Rapture? Looking forward to Christ's Return? Help?

[Mannyfit75]

Here is some background on John Darby’s Dispensationalism, the origin of the Rapture Theory:

As a current Christian theology among many Protestant and other Conservative Christian groups, Dispensationalism is a form of premillennialism which teaches biblical history, the present, and the future as a number of successive “economies” or “administrations”, called “dispensations”, each of which emphasizes the discontinuity of the covenants God made with His various peoples.

The word, “Dispensation” is contained in the King James Version translation of the Bible where it is written in Ephesians 3:2-4:

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)”

One issue often discussed is supersessionism, which teaches that the Christian Church has replaced the Jewish people as “God’s People”, and that there is only one people of God, joined in unity through Jesus Christ. It is maintained that since the Jewish people have largely refused to accept Jesus as Christ, “the Messiah of Israel”, and since He is their only means of salvation, those individual Jews that reject Him, reject his atoning sacrifice for sins, and have in effect rejected the only provision God has offered for divine forgiveness, are no longer considered as the true Israel. Christians, thus, have become the “New Israel”. This view is also often referred to as “replacement theology”; in that according to this theology, the Church from its very inception has replaced the Jewish people as God’s “chosen people” and “holy nation”, now and forever. One of the Scriptures often cited as a basis for this theology is 1 Peter 2:9.

[edit] Dispensationalism contrasted
In contrast to the above discussion, dispensationalism teaches that the Christian Church is a “parenthesis”, that is, an interruption in God’s divine dealings with the Jewish people, when the Gospel began to be preached to the Gentiles, but that God’s continued care for the Jewish people will be revealed after the end of the Church Age (or Dispensation), when Israel will be restored to their land, and then they will accept Jesus as their Messiah, as is recorded in Zechariah, Chapter 12 verses 8-10 (KJV):

“In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispensationalism

 

[JohnPaulTwoToo]

I’m finding it very difficult to look forward to Christ’s second coming. It’s not that I don’t want it to happen, it’s just that I’M TERRIFIED. How can we, as Catholics, look forward to the event without being scared out of our wits? What can I read or who can I talk to to get over this fear?

Why do you interpret your dream as the rapture? Jesus has appeared in many private dreams and visions. In that sense, there have been many “comings”, many “returns”. Read St. Faustina’s diary. I lost count of the number of times she saw Him.

 

[ryanoneil]

I need a little advice and comfort.

I’m finding it very difficult to look forward to Christ’s second coming. It’s not that I don’t want it to happen, it’s just that I’M TERRIFIED. How can we, as Catholics, look forward to the event without being scared out of our wits? What can I read or who can I talk to to get over this fear?

I am willing to share the entire recurring dream if any of you are interested, of course as long as it’s understood that it is a dream and not something I believe is real. Like I said, I’m not nuts. Anyway, if you have a suggestion for me about how I can get over being afraid of this, please let me know. Thanks!

I used to be very scared of dying, so I can relate to your fear. Now, I trust that the promise of heaven is there for me, if I remain remain faithfull to God. I know everything will be alright if I don’t give up, because the Lord will help me finish the race. I would strongly suggest regular prayer, confession, and Mass. Trust in the Lord and never give up, and everything will be fine.

I’m very interested in hearing your dream, because I am also a dreamer. I used to be plagued by zombie nightmares when I was younger and still occasionally have them. Now it seems most of my dreams are in a dream city I’m familiar with, or they take place on a college campus. There always seems to be some weird senario going on. Anyway, you can send me a private message or post your dream here. What ever you’re more comfortable with.

God bless you,

Ryan

 

[ryanoneil]

Before anybody debunks the “rapture theory”, they better explain how Israel, the land and the people, are now cut from their own prophecy.

