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rolltidefan
Guest
What do the Catholics believe or teach on the rapture? I have never heard that much said here on the topic and was wondering about that.
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kage_ar
Guest
“He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom shall have no end.”
No soooper seekret rapture, that was made up just a few decades ago.
I’d suggest these articles:
catholic.com/library/Rapture.asp
scripturecatholic.com/second_coming.html
And a couple of books
Tighpen’s “The Rapture Trap”
Currie’s “Rapture: The end times myth”
No soooper seekret rapture, that was made up just a few decades ago.
I’d suggest these articles:
catholic.com/library/Rapture.asp
scripturecatholic.com/second_coming.html
And a couple of books
Tighpen’s “The Rapture Trap”
Currie’s “Rapture: The end times myth”
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pismopal
Guest
I am not an expert on what some call “rapture” but my understanding is that it is a recent invention. I am Catholic and it is not part of our dogma. IMO the issue is one of the reasons that personal interpretation of the Bible is…well…unbibical.
Since we don’t teach it I am not interested in it…how about you?
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rolltidefan
Guest
Thank you both for your replies. Kage_ar…thanks for the websites…I will look at both of these.
pismopal…I do believe in it. Not sure if the word “rapture” is what throws us off as what it means or what. But I do believe that Jesus will be coming for us. Of course, no man knows the day or the hour. But yes, my church does teach it, which is why I asked the question here. I don’t hear it spoke of that much and so I wanted to ask. I do appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut though. Like I said though, I think in some ways we believe the same, it is just the use of the word “rapture” just gets us all in a whirl! lol
God Bless You Both
pismopal…I do believe in it. Not sure if the word “rapture” is what throws us off as what it means or what. But I do believe that Jesus will be coming for us. Of course, no man knows the day or the hour. But yes, my church does teach it, which is why I asked the question here. I don’t hear it spoke of that much and so I wanted to ask. I do appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut though. Like I said though, I think in some ways we believe the same, it is just the use of the word “rapture” just gets us all in a whirl! lol
God Bless You Both
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pismopal
Guest
Just a PS… Count the times that Christ comes to earth in the rapture “theory” and I think it comes out to three. Traditionally the number of visits should be two…ne c’est pas?
I pull for Alabama unless they are playing Notre Dame
Parents still live in Hoover.
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rolltidefan
Guest
COOL! We will need it since we have lost Andre Smith!!! Hoover is about 2 hours from me. We shop a lot there when we want to go to a big mall. Nice area. But anyway ROLL TIDE!
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Callin
Guest
Great book. Got it for Christmas and finished it within a week.
The idea of a rapture that occurs before the so-called Tribulation is completely unsupported by scripture. It would imply three separate comings of Christ to earth (no matter what language is used to hide the fact), and only recently has it become popular - due to Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind series.
But belief in a sort of rapture that occurs right when Jesus returns in glory is fine, as far as I’m aware. The Catholic Church has not clarified most of Revelation, so Catholics are given a lot of liberty for interpretation. Pre-tribulation rapture, however…no.
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John7
Guest
Here’s an example of a temporary rapture into heaven from 2 Cor 12:2-4.I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) such an one **caught up ** to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
both times ‘caught up’ used from αρπαγεντα (arpagenta/harpagey)
from Friberg lexicon, (1) as forcibly taking someone or something snatch, seize, take away (JN 6.15);
(2) as the action of thieves and wild beasts steal, carry off, drag away (JN 10.12);
(3) of seed already sown carry off, snatch away (MT 13.19);
(4) of an ecstatic vision or experience catch up or away (2C 12.2);
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survive
Guest
From the Left Behind series, I got the impression the Rapture theory exists to help explain the mechanism of the Tribulation – because the believers disappear suddenly as prophesied, there is a huge surge of interest in Christianity, therefore the ones who want to wipe out Christianity panic and fight hard, bringing on the Lord’s wrath, which eventually destroys the world’s ability to support life. They didn’t take it from Scripture, but read it into the Bible to figure out the way to tell when the End is near. Because the believers disappear as soon as the world becomes so wicked they can’t save it. So when they’re gone, it’s a wake-up call for the rest of the sincere people. But those people have no one to teach them, and have to figure it out on their own after a sudden conversion, while an inconceivably powerful government persecutes them with singleminded focus for three-and-a-half to seven years. It’s seen as still much better than the left-behind people deserve; if everyone is undeserving anyway, then those who need an obvious sign like the Rapture to convince them to convert must really have it coming. That’s the logic. It works backward from total depravity, the view of the Tribulation as an impending punishment of unbelievers, and above all the need to find the date of the End. But it falls apart when we remember we’re not going to know when to expect the End.
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twosweetgirls
Guest
What I thought about the Rapture was entirely gleaned from the Left Behind series, unfortunately (and way before I became a Catholic). Getting the mark of the beast and then being beheaded by guillotine if you don’t. . . that’s some whacked-out stuff. 
