Rapture

The Rapture

Rapture definition – 1. feeling of intense pleasure or joy. 2. (according to some millenarian teaching) the transporting of believers to heaven at the Second Coming of Christ. 3. (according to some millenarian teaching) transport (a believer) from earth to heaven at the Second Coming of Christ.

Where did the Rapture theology originate?

John Nelson Darby, a 19th-century Irish theologian, is credited with popularizing the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine. This doctrine, which he developed through his analysis of scripture, suggests that the rapture, the sudden, global gathering of believers to meet Christ in the air, will occur before the Great Tribulation, a period of intense suffering and judgment on Earth.

The fact that John Nelson Darby invented the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine around 1830 AD is unquestionably true. All attempts to find evidence of this doctrine before 1830 have failed.

The John Darby Rapture theology was influenced by Margaret MacDonalds visions and utterances. This is the link that shows Margarete’s influence on John Darby, https://www.discerningtheworld.com/2016/05/02/margaret-macdonald-vision-pre-trib-really/.

The Rapture teaches in the end times believers that both living and dead believers will ascend into heaven to meet Jesus Christ at the Second Coming.

The belief in the Rapture emerged from the anticipation that Jesus would return to redeem all members of the church. The term rapture, however, appears nowhere in the New Testament. In his First Letter to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul wrote that the Lord will come down from heaven and that a trumpet call will precede the rise of “the dead in Christ” (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).  Thereafter, Verse 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. The clouds are not referred as heaven.  It appears to mean we will ultimately will be with the Lord here on earth where Adam and Eve resided. Revelation 21:1-2 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Deuteronomy 11:21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land (earth) of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth

Of great concern is believers think that just because they are Believers in Jesus Christ, they can continue to sin without consequences, Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?  Will the raptured be sinless?

Key point is the word rapture is not in the Bible.  The original definitions prior to the rapture theology is: a feeling of intense pleasure or joy.  The other rapture definitions came after John Darby invented the rapture theology.  Caught up in the air in the Bible has no reference to rapture theology. (1 Thessalonians 4:17 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) is not raptured into heaven. 

The Bible talks about the narrow gate.  Who is God referring to?  Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ God is talking about us Christians.  Are sure you will be raptured up?  Are those who don’t believe in the rapture theology believe they will be in heaven on earth with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?

Lawlessness is being one with sin.  Lawlessness is not reading His Word. Lawlessness is not teaching the Gospel. Lawlessness is not casting out evil spirits. Lawlessness is not praying for people. Lawlessness is not doing anything for God’s Kingdom. 

It’s not about what I think about rapture doctrine.  It’s about what the Bible tells us. Scripture is thousands of years old created by God.  Rapture theology is 195 years old   invented by John Nelson Darby.  Who are you going to believe?

We can’t believe in one word and ignore the totality of God’s Word.

Ephesians 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; Tony Sanchez 5-8-2025