Why is the Rapture So Popular Among Evangelical and Charismatic Christians?
- Thread starter Monk Brendan
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The word is in Holy Scriptures. Paul uses "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4 as I quoted previously.
It will happen. The timing is the question of debate. You equate the meeting in the clouds with our glorified bodies as simultaneous with the Second Coming. This is Biblically plausible. It is the historic futurist view.
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- Mar 18, 2014
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Well as a Catholic you should thank Darby. Before him just about every Protestant church embraced the Reformed version of eschatology which put the Pope as the perennial antichrist and The Vatican as the harlot of Babylon.
So thanks to the dispensationalists the whole harlot of Babylon deal fell out of vogue.
So small favors to Darby.
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I have always wondered about this. I believe that Revelation is, of course, inspired and True, but do wonder if parts of it have already been fulfilled.
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Well as a Catholic you should thank Darby. Before him just about every Protestant church embraced the Reformed version of eschatology which put the Pope as the perennial antichrist and The Vatican as the harlot of Babylon.
So thanks to the dispensationalists the whole harlot of Babylon deal fell out of vogue.
So small favors to Darby.
Interesting. Calvin started the whole thing?
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- Jul 22, 2014
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The Apocalypse Pseudo-Ephraem (before Darby) says,
"Woe to those who desire to see the day of the Lord! For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins…."
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- Mar 27, 2018
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I think the rapture is such a focal point for many because no one in their right mind would want to go through the things predicted to take place in Revelation.
"20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
Even Jesus is like, you do not want to be here for this.
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- Sep 9, 2017
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1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (KJV)
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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- Mar 27, 2018
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I'm not trying to be a downer. I'm just saying that this is probably why pre-trib rapture people focus on it so much. But i appreciate what you are saying.
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I don't think you're being a downer. The Bible tells us that the words of 1 Thess 4 should be comfort to us believers whatever you think that it means which is what I was trying to point out. I (as wel as many others) happen to think that it points to a rapture.I'm not trying to be a downer. I'm just saying that this is probably why pre-trib rapture people focus on it so much. But i appreciate what you are saying.
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ThisIsMe123
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I think it's for recruitment/scare tactic to get people to their churches.
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Do you have a scripture that says the rapture could happen at any time?
While I’m waiting for your scripture, here are three things that happen at His coming.
Without debating the tribulation timing, it would be good to just observe these biblical facts about the rapture, the resurrection and the destruction of the wicked, including the antichrist, which all take place at His coming.
Point Number 1:
- The resurrection of the dead in Christ will take place at His coming, before the rapture.
Point Number 2:
- The rapture takes place, just a moment after the resurrection, in which all His people will be gathered together to be with Him, in the air. The resurrection/rapture is one event, at His coming.
Point Number 3:
The same coming of the Lord, by which the Lord gathers His people at the resurrection/rapture, also destroys the antichrist.
- Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 Thessalonians 2:1
- And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8
The coming of the Lord to gather together His people unto Himself; the resurrection/rapture is the same coming that destroys the antichrist.
Here is the full context.
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8
JLB
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- Jan 12, 2014
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Can He? Sure... there were things given to a couple of prophets that were sealed that when revealed, might appear "new" to that generation even though it was something set in motion by God long before. In this case, though, I would say no.
If there is a rapture, I believe it will be more like Phillip... you know, when the Eunuch went into the water Phillip disappeared, was taken? His "rapture" (yes, same word used there, the Greek "harpazo") was horizontal, not vertical. Since a second Exodus remains on the table (prophetically speaking, read the last few verses of Isaiah 11) then I tend to think that IF there is a rapture, it is also horizontal and those moved will be moved to a place where this second and greater exodus can begin. But... that is my personal view and shouldn't be taken dogmatically.
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Jonathan Leo
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It’s so popular because it’s doctrine means those in Christ won’t suffer tribulation. However I can’t see anywhere in scripture where this is true.
Take 2 Timothy 3
Take special attention to verse 11 and 12
It states all ( not some ) Christians who live in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Then there’s verses like 2 Thessalonians 2 where it says that we will not be gathered to Jesus unless the great apostasy and the man of lawlessness ( antichrist ) is revealed.