When Jesus walked throughout Israel, he proclaimed the Kingdom is at hand. That is, nothing had to happen for it to come. But for the most part, it was rejected at that time by Israel, as prophesied, and they killed him, as prophesied. But before that and still is today, Jesus is calling all those, Jews and Gentiles, to put their faith in him, to be his bride, his church, filled with the Holy Spirit. The church has his peace now, not a worldy peace. The only thing that is “at hand” now is his stealing away of his bride like a thief in the night, the entrance of the anti-christ and the start of the wrath God will pour upon the earth.(Rev 1:3)

Israel, the land and the people, are NOT cut from their own prophecy. As far as I understand the Jews are still God’s chosen people, but the benefits of the kingdom are open to all. The benefits of the Kingdom are here now. We are in the millenium now. Christ Kingdom is the same one promised, by God, to Abraham and David. In God’s promise all nation would be blessed.

The Church believes we are in Revelation 20’s millenium and leading up to the final battle of Gog and Magog we will see the tribulation repeat itself. In other words, the events of the Temples destruction is itself a prediction of the final tribulation.I believe these final events will wake many of our Jewish brethren (and plenty of non-Jews) up before Christ’s return.

One other comment refuting the idea of a secret rapture. As far as I understand some people who are left behind will be allowed into heaven after the tribulation. This idea goes against scripture. Read the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:10 the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. (there is no getting in after that)

Christ will come at the final battle, defeat satan, the resurrection will follow, He will judge everyone, damn the wicked, and give eternal life to the righteous. I’m looking forward to living life in the eternal kingdom.

Peace,

Ryan

 

[Southsider433]

The rapture theology has major holes in it. One is the Anti-Christ. whats the point of having an anti-christ if all christians who would recognize an anti-christ are “raptured” and taken away? Only a christian would recognize and agree to the term anti-christ, every other religion believes Christ was just a man or never existed.

It makes sense for a christian to be persecuted by an anti-christ,whats the point in a non beliver being persecuted by an anti-christ? They don’t beleive anyway. I think the anti-christ will be an athiest and set up a "religion’ of secular humanism. To me athiesm is the true anti-christ. but then again what do i know

 

[guanophore]

I need a little advice and comfort.

I’m finding it very difficult to look forward to Christ’s second coming. It’s not that I don’t want it to happen, it’s just that I’M TERRIFIED. How can we, as Catholics, look forward to the event without being scared out of our wits? What can I read or who can I talk to to get over this fear?

I’ve been plagued all my life every so often of dreams of a rapture and Christ’s second coming, even as a child (who was not formally religiously educated.) At the time I had most of these dreams, about one or two a year, I had no knowledge of the rapture, pre, post, or mid…tribulation -non of it. -Other than the fact that I knew Christ would return and take us to heaven with Him someday. I guess I just kept a child’s view on the subject. They are extremely vivid and terrifying dreams. So much so that I’ve awakened shaking and in tears. -Or overwhelmed with a feeling of immense love-almost tangible. I agree with the Church’s standing on the subject about rapture and tribulation and all, but find it difficult to not panic when I think about it. I am a good and sound person and even though I am God-fearing, I genuinely believe I will live eternally with God, although, of course, that is up to Him. So I’m not really “afraid” to be judged…that’s not what makes me fear this. It’s even made me wary of certain church’s and parishes I visit. I always look at the altar and the floor of any church I enter fearing that I will see what I’ve seen in my dreams.

Please don’t think I’m nuts…I haven’t really talked to anyone about it because I’m sort of embarrassed about it and don’t want to sound like I’m missing some of my marbles. -But these dreams do bother me very much and I guess I just feel like seeing what you all have to say about it.

I am willing to share the entire recurring dream if any of you are interested, of course as long as it’s understood that it is a dream and not something I believe is real. Like I said, I’m not nuts. Anyway, if you have a suggestion for me about how I can get over being afraid of this, please let me know. Thanks!

I am interested in your dream. You can PM it if you don’t want to put it on the forum.

The best way to be ready for the return of Christ is to remain in a state of grace at all times.

Matt 24:46-47
46 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. (obedient)