The word “rapture” is derived from the Latin word “rapiemur” which appears in the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible in 1 Thessalonians. It means to be raised up or caught up:
[T]he dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thes 4:16-17)
Therefore, Catholics believe that those Christians who are still living at the Second Coming of Christ will be gathered together with those who have died in Christ to forever be with the Lord.
DISCLAIMER: Catholic Answers has turned over the archive to Catholic-Questions.org and no longer owns, manages, or moderates the forums. For additional apologetics resources please visit www.catholic.com.
