I remember reading Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth as a new Christian decades ago. There was a great tidal wave of excitement at that time about the second coming of Jesus Christ. My heart was thrilled as well. One of the things he talked about in that book was something called the rapture.
Some Christians today have never heard a message preached on the subject of the rapture. This is partly because many pastors either don’t believe in it or don’t know what they believe. Others don’t preach or teach on the rapture because it doesn’t seem to be a popular doctrine of our times.
Is this a Legitimate Doctrine?
Many of the early Church fathers wrote that Jesus Christ could return at any time which is at the core of teaching in the rapture occurring before the tribulation which Jesus and the Apostles prophesied.[i]
Nathan E. Jones writes: “When Augustine began spiritualizing the Bible, his view of a non-literal interpretation took hold of the church until the Renaissance, obliterating the Premillennial and Pre-Tribulation Rapture views in favor of Amillennialism.[ii]” But Jones lists several Christians through the centuries who wrote about their belief in the imminence of Christ’s return even dating back to the first and second centuries.
I would say that there were millions of Christians in the twentieth century who believed in the imminent (think any moment) coming of Jesus Christ and many still do today. From my perspective it seems that number has diminished in recent times because it seems to no longer be as widely taught.
What Does it Mean?
The teaching of the rapture is a biblical doctrine that says that one day – at any moment – Jesus will appear in the air not only to resurrect those who have died as believers but will also catch up those in Christ Jesus who remain alive.
The biblical Greek word ἁρπάζω (harpazo), in its future tense, is translated “shall be caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4.17.
The word rapture comes from the Latin word raptura which means to seize or carry off. This was the word used in the Latin Vulgate translation of that same passage.
We who believe in a coming rapture are premillennial which means that Jesus will return to earth before a 1,000 year period of blessedness upon earth in which Christ will rule and reign.
What is the Basis for this Belief?
While there are many supportive passages in the bible as to the teaching of the rapture, here are three major references. These speak of an imminent event in which Jesus catches up his saved ones who remain alive.
Jesus said in John 14.1-4:
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also."[iii]
Note the words, “I will come again and receive you unto myself.”
The Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth “We shall not all sleep (meaning die) but we shall all be changed.[iv]” He is saying that not all Christians would die but all Christians would be changed – bodily. The only explanation for this is the rapture.
He continues; “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.”[v]
Now, we come to our main passage of the bible in which we may build upon our belief that there will be a rapture. These Christians in Thessalonica were troubled about their fellow Christians who had died. They wondered if they’d ever see them again. The Apostle Paul comforts them by saying:
… 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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Is belief in the rapture necessary for salvation? No! Salvation is ours by grace through faith. But the truth that Christ will come and catch us up helps us to know the comfort of God during times when people are dying. It brings us comfort in distressing times in our lives when we’re under a deep state of trials. It also comforts us to know that God is ultimately in control no matter how bleak things may look at the moment for he is coming to receive us up into his presence for eternity.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”[vi]
[i] See Matthew chapter 24; 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and Revelation chapters 5-18 to name just a few.
[ii] Amillenialism means no millennial.
[iii] John 14.1-4
[iv] 1 Corinthians 15.51
[v] 1 Corinthians 15.52
[vi] Titus 2.11-13
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