Can one believe and not believe in the Rapture

Rhodius said:

The emphasis upon the imminence of the Rapture differs according to which teachers one decides to follow. It is obvious that some groups don't believe in Antichrist having any effect upon the Church at all and they almost demote the Final Return of Christ into something on behalf of still non believing Israel. What can one make of this confusion which arises largely from making the Rapture more important than it should be?

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It is not necessary to believe in an event separate from the second coming of Christ, and the resurrection. However, if the context changes and the rapture and the resurrection are the same thing, then it is necessary as the resurrection is central to the faith.

Rhodius said:

The emphasis upon the imminence of the Rapture differs according to which teachers one decides to follow. It is obvious that some groups don't believe in Antichrist having any effect upon the Church at all and they almost demote the Final Return of Christ into something on behalf of still non believing Israel. What can one make of this confusion which arises largely from making the Rapture more important than it should be?

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If one is confused one should read the Bible and pray for wisdom and then if they feel lead come to a conclusion on all these issues..

But the right rapture belief or even believing in a rapture has no bearing in ones salvation status.. These issues are side issues, disputable matters.. Not core doctrines of salvation.. Same is the case with Modern day Israel.. It is not a central core doctrine to take either side on what will be the fate of the generation of Jews living in Israel in the times of the return of Jesus..

A lot of people get impassioned about these issues.. but they are not core issues of Christianity..

Rhodius said:

The emphasis upon the imminence of the Rapture differs according to which teachers one decides to follow. It is obvious that some groups don't believe in Antichrist having any effect upon the Church at all and they almost demote the Final Return of Christ into something on behalf of still non believing Israel. What can one make of this confusion which arises largely from making the Rapture more important than it should be?

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The answer to the thread topic is, "Yes."

The Philippian jailer believed without any concept of the rapture.

A whole generation of early Christians believed before John's Revelation.

Scripture speaks of being "caught away," yes, and scripture speaks of "antichrist" and "antichrists," yes.

And Christians should believe such things will in some way be true.

That doesn't mean any theologian's interpretation is necessarily the truth.

Rhodius said:

The emphasis upon the imminence of the Rapture differs according to which teachers one decides to follow. It is obvious that some groups don't believe in Antichrist having any effect upon the Church at all and they almost demote the Final Return of Christ into something on behalf of still non believing Israel. What can one make of this confusion which arises largely from making the Rapture more important than it should be?

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There is but one true teacher promised....the Spirit of Truth. That is whom to listen to...all else be doctrines of devil's.

Where would it stop concerning what is included in the believer's prayer of repentance and acceptance of the Lord. Besides, since one is saved according to Rom 10:8-10 what else could they have known but head knowledge because the natural man does not receive the things of God, they are spiritually discerned. The Holy Spirit has convicted the lost person to come to repentance but growth as I see it, comes later when one is saved and grows in the wisdom and knowledge of the word of God being transformed by the renewing of their minds. Thus, many remain babe's in Christ for they hardly ever study the word in order to grow, or so its seems.

/nvm

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Rhodius said:

The emphasis upon the imminence of the Rapture differs according to which teachers one decides to follow. It is obvious that some groups don't believe in Antichrist having any effect upon the Church at all and they almost demote the Final Return of Christ into something on behalf of still non believing Israel. What can one make of this confusion which arises largely from making the Rapture more important than it should be?

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Hello, Rhodius, and welcome to CF!

I can understand the confusion of believers because of so many different teachings to be found today. No matter what doctrine you examine, you can almost always find some group that professes Christ yet teaches against it. It is as if Christ was looking at OUR day when He lamented that the sheep had no shepherd ...

The answer to your question, as I understand you to be asking it, is certainly - yes. The idea of a rapture having to do with being whisked out of an end-time tribulation is a fairly recent innovation, unknown to centuries upon centuries of Christians.

The early Church certainly believed in Christ, believed in His second coming and looked forward to it with anticipation, and expected terrible times and troubles, and knew there were many antichrists and there would come THE antichrist. But no expectation of a rapture to remove them from this. The language sometimes associated today with "rapture" in the Scriptures is most often pointing to the second coming of Christ. The ancient Church still holds this view.

So yes, you can certainly be Christian and believe without holding to rapture theory. It was never necessary for salvation. The greatest danger IMO is that some will expect it and be unprepared for events that eventually will come to pass and their faith stretched beyond their strength as a result. Or that they will neglect what God HAS given us to do because they think none of it matters.

Btw, folks, I'm not interested in debating this. If anyone wishes to debate, you can come to the EO board for debate - St. Justin Martyr's - and maybe someone will indulge you. But I'm only interested in welcoming our new member and providing the traditional view. I don't like to argue.

Again, welcome to CF. God be with you.

Rhodius said:

The emphasis upon the imminence of the Rapture differs according to which teachers one decides to follow. It is obvious that some groups don't believe in Antichrist having any effect upon the Church at all and they almost demote the Final Return of Christ into something on behalf of still non believing Israel. What can one make of this confusion which arises largely from making the Rapture more important than it should be?

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Truth is Light traveling Straight Way to the Father & only with JC and you are Abel. Continue in service in this world & acknowledge Him day and night; commune (I) with (L) Jesus and (R) HS.

Know the alien called wayfarer; often seen as a fool erring yet knows he is not judged whether he stands or falls because he is a servant of the Most High and His Lord is able to uphold him.


Matthew 9

16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

A Christ 1st the mind anew; 2nd is 4 the body filled; both preserved through the power of the HS.