WILL THERE BE A RAPTURE?

Probably you have read a bumper sticker with this inscription: In case of the rapture, this car will be unoccupied. Seems consistent to say that the popular tenant of dispensational theology is rapture. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins were labeled ‘the New Prophets of Revelation’ in the May 24, 2004 issue of Newsweek with their book on rapture ‘Left Behind’ which sold about 62 million copies. Many movies have been produced singing the themes of the rapture of the saints. The movie Left Behind starring Nicolas cage, Kirk Cameron, Gordon Currie etc. demonstrate this amply.

The dispensational timeline predicting the course of global events resonates from many pulpits across the globe with a touch of drama. However, we raise the question in connection with that prediction; will there really be a rapture? It is not surprising to careful students of Scripture that the Bible is grotesquely distorted by dispensationalists and made out to be a predictive code and end-time formular. These men look into the Bible and see nothing but the next front-page news of the dailies. Strangely, neither the word “rapture” nor or concept is found within the pages of any standard English translation of the Bible. We admit nonetheless, that alone does not make the doctrine erroneous. We insist however that the word, the doctrine, its implications and “its blessings” cannot be VALIDLY established from the scriptures.

The word ‘rapture’ is a transliteration of the Latin word ‘raptio’ which corresponds to the Greek word, ‘harpadzo’ which is often translated caught up. Ryrie observed: “The English word comes from a Latin word, ‘raptio’, which means to seize or snatch in relation to an ecstasy of spirit or the actual removal from one place to another.” (Ryrie Caldwell, p. 27). Rapture (according to the proponents) is the sudden and secret coming of Christ in the air to catch away from the earth the resurrected bodies of those who have died in the faith and living saints. According to this fanciful theory only those “in Christ” will be resurrected and together with those alive, they will be caught up with Jesus for a period of about 7 years. After which Jesus Christ will come again to judge the world and usher in a millennium of peace and prosperity on earth as He rules from Jerusalem.

With open minds and discarded prejudices, let’s ask; where is this concept found in the Bible? Honest seekers of truth always come to the inevitable conclusion that rapture is a denominational dogma that has been forged in the furnace of human desires, characterized by a blind wish to be treated specially and granted a second chance for a wasted first!

The rapture theory allows for too many comings of Jesus Christ. These theorizers hold that Jesus will come for the dead saints and the living ones in the rapture. He’d then return with the saints 7 years later to judge the world. Not admitted by these advocates, the doctrine implies a second and third coming of Jesus Christ. Listen to the sacred fact, will you? The writer of Hebrews wrote, “…so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:28

The rapture theory contradicts the Bible teaching on resurrection of the dead. We are told that the righteous dead from the time of Pentecost and living saints will be raptured (secretly snatched away). Charles Ryrie explains “At this point in history only the dead in Christ will be raised; that is, only Christians. Although there have been many believers since Adam, no believer was placed in Christ until the day of Pentecost when the baptism of the Holy Spirit first occurred (Acts 2). So those raised at the rapture include all believers from the day of Pentecost until the rapture.” (Ryrie, p. 29). But concerning the resurrection, Paul told Felix the governor, “… there will be resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Acts 24:15 [emphasis mine]. The resurrection of the dead is a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. Jesus said in John 5:28,29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” [emphasis mine]. It takes more than sectarian prejudice to misunderstand what we have just read Jesus say.

The rapture doctrine contradicts the parable of tares as given by our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus’ divine snapshots of the end is thus presented “…first gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn!”  Matthew 13:30 (emphasis added mine). The burning of the tares which signifies the dreadful end of the wicked was done first before the glorification of the saints which is represented as gathering of the wheat. The theorizers change not only the order of events but send Jesus away, only to bring him back after seven years. C. I Scofield, one of the leading proponents of this error, would uphold his dogma than the word of God. On Matthew 13 he says: “The gathering of the tares into bundles for burning does not imply immediate judgment. At the end of this age the tares are set apart for burning, but first the wheat is gathered into the barn.” [emphasis added mine] Either the Bible or the reference notes of Scofield must go for there is no way of reconciling the two.

The rapture theory denies the universal second coming of Jesus Christ. Some among the advocates teach that the rapture will be a secretive event where only the raptured souls will see Jesus. The Bible affirms that the second coming of Jesus Christ is not secretive. Every eye will behold his glory for it will be the greatest scene in the history of the world. John said: Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see Him…, Revelation 1:7.

A thus saith the Lord, does not uphold the theory of our friends. Though it be a cherished dogma, we appeal to all to reject the theory and accept God’s own account of the end of all things and thus make an adequate preparation for that grand and glorious day.

Visit the church of Christ near you today for further studies on the word of God.

Works Cited

Ryrie Caldwell, Charles. What you should know about the Rapture. Chicago: Moody Press, 1925. Document.Scofield Reference Notes (1917)