Then in revelation it warns us not to be decieved by the lying signs and wonders that the antichrist will perform when he sits in the temple and claims to be God ( abomination of desolation)
Also in revelation it talks about how we are to avoid the mark of the beast.
I believe gathered together on the clouds is when Christ raises the dead in him for 1000 year reign. This only happens after the tribulation/Armageddon as we see in
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Revelation 20.
We are raised in Christ forever because the second death has no hold over us. Blessed are those in the first resurrection.
After 1000 years, all other dead people are raised along with Satan and are cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
People love to mis interpet scripture of the rapture because they don’t want to suffer Gods wrath. But Gods wrath is nothing to do with rapture. We are saved by God wrath because we are in Jesus Christ. Gods wrath is to destroy evil and sin. We all deserve Gods wrath and our only escape is Jesus Christ. This does not mean God takes us out of the way during His trumpet and bowl judgments. Scripture clearly says otherwise
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Anyways, to answer your question: Why is the Rapture so popular? Well, because people want the comfort of heaven and to be united with Jesus away from this sin filled and broken world. For it is the blessed hope (See Titus 2:12-13). Scripture does not say that the Lord is delaying His coming but that we are to be ready at any moment. Titus 2:12-13 talks about how we are to live holy (after being saved by God's grace) whereby we can then look for the "blessed hope." How can you look for the "blessed hope" if one believes they have to go through the Tribulation first? They would have to expect to look for the Tribulation first before they looked for any "blessed hope" at the end of it. But Scripture says they are looking now for the "blessed hope." 1 Thessalonians 4 says we are comforted by the words that talk about the Rapture. How can you gain comfort in such words if you knew that you had to see the worst darkness that will ever face mankind? The church is not appointed unto Wrath. Yes, believers will exist during the Tribulation, but this is after the fall out of the Rapture.
I mean, think about it. What position do you have the most to lose by not believing in it? I would say the Pre-Trib Rapture is the position that you have the most to lose. For if you miss out on it, you will have to go through the Tribulation (Which will be really, really bad). It is the only position that will drive you to live the most holy, as well. But if you believe God delays His coming, then you can become lazy and slothful in the way you live for God.
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Revelation 3:7-13
To the Church in Philadelphia
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth."
This passage is interesting and I’ve often thought that if there was a pre-trib rapture, this might be referring to it. It would also mean that only 1/7 of the people would “qualify”, and that’s if the 7 churches are equal in size. I don’t consider myself top 15% of all Christians, so I’m thinking if happens in my lifetime, I’ll be among the slain, or someone better prepared than me hooks me up. XD
To the Church in Philadelphia
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth."
This passage is interesting and I’ve often thought that if there was a pre-trib rapture, this might be referring to it. It would also mean that only 1/7 of the people would “qualify”, and that’s if the 7 churches are equal in size. I don’t consider myself top 15% of all Christians, so I’m thinking if happens in my lifetime, I’ll be among the slain, or someone better prepared than me hooks me up. XD
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That could be a personal motivation. However, the classic dispensational position is not 'run away, run away brave Sir Robin!" but a matter of God's Wrath being poured out in the Tribulation period. The dispensational position (and I think it is also Biblically plausible) is that Christ rescues His Bride, the Church, from the Wrath poured out by God, because we are not the focus of the poured out Wrath but the wicked.
For example, Romans 1:18-19 and 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and also Revelation 3:10 are used by classic dispensational theologians as texts which show the Church will be spared God's wrath and "the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world."
Two proponents within dispensationalism for the above would be the pre-trib rapture adherents and the mid-trib adherents. The mid-trib adherents would focus more on the 'wrath' language and attribute the trumpet or vial judgements as the beginning of the wrath of God poured out on the earth. Some say right before the Wrath of the Lamb or coinciding with this event (6th seal). The aforementioned (6th seal rapture) adherents do see the Church suffering the 4 seals as the 5th seal is the one mentioning the martyrs for the faith.
IMO all Biblically plausible as well is the Historic Futurist view of the rapture coinciding with the Second Coming.
If you ask "well what do you think?" I actually focus on the early portion of 1 Thessalonians 4.
1 Thessalonians 4: NKJV
4 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
And of course:
Matthew 24: NKJV
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
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