The Rapture: Another Form of Abduction?

[Justanotherfollowe]

It is easier for some Christians to believe that they will disappear in the "rapture" rather than consider an alternative idea of forced abductions. The popularity of the "Rapture" belief is fostered by the desire to escape some of the tragedy and despair of the world in which we live. The word "rapture" does not appear in the Bible. Christ was warning his followers that only their faith in him would prevent them from being abducted as one of the "two women grinding in the field, and the one was taken." In the Greek language, the word " Paralambano " used here in this verse means "to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself in any familiar or intimate act or relation." The popularity of the Rapture doctrine has laid the ground for mass consensual abductions by unsuspecting souls thinking they are being "Raptured." Is there any doubt that the "Whole world will follow after the anti-Christ" when the good and saintly people of the church are first in line?

It is one thing to escape from the actual events and another thing to escape the deception of it all. The Rapture theory is built around the Apostle Paul's statement "That day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the Son of Perdition." A reasonable challenge of the Rapture theory exposes the error in the interpretations given to this verse. This is a two-part sentence. The word "and" conjugates two things that must happen before "That day." The first thing that happens is the great apostasy. "A falling away" is translated from the Greek word "apostosia." This means Apostasy. No flying away to heaven, but apostasy from Christ's teaching. This apostasy may be caused in large part to the lack of preparation on the part of the Church for the arrival of the Supernatural. The second part of the sentence states that the "man of sin be revealed." If we, the believing community, are removed from the earth in a "rapture" then how can we witness the man of sin being revealed? Would Paul have erred in saying that this man of sin must be revealed before that day? As easily as the rapture theory can be disassembled, many in the religious community cling to it relentlessly. Is it so inconceivable that a rebellious celestial man, envious of the Creator's overflowing love and compassion for a terrestrial man, would seek to deprive the terrestrial man of his opportunity for eternal life? What is more dangerous to the Christian faith - a doctrine that unravels under scrutiny or the belief in supernatural beings? Aren't God the father and Christ the savior supernatural beings or have we "humanized" God too much to fully understand this. It is fine to consider Christ as our "personal" savior but totally erroneous to consider God or Christ as another person.

Christianity is built on the belief that Christ was supernatural (God himself), born of human woman and taking human form, willingly bearing the pain and suffering of a crucifixion. Christians must not fail to answer the demand for an explanation of scripture that is capable of withstanding all tests. The younger generation stands poised to totally abandon the Bible should Christians fail to answer. Commercialism and the media are doing all that they can to prepare us for the advent of Supernatural man capable of "Signs, and miracles and great power." The Church must take the lead in preparing our minds and souls for the advent of Satan so that we can withstand his temptation!
 
 

[ollie]

More like being "caught up" together with Christ.

[Tibby]

The Rapture is a theory, not Biblical fact.

[2nd Timothy]

Posted by: Tibby  Posted on: Today at 03:55:49pm  
The Rapture is a theory, not Biblical fact.  

Hmm, I'm not sure what to make of the following scripture then.

Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then 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.

Granted the word Rapture is no where to be found in these verses.  But I challenge you to find the word Bible any where in scripture!  This would seem to put a nail in the coffin of that argument.

For the record, the word "rapture" comes from the Latin word "rapturo," which in turn was a translation of the Greek verb "caught up" found in 1 Thes 4:17.   Call it "catching up" "snatching away" or whatever you want to.  Its just easier to say Rapture, and its not a theory, its a Bible Fact!  

Grace and Peace!

[Tibby]

What would I make of the verse? A little something I like to call the Second coming.

[Sower]

What would I make of the verse? A little something I like to call the Second coming.

Except that the term "second coming" is also not found in the Bible, and "a little something" is a rather flippant way to view the Second Coming. However, we all agree that since there was a "first" coming, there will also be a "second" coming.

This second coming -- also know as "the revelation" [apokalupsis] of Christ-- is a revelation to the enemies of Christ at the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21):

"And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be REVEALED FROM HEAVEN with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:7-8)..."And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, BEHOLD THE LORD COMETH WITH TEN THOUSANDS OF HIS SAINTS, to execute judgment upon all..." (Jude 14).

In this second coming, EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM: "Behold He cometh with clouds [of saints and angels]: AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen" (Rev. 1:7)...

Now, the question you should ask yourself is this "How can the Lord come WITH countless saints unless He has first come FOR His saints and taken them up to be with Him?" "Will EVERY EYE see Him at the rapture, or just those who belong to Him?" These questions are answered in 1 Cor. 15:51-53 and 1 Thess 4:13-18. So the Rapture precedes the Second Coming by at least 7 years (Daniel's 70th week).

For those who think the Rapture is escapism, or a theory, obviously they do not believe God's Word, and wish to have it say something other than it does.  There is NO COMFORT in the Second Coming, only judgment. There is ABSOLUTE COMFORT in the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:18;5:8-11; 2 Thess.1:7; 2:1-2).

[Tibby]

Second coming isn‘t in the bible? So what? A lot of things aren’t in the bible, doesn’t make them false. There isn’t much in the way of Math in the bible, but Math is truth that can be proven. Cut and paste theology, that is all the rapture is. You can and paste all the prophecy from all different parts of the bible, until all these little sections say what you want, or “prove” you concocted doctrine.

Besides, all Rev. 1:7 tell us is that he will come a Second time, hints the term “second-coming.” It doesn’t say what he will do, just that “he’ll be back.” No comfort for the sinners, perhaps,but while he is seeing to them, we will be in the clouds.

[Justanotherfollowe]

  OK everyone has taken the relevancy of the above statement out of whack the statement and many that I have posted come from a site (verse-by-verse. Com). I am a firm believer in the second coming the revelation of Christ the post was to simply state that the word this book is a lie hidden within the truth. The person in which wrote this book in my eye's are not only trying to discredited the lord; king of king's but to bring his own "Bible" to life the word rapture is not found in the Bible however it is a good name for it. The word rapture means;Pronunciation: 'rap-ch&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin raptus
Date: 1629
1 a : a state or experience of being carried away by overwhelming emotion b : a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things
2 : an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion
I was not trying to send doubt about the revelations but to send a message about what is out there to fool the believer, I am sorry and next time I will GO INTO FURTHER DETAIL, as to weather my post's are question's, opinions, and/or truth.

[Tibby]

This is CU, my friend. You can post “The sky is blue” and get a debate (or get called a troll).Next time, tell us WHY you post it, don’t just copy and paste it.

Besides, the 2nd coming isn’t the rapture.

[Justanotherfollowe]

See the smily face there at the bottom of my post it is showing more or less that i am in doubt's about what i posted there for it was not JUST copied and past true i did copy and past but i did read and gave it a rather long thought. I am but a friendly guy trying to learn more about my Lord.

[Tibby]

You don’t cite or quote it, you don’t link it to any page, how are we to know you didn’t write it in the first place?

[Justanotherfollowe]

  I beleive i did give a website refrence, but just for the sake of the argument go to WWW.VERSE-BY-VERSE.COM.

[Tibby]

Not in this thread...