus speaking about right here? Many Christians assume He’s describing the rapture and unbelievers being left behind to enter the tribulation. However the context tells us that Jesus is speaking about His Second Coming, not the rapture.
The purpose of this passage isn’t in regards to the rapture. Slightly the message is Jesus is coming again. When? Nobody is aware of. Subsequently be ready. At all times be ready in order that you don’t get caught off guard.
If you happen to nonetheless aren’t satisfied go learn the 4 parables that observe this passage. All of them say the identical factor. You don’t know when Jesus is coming again. So be prepared. That’s the purpose of Matthew 24. In context it doesn’t help the rapture and truly pushing again towards a number of the core beliefs the rapture holds.
Revelation 4:1
After this I appeared, and there earlier than me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard chatting with me like a trumpet mentioned, “Come up right here, and I’ll present you what should happen after this.” Revelation 4:1
I wish to finish with Revelation 4:1 as a result of we are likely to affiliate this e book with the rapture. And that is the clearest “instance” of it in the entire e book.
Those that use this verse in that why will say that Jesus is chatting with the church calling them as much as heaven. The issue is that interpretation ignores the context of this verse.
Return to the start of the verse… After this I appeared. Who’s the “I” that’s being referred to on this verse. It’s John, the one who’s receiving this revelation. To then insist that the following sentence is in regards to the church being raptured is completely ignoring the pronoun that began off this verse.
While you ignore the context through which the Bible is written you may fairly actually make it say no matter you need. Once we learn the Bible we HAVE to concentrate to who’s saying what.
In context this passage has nothing to do with the rapture, relatively its a continuation of the imaginative and prescient that John is receiving. It’s not addressing the Church and it’s definitely not speaking in regards to the rapture.
The Level
What does the Bible say in regards to the rapture? Not a lot. Is the rapture within the Bible? No. The Bible merely doesn’t help a rapture theology.
It’s a harmful observe to disregard the context of the Bible. And that’s precisely what rapture theology does. It has too. The Bible must be twisted and context ignored for the rapture to be supported.
And harm has been accomplished. The e book (or letter) of Revelation has been butchered. Individuals’s religion shattered. And plenty of falsely consider they’ll escape the trials of this world.
However why would Jesus take the Church out of the world when the world wants the Church essentially the most?
Jesus even prayed in John 17 that the Church, His followers, wouldn’t be taken out of the world, relatively that they’ve the energy to endure. It was a prayer that Jesus himself would quickly face. With the cross in entrance of Him, He requested His Father for an different method. And in response God mentioned belief me.
That’s the message for us immediately. When the struggles and trails (the tribulations) of life come, we’re requested to belief God. We aren’t promised a simple life. No, the Bible makes clear we’ll face many trails. And the historical past of the Church proves that. It’s filled with martyrs of the religion. And even immediately hundreds of thousands of Christians are going through persecution that we within the western Church can’t think about. We’re within the nice tribulation.
However regardless of that, we’ve hope. It’s not hope that we’ll be raptured earlier than it will get actually unhealthy. I believe that’s a slap within the face to those that are going through what Western Christians can’t even fathom.
No, it’s unhealthy proper now. But, we’ve hope that regardless of what we face God remains to be in management and His plan will work out for all who belief in Him. So, belief God and keep on mission.
God has given you a job and a objective. You might be to enter the world and inform these round you about what God has accomplished for you. Will or not it’s simple? No. There might be trials and tribulations. However we are able to take coronary heart and preserver as a result of we serve a God who has overcome the world.
Let’s hear from you! Have your beliefs in regards to the rapture within the Bible modified through the years? What did you concentrate on the reason of the query, what does the Bible say in regards to the rapture?
BA in Biblical Research – Ozark Christian School (2012)
MA in Theology – Regent College (2019)
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