Rapture, where exactly in the Bible??

Barkhorn1x

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I keep hearing about the Rapture - any day now, any day. But the interesting thing is that only Protestants seem to believe in this - no Catholics, no Eastern or Russian Orthodox, etc.

What gives? Where, specifically, in the bible do we find a description of the Rapture?

I am serious here - I really want to know.

Barkhorn.
 
I don't think it's mentioned by the name "Rapture" but the process itself is mentioned in Revelation 14:3-4
 
billiefan2000 would tell you that the reason is they"Catholics, Eastern or Russian Orthodox, etc." are not "real" Christians.

Actually no where in the Christian Bible, OT or NT is the word Rapture or “end times” found.
 
Barkhorn1x said:

What gives? Where, specifically, in the bible do we find a description of the Rapture?

I am serious here - I really want to know.
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You have to jump back and forth between authors spanning hundreds and hundreds of years. And then pick and chose small snippets of passages to support the claim. (watch Van Impe)

The thing is - Jesus was supposed to come back within the lifetime of the people he preached to. He says that specifically. So when he didn't come back and the last of the generation died, those wascally Christians had to come up with something: RAPTURE! So they used the incomprehensible Revelations to back them up.

Unfortunately they had to leave Jesus' words in the bible because they were too well known. (For instance, Mark 13:30) So now we can all see the lie right there in front of us. After 2000 years he still hasn't returned.

Mention this to a Christian, and get a lawn chair and a beer - because you are going to see the some of the finest tap dancing available.
 
Barkhorn1x said:
I keep hearing about the Rapture - any day now, any day. But the interesting thing is that only Protestants seem to believe in this - no Catholics, no Eastern or Russian Orthodox, etc.

What gives? Where, specifically, in the bible do we find a description of the Rapture?

I am serious here - I really want to know.

Barkhorn.
Click to expand...

The verses from the Bible (quoted here from the King James Version) are:

1 Thes 4:16
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Thes 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


These are the ones quoted to support the notion of "The Rapture". There may be others, but these are the ones that I know about.

Take care,
Sort:)
 
Re: Re: Rapture, where exactly in the Bible??

SortingItAllOut said:


The verses from the Bible (quoted here from the King James Version) are:

1 Thes 4:16
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Thes 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


These are the ones quoted to support the notion of "The Rapture". There may be others, but these are the ones that I know about.

Take care,
Sort:)
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And once again - these were supposed to predict him coming within the generation that he was a part of.
 
Re: Re: Re: Rapture, where exactly in the Bible??

triadboy said:


And once again - these were supposed to predict him coming within the generation that he was a part of.
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I see how some might interpret Jesus to have been speaking to a future generation as opposed to the generation that he was a part of. I quickly snipped out some passages that might support such an interpretation:

Mark 13 :: King James Version

2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
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Proof? No. I can certainly see how some might interpret him to have been speaking to or of the generation of which he was a part, but I honestly can't say which is the case.

Here's a link for any who would care to read the entire chapter for the sake of context and perspective.

Click here.
 
Re: Re: Rapture, where exactly in the Bible??

SortingItAllOut said:


The verses from the Bible (quoted here from the King James Version) are:

1 Thes 4:16
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Thes 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


These are the ones quoted to support the notion of "The Rapture". There may be others, but these are the ones that I know about.

Take care,
Sort:)
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For what it's worth, here are a few more verses that I've heard folks use to support the notion of the rapture:

Matthew 24 :: King James Version

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
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From here.
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Rapture, where exactly in the Bible??

gentlehorse said:
I can certainly see how some might interpret him to have been speaking to or of the generation of which he was a part, but I honestly can't say which is the case.
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I think the quote you're looking for is this, from Matthew:
Matthew said:
24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

24:30
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

24:31
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

24:32
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

24:33
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

24:34
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away...
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Rapture, where exactly in the Bible??

Beleth said:
I think the quote you're looking for is this, from Matthew:
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Thanks. The link I provided in the post you quoted contains verses saying much the same thing. The question I was attempting to address had to do with what was meant by "this generation". Was he addressing a future generation or his own? I don't know. I understand how folks could disagree over the meaning of these verses.
 
I believe more telling quotes concerning if it is written to mean a very short time frame would be also in part found in Matthew but the following

"I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:28)

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." (Matthew 10:23)


"Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power." (Mark 9:1)

"Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place." (Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30)

"So also, when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. In truth I tell you, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place." (Luke 21:31-32)

"For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have died. For the Lord himself ... will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

"I am coming soon! I am indeed coming soon!" (Revelation 22:12, 2O) The Gospel of Mark was written around the year 70, Matthew around 80, and Luke around 90.

Paul wrote l Thessalonians around 50. Revelation was written around 90. And I posted this on May 29 2003..l:p
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Rapture, where exactly in the Bible??

gentlehorse said:


I see how some might interpret Jesus to have been speaking to a future generation as opposed to the generation that he was a part of. I quickly snipped out some passages that might support such an interpretation:


Here he is speaking to people right in front of him:

9:1
And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
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The really amazing thing to me is that so many people base their lives on such ramblings and therein lies the trouble with Christianity, evangelism.:mad::confused:
 
From what I have read, the "Rapture" originated from a Scottish woman called Margaret MacDonald from Port Glasgow in 1830.

http://pub16.ezboard.com/frealismfrm5.showMessage?topicID=582.topic (Scroll down and look for MAcdonald)

Quote: "Before Macdonald in 1830, the concept of a Rapture was not found in the Christian church (not in any church for that matter). That means that for some 1800 years there was no Rapture theory taught out of the Bible"

http://reformed-theology.org/html/issue06/pre-trib.htm
 
CSSMariner said:
The really amazing thing to me is that so many people base their lives on such ramblings and therein lies the trouble with Christianity, evangelism.:mad::confused:
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One tragic consequence is Mark 16:9 - 20 was added later. These are the passages that talk about drinking poison and handling snakes. There are uni-browed buffoons doing that right now to prove how much faith they have. That's sad
 
Here's another link that describes the "Rapture" as being a rather recent idea. It also refutes the idea that the rapture has any basis in scripture. (and this is a Christian site)

Furthermore you can make just about any premise fit, by finding supporting passages in a book as large and contradictory as the bible, no matter how tenuous.

http://www.christiancourier.com/penpoints/leftBehind.htm
 
Ah! Bible, Shmible!

Christians have never let a little thing like the written word of the Bible stop them from inventing new elements of the religion.

- Did Jesus ever renounce Judiasm? No.
- Did Jesus actually tell his followers to form a new religion? No.
- Does the Bible ever mention heaven and hell? Somewhat vaguely it does, hower it is not nearly as detailed as many Christians have made it out to be.
- Does the Bible ever mention Purgatory? No, but it is an important element of the Catholic faith.
and so on.

So this Rapture thing is just another extra car in the train.
 
imagineNoReligion said:
Here's another link that describes the "Rapture" as being a rather recent idea. It also refutes the idea that the rapture has any basis in scripture. (and this is a Christian site)

Furthermore you can make just about any premise fit, by finding supporting passages in a book as large and contradictory as the bible, no matter how tenuous.

http://www.christiancourier.com/penpoints/leftBehind.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks for leaving that link. I am a Christian who has been questioning the whole *Rapture* theory and anything to do with endtimes. I am amazed to discover a whole lot of Christians who don't believe in the *Rapture* theory.
 
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