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.
While the term rapture is not actually found in scripture, there are many references to the idea of it in the Bible. Many believers answer the question about the timing of the rapture with 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NIV, which reads: "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." The main point to take away here is that God's timing is not the same as that of earthly beings. Refer to Psalm 90:4 (NIV): "A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night."
The rapture is predicted to be an unprecedented event, unlike any other we have known. Believers of Christ vanish suddenly. This will cause cataclysmic disasters as vehicles become unmanned without warning. Those who have heard of Jesus and rejected Him will believe in Him because of their Rapture experience. These events will kick off the time period known as the tribulation.
It is easy to confuse the phrases "The Rapture", and "Second Coming of Christ". These terms should not be considered to mean the same thing. The Rapture refers to the time Jesus returns and believers are taken from earth to heaven. The Second Coming of Christ refers to Christ's return to earth. He will defeat the devil, also known as Antichrist, and start his earthly reign.
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.
Another view is called post-tribulation. In this perspective, Christ followers remain on earth but are safe guarded from the wrath of God during the time of tribulation. They are considered God's witnesses on earth and are going to help non-believers to become believers. The believers will be taken to heaven during the 7 year tribulation.
Matthew 24:36 (NIV) tells us "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." A similar verse appears in another Gospel, Mark 13:32. There are verses which can be taken to support any of these theories.
It is advisable to consult with your own clergy for support in determining your beliefs about when will the rapture happen. Some faiths reject the concept of the rapture all together. Examples include the Eastern Orthodox church, Roman Catholic church, and some Protestant faiths. Some see the Rapture as a misinterpretation of the verses provided here, among others. Others think it is a mix up with the Second Coming of Christ.
While the term rapture is not actually found in scripture, there are many references to the idea of it in the Bible. Many believers answer the question about the timing of the rapture with 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NIV, which reads: "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." The main point to take away here is that God's timing is not the same as that of earthly beings. Refer to Psalm 90:4 (NIV): "A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night."
The rapture is predicted to be an unprecedented event, unlike any other we have known. Believers of Christ vanish suddenly. This will cause cataclysmic disasters as vehicles become unmanned without warning. Those who have heard of Jesus and rejected Him will believe in Him because of their Rapture experience. These events will kick off the time period known as the tribulation.
It is easy to confuse the phrases "The Rapture", and "Second Coming of Christ". These terms should not be considered to mean the same thing. The Rapture refers to the time Jesus returns and believers are taken from earth to heaven. The Second Coming of Christ refers to Christ's return to earth. He will defeat the devil, also known as Antichrist, and start his earthly reign.
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.
Another view is called post-tribulation. In this perspective, Christ followers remain on earth but are safe guarded from the wrath of God during the time of tribulation. They are considered God's witnesses on earth and are going to help non-believers to become believers. The believers will be taken to heaven during the 7 year tribulation.
Matthew 24:36 (NIV) tells us "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." A similar verse appears in another Gospel, Mark 13:32. There are verses which can be taken to support any of these theories.
It is advisable to consult with your own clergy for support in determining your beliefs about when will the rapture happen. Some faiths reject the concept of the rapture all together. Examples include the Eastern Orthodox church, Roman Catholic church, and some Protestant faiths. Some see the Rapture as a misinterpretation of the verses provided here, among others. Others think it is a mix up with the Second Coming of Christ.
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