One can get lost in the theories about when will the rapture happen. Some believe the Mayans predicted the apocalypse to take place on the twelfth of December in the year 2012. Several beliefs are held by varying Christian denominations. Each one seems to focus on different verses in the Bible. Students of the Bible can make their own assessment by reviewing common theories and comparing it to the Bible.
Even though rapture is not a term found in the scriptures, many verses refer to the concept. First Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 52 of the New Living Translation says, "It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed." This tells us that the Rapture will happen quickly. Psalm 90, verse 4 tells us "For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours."
Those who believe in the Rapture assume it is going to be a spontaneous event. Supposedly, millions of Christ followers are going to vanish without warning. This will cause catastrophic accidents and set off the tribulation. Many people believe that the non-believers who remain will come to believe in Christ as a result of the Rapture.
The terms "The Rapture" and "The Second Coming of Christ" are often erroneously used interchangeably. The Rapture occurs when Jesus Christ returns for his church. This is when all true believers in Christ are transported from the earth by God into heaven (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The Second Coming is when Jesus Christ returns with the church to defeat the Antichrist, overthrow evil and establish His kingdom on Earth (Revelation 19:11-16).
Pretribulation is another interpretation of the Bible. This belief holds that Christians will turn into spiritual bodies and join Christ in heaven. Non-believers stay behind, giving them a sort of second chance at faith. While this belief holds that the non-believers will be converted, they will also undergo intense persecution during the tribulation.
Post-tribulation is a view accepted by some religions. This perspective means that Christ followers remain on Earth during the tribulation (end times). They will, however, be protected from God's wrath during this time. The mid-Tribulation interpretation indicates that believers in Christ are going to be transplanted from Earth to heaven some time during the seven year tribulation period.
Verses can be found in the Bible to support each of these theories. Every Bible believing Christian should live as if Jesus might return at any time. Matthew 24:60, New Living Translation tells us, "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." The Gospel of Mark, chapter 13, verse 32 has a similar verse.
It is important to note that some Christian faiths do not believe in the rapture at all. The Roman Catholic church, Eastern Orthodox church, and some mainline Protestant denominations reject the idea of rapture all together. These groups either see it as a confusion about the Second Coming of Christ, or challenge the idea because of varying interpretations of the Bible. Instead of wondering when will the rapture happen, live as if Christ could return at any given moment and act accordingly.
Even though rapture is not a term found in the scriptures, many verses refer to the concept. First Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 52 of the New Living Translation says, "It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed." This tells us that the Rapture will happen quickly. Psalm 90, verse 4 tells us "For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours."
Those who believe in the Rapture assume it is going to be a spontaneous event. Supposedly, millions of Christ followers are going to vanish without warning. This will cause catastrophic accidents and set off the tribulation. Many people believe that the non-believers who remain will come to believe in Christ as a result of the Rapture.
The terms "The Rapture" and "The Second Coming of Christ" are often erroneously used interchangeably. The Rapture occurs when Jesus Christ returns for his church. This is when all true believers in Christ are transported from the earth by God into heaven (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The Second Coming is when Jesus Christ returns with the church to defeat the Antichrist, overthrow evil and establish His kingdom on Earth (Revelation 19:11-16).
Pretribulation is another interpretation of the Bible. This belief holds that Christians will turn into spiritual bodies and join Christ in heaven. Non-believers stay behind, giving them a sort of second chance at faith. While this belief holds that the non-believers will be converted, they will also undergo intense persecution during the tribulation.
Post-tribulation is a view accepted by some religions. This perspective means that Christ followers remain on Earth during the tribulation (end times). They will, however, be protected from God's wrath during this time. The mid-Tribulation interpretation indicates that believers in Christ are going to be transplanted from Earth to heaven some time during the seven year tribulation period.
Verses can be found in the Bible to support each of these theories. Every Bible believing Christian should live as if Jesus might return at any time. Matthew 24:60, New Living Translation tells us, "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." The Gospel of Mark, chapter 13, verse 32 has a similar verse.
It is important to note that some Christian faiths do not believe in the rapture at all. The Roman Catholic church, Eastern Orthodox church, and some mainline Protestant denominations reject the idea of rapture all together. These groups either see it as a confusion about the Second Coming of Christ, or challenge the idea because of varying interpretations of the Bible. Instead of wondering when will the rapture happen, live as if Christ could return at any given moment and act accordingly.
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