RAPTURE THEORY. By Tracy Timm

Transcription

1 RAPTURE THEORY By Tracy Timm 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. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Rapture theorists, who believe that upon the return of Christ, those that believe on Him will be flown up into the clouds to live with Him forever, use this scripture to validate the Rapture Theory. Let us take a closer look at this scripture, the etymology of the word Rapture, and the birth of this theory, as we know it. When reading this verse at face value it sounds like we will be flying up into the clouds to meet Christ in the sky when he returns. But when we study this scripture we will find the deeper meaning of it. First, lets look at the word clouds in this verse. 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds Clouds Nephele: Strongs 3507 (Greek) properly cloudiness, ie (concrete) a cloud: - cloud. The question here is whether or not we are talking about a plain old rain cloud up in the sky, or something bigger than that. In fact, the word cloud is used throughout scripture as a symbol of the Divine presence and glory of God. God appears to man repeatedly in what is described as a cloud. Here are some examples. Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: -Psalms 104: And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; -Exodus 13:21 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. Numbers 11:25 10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. -1 Kings 8:

2 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 God came down upon Mt. Sinai in a cloud. 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD EXODUS 19:9 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. Matthew 17:5 When Peter later describes this event he refers to the voice of God coming from the excellent glory, which was the bright cloud overshadowing them. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. -2 Peter 1:17 After Christ s resurrection He was taken up and received by a cloud. A plain old rain cloud wouldn t have received Him, but the glory of Almighty God received Him out of their sight. Then two messengers tell the men, that as Christ ascended to heaven so shall he return. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:9-11 When Christ returns he will be coming in the clouds / the glory of God. 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30 When Christ returns he will be coming back in all of God s glory, and we who are in Christ will be with Him in that cloud of glory. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:4 The word Cloud in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is not referring to a plain old rain cloud, but to the glory of God. Now lets look at the word air in the same passage. 2

3 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: Air Aer: Strongs 109 (Greek) From (to breathe unconsciously, ie respire; by analogy to blow); air (as naturally circumambient): - air. As you can see, Air is not referring to the sky or even to the heavens in the passage, but the act of breathing. What could breath have to do with the word air? When God created man he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Breath And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. - Genesis 2:7 Naphach: Strongs 5301 (Hebrew) to puff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow hard scatter, kindle expire; blow breath; God breathed the breath of Life into man. When God took the flesh body and added the breath of life to it, man became a living soul. Flesh body + breath of life, which is our spirit, = our living soul. Now lets look at the word Spirit and how it is defined. Spirit And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. -Genesis 1:2 Ruwach: Strongs 7307 (Hebrew) Wind; by resemblance breath, ie a sensible (or; even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life We can then compare the Hebrew meaning for the word spirit to the Greek meaning of the same word. 3

4 Spirit Pneuma: Strongs 4151 (Greek) a current of air, ie. Breath or a breeze; by analogy or figurative a spirit, ie (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ s spirit, the Holy Spirit: ghost, life spirit (-ual,-ually), mind. This comes from the root 4154 pneo : a primary word; to breathe hard, ie. Breeze: - blow. As you can see the words air and spirit are quite similar. Both refer to the breath and not the atmosphere. The breath of life is our Spiritual body. What Paul means when he says we shall be caught up in the air, is that we will be caught up in the Spirit. This makes sense when we look at how Paul describes what happens to our physical, flesh bodies at the return of our King at the 7th trump. This scripture seems to explain, in detail, what is being said in 1 Thessalonians 4: So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. -2 Corinthians 15:42-52 When Paul wrote this passage to the Thessalonians, he was trying to send words of comfort to those living, about what happens to those who have already died or fallen asleep in Christ. If we pick up the subject that Paul is speaking about, rather than picking the verse out on its own, we can grasp the true meaning of it. He is saying that the dead in Christ will rise to meet Him in God s glory, and THEN we who are still living will join them in that glory. We can see now that Paul is speaking of the same event, Christ s return at the last trump, as he was speaking about in 2 Corinthians But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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 4

5 shall rise first: 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. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 We can now see that verse 17 is saying this: You don t need to worry about those who have already died in Christ. We who are still alive when Christ returns will be together, in God s glory, with them. We will meet the Lord in the spirit (in the twinkling of an eye) and forever be with Him. Is the Rapture Biblical? The word Rapture is not found in the Bible but commonly used among some fundamentalist Christians to refer to the meeting of Christ in the air upon his return to earth. But what does the word Rapture really mean? If the word itself didn t come out of the Word of God, don t you think we should question its origin? Online etymology dictionary defines the word Rapture as: Rapture: c.1600, "act of carrying off," from Middle French rapture, from Medieval Latin raptura "seizure, rape, kidnapping," from Latin raptus "a carrying off, abduction, snatching away; rape" (see rapt). Earliest attested use in English is of women and in 17c. it sometimes meant rape (v.), which word is a cognate of this. Sense of "spiritual ecstasy, state of mental transport" first recorded c.1600 (raptures). rapt (adj.) late 14c., "carried away in an ecstatic trance," from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off" (see rape (v.)). A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)," as in a saint's vision. Latin literal sense of "carried away" was in English from 1550s. In 15c.-17c. the word also sometimes could mean "raped." Sense of "engrossed" first recorded c As a past participle adjective, in English it spawned the back-formed verb rap "to affect with rapture," which was common c Dictionary.com Word Origin & History rapture 1600, "act of carrying off," from M.Fr. rapture, from M.L. raptura "seizure, rape, kidnapping," from L. raptus "a carrying off" (see rapt). Originally of women and cognate with rape (v.). Sense of "spiritual ecstasy" first recorded Origins of the word Rapture by Craig Bluemel 5

6 Wikipedia The use and meaning of the word rapture has changed dramatically over time. If you are familiar with the Latin words used to describe a specific class of birds of prey, such as eagles or hawks, they are known as, raptors, because of their method of hunting, which is to, seize, live prey with their sharp, powerful talons, grasping rodents or fish unaware or hopelessly trying to escape, and then they, carry it away. The raptor as a bird of prey is also from the 14 th century Latin, robber, which is also derived from the obsolete French word rapere. "Rapture" is derived from Middle French rapture, via the Medieval Latin raptura ("seizure, rape, kidnapping"), which derives from the Latin raptus ("a carrying off"). [14] Miriam Webster's Online Dictionary also lists etymology as the word Raptus rap tus noun \ˈrap-təәs\ Definition of RAPTUS : a pathological paroxysm of activity giving vent to impulse or tension (as in an act of violence) As you can see, the words "rape" "raptor" (bird of prey) and "rapture" are very similar in their etymology. All are defined as some sort of seizure, rape, carrying off or snatching. All of which are violent and forceful. From what you know of our God, do you think Rapture is something He would do to you? The Dangers of the Teachings of Men Many sources report a man named John Nelson Darby first brought the Rapture Theory into existence in the 1830 s. This theory did not exist prior to this time, nor is it biblical. In fact, we are repeatedly warned in the Word of God to beware of false prophets and of the teachings of men. Basically, if it didn t come out of the Word, but from the mouth of man, we should beware. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15 6

7 What s the Big Deal? Does it really matter if I believe that I will be raptured away before the Tribulation? The answer to that question is: YES!!! Now, this isn't to say that we will not be "caught up" to God! WE WILL BE! But NOT before the tribulation. Learn the parable of the wheat and the tares.. the tares are taken FIRST and burned before the wheat is "caught up" to the Father's barn. Tares among Wheat 24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. 26 But when the [o] wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares? 28 And he said to them, An enemy has done this! The slaves *said to him, Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up? 29 But he *said, No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn. - -Matthew 13:24-30 Furthermore, if you read the very next letter to the Thessalonians, you will see that Paul wants to clarify something... perhaps the Thessalonians were confused by his first letter too? Man of Lawlessness 2 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? -2 Thessalonians 2:2-5 Do not be confused. We will be here throughout the tribulation to be a light and witness to those who are still in darkness during some very dark times. Don't fall for the false one who comes first to "Rapture" you away. Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness, do not go out, or, Behold, He is in the inner rooms, do not believe them. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures (birds of prey) will gather. -Matthew 24: