Whats The Rapture?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RomanRyan1088
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

RomanRyan1088

Guest
I was talking to a friend and she was telling me about the rapture. So my question is what are some of the things wrong with the theory of the Rapture? Do us as Catholics believe in such a thing? Oh and i read the answer in Catholic answers.som, but i found it confusing.
 
40.png
RomanRyan1088:
I was talking to a friend and she was telling me about the rapture. So my question is what are some of the things wrong with the theory of the Rapture? Do us as Catholics believe in such a thing? Oh and i read the answer in Catholic answers.som, but i found it confusing.
Click to expand...
The Rapture is a common belief among modern low-church protestants which had its beginning in the 1830s. Ther theory states that Jesus will come back in secret, nobody but believers will see Him. He will catch them all up to Heaven while still alive so they will not need to suffer persecution under anti-christ. Then comes a period of Great tribulation lasting 7 years. Then Jesus comes back AGAIN with all the Raptured Saints to Rule the world from Jerusalem as a Temporal King. His Kingdom will only last 1000 years then the world will again fall into evil and he will destroy it.

Since the theory had its beginning in 1830 it is certainly not Apostolic. Nor is it inline with the Churches Teaching on the Second Coming of Christ. Neither is it Biblical in that all verses used to support it actually refer to His Second Coming.

Now I DO believe in Rapture. Just not the Prot Rapture. When Jesus returns he will separate us from the world as Wheat is separated from the Chaff and take us to Himself. Though Catholics 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,” But He is not going to show up 7 years early, take away all the True Christians™ in the Rapture punish the world with 7 years of Tribulation under anti-christ and then come back AGAIN.

Our Lord, when He comes, will come in power and glory to rule forever.
 
Christy Beth:
What he said.
Click to expand...
Simply put, The rapture, according to its Protestant advocates (they popularized this term anyway), is a teaching which says that before the Tribulation times, Jesus would secretly return to Earth to resurrect/glorify the physical bodies of his believers and take them to heaven with Him.

After this event, Jesus would return with His believers, an event they call the Second Advent, to defeat the forces of evil and save the rest of his chosen people prior to establishing His earthly reign.

Gerry
 
I was taught all of that during my protestant years. Especially within the Southern Baptist part. In the '70’s, ther were even a series of movies made about it. I guess they would be along the lines of today’s “left behind” books. The first movie was called, “A Thief in the Night.” I can’t remember what the others were called. :eek:
 
Brilliant! Thanks for putting it so plainly, I’ve been trying for the past few weeks to figure out what Catholics believe – I know full well what I was brought up with and it’s kinda hard to get it out of my head!
 
One thing to note about this pre-tribulation Rapture is that it has Jesus coming not twice, but three times. Now, Catholics and some Protestant groups (Lutherans, for example) also look forward to the Second Coming, when Christ will return to judge heaven and earth. At that time believers who are still alive will be caught up with Christ (we call it the Parousia). But the “Rapture”, as understood by some Protestants (and illustrated by the “Left Behind” book series) has Christ coming a second time to snatch up the “True Christians” (hint: they’re not Catholics) thus sparing them from the Tribulation, and then a third time for the Final Judgement. Now, they will deny this by saying that the Rapture represents a secret coming, but the Bible passages they use to back up their theory speaks of trumpet blasts, etc. Hardly secret. Also, if saving believers from tribulation were such a desirable thing to do, why have there been so many Christian martyrs who have suffered and died for Christ? I think this fear of Tribulation as something to be avoided is natural enough, but it’s going too far to construct a theology that has the True Christians escaping. We’re supposed to endure trials and tribulations for our faith, not get off scott-free 'cause we’re so darn nice.

As someone else has said, this theory goes back only to the 1830s.
 
40.png
Sherlock:
Also, if saving believers from tribulation were such a desirable thing to do, why have there been so many Christian martyrs who have suffered and died for Christ? I think this fear of Tribulation as something to be avoided is natural enough, but it’s going too far to construct a theology that has the True Christians escaping. We’re supposed to endure trials and tribulations for our faith, not get off scott-free 'cause we’re so darn nice.

As someone else has said, this theory goes back only to the 1830s.
Click to expand...
It is a very American Doctrine. The Cavalry coming to the rescue at the last minute and all.

It must be noted the the NT passages dealing with this issue were written to people who were under going tribulation. For those in the Catacombs the knowledge that God was going to come and punish the world was an encouraging thought.
 
Impressive. Quite a few mind broadening discussion in this sub-forum. Wish I’ve found it when discuss w/ the ‘pagans’ on “dark ages” topics.
Is it true some of Bush’s ‘closed’ inner circle are true believers of this Rapture? That was something brought up as quite scary in my politic discussion.

thk.
P.
 
There are several books out now specifically about the “rapture” and how Catholics can understand that incorrect idea in realation to Church teaching. I read one called “The Rapture Trap” that was pretty good.
 
So I’ve read this whole thread and am a little confused. What exactly is the Catholic Churches belief? Will there be any type of tribulation? When I was a little kid, I would here my older relatives talking about 3 days of darkness. I don’t remember much but it really spooked me out! :bigyikes:
 
The “rapture” is a stumbling block all Christians need to recognize and see it for what it is. It is not scriptural and is basically something used by some Protestant fundies to gain members into their church.
 
There will be, actually always has been, tribulation in this world. It’s called suffering. The “rapture” theory says that christians will be taken out of the world before the seven year tribulation starts. At that time, THE anti-christ will come to power. He will severly persecute anyone who claims faith in Christ. Many will die. Actually, that sounds a lot like martyrdom to me.

Anyway, the catholic church does NOT believe in this rapture. For it entails two more comings of Christ. There will be only one more, that at the end of time. The american protestant church wants to believe that we will not suffer in this life. Problem is, we will. In some countries even today, there are christian martyrs. That has never changed. And never will.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top