Posted on 10/08/2025 1:59:03 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
I used to work in a parish religious education office, and once when I was at that job, a parishioner asked me when the rapture would happen...Now, when this person asked me about it, I was initially surprised, but then after a few moments, I realized that the question actually wasn't as odd as I thought it was.
See, the rapture is a Protestant idea; we Catholics don't believe in it. In fact, even most Protestants don't believe in it. The belief is barely a few hundred years old, and it's found mainly in American strands of Protestantism. In other countries, the idea isn't nearly as pervasive as it is here. And that's why I was surprised at this woman's question. I expected that a Catholic would know that the rapture isn't a Catholic belief.
However, after a few moments, it dawned on me that the idea is so pervasive in American Christianity (which is largely Protestant) that of course it would seep into certain Catholic circles. It shouldn't have surprised me at all that a Catholic would hear so much about it that he would just assume it was a basic tenet of Christianity like the Trinity or the Incarnation.
So why don't we Catholics believe in it?
Let’s take a look at what in my experience are the two passages most commonly brought up in its defens me and see why they fail to prove this dubious doctrine…
(Matthew 24:40-41) (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic365.com ...
Interesting.
Most of American Protestantism believes in the Rapture, as well as a Millennial Kingdom in the future.
Unless you mean the plurality of various nominally Christ based doomsday cults that is entirely nonsense.
This is a helpful explanation. (I’m neither Catholic, nor Protestant in the sense of adhering to any doctrine, but I’ve often wondered where the ‘rapture’ idea came from.)
We don’t handle snakes in our worship services, either.
Whoever penned this article knew little of Scripture.
“...even most Protestants don’t believe in it”
************************************************************
Hmmm, that’s news to this Protestant. I don’t know of any who don’t believe in it.
See, the rapture is a Protestant idea; we Catholics don’t believe in it.
/
Anyone who has read the Vulgate has read about the rapture , since the word rapture is the Latin word used in it.
That must really chap your ass.
😂
I have been in over a dozen churches in my life. All but one believed in rapture - but NONE used the Matthew passage to teach rapture. The Matthew passage teaches that those who are not born again are gone (taken in judgment not to be with the Lord but rather to be condemned). I believe this is at Armageddon when Christ comes at the 2nd coming
Rapture means “to be caught up” and that phrase is in the passage quoted - thus rapture is a doctrine taught in Scripture - the question is when does it occur.
Before there was a Catholic Church the NT believers believed in rapture. That is why Paul taught them in 1 and 2 Thessalonians that it had not occurred yet. They were living in fear that they had been left behind.
I come at this from a different perspective. From what I’ve read some elements of the rapture appear to be biblical although I won’t waste time arguing about it.
There is no just way for us mortals to know the details of what will happen upon Christ’s return. It is above our paygrade.
We should be prepared at any moment for Christ’s return.
Agreed. I have the feeling that Catholics care little for Saint Paul. However, somehow they feel jutified in the practice of Marianism, and the belief in Purgatory, both with little Biblical standing.
NOTE: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; and, John 14:1-3.
Perhaps Catholics haven’t been encouraged to read the bible. It’s in there. Always was. I seriously doubt this fact is a new revelation to Christians.
which is one of the reasons i’m not a Roman Catholic (yes i took a hard look at them). apparently (i was told this but it makes sense) the Romans believe that they are the millennial church.
It’s very ironic that the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is under such heavy attack even by purported Christian believers.
That is actually one of the very signs the The Lord Jesus suggested to look out for when “the end” was near. In other words, a lack of faith in His Word. No need to go into it further on this thread.
Throughout history, there have been at least 5 Rapture instances, with 3 more big ones to come.
John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. / After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— / in an instant, 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.
1 John 3:2
Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
You either believe in Him and His Promises - or you don’t.
No reason to argue.
Here's my Catholic shocked face.
The Latin word that the English word “rapture” is derived from is raptus, meaning “a carrying off” or “seizure”. The concept of the rapture in Christian theology comes from the Latin Vulgate translation, which translated the Greek New Testament word harpazo (meaning “to snatch” or “catch up”) as rapiemur.
raptus (Latin): This is the root word of “rapture” and means to seize, carry off, or snatch away.
harpazo (Greek): This is the original Greek word from the New Testament that the Latin term is based on, also meaning to seize, snatch, or carry away.
rapiemur (Latin Vulgate): In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the Latin translation uses rapiemur (a form of the verb rapio) to translate the Greek harpazo.
So, while the specific word “rapture” isn’t in the original Greek or Latin texts, it is an English term that comes from the Latin words used in the official Vulgate Bible translation of the Greek text.
😎
Catholicism is a creation of Man based on a Man being an intercessory between Man and God..That is not needed as Man can go straight to God and vise versa
JP Nunez has been a theology nerd since high school. He has master's degrees in both theology and philosophy (with a concentration in bioethics) from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and he spent three years in Catholic University of America's doctoral program in biblical studies before realizing that academia isn't where he wants to be. During his time in Steubenville, he worked for two years as an intern at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, where his responsibilities included answering theological questions and helping to format and edit their Journey Through Scripture Bible studies.
Understatement of the thread.
I left Roman Catholicism after being spoon fed it’s unbiblical teachings for almost 2 decades.
Here’s one that really got me thinking.
Every year our family had a “mass” for a dead uncle on the date of his death - the reason I was told we had to keep doing this bizarre ceremony was to “pray for his soul into Heaven”.
Ooops that doesn’t jive with Scripture though...
😒
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
Folks need to do their homework and read His Word to find out the truth. Don’t let some dude in a black or white robe tell you what the Bible says - look it up yourself!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.