In this brief article, Fr. Anthony expresses with clarity the truth of the false teaching known as the “Rapture” and how much it distorts the teachings of the Lord in the Holy Scriptures.Posted on 07/27/2016 8:46:41 PM PDT by NRx
By Fr. Anthony M. Coniaris
In this brief article, Fr. Anthony expresses with clarity the truth of the false teaching known as the “Rapture” and how much it distorts the teachings of the Lord in the Holy Scriptures.
As I was driving one day I encountered a bumper sticker admonishing me:
“WARNING! In the event of Rapture, this car will be driverless.”
The strange belief in the Rapture teaches that some day (sooner rather than later), without warning, born-again Christians will begin to float up from the freeway, abandoned vehicles careening wildly. There will be airliners in the sky suddenly with no one at the controls! Presumably, God is removing these favored ones from earth to spare them the tribulation of the Anti-Christ which the rest of us will have to endure.
Unfortunately the Rapture has been promoted widely by the Left Behind series of books that have sold over 70 million copies.
The Rapture represents a radical misinterpretation of Scripture. I remember watching “Sixty Minutes”a year ago and was appalled to hear the announcer say that “the Rapture is an unmistakenly Christian doctrine”. It is not!
It is a serious distortion of Scripture.
It is astonishing that a belief so contrary to Scripture and the tradition of the Church could be propagated by so-called “Christians”.
According to the Bible and according to the belief not only of Orthodox Christians but also of the Roman Catholic and most Protestant mainline churches, the true Rapture will not be secret; it will be the great and very visible Second Coming of Jesus at the end of the world. That is the one and only “Rapture”. It will not be a separate, secret event but one that every eye shall see (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
The word rapture is not found in Scripture but hearkens to 1 Thess. 4:17 where St. Paul says that when the Lord comes again
“we who are alive…shall be caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
This “being caught up…in the clouds”—arpagisometha in Greek, is translated by some as “raptured”. The word itself is not found in Orthodox theology.
The notion of a rapture in which Christ comes unseen to take believers away secretly, and only later comes back again for everyone else publicly—this whole teaching is quite novel. It was almost unheard of until John Nelson Darby formulated it in the 1800s as part of a new approach to the Bible, sometimes called “dispensationalism”.
The purpose of the “Rapture” is to protect the elect from the tribulations of the end times. Yet Jesus said nothing about sparing anyone from tribulation. In fact, He said,
“In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
Nowhere did Jesus ever say that He would return secretly to rapture the elect. Rather, He promised to be with His elect in all tribulations.
“Lo, I am with you always. I will never leave you or forsake you.”
He even had something good to say about being persecuted:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10).
Those who espouse the Rapture claim that Matthew 24:40-41 refers clearly to the rapture of the just,
“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
The entire passage, however, refers to Christ’s second coming where He will judge the living and the dead and separate the just from the unjust.
Darby taught as dogma that when the Scriptures reveal that the Lord will reign on earth for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4), this figure is to be taken literally, rather than as a symbol for eternity as we believe. The Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431 condemned as heresy this teaching which is called chialiasmos (millenianism or 1000 years).
In fact, the Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787 A.D.) in which the essential truths of the Christian faith were defined never mention a rapture. Yet evangelical Christians and Pentecostals keep using obscure passages of the book of Revelation which purport to give a detailed timetable of what will happen at the end of the world, despite the fact that Jesus Himself warned that no man knows either the day or the hour when the Son of Man shall return.
A major problem with the Rapture is that it ends up teaching not two but three comings of Jesus—first His birth in Bethlehem; second, His secret coming to snatch away (rapture) the “born-again”; and third, His coming at the end of the world to judge the living and the dead and to reign in glory. Yet only two not three comings of Christ are mentioned in the Bible. We have the clearest definition of this in the Nicene Creed when we confess that
“the Lord Jesus Christ…will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. His Kingdom will have no end…. I expect the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the ages to come.”
There is no mention of a “Rapture”.
As already stated, most Christians, Orthodox, Roman Catholics and Protestants do not believe in the Rapture. In fact, one Protestant pastor, John L. Bray, summarized magnificently what we Orthodox and most other Christians believe about the Rapture when he wrote these remarkable words,
Though many believe and teach this “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” theory, they erroneously do so, because neither Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, nor any of the other writers of the Bible taught this. Nor did the early church fathers, nor any others for many hundreds of years…. Did you know that NONE of this was ever taught prior to 1812, and that all forms of Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching were developed since that date? …. If I were to preach something, or believe something, supposedly from the Bible, but cannot find that ANYONE ELSE before 1812 ever believed it or taught it, I would seriously question that it is based on the Bible.
Thus the Rapture is foreign to the Bible and to the living tradition of the Church. It is what we call a heresy, a false teaching. False teachings, such as this, happen when people—like John Darby—believe that they have the right to interpret the Scriptures individually apart from the Living Body of Christ—the Church—where the Spirit of Truth abides and leads us to all truth.
I can think of no better words to conclude than those of Jesus when He speaks of the one and only “Rapture”, the Second Coming:
“Be on guard. Be alert! You do not know when that time will come…keep watch…if he comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!” (Mark 13:32-37).
Concerning the modern rapture teachings, on that score, I disgree with you.
That Jesus is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, I agree.
I think Jesus would tell you that you are not far from the Kingdom of God.
And if we cooperate with the Messiah and obey those commandments, we are not hearers only, but doers. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Luke, Catholic chapter six, Protestant verses forty six to forty nine,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James
True. But the essence of those commandments is to do them with love, in order that the Messiah can act through us as the true Doer. By ourselves we can accomplish nothing.
Didn't Frank Sinatra sing that first?
Every 'soul/spirit intellect' place in the womb at conception is born from above. That is the first requirement to 'see' the kingdom of God. The devil nor his angels, will ever take this flesh journey. John 3:13 explains the instruction to Nicodemus. "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He That came down from heaven, even the Son of man Which is in heaven.
Solomon penned a whole book, Ecclesiastes, regarding these flesh bodies, called it 'vanity of vanities.. He also penned 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is NO new thing under the sun.
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, 'See this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us... (flesh)
11 There is NO remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
Ecclesiastes 12 WHOLE chapter... in particular verse 7 Then shall the dust (flesh) return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it...
"Vanities of vanities," saith the preacher; all is vanity."
Paul repeats what Solomon penned... over and over again... particularly Corinthians 10 .... starts out reminding Christians about the 'law giver' Moses, then in particular verse 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: (examples) and they are Written for our admonition, (warning) upon whom the ends of the world (age, = dispensation) are come.
There is absolutely NO example in the writings of the holy prophets of a 'rapture' and there sure is NOT going to be a 'new' thing.
Christ said Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Christ never foretold us about a 'rapture', what he continually warned was deception..
Do you know literally who the 'anti-Christ' is? Christ and His holy prophets has told us repeatedly. IF you know who the 'anti-Christ' literally is