Children in the Rapture?

[joshua 1 9]

We are told that Children will be raptured up to be with Jesus. I am wondering what the cut off age is for that. For me this is difficult to understand. If a bunch of people were to disappear you would think that this would be enough evidence to show people the Bible was true. Also the idea that children would disappear or parents would disappear and leave children behind. This does not seem like something God would do. One theory I had was the rapture would take place during a world wide atomic war. There would be so much death and confusion so that people would not know what was going on. People that talk about a rapture never seem to discuss some of the practical implications of this sort of a theory.

 

[ewq1938]

The rapture happens after the great trib has ended and Jesus has returned...no children are left alone or abandoned.

 

[DavidPT]

We are told that Children will be raptured up to be with Jesus. I am wondering what the cut off age is for that. For me this is difficult to understand. If a bunch of people were to disappear you would think that this would be enough evidence to show people the Bible was true. Also the idea that children would disappear or parents would disappear and leave children behind. This does not seem like something God would do. One theory I had was the rapture would take place during a world wide atomic war. There would be so much death and confusion so that people would not know what was going on. People that talk about a rapture never seem to discuss some of the practical implications of this sort of a theory.

The topic you chose for discussion should easily prove how ludicrous a Pretrib rapture really is. And like ewq1938 pointed out, the rapture is after the trib, it is when Jesus returns, thus no nonsense taking place, such as parents getting raptured but some of their children getting left behind because they are above the age of accountability, whatever that age might be.

Say for instance it's once one reaches 12. Now imagine someone just turning 12 that day, then the rapture happens on that same day. Had the rapture happened a day earlier though, this poor kid would not have been left behind as an orphan now with no parents, but would have been raptured instead. It's ludicrous just like I indicated.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

We are told that Children will be raptured up to be with Jesus. I am wondering what the cut off age is for that. For me this is difficult to understand. If a bunch of people were to disappear you would think that this would be enough evidence to show people the Bible was true. Also the idea that children would disappear or parents would disappear and leave children behind. This does not seem like something God would do. One theory I had was the rapture would take place during a world wide atomic war. There would be so much death and confusion so that people would not know what was going on. People that talk about a rapture never seem to discuss some of the practical implications of this sort of a theory.

The Bible is silent about that, so I guess that we are not supposed to know, and should not be trying to find out.

 

[keras]

The Bible is silent about that, so I guess that we are not supposed to know, and should not be trying to find out.

The Bible actually has a huge amount of detailed prophecy about what God has planned for the end times.
It is people who have chosen to believe false theories and fables, that have a problem understanding it. Isaiah 29:9-12, 2 Timothy 4:3-4

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

The Bible actually has a huge amount of detailed prophecy about what God has planned for the end times.
It is people who have chosen to believe false theories and fables, that have a problem understanding it. Isaiah 29:9-12, 2 Timothy 4:3-4

I understand, but there is nothing about children in the Rapture, and was the OP's question.

 

[ewq1938]

I understand, but there is nothing about children in the Rapture, and was the OP's question.

Yes, children aren't mentioned but Paul doesn't speak of age at all regarding who is raptured so any age is basically possible as he says, "we which are alive and remain" are the ones raptured/harpazo.

 

[Richard T]

You bring up some interesting points on the question of children and the rapture. I think the same question is related to what happens to children that die. When do children become accountable? Some think it is not a certain age but rather when they are presented the gospel, and are old enough to understand it. If they reject it, then they may be lost. If they have not yet had an opportunity to understand, then most would think they are heaven bound. The rapture presents a different twist because, God could either rapture all children that are yet to be accountable, or He could let them remain after the rapture, and give them an opportunity later. A third option would be to rapture believer's children, and lave the others behind. Whatever he chooses, certainly God will be just.

You are right to question the technical aspects of the rapture, and the many details that are overlooked. I always figured the rapture would bring a financial collapse that of a greater magnitude than could ever be imagined. All the excess housing and consumer goods like cars that would be available. Prices would collapse, it would be chaotic beyond belief. There also is the point of Israel being attacked near the end of the tribulation. Since pre-trib or mid-trib rapture believers know this to be true, the logical question would be where is the USA in these times? Since the USA spends so much on defense, it would either have to be against Israel, or it would no longer be a superpower, that could come to Israel's defense.

 

[keras]

I understand, but there is nothing about children in the Rapture, and was the OP's question.

My point is; there is no rapture to heaven for anyone. The OP is irrelevant.
Such an idea is never stated in the Bible. Only at the end of the Millennium does God and therefore heaven come to the earth. We humans never go there, Jesus said so; John 3:13

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

My point is; there is no rapture to heaven for anyone. The OP is irrelevant.
Such an idea is never stated in the Bible. Only at the end of the Millennium does God and therefore heaven come to the earth. We humans never go there, Jesus said so; John 3:13

So 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 is not true? What about (1 Corinthians 15:51–52?

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”… (Jude 4:14-15).

Jude repeated Enoch's prophecy about the second coming of Christ. The question is, where do all the myriads of His holy ones come from if they weren't taken up to be with Him in the clouds beforehand?

 

[Leet]

I doubt there's a set age, it would vary child to child. God sees their hearts too after all.

 

[joshua 1 9]

the rapture is after the trib, it is when Jesus returns

Why do we have a different word for rapture and for resurrection?

 

[joshua 1 9]

The Bible is silent about that, so I guess that we are not supposed to know, and should not be trying to find out.

I had a very vivid dream about a daughter that I have in Heaven that died before she was born. So I would not consider this to be something we are not suppose to know about. Also there is a lot of teaching about how Heaven is filled with Children. "Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

The Bible does not seem to be "silent" about this at all. Some people say that little children are toddlers. In our Church we began to teach the children as soon as they could march and sing around the age of 1. Usually we would start with teaching them the song about Joshua and the battle of Jericho.

