St. Luke 17: 20-37

[BlueWolf03]

I have a question that has been burning in my mind for a long time, and I would like to have some help to better understand this…
The reason is because I was raised in a fundemental Protestant home and was taught the whole Rapture doctorine. Now I am a Catholic Convert, and I don’t really believe in the whole theory, yet I am still struggling with some of the verses that most Protestants will use in defense of their belief of the Rapure, which is in St. Luke 17: 20-37.
I would appreciate it if anyone would take the time to give me a few pointers in how I can better understand why Christ said what he said in those verses in light of the fact that the whole Rapture ideal is not scripturally sound, from what I understand.
Thanks!

 

[Todd_Easton]

If you compare Luke 17:20-37 with the expanded version of the end times presented in Matthew 24:1—25:46, you will see that there will be a “Rapture” of the elect but it will be after the Tribulation and simultaneous with Jesus’ Second Coming in glory:
And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light and the stars shall fall from heaven and the powers of heaven shall be moved. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. And then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty. And he shall send his angels with a trumpet and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them. (Matt 24:28-30)
In its description of the end times in paragraphs 673-677, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, in part:
Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. (675)

The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection. (677)
If you would like a fuller treatment on this topic, there are two books that might help, both of which are available from Catholic Answers:

Paul Thigpen’s The Rapture Trap
Carl Olson’s Will Catholics Be Left Behind?

 

[Benadam]

Think in the paradigm that all scripture is written in. Eternal realities and especially scripture and even more so prophetic literature, already was, ( how the prophet knows) it is working out in the present, and is yet to be complete.

The so called rapture already happened, ‘is’ happening, as manifest in the Catholic Church , and is yet to be completed at the end of time. Redemptive suffering, purgatory, the community of Saints, these are all proofs that this is the eternal Church because it manifests the eternal Word in it’s eternal character. Always was, is, always will be. But from our perspective , it has happened , is happening, and is yet to be complete.

So as the community of Saints grows that is the ‘rapture’ in it’s present manifestation

 

[Fidelis]

Todd Easton:

If you compare Luke 17:20-37 with the expanded version of the end times presented in Matthew 24:1—25:46, you will see that there will be a “Rapture” of the elect but it will be after the Tribulation and simultaneous with Jesus’ Second Coming in glory:

[/indent]If you would like a fuller treatment on this topic, there are two books that might help, both of which are available from Catholic Answers:

Paul Thigpen’s The Rapture Trap
Carl Olson’s Will Catholics Be Left Behind?

Good answer. I’d also recommend David Currie’s extensive treatment of this, “Rapture: The End Times Error That Leaves The Bible Behind.” Starting from Daniel, to Ezekiel, to the Olivet Discourse, Paul’s letters, and a large section on the Book of Revelation, he pretty much demolishes the rapturist position. I’d also highly recommend Steve Wood’s 6 CD series “Introduction To Prophecy.” Here’s the links:

sophiainstitute.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SIP&Product_Code=72-5

familylifecenter.net/cart/product_detail.cfm?ID=613&user=88522639

 

[Benadam]

Fidelis:

Good answer. I’d also recommend David Currie’s extensive treatment of this, “Rapture: The End Times Error That Leaves The Bible Behind.” Starting from Daniel, to Ezekiel, to the Olivet Discourse, Paul’s letters, and a large section on the Book of Revelation, he pretty much demolishes the rapturist position. I’d also highly recommend Steve Wood’s 6 CD series “Introduction To Prophecy.” Here’s the links:

sophiainstitute.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SIP&Product_Code=72-5

familylifecenter.net/cart/product_detail.cfm?ID=613&user=88522639

Fidelis, thank you. Thank you for the references and the links as well. I haven’t read the authors you mentioned so I look foreward to some good reading.