>>Directly after Jesus Christ returns for His church...<<
Respectfully, I would like to point out that theologically and according to tradition and The Word, The RCC is Christ’s Church (and bride) and the RCC does not subscribe to the idea of the Rapture.
Do you deny the ordination of Peter (”upon this ‘Rock’ I shall build my church”) or do you suggest the RCC has erred?
Just curious...
Scripture also says:
“For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?”
The word for Peter in greek is Petros (pebble). Christ uses “Petra” meaning Himself. Christ is the chief cornerstone, the sure foundation of His church.
From the Thayers Lexiacon: the distinction between Petra, the massive living rock, and Petros, a detached but large fragment
And I would declare the RCC has erred many, many times, but that isn’t the topic of this thread.
and according to tradition and The Word
The only "Word" that points out the RCC as "THE Church" is the word of men far after the New Testament was penned.
The "ordination" of Peter? I have heard that so many times in conjunction with that one somewhat out of context scripture. It is selective interpretation to say that Jesus was putting His finger on Peter and saying that He would build His Church on a man.
What comes just before Christ's words is what some call the "great profession" - When Jesus specifically asked his Disciples who the world thought he was, he got a variety of answers. But when asked "who do you think I am" - Peter's response is a great profession of faith: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
And Jesus response - yes, HE was talking to Peter (petros), and on this rock (petras) - this faith.
Ephesians 2:20 tells us that the Apostles labored to build the foundations of the Church. Yet according to RCC tradition, Peter was the foundation.
The Bible is clear that the foundation, the Chief Cornerstone, is Christ Himself. The keys later mentioned so often attributed to Peter and the Popes that followed are handed to the church body as a whole to exercise.
"The Church" is built upon faith - faith in Jesus Christ.
I think we(RCC) do not define the same word “rapture” . But never the less what it means is there. We believe when Christ Comes We will be with Him. It does read “caught up”. I have been checking it out because The visions of Pedro Regis are talking along these lines. I know its private revelation but he is hitting on all predictions. He predicted Haiti ,Chile and the axis of the world off center. I have been following since last September 2009 . The Virgin Mary says we will be taken out of the worst.