 

[joshua 1 9]

My point is; there is no rapture to heaven for anyone.

Rapture is a word they use for "caught up" We read: "After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." (1Thes4:17) So when we are "caught up" to be with Jesus you do not think that we are going to go to Heaven? Where is it that we will be "with the Lord"?

 

[DavidPT]

Why do we have a different word for rapture and for resurrection?

Maybe because they are not the same thing. But that doesn't matter though. One event follows the other. First the resurrection of those sleeping in Christ, followed by those remaining who are still physically alive on earth at the time. Both are part of the same event, that event being the 2nd coming of Christ back to the earth, where He then confronts the beast and it's armies, followed by the thousand years initially getting underway once satan is bound at that time. This event, the resurrection followed by the rapture, is post trib. So no need to even worry about any children possibly getting left behind if they happen to be above the cutoff age you mentioned in the OP. That scenario can't happen in a position such as post trib. But it could apparently happen if the position is Pretrib. Yet it's nonsensical it could or would happen at all, thus Pretrib couldn't possibly be the correct position to begin with.

 

[DavidPT]

So when we are "caught up" to be with Jesus you do not think that we are going to go to Heaven?

For what reason though? Once Jesus returns, He is returning to this earth, not going back to heaven where He had already been for the past 2000 years. Do you have any passages showing Jesus leaves heaven then goes back to heaven right after He just left it moments earlier?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

We are told that Children will be raptured up to be with Jesus. I am wondering what the cut off age is for that. For me this is difficult to understand. If a bunch of people were to disappear you would think that this would be enough evidence to show people the Bible was true. Also the idea that children would disappear or parents would disappear and leave children behind. This does not seem like something God would do. One theory I had was the rapture would take place during a world wide atomic war. There would be so much death and confusion so that people would not know what was going on. People that talk about a rapture never seem to discuss some of the practical implications of this sort of a theory.

Another theory, there is only one rapture and that is on the last day and in a twinkle of an eye.

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

 

[tranquil]

Another theory, there is only one rapture and that is on the last day and in a twinkle of an eye.

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

If you think that you are a 'born again' Christian, were you magically whisked away to heaven at that moment? This passage is about being 'born again', a spiritual transformation that will have taken place before we enter into the 'kingdom of heaven on earth'.

The kingdom of heaven arrives at the 7th Trumpet - on earth (presumably that is what all the fuss is about in the prior 7 Trumpets and God's wrath, right?)

there is no 'whisked away' rapture, there is being gathered by the messengers (in Greek, 'angelos'/ "angels"). A gathering that was prompted by other people worshipping the abomination. If we 'run away' from this abomination (Matt 24's 'when you see the abomination, let the faithful/ those in Judea flee'), God will see to it that people will be gathered together in like-mindedness in our faithfulness to God.

 

[tranquil]

Rapture is a word they use for "caught up" We read: "After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." (1Thes4:17) So when we are "caught up" to be with Jesus you do not think that we are going to go to Heaven? Where is it that we will be "with the Lord"?

Does Paul know the Greek word for 'heaven'? If he does, why doesn't he use it in that verse?

He could have said: 'Then we will be whisked into 'heaven'... but he didn't say that, he said, ' caught up into the air'. Not heaven. See for yourself https://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_thessalonians/4-17.htm

so what is he saying? that we are going on a plane trip with Jesus? Why didn't he say 'heaven' if that is what he meant? Clearly, he is being symbolic and it's related to the idea of being 'born again'.

This 'whisked away' rapture notion is a lot like when the man thinks that people have to be put back in the womb to be born again... It is easier to envision being whisked away than being born again.

Paul also said in 2 Cor 12:2-3

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows​

— Paul seems to know the Greek word for 'heaven', even doubling down on it by saying '3rd heaven'/ ie spiritual heaven. But even here, is this 'born again' experience taking place in 'heaven' or in the mind of the body (= air) since he explicitly says he doesn't know if he was 'whisked away' or if it is taking place in his mind's eye.

People who advocate for a 'whisked away' rapture are telling others that they don't have to be awake & aware - that God is going to do the leg work for them. So why does God even bother saying 'come out of her my people'? Rev 18:4 It is our job to 'flee' when told. Not to sit back, insisting that God is going to do this for us.

 

[eleos1954]

We are told that Children will be raptured up to be with Jesus. I am wondering what the cut off age is for that. For me this is difficult to understand. If a bunch of people were to disappear you would think that this would be enough evidence to show people the Bible was true. Also the idea that children would disappear or parents would disappear and leave children behind. This does not seem like something God would do. One theory I had was the rapture would take place during a world wide atomic war. There would be so much death and confusion so that people would not know what was going on. People that talk about a rapture never seem to discuss some of the practical implications of this sort of a theory.

"For me this is difficult to understand ..."

"Also the idea that children would disappear or parents would disappear and leave children behind. This does not seem like something God would do."

Correct!

This is some of the reasons why the "secret rapture" theory falls flat.

There are 2 resurrections ... the 1st of all the saved.

The 2nd of all the unsaved.

The Lord knows the future .... we do not. He knows what everybody's choice have been and what the choices will be ... He does not control the choices ... but He does know of ALL the choices ... past, present and future.

Because of this ... when He returns, those alive at the time (saved), regardless of age will be taken to heaven ... due to His foreknowledge.

Paul sums it up here: the 1st resurrection

1 Thessalonians 4

The Return of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God (not a secret, very loud and powerful), and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.