₦airaland Forum

When many people, Protestants and Catholics alike, think of the end times, they automatically think of the rapture, a type of “Left Behind” event. In this event, those who are right with God are mysteriously taken up into heaven, and those who are living in sin, remain on Earth during a time of tribulation and chaos. The Catholic teaching on the end times however, does not support this type of event.
The word “rapture” comes from the Latin word meaning “to be caught up” or “taken up”. This refers to the passage in St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians 4:17 which states, “then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.” With respect to the rapture, Catholic Church teaches ( though she does not generally use the word "rapture"that those Christians who are alive during Christ’s second coming will not experience death, but rather, will be gloriously transformed and join the saints already with Christ.

Catholics,Orthodox Christians, Lutherans, and Reformed Christians believe in a rapture only in the sense of a general final resurrection, when Christ returns in his Second Coming. They do not believe that a group of people is left behind on earth for an extended Tribulation period after the events of 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

Nowhere in 1 Thessalonians does St. Paul teach a secret coming of Christ. Furthermore, St. Paul states that Christ’s coming will be announced by the cry of an archangel and by a trumpet blast. St. Paul is describing the resurrection of the dead that will take place at Christ’s second coming. It appears, when reading 1 Thessalonians that Christians at the time were worried that those who died before Christ’s second coming would not share in His triumphant return. Paul assures them that when the time comes, they will join the resurrected to meet the Lord and will share in Christ’s triumphant descent from heaven to earth. ?
Historians are in agreement that the pre-tribulation Rapture doctrine originated in the eighteenth century, with the Puritan preachers Increase and Cotton Mather, and was then popularized in the 1830s by John Darby. Others, including Grant Jeffrey, maintain that an earlier document called Ephraem or Pseudo-Ephraem already supported a pre-tribulation rapture.
Pre-tribulation rapture theology was popularized extensively in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren, and further popularized in the United States in the early 20th century by the wide circulation of the Scofield Reference Bible. Up till the 1830s, there was no pre-tribulation doctrine of 'left behind' (rapture) in any of the patristic writings nor taught by the church fathers not among the doctors. I hope Catholics will read more about church teachings and rest assured that the magisterium guided by the Holy Spirit can never teach error. Cf. 2. Pet. 3:16.

cyrilamx:
When many people, Protestants and Catholics alike, think of the end times, they automatically think of the rapture, a type of “Left Behind” event. In this event, those who are right with God are mysteriously taken up into heaven, and those who are living in sin, remain on Earth during a time of tribulation and chaos. The Catholic teaching on the end times however, does not support this type of event.
The word “rapture” comes from the Latin word meaning “to be caught up” or “taken up”. This refers to the passage in St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians 4:17 which states, “then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.” With respect to the rapture, Catholic Church teaches ( though she does not generally use the word "rapture"that those Christians who are alive during Christ’s second coming will not experience death, but rather, will be gloriously transformed and join the saints already with Christ.

Catholics,Orthodox Christians, Lutherans, and Reformed Christians believe in a rapture only in the sense of a general final resurrection, when Christ returns in his Second Coming. They do not believe that a group of people is left behind on earth for an extended Tribulation period after the events of 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

Nowhere in 1 Thessalonians does St. Paul teach a secret coming of Christ. Furthermore, St. Paul states that Christ’s coming will be announced by the cry of an archangel and by a trumpet blast. St. Paul is describing the resurrection of the dead that will take place at Christ’s second coming. It appears, when reading 1 Thessalonians that Christians at the time were worried that those who died before Christ’s second coming would not share in His triumphant return. Paul assures them that when the time comes, they will join the resurrected to meet the Lord and will share in Christ’s triumphant descent from heaven to earth. ?
Historians are in agreement that the pre-tribulation Rapture doctrine originated in the eighteenth century, with the Puritan preachers Increase and Cotton Mather, and was then popularized in the 1830s by John Darby. Others, including Grant Jeffrey, maintain that an earlier document called Ephraem or Pseudo-Ephraem already supported a pre-tribulation rapture.
Pre-tribulation rapture theology was popularized extensively in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren, and further popularized in the United States in the early 20th century by the wide circulation of the Scofield Reference Bible. Up till the 1830s, there was no pre-tribulation doctrine of 'left behind' (rapture) in any of the patristic writings nor taught by the church fathers not among the doctors. I hope Catholics will read more about church teachings and rest assured that the magisterium guided by the Holy Spirit can never teach error. Cf. 2. Pet. 3:16.

