Catholics and the rapture

[Church_Militant]

she sai she won’t talk to me about it anymore because she doen’st want to argue and doen’st want me to be upset with her

she says it has nothing to do with protestant influence, she read it in the bible and is just so convinced that she is right.

I don’t think she uses the computer much so maybe I will try to get her that book.

another part of it is that she suffers from a lot of health conditions and the idea of Christ taking her out of the world before more bad stuff happens is comforting to her

obviously, I can’t force her to change her mind about it, but just in case she doesn’t, is she putting her soul in any kind of danger?

Understood and that book will certainly be helpful.

The funny thing is that she didn’t read it in her Bible because although the passages used to support it are there, they have to be read in the context of the whole Bible. I also suggest that you turn her on to the diary of St. Faustina, “Divine Mercy in My Soul” which may also be a great blessing to her in her difficulties.

You’re probably not going to have much immediate effect, but offer her these sources and then pray and let the Holy Spirit do His work.

 

[Church_Militant]

does that book cover the book of revelations? because I think that might be part of the issue, that she’s getting things from revelaitons mixed up with the rapture

Yes, there are at least 18 references to the book of Revelation as well as most all of the other passages I have seen used for this error.

 

[mikekle]

What they call the “rapture” we call the “resurrection”. It unfortunately does not stop at that comparison, because the thrill of the rapture is so much more appealing to the human ego, than the resurrection. Escaping the judgment of God, either general or specific, really does have its appeal, but it is wrong.

I would not call it escaping judgement, I know many catholics who believe the rapture will happen right before things get bad on earth, but those being ‘called up’ during the so called rapture are not escaping judgement, they are the ones who will be going to heaven, the ones left behind, will be the ones that have to endure the AC and the bad times, but even when they die, they will still be judged, so no one is escaping judgement.

I was surprised my dad believes in this, he has been a faithful catholic since childhood, never misses mass, he told me about his beliefs when we watched the first ‘Left behind’ movie.

 

[TimothyH]

I would not call it escaping judgement, I know many catholics who believe the rapture will happen right before things get bad on earth, but those being ‘called up’ during the so called rapture are not escaping judgement, they are the ones who will be going to heaven, the ones left behind, will be the ones that have to endure the AC and the bad times, but even when they die, they will still be judged, so no one is escaping judgement.

I was surprised my dad believes in this, he has been a faithful catholic since childhood, never misses mass, he told me about his beliefs when we watched the first ‘Left behind’ movie.

The problem is that in the Bible it is always the good guys who get left behind. It is the bad guys who get taken.

“One will be taken, one will be left behind” comes from Luke 17:26-35. Jesus says one will be taken and one will be left behind just like during the time of Lot and the time of Noah. Noah and Lot were righteous and they were left behind. All the evil ones were taken - burned in the fire and brimstone and washed away in the flood.

Again, the rapture is 180° out of phase with the Bible.

When the end of time comes it will be the righteous who get left behind to dwell with God. The evil ones will be taken to perdition. That’s what the Bible says.

-Tim-

 

[Darryl_B]

I would not call it escaping judgement, I know many catholics who believe the rapture will happen right before things get bad on earth, but those being ‘called up’ during the so called rapture are not escaping judgement, they are the ones who will be going to heaven, the ones left behind, will be the ones that have to endure the AC and the bad times, but even when they die, they will still be judged, so no one is escaping judgement.

I was surprised my dad believes in this, he has been a faithful catholic since childhood, never misses mass, he told me about his beliefs when we watched the first ‘Left behind’ movie.

So the ones ‘called up’ are escaping the judgment of God by the mere fortune of temporal placement. The one who ‘converts’ to evangelicalism a little too late in time, must endure the judgement and suffer accordingly? Wouldn’t then those converts within that tribulation have a greater faith than those who obviously can’t seem to endure and maintain their faith throughout it?

I have read the entire Left Behind series, watched the original three Canadian movies, which were disappointing to the Authors, as well as the Nic Cage remake. The heroes are not the ‘called up’, the heroes are those left behind. To me that is the wrong way around.

 

[TimothyH]

So the ones ‘called up’ are escaping the judgment of God by the mere fortune of temporal placement. The one who ‘converts’ to evangelicalism a little too late in time, must endure the judgement and suffer accordingly? Wouldn’t then those converts within that tribulation have a greater faith than those who obviously can’t seem to endure and maintain their faith throughout it?

I have read the entire Left Behind series, watched the original three Canadian movies, which were disappointing to the Authors, as well as the Nic Cage remake. The heroes are not the ‘called up’, the heroes are those left behind. To me that is the wrong way around.

In the Bible it is always the righteous who get left behind and the evil ones who get taken away.

See post #20.

-Tim-

 

[Darryl_B]

In the Bible it is always the righteous who get left behind and the evil ones who get taken away.

