Is the rapture even a biblical concept?
827244
The Rapture was the invention of Anglo-Irish evangelist and former priest John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) who introduced it at the Powerscourt Conference of 1832.  It was popularized by evangelist William Eugene Blackstone (1841-1935) in his book "Jesus is Coming" (pub 1908) and it's inclusion in the "Scofield Reference Bible" (pub 1909).  It has no scriptural basis.
843875
Once we are old enough to understand and decide, we are all responsible for our belief or lack of it.  A question like this doesn't seem to serve much of a purpose, but then, I don't know. Part of my faith is that God is always a fair judge of every situation.  I know that a very tired Jesus once told HIs disciples, "Allow the children to come unto me and don't stop them from doing so."  I don't believe that He would leave children behind in the rapture.  If you've read the Bible, you know the horror that will come upon the earth once the church is removed, so I agree with you there.   Likewise, all parents ideally would be concerned that they are bringing their children up to know God.  As Christians, however, I think there are better things to tell people about God than something like this.  That's just me.
352653
The word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. This is a word given by others to describe being caught up with the Lord.\n\n1Th 4:17\nThen we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.\n\nAs for Angels having wings, an example scripture:\n\nExo 25:20\nAnd the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
812672
Yes, after the Rapture. They will be headed by the anti christ. It says so right in the Bible. (It's in the book of Revalation)
177196
I`ll answer this from the Aethist point of view, im sure other much more learned chrsitians will chime off on this topic. \n\nI`d first like to start off that the word "rapture" appears no where in the new testiment. \n\nSites like Rapture Ready (re: sources) provides a plethora of people wanting the end times to come, and prehaps reading a bit too much into the signs of the end times. As scary as that site is,  its a great source for the many many\ntheorys behind the rapture.\n\nThe basic plot to the rapture is, at some time that "only god knows when". All 'saved' christians on earth, will suddenly dissapear in a blink of an eye and carried off to heaven. \n\nThis would leave the world in chaos, where a person will come and bring calm and peace to the world. Under this one world government he would suppress religion (namely christinity) with his deadly armys and force his views on the world. \n\nThis Antichrist will rule for 7 years. During a battle with christians in isreal, jesus will finally reappear and save the day. Where all christians will then live on earth in a millenieal kingdom.\n\nNow there is alot more various theorys, but the above is the standard teaching give or take details specific to each Evangelical congregation.\n\nWikipedia has the 3 most popular versions of the "tribulations" associated with the rapture so make sure to check that out as well.
512030
Today's popular Christianity is false Christianity, and so I expect a very great many to fall away when things start going bad.\n\nEspecially when that rapture crap turns out to be just that.
565421
It is an updated version of the same "Left Behind" theology espoused by Hal Lyndsay and other dispensational premillennialists. \n\nIn his book _the Late Great Planet Earth_, Lyndsay told us that the Lord Jesus would return by 1988 because the generation that saw Israel become a nation again would witness His coming in the clouds!\n\nWell here it is, eighteen years later. It would appear that Jesus is eighteen years late in coming. Lots of other speculative "prophecies" by Lyndsay, Van Impe and others have failed to come to pass as predicted as well. \n\nHagee's book is an attempt (one of many, by the way) to excuse or explain away these failed predictions of Bible prophecy "experts."\n\nI wonder how many people have LEFT THE FAITH because of these stupid predictions that have failed to come true!\n\nActually the "left behind" theology is little more than 100 years old! Invented by "revivalists" who hoped to wake a sleepy church out of her doldrums, this new eschatology has ended up doing far more damage than good. Before Darby and Schofield made Dispensational theology famous (along with the absurd "left behind" fiction which followed quickly upon it), the Church taught no such thing as a secret "rapture" followed by years of tribulation under a worldwide dictator and all that rubbish.