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puppypatrol
Guest
Also, keep in mind that the “Rapture” and the “Second Coming of Christ” are 2 different events in the teaching of Evangelical/Pentecostal/Fundalmentalist Protestent churches. Of course, Catholics believe in the Second Coming but not the Rapture. The Rapture is not Scriptural, not even in the Book of Revelations. It’s a misunderstanding and/or misinterpretation.
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tiemry
Guest
1 Thessalonians 4
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be “caught up” together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
This is where my church teaches the Rapture from. “Caught up” simply means rapture. The saved shall be caught up to meet with Jesus before the Tribulation.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be “caught up” together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
This is where my church teaches the Rapture from. “Caught up” simply means rapture. The saved shall be caught up to meet with Jesus before the Tribulation.
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puppypatrol
Guest
That is part of the “Second Coming” There is nothing after that. No Tribulation, nada.
Also, that was written when Paul assumed that the “Second Coming” would happen within his lifetime. “Nevertheless, the most important aspect of the parousia (Second Coming) for him was the fulfillment of union with Christ. His pastoral exhortation focuses first on hope for the departed faithful, then (1 Thes 5:1-3) on the need of preparedness for those who have to achieve their goal.”
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tiemry
Guest
also this verse speaks of the Tribulation and of also those who were saved beforehand, as their days were shorten.
Mark 13
19For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
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puppypatrol
Guest
Let’s try reading the whole thing…
3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple area, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
4 “Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be when all these things are about to come to an end?”
5 Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one deceives you.
6 Many will come in my name saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many.
7 When you hear of wars and reports of wars do not be alarmed; such things must happen, but it will not yet be the end.
8 Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes from place to place and there will be famines. These are the beginnings of the labor pains.
9 "Watch out for yourselves. They will hand you over to the courts. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will be arraigned before governors and kings because of me, as a witness before them.
10 But the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
11 When they lead you away and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say. But say whatever will be given to you at that hour. For it will not be you who are speaking but the holy Spirit.
12 Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
13 You will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
14 "When you see the desolating abomination standing 4 where he should not (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains,
15 (and) a person on a housetop must not go down or enter to get anything out of his house,
16 and a person in a field must not return to get his cloak.
17 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days.
18 Pray that this does not happen in winter.
19 For those times will have tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of God’s creation until now, nor ever will be.
20 If the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect whom he chose, he did shorten the days.
21 If anyone says to you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah! Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.
22 False messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders in order to mislead, if that were possible, the elect.
23 Be watchful! I have told it all to you beforehand.
24 "But in those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
25 and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory,
27 and then he will send out the angels and gather (his) elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
28 "Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates.
30 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32 “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
35 Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
36 May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
37 What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’” *
Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple (Mark 13:2) provoked questions that the four named disciples put to him in private regarding the time and the sign when all these things are about to come to an end (Mark 13:3-4). The response to their questions was Jesus’ eschatological discourse prior to his imminent death. It contained instruction and consolation exhorting the disciples and the church to faith and obedience through the trials that would confront them (Mark 13:5-13). The sign is the presence of the desolating abomination (Mark 13:14; see Daniel 9:27), i.e., of the Roman power profaning the temple. Flight from Jerusalem is urged rather than defense of the city through misguided messianic hope (Mark 13:14-23). Intervention will occur only after destruction (Mark 13:24-27), which will happen before the end of the first Christian generation (Mark 13:28-31). No one but the Father knows the precise time, or that of the parousia (Mark 13:32); hence the necessity of constant vigilance (Mark 13:33-37). Luke sets the parousia at a later date, after “the time of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24).
An all the “Tribulation” happens BEFORE the faithful are taken up. It has been going on since the crucifixion, is going on now, and will continue until Christ comes again, with all the elect still here.
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tiemry
Guest
I have read the whole thing several times, thank you.
I only stated what my church (Southern Baptist) teaches, I did not state it is the only correct interpetation, nor did I attack the Catholic position.
This what I believe and that is what you believe. In the end, no matter what is to be believed we all must be with eyes wide open waiting for Jesus
I only stated what my church (Southern Baptist) teaches, I did not state it is the only correct interpetation, nor did I attack the Catholic position.
This what I believe and that is what you believe. In the end, no matter what is to be believed we all must be with eyes wide open waiting for Jesus
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puppypatrol
Guest
AGREED!!!I have read the whole thing several times, thank you.
I only stated what my church (Southern Baptist) teaches, I did not state it is the only correct interpetation, nor did I attack the Catholic position.
This what I believe and that is what you believe. In the end, no matter what is to be believed we all must be with eyes wide open waiting for Jesus
I’m sorry if I sounded un-Christian. Not intended. I’ve just had to argue this with others who were not very receptive and think I’m going to hell for being Catholic. I’m not saying you believe that way, I guess I was just making my statement out of habit.
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tiemry
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puppypatrol
Guest
Thank you and Happy New Year to you too.No problem!
God Bless and Happy New Year!
Bail o Dhia is Mhuire duit.
(The blessing of God and Mary to you)
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fbl9
Guest
slight mistake in your interpitation of this verse…it is the days of the tribulation that are shortened not the days of the elect…
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