RAPTURE VIEWS 2: THEOLOGIANS WHO BELIEVE
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. What is the Rapture?
a) Is Rapture in the Bible? Why do some believe in the rapture and some do not? Who is right?
1. What is the Rapture?a) Is Rapture in the Bible? Why do some believe in the rapture and some do not? Who is right?
The word rapture is not in the Bible but neither is the word Trinity. Some theologians, Christians, and churches believe in the rapture and others do not. Some believe in the Great Tribulation, while others do not. What are we to believe if some teach about the rapture while others do not?
2. Theologians Who Believe in the Rapture
a) The vast majority of Bible scholars, churches, theologians, evangelists, and Christians do believe in a coming rapture. Even though the word rapture does not appear in the Bible, they base their beliefs on a passage from 1 Thessalonians. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul writes, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
b) The church at Thessalonica were worried that Jesus would return and that those who had already died were going to be left behind in their graves. That is the reason why Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica. Paul reassures them by writing that “we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep“ (1 Thesslonians 4:15). Even though the word rapture is not in the Bible, the Greek word for “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is harpazo. In Latin it is called Rapturo from which we get the word rapture. The New Testament was written in Greek and the English words “caught up” is literally harpazo. Harpazo means “to seize, carry off by force; claim for one’s self eagerly; to snatch out or away”. A good rendering of harpazo is like that of being kidnapped. The Lord is thought to be coming to seize or carry off by force all believers, just before the coming Great Tribulation.
c) Many believe that the rapture occurs just before the Great Tribulation (Pre-tribbers). Others believe it will occur during the middle of it (some call it Mid-tribbers). Still others believe the church will go through the Great Tribulation. And of course the first group mentioned at the beginning of this article neither believes in the rapture or the Great Tribulation. The vast majority of Christians believe that the rapture will occur just before the Great Tribulation This belief is based upon Scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (and elsewhere) that, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The wrath of God was poured out on Christ at Calvary so it would not have to be poured out on those who have placed their faith in Christ. The wrath of God is said to be “poured out” on the sinful world in the Book of Revelation and since God has not appointed Christians to suffer His wrath, He will take believers out of harm’s way in a rapture. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 is mentioned right after what many believe is the rapture where Paul wrote about being “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4. Another reason that many believers feel that the church will be raptured is that the church is not mentioned when the Great Tribulation events begin to occur in the Book of Revelation.
The End ...
2. Theologians Who Believe in the Rapture
a) The vast majority of Bible scholars, churches, theologians, evangelists, and Christians do believe in a coming rapture. Even though the word rapture does not appear in the Bible, they base their beliefs on a passage from 1 Thessalonians. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul writes, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
b) The church at Thessalonica were worried that Jesus would return and that those who had already died were going to be left behind in their graves. That is the reason why Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica. Paul reassures them by writing that “we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep“ (1 Thesslonians 4:15). Even though the word rapture is not in the Bible, the Greek word for “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is harpazo. In Latin it is called Rapturo from which we get the word rapture. The New Testament was written in Greek and the English words “caught up” is literally harpazo. Harpazo means “to seize, carry off by force; claim for one’s self eagerly; to snatch out or away”. A good rendering of harpazo is like that of being kidnapped. The Lord is thought to be coming to seize or carry off by force all believers, just before the coming Great Tribulation.
c) Many believe that the rapture occurs just before the Great Tribulation (Pre-tribbers). Others believe it will occur during the middle of it (some call it Mid-tribbers). Still others believe the church will go through the Great Tribulation. And of course the first group mentioned at the beginning of this article neither believes in the rapture or the Great Tribulation. The vast majority of Christians believe that the rapture will occur just before the Great Tribulation This belief is based upon Scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (and elsewhere) that, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The wrath of God was poured out on Christ at Calvary so it would not have to be poured out on those who have placed their faith in Christ. The wrath of God is said to be “poured out” on the sinful world in the Book of Revelation and since God has not appointed Christians to suffer His wrath, He will take believers out of harm’s way in a rapture. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 is mentioned right after what many believe is the rapture where Paul wrote about being “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4. Another reason that many believers feel that the church will be raptured is that the church is not mentioned when the Great Tribulation events begin to occur in the Book of Revelation.
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