See post #20.

-Tim-

My friend, I agree with you. Noah, Lot. Though there was a time, I confess, to subscribing to the “Rapture”, but that was before I listened to the Church, and before I read St Robert Bellarmine.

 

[mattp0625]

I guess I get overly worried, possibly

because it’s this sort of thing that almost made me lose my faith. I had a real crisis a few years ago when I discovered that there were branches of churches that taught that the pope was the antichrist, the church is the whore of Babylon and espousing millennial theories and rapture stuff all at the same time.

it’s definitely misguided, that’s for sure

In my experience, it’s mostly impossible to change someone’s mind if he or she has an emotional attachment to a doctrine due to personal circumstances.

At least she does have faith. However, it can lead to grave matters- e.g. If it leads to doctrines such as once saved, always saved.

As far as the Babylon stuff - most people in that arena are not aware of when and where that stuff originated.

 

[johnnyc176]

The problem is that in the Bible it is always the good guys who get left behind. It is the bad guys who get taken.

“One will be taken, one will be left behind” comes from Luke 17:26-35. Jesus says one will be taken and one will be left behind just like during the time of Lot and the time of Noah. Noah and Lot were righteous and they were left behind. All the evil ones were taken - burned in the fire and brimstone and washed away in the flood.

Again, the rapture is 180° out of phase with the Bible.

When the end of time comes it will be the righteous who get left behind to dwell with God. The evil ones will be taken to perdition. That’s what the Bible says.

-Tim-

 

[Simca]

Just in case anyone’s interested in this little tidbit…

In trying to explain The Rapture, I’ve read New Age teaching which say the bad ones will disappear from the earth all at once. But it will be for their own good, as they will reincarnate and come back to take their place in the New Age of peace and enlightenment.

Here’s a quote from this site: redmoonrising.com/newage.htm

“The people who leave the planet during the time of Earth changes do not fit in here
any longer, and they are stopping the harmony of Earth. When the time comes
that perhaps 20 million people leave the planet at one time there will be
a tremendous shift in consciousness for those who are remaining.”

 

[Simca]

In the Bible it is always the righteous who get left behind and the evil ones who get taken away.

-Tim-

Just in case anyone’s interested in this little tidbit…

In trying to explain The Rapture, I’ve read New Age teaching which say the bad ones will disappear from the earth all at once. But it will be for their own good, as they will reincarnate and come back to take their place in the New Age of peace and enlightenment.

Here’s a quote from this site: redmoonrising.com/newage.htm

“The people who leave the planet during the time of Earth changes do not fit in here
any longer, and they are stopping the harmony of Earth. When the time comes
that perhaps 20 million people leave the planet at one time there will be
a tremendous shift in consciousness for those who are remaining.”

 

[jtoth]

I’m glad I came across this thread. I have discussions regarding Revelations and the return of Christ with a Protestant friend frequently. I have to admit she had me believing in the rapture for a while but after reading up on it (including this thread), I will have to bring the subject up to her again. So, please correct me if I am wrong, the Catholic teaching is that Christ will return and dwell with us, living and resurrected Christians, on Earth?

 

[TimothyH]

We cannot say “where” it will be.

We do know that creation will be made new.

And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new. (Revelation 21:5)

Creation will be returned to the way it was in the garden before sin entered the world. God will dwell with man and we will see him face to face.

 

[jtoth]

We cannot say “where” it will be.

We do know that creation will be made new.

And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new. (Revelation 21:5)

Creation will be returned to the way it was in the garden before sin entered the world. God will dwell with man and we will see him face to face.

Interesting. We will be with Him…regardless of where it is, on Earth, in Heaven…but we will live alongside Christ. Almost makes us want it soon!

 

[mikekle]

So the ones ‘called up’ are escaping the judgment of God by the mere fortune of temporal placement. The one who ‘converts’ to evangelicalism a little too late in time, must endure the judgement and suffer accordingly? Wouldn’t then those converts within that tribulation have a greater faith than those who obviously can’t seem to endure and maintain their faith throughout it?

I have read the entire Left Behind series, watched the original three Canadian movies, which were disappointing to the Authors, as well as the Nic Cage remake. The heroes are not the ‘called up’, the heroes are those left behind. To me that is the wrong way around.

Well, the ones ‘called up’ to meet God in the air, thus avoiding the reign of the AC, were just the ones who have been truly faithful, that does not mean anyone left behind is going to hell, it just means, they will have to endure the ACs reign and probably go thru some bad times on earth, arrest, torture, death, etc but if they stand by their faith and do not deny God or their faith, they will be saved upon their death.

We are told it will be VERY tough to be a christian when the AC reigns, heck its tough now, and no one ever said living in a secular world would be easy for a christian, but enduring these bad things, like arrest, torture, is good for us, makes our faith that much stronger imo.