In refuting the rapture, it is important first to understand where it comes from. Rapture theology is based, more or less, on a couple of scripture verses.
ONE WILL BE TAKEN, ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND
"For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. (Matthew 24: 37-41)
Many point to the text in red as proof of the rapture. Those who are destined for heaven, the good guys, will be taken, and the bad guys will be left behind on earth. This is alway used by those who believe in rapture theology in the absence of the surrounding text
Whether you are taken or left behind gets reversed when the text in red is taken in its proper context. At the time of the great flood, Noah and his family - righteous in the eyes of God - were left behind on earth. The bad guys were swept away by the flood. This is exactly the reverse of what rapture theology teaches, that the sinners get left behind and the good guys get taken away.
The parallel verses in Luke are similarly used by rapture theologists, and like the verses in Matthew 24, are interpreted one hundred eighty degrees out of phase with what scripture actually says. In the Gospel of Luke, reference is made to the time when Lot left Sodom. Like Noah and the flood, when Lot left Sodom, it was the righteous Lot who was left on earth and the evil Sodomites who were taken by fire and brimstone. The good guys were left behind, not the bad guys.
Rapture theology has it 100% reversed from what scripture actually says.
GOING OUT TO MEET JESUS IN THE AIR
Rapture theologists also point to Paul’s comments to the Thessalonians about meeting Jesus in the air as proof of the rapture.
For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thesalonians 4:16-17)
The problem with a rapture interpretation of these verses is that it 1) ignores common military and political customs observed at the time it was written and, 2) ignores Jewish belief about the end of the world at the time when Jesus was alive.
It was common for people who lived in cities to “Go out to meet” visiting dignitaries, kings and military leaders. “Going out to meet” a visiting king or military was either for battle or to make peace. Leaving the safety of a walled city unarmed and traveling several miles to meet a visiting king or military leader was a clear sign that the people of the city were subservient and subordinate to the visiting party. The visiting king would be escorted back to the safety of the city as honored guests. The Old Testament is rife with kings who “Go out to meet” other kings, either for battle, or to escort the king back as a guest in peace.
Jewish belief about the end of the world was that Jerusalem, and all of Israel, would be transformed as part of a new exodus led by the messiah. The transormation of Jerusalem as part of the end of the world is clearly referenced in the book of Revelation.
***I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven *from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God]. (Revelation 21:2-3)
Notice that Jerusalem, like Jesus in 1 Thessalonians 4, comes down out of heaven. Notice also that God dwells with men and is “With them.” It is not the other way around. Men don’t dwell with God in heaven but it is God who dwells with men on earth. This is consistent with the political and military practice of “Going out to meet” a king and escorting him back to the city as an honored guest.
These customs and beliefs preclude a rapture intepretation of 1 Thessalonians 4. Remember that Jesus ascended to heaven in a cloud and said that he would return the same way. What Paul was actually saying was that we will go out to meet Jesus in the clouds and then escort him back to earth as an honored guest. Paul was not saying that we would return to heaven with Jesus.
I WILL RAISE HIM ON THE LAST DAY
Rapture theologists say that there will be a ressurection of the “Dead in Christ” approximately 1000 years (give or take) before the end of time.
*No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. (John 6:44)
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. (John 6:54)*
In the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly tells us that he will raise us on the last day. Not the last day before the rapture but the LAST day. That non-Catholic adherants to the doctrines of rapture theology would ignore anything in John 6 is no big surprise.
It’s all quite rediculous. Worse than nonsense really. Worse than being just a whacky idea, it’s the rapture is exactly the opposite of what Christ himself said.
-Tim-
