Left Behind Series/Catholic Belief on Rapture

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I need some help with this one.
I read at Catholic.com about the pre, mid, and post-millennium, but it really didn’t say enough about what the Catholic Church teaches. I looked through the Cathecism last night and couldn’t find anything about the second coming.(am I looking in the wrong places???) According to the article Catholics are ammillenial. It also states, that although the Church teaches the rapture, we do not use that term In the 2nd article (attached below), Mr. Wichmann stated “We do not believe in the rapture.”
catholic.com/library/rapture.asp

I was trying to find something on line since I was unable to find anything in the Cathecism and I found this article about the “Left Behind” series. Although LaHayes and Jenkins denie they are anti-Catholic, it’s obvious they are extremely anti-Catholic in my opinion.

suntimes.com/output/religion/cst-nws-left06.html

Could someone please tell me where I can get more information on what we believe? The Church teaches us not to worry about the end because our “end” could come at any time. I believe this and have never concerned myself with this before, but with all these anti-Catholic books (fiction or not) out there I feel I need to know exactly what the Church does teach. Not only that, my brother, who is a fundamentalist, told me that Christ would come back to earth for a thousand years before the end of time??? I have never heard this. It’s not something we do here from priest or from our CCD classes.

Please help!
Thanks in advance!
Gina
 
here you go… ripped off… err… borrowed from catholic answers…

What’s the Catholic Position?

As far as the millennium goes, we tend to agree with Augustine and, derivatively, with the amillennialists. The Catholic position has thus historically been “amillennial” (as has been the majority Christian position in general, including that of the Protestant Reformers), though Catholics do not typically use this term. The Church has rejected the premillennial position, sometimes called “millenarianism” (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church 676). In the 1940s the Holy Office judged that premillennialism “cannot safely be taught,” though the Church has not dogmatically defined this issue.

With respect to the rapture, Catholics certainly believe that the event of our gathering together to be with Christ will take place, though they do not generally use the word “rapture” to refer to this event (somewhat ironically, since the term “rapture” is derived from the text of the Latin Vulgate of 1 Thess. 4:17—“we will be caught up,” [Latin: rapiemur]).

Spinning Wheels?

Many spend much time looking for signs in the heavens and in the headlines. This is especially true of premillennialists, who anxiously await the tribulation because it will inaugurate the rapture and millennium.

A more balanced perspective is given by Peter, who writes, “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. . . . Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace” (2 Pet. 3:8–14).

Hoped this helps… 👍
 
I am reading Carl Olson’s book, Will Catholics be Left Behind, right now, and he deals with all of your questions in the book. I haven’t finished it yet, but the last part is supposed give a thorough explanation of Catholic teaching about Revelation. Paul Thigpen’s book, The Rapture Trap: A Catholic Response to “End Times” Fever is good. I read it last year. Also, David Currie has a book on the subject which I bought but is still sitting in my “to read” stack. The title is Rapture: The End-Times Error That Leaves the Bible Behind. I have read other work by him and really liked it.

🙂
 
Amanda,

I have been meaning to buy one of those books, The Rapture Trap or Will Catholics be left Behind? What’s your opinion, one, both, if both which one first?

Thanks
 
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MariaG:
I have been meaning to buy one of those books, The Rapture Trap or Will Catholics be left Behind? What’s your opinion, one, both, if both which one first?
Click to expand...
I’ve got all of those books and I’d say Rapture Trap would be the best one to read first. (Just my $0.02)
It doesn’t go into as much detail as the others so it serves as a good introduction to the topic. If you want to get more detail move on to Olsen’s book. Still more detail, get Currie’s book.
 
I’ve read the Rapture Trap and it concisely refutes the “Left Behind” notion and clarifies the Catholic position very well. I’d read it first, too.
 
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MariaG:
Amanda, I have been meaning to buy one of those books, The Rapture Trap or Will Catholics be left Behind? What’s your opinion, one, both, if both which one first?
Click to expand...
I agree with the others who have already answered the question–Paul Thigpen’s book is very good. I am really enjoying Carl Olson’s book now, so I can’t tell you which one I prefer.

🙂

God bless!

Amanda
 
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