623792
The Post Tribulation Rapture (catching away) is very much what the Bible teaches us. Jesus said AFTER those days of tribulation he would come (See Matthew ch.24).\n\nThe Apostle Paul makes it 100% clear in his letter to the Thessalonians in that the man of Perdition must first be revealed before Jesus comes.., [2 Thessalonians 2:1-12]\n\nAnd in the Book of Revelation is more coverage.\nREVELATION 13:7, tells us that the Antichrist is given power to make war against the saints.\n\nREVELATION chapter 20 verses 4-6 also makes a surprising statement. Read about the resurrection of the dead in verse 5.\n\nThe Book of Daniel also mentions this man of perdition having power to kill the saints.  The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is a work of "wishful thinking" with an assumption that God would pay more favor to the Gentiles over the Jews.\n\nThe Apostle Paul said of good things and bad things have an order - FIRST to the Jews - THEN - to the Gentiles, and not the other way around.\n\nTo say Jesus will come before the Antichrist is calling not just the Apostle Paul a liar (read 2nd Thessalonians.), but calling Christ a liar too (read Matthew ch.24).\n\nSome preacher dude started the pretrib thought and it was the Devil.  Please note that the Bible Says the Antichrist comes first.  MUSLIMS believe their Mahdi will arrive with Jesus in tow to convince Christians that this Mahdi (who is actually the Antichrist) is the true anointed one.\n\nIn light of the Mahdi's coming ahead of Christ - Many PreTrib believers will fall for  this ruse.., as this Mahdi and his false Jesus (false prophet) will explain (twist) the scriptures and quote the Quran to make sense and magically fill in the blanks.\n\nI am firm in my belief that the Pretribulation idea works to the advantage of Islam.  Can you imagine the horrible mistake of falling for the Antichrist's ruse - accepting him as messiah - Then when Jesus comes, to fight against Jesus ignorantly thinking Jesus is the Antichrist!?\n\nThe sad thing is - once anyone accepts the Mahdi, bowing to him and accepting his mark of homage.., its too late. The Bible says there is no forgiveness for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Calling Jesus the Antichrist IS Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit -seeing Jesus maintained that His spirit will be sent to us from the father -  The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Ghost.\n\nBut we all have decisions to make. Only the sincere who remain faithful will make it.
587818
It's not the idea of a rapture that I don't believe in, but the word itself. The word isn't found in the Bible. I do believe Jesus will come the way it says, but wonder where the word "rapture" came from.
121183
The Rapture is a term most commonly used to describe an event in certain systems of Christian eschatology (study of the end times) whereby all true Christians are taken from Earth by God into Heaven. Although almost all forms of Christianity believe that those who are "saved" will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, the term "rapture" is usually applied specifically to those theories saying that Christians alive before the end of the world will be taken into heaven, and there will be an intermediate time frame where non-Christians will be still left on earth before Christ arrives to set up his earthly kingdom.
1012314
Rapture- n the state of being carried away with love, joy, etc; intense delight, ecstasy.- rapturous adj.- rapturously adv.\nWell I'm 34 and my husband will be home in 2 hours that will bring me to a state of rapture. The man works 7 days a week and some of those days he works 14 hours. I am always carried away with love and joy to see him. And intense delight and ECSTASY is what he brings with him.\nI know you mean t the whole Jesus thing but I don't believe in that so I had to go with the rapture I do believe in.\nLove & Light\nSharon\nOne Planet = One People
472087
Well, there's a good bit of evidence for the concept.  I'm wondering which particular "second great transformation" you had in mind?  \n\nOne thing that obviously occurs to those of use who live under the modern calendar is that the number 2,000 is being measured from the birth Christ, at least in symbolism, if not in astronomical precision.  And the last great age was the Age of Pisces; this one is called Aquarius.  (Remember the premature song?)  So arguably, the time is up for the dominance of the Christian church.  \n\nThen again, one could argue that it's time for the Rapture.  If you believe that sort of thing, it would be tempting to figure it that way.
