The Rapture doctrine is an intrinsic part of mainstream Christian belief and teachings. Though Christians may debate the issue of the Rapture occurring before the Tribulation (pre-Trib), during the Tribulation (mid-Trib), or post-Tribulation (after the Tribulation period has ended), the belief in an event called the Rapture transcends the differences regarding when the Rapture will actually occur.
What is the Rapture?
The Left Behind series popularized the Rapture and the events that will surround the world during the end times, continuing to promote a belief that has been widely taught by Hal Lindsey, with his books on eschatology (end times) and Jack Van Impe with his predictions of the Rapture occurring in 1999 and again in 2012. A faithfully held view among Christians, the Rapture is the time when Christians will be taken away, or "caught up" into heaven to be kept safe while the rest of the world suffers through plagues and devastation as God puts mankind through a period called the Tribulation.
Though the word "rapture" can be found nowhere in the Scriptures, the teachings surrounding this doctrine are based in large part upon 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, in which Paul describes an event where people shall be "caught up" to meet the Messiah in the air, whereby they will be snatched away into heaven to be with the Messiah forever.
The Greek word used for "rapture" is rapio, which means "caught up." Written in the Latin Vulgate, in which the New Testament was translated from the Hebrew and Aramaic into Latin by Jerome between 382 and 405 CE, the word used was rapiemur, which means "snatched away." In the English translation, it is rendered "rapture." But does this doctrine have its roots in Scripture or is it instead man-made?
History of the Rapture Doctrine
John Nelson Darby was a member of a sect known as the Plymouth Brethren in the 1800s. Dubbed the "father of dispensationalism," he and his comrades believed in and taught a form of premillennialist dispensationalism that was not widely popular at the time. According to Jack Van Deventer, author of the article "The Dispensational Origins of Modern Premillennialism and John Nelson Darby," "The distinguishing features of dispensationalism are a rigidly applied literalism in the interpretation of Scripture, a compartmentalization of Scriptures into 'dispensations,' and a dichotomy between Israel and the Church." This view of eschatology, a pre-Trib doctrine, was a diversion from the widely taught postmillennialism doctrine that was held during that time.
Others claim that the pre-tribulation rapture was not first founded by John Nelson Darby, but have instead attributed the doctrine to a Scottish girl by the name of Margaret McDonald, who either came up with the idea or had a revelation of a "catching away" or "rapturing" of some church members while other church members would be left behind. Her revelation was spread throughout Scotland by the Irvingites, followers of Edward Irving, spreading to London and acquiring new followers of the doctrine. "Darby," says Dave McPherson, author of the article entitled PreTrib Rapture Diehard, "was actually a plagiarism of Edward Irving."
The Rapture doctrine, whether it was founded by either John Nelson Darby or Margaret McDonald, has its origins in the 1800s, hundreds of years after Paul wrote his letter to the Thessalonians in A.D. 54. If Paul was indeed speaking of a Rapture, why, then, do we have its roots in the teachings of either John Nelson Darby or Margaret McDonald? Why did Paul not clearly articulate this dogma in his epistle?
Is the Rapture Doctrine Biblical?
Though the Scriptures deal widely with the events that will occur during the end times, there are no references to a "rapture" until we get to the New Testament. The Old Testament is replete with prophecies regarding the period of the Tribulation, but does not speak of a "rapture." In fact, the Old Testament does not teach a heavenly ascent upon death (Job 14:10-14, Job 7:9, Psalm 115:17). Though Paul does say that those who remain will be "caught up" to meet the Messiah in the heavens. What must be determined is which heaven Paul is speaking of. According to Genesis 1:20, the fowl fly above the earth in "the open firmament of heaven." Birds fly in the sky, which, according to the Scriptures, is the first heaven.
There are three heavens: the first is the sky, the second is outer space and the third is the abode of the Most High. When Paul says we will meet the Messiah in the air, is he talking about the sky or is he speaking of the Most High's abode? Scripture must be compared and studied against Scripture to gain a clearer view of what is written.
1 Corinthians 13:8 says, "Love never fails: but where there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there shall be knowledge, it shall vanish away." The book of Revelation was the last prophetic book of the Bible. It is to this book and the Old Testament that the truth regarding the Rapture can be found.
Sources:
The Dispensational Origins of Modern Premellennialism and John Nelson Darby, accessed Jan 18, 2011
PreTrib Rapture Dishonesty, accessed Jan 18, 2011
Blue Letter Bible, "Dictionary and Word Search," accessed Jan 19, 2011
Further Reading:
Rapture: Fact or Fantasy?
Valerie Williams - Valerie Williams resides in the Metro-Atlanta area. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management, and has spent much ...
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