Wait so in essence, what're you saying?

ifex370:
Wait so in essence, what're you saying?

he is saying that the popular teaching about rapture was invented 200 years ago by some men and was never part of historic Christian doctrine.

it is a heresy.

Ubenedictus:
he is saying that the popular teaching about rapture was invented 200 years ago by some men and was never part of historic Christian doctrine.

it is a heresy.

If you read the post, you'll see where the op clearly admitted the word itself is biblical from 1 Thessalonians.. Meaning snatching away or caught UP..

The op is contradicting himself

ifex370:
If you read the post, you'll see where the op clearly admitted the word itself is biblical from 1 Thessalonians.. Meaning snatching away or caught UP..

The op is contradicting himself

that a word is used in the Bible doesn't mean people understand it correctly.


the Bible says some will be caught up to heaven on the last day when the trumpet blows

it doesn't say they will be caught up before the Antichrist, like pastors preach today.

Ubenedictus:
that a word is used in the Bible doesn't mean people understand it correctly.


the Bible says some will be caught up to heaven on the last day when the trumpet blows

it doesn't say they will be caught up before the Antichrist, like pastors preach today.

Oh so the people of God will be here on earth during the period of Jacobs trouble 7 years tribulation, that's what you're saying?

Cyrilamx

ifex370:
Oh so the people of God will be here on earth during the period of Jacobs trouble 7 years tribulation, that's what you're saying?

And you taught rapture was your escape route? LOL. Are you disappointed?

AkunnaTochi:
And you taught rapture was your escape route? LOL. Are you disappointed?

I can't believe how unperceiving you guys can be, its amazing...I'm really impressed...


Is it that you guys don't want to be raptures or what?

ifex370:
Oh so the people of God will be here on earth during the period of Jacobs trouble 7 years tribulation, that's what you're saying?

exactly,

the Bible clearly says rapture will happen on the last day not before the tribulation

Calm down Ifex, its actually true.

Ubenedictus:
exactly,

the Bible clearly says rapture will happen on the last day not before the tribulation

So when is the last day?


And why does Daniel chapter 12 1-3, talk about a time of great tribulation and then God rescuing his people

ifex370:
So when is the last day?


And why does Daniel chapter 12 1-3, talk about a time of great tribulation and then God rescuing his people

oya read well


Daniel 12:1-3 King James Version (KJV)
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the
great prince which standeth for the children of thy
people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such
as never was since there was a nation even to that
same time: and at that time thy people shall be
delivered, every one that shall be found written in
the book.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and
some to shame and everlasting contempt.
And they that be wise shall shine as the
brightness of the firmament; and they that turn
many to righteousness as the stars for ever and
ever.


and you see the bold, it talks about when the dead will rise and the righteous will has everlasting life while d wicked to everlasting shame. it talks about when the book of life will be opened.

that is the last day, the day of judgement

Ubenedictus:
oya read well


Daniel 12:1-3 King James Version (KJV)
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the
great prince which standeth for the children of thy
people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such
as never was since there was a nation even to that
same time: and at that time thy people shall be
delivered, every one that shall be found written in
the book.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and
some to shame and everlasting contempt.
And they that be wise shall shine as the
brightness of the firmament; and they that turn
many to righteousness as the stars for ever and
ever.


and you see the bold, it talks about when the dead will rise and the righteous will has everlasting life while d wicked to everlasting shame. it talks about when the book of life will be opened.

that is the last day, the day of judgement

Honestly, its kind of hard for me to argue, because I'm kind of confused right now too..


But what do you stand to gain if the secret rapture doesn't happen?

Won't you rather pray for a secret rapture to save yourself from the day of Gods Wrath and the period of the antichrists rule?

ifex370:
Honestly, its kind of hard for me to argue, because I'm kind of confused right now too..


But what do you stand to gain if the secret rapture doesn't happen?

Won't you rather pray for a secret rapture to save yourself from the day of Gods Wrath and the period of the antichrists rule?

I don't deal with sentimentalism when it comes to scripture.
the Bible is clear, some people are afraid and want to run away from tribulation so they start misinterpreting the Bible to suit their fancy.

I don't believe in twisting scriptures because someone doesn't have courage to stand for God.

ifex370:
Honestly, its kind of hard for me to argue, because I'm kind of confused right now too..


But what do you stand to gain if the secret rapture doesn't happen?

Won't you rather pray for a secret rapture to save yourself from the day of Gods Wrath and the period of the antichrists rule?

Like Uben, I also do not believe in twisting scripture to suit my sentiments.
Believers will be caught up, but that shall be on the last day, not before the great tribulation.

You may wish to meditate on Matt. 24:15-51.

Ubenedictus:
I don't deal with sentimentalism when it comes to scripture.
the Bible is clear, some people are afraid and want to run away from tribulation so they start misinterpreting the Bible to suit their fancy.

I don't believe in twisting scriptures because someone doesn't have courage to stand for God.

Don't get me mistaken.. I still believe in the secret rapture only cos I know my father in heaven won't stand and allow the antichrist destroy his bride on earth.. Its called the day of Gods wrath for a reason.. This horrendous wrath is not supposed to befall any child of God



A bride that he loves and gave his life for..


I know this in my heart, the rapture is a mystery.. But I can't find the words to express it

AkunnaTochi:
Like Uben, I also do not believe in twisting scripture to suit my sentiments.
Believers will be caught up, but that shall be on the last day, not before the great tribulation.

You may wish to meditate on Matt. 24:15-51.

Notice the differences between matt 24 and John 14..

Matthew 24 Jesus shared with his disciples while walking within the temple precinct..



But the rapture is a mystery he only unveiled later on in the upper room before the feast of the passover.. When mostly their hearts were trouble after the this he had told them in matt 24

ifex370:
Don't get me mistaken.. I still believe in the secret rapture only cos I know my father in heaven won't stand and allow the antichrist destroy his bride on earth.. Its called the day of Gods wrath for a reason.. This horrendous wrath is not supposed to befall any child of God



A bride that he loves and gave his life for..


I know this in my heart, the rapture is a mystery.. But I can't find the words to express it

actually the Bible describes it as part of the will of God to allow Christians suffer for him.

tribulation in a sense is actually good for a believer, the father in heaven stood by and watched 11 of the apostles murdered, then watched Christian persecuted for another 300 years, he has no problem watching the martyrdom of his people. because by their blood they bear witness to Christ.

the Church will experience the time of tribulation and many will be killed, the Bible is clear on rapture, it will happen on the last day not before the tribulations.


and as the op stated the doctrine of rapture was invented by men 200 years ago

Ubenedictus:
actually the Bible describes it as part of the will of God to allow Christians suffer for him.

tribulation in a sense is actually good for a believer, the father in heaven stood by and watched 11 of the apostles murdered, then watched Christian persecuted for another 300 years, he has no problem watching the martyrdom of his people. because by their blood they bear witness to Christ.

the Church will experience the time of tribulation and many will be killed, the Bible is clear on rapture, it will happen on the last day not before the tribulations.


and as the op stated the doctrine of rapture was invented by men 200 years ago

What church do you attend?

Ubenedictus:
actually the Bible describes it as part of the will of God to allow Christians suffer for him.

tribulation in a sense is actually good for a believer, the father in heaven stood by and watched 11 of the apostles murdered, then watched Christian persecuted for another 300 years, he has no problem watching the martyrdom of his people. because by their blood they bear witness to Christ.

the Church will experience the time of tribulation and many will be killed, the Bible is clear on rapture, it will happen on the last day not before the tribulations.


and as the op stated the doctrine of rapture was invented by men 200 years ago

Exactly.