863314
It is interesting how people with no understanding of Bible prophecy try to explain the book of Revelation. One person said that the church will be raptured prior to the time of the antichrist, How does he explain these verses in\n2 Thessalonians 2:1-4?\n\nNow we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: FOR THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME, EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST, AND THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God\n\nNotice the timing of the rapture. Even a child would understand that the man of sin must first be revealed, then the rapture takes place.\n\nIn addition, the mark of the beast issue is about worship not ID numbers. The beast in Revelation 13 wants our worship, our obedience. He wants to be as God. ID cards or chips have nothing to do with worship or obedience. In fact, there is nothing religious about them. They are purely secular in nature, having much more to do with security. The real issue is over allegiance to God and His law, versus allegiance to Satan and his law.\n\nThe booklet, The Beast, the Dragon, and the Woman explains the issues surrounding the final conflict between Christ and Satan as it relates to God's people and the mark of the beast. It can be found at the following website.\n\nhttp://www.amazingfacts.org/items/Read_Media.asp?ID=668
927638
Interesting point, but I thought the whole "second coming" was promised to the disciples AFTER the resurrection. In that case, no.
530597
Does anyone think...would be a more appropriate question.\n\nIt's already too late for all the rapture theories,\nare cloud-y confusion, not clear-ness of charity\nhttp://www.godshew.org/RevelatorySermons8.htm;\n\nFor the last(not just past) millennium had 2 ends,\nand the false end of such false/true ends was Y2K,\nand it notably had a 3 1/2 yr (42 mos) count-down,\nwhich notably began at Grenwich in June of 1996.\n\nIt's now 2006th yr of "third day" is also seventh,\nwhen counting the days in John 1 and John 2:1\nhttp://www.godshew.org/ThirdDay.htm\n\nYou may want to consider global graphs,\ntwo of which did "shoot forth" in 1967\nhttp://www.godshew.org/Graphically.htm;\nAnd the tolerance limit of a Holy Ghost\nis notably only 40 years in Hebrews 3\nhttp://www.godshew.org/Hebrews4.htm\n\nJude 5 reminds grace + law folk\nall got saved + destroyed after,\nsince the law is the destroyer,\nas the horse "death" rode in on.\nWhat follows is "hell" to pay: Rev 6:8,\nfor being sow dog gone Mt 22:36-40 law law.\nhttp://www.godshew.org/TwainShew4.htm#Laws\n\nThe law is not of faith: Gal 3:12\nWhatsoever is not of faith is sin: Rom 14:23.\nSo Love(God) thy neighbor, by "law", is "sin",\nand the biblical penalty for sin is "Death",\nand what follows "Death" is notably "hell".\nSo stop law-imputing-sin for the hell of it.\n\nThe God of all grace make you perfect(merciful)\nafter ye(do err) suffer awhile in yer law law.\n\nThe "grace" of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.
450820
OK this could be a long one...but... In revelations the last book of the bible it talks about Jesus coming back from heaven to collect his church also know as the rapture or second coming...When he does this the Antichrist who is going to pretend to be a "christ" or savior is going to try to dominate the world and probably succeed.  This antichrist is also known as a dragon, lion and beast.  That is where the name comes from...now the rapture hasnt happend yet and Christian all over the world speculate every day what could this be.  Well seeing the future isnt exactly what humans are meant to do or for anyone to beable to do for that matter of a fact.  Many think that it will be  microchip with a tatoo over it or something of that sort.  There are books that talk about this time and they are fiction such as the Left Behind Series and there are other non fiction book on this topic but, I would definately look up revelations and read about it.  It only talks about it for a very brief time, but i wouldnt wory about it for now because that isnt the thing preventing you from going to heavan at this time the only thing stopping you is having a personal relationship with Christ and accepting his eternal gift of life.  Hope that answers your question and oh yeah if thousands upon millions of us disappear you might want to start worrying about it and checking out being a Christian but dont wait..cause no one knows how or when its going to happen except God himself...dont miss out!
913125
the left behind series is pathetic. the author is anti-catholic, his rapture theory will not happen either. the rapture theory first popped up in the 1830s by a scottish pastor,there are so many people running around preaching numerous different versions of a rapture theory,the bible tells us no one will know the day or the hour. what happens will happen,he is just making a fortune over this nonsense. no offence by the way,incase i offended you.