THE CURIOUS CHRISTIANS

The idea of the “Rapture,” a sudden, secret catching away of believers to meet Christ before a period of tribulation, has become a prominent teaching in many Christian circles, especially within dispensations premillennialism. But when we examine the Apostle Paul’s writings, do we find this concept taught? And how does it fit with a victorious eschatology that emphasized Christ’s already inaugurated Kingdom and the consummation of salvation? What Is the “Rapture”? The modern doctrine often describes believers being physically “caught up” ( harpazo ) to meet Christ in the air in an instantaneous event, sometimes before divine judgment falls on the earth. This idea was popularized in the 19th and 20th centuries by dispensationalists like John Nelson Darby and later evangelical media, but the term “rapture” itself is not found in Scripture. Key passages cited include 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, where Paul speaks of believers being “caught up” to meet the Lord. Paul...

One of the most anticipated and, at times, controversial themes in Christian eschatology is the event often called the "rapture," the idea that believers will be caught up to meet the Lord. But what does the Bible really say? Is it about escaping the world or welcoming the King? Is it a secret rapture or the glorious return of Jesus? Let's look at it together. The Popular Picture: Escape and Fear For many modern believers, especially those influenced by dispensational teaching, the rapture is envisioned as a sudden, secret evacuation of the faithful from a doomed world. This view gained traction in the 19th and 20th centuries and was popularized through novels and films. The narrative goes like this: Jesus returns secretly to snatch away the Church, then tribulation and judgment fall upon the earth. But is this the biblical picture? The Biblical Language: Meeting the Lord Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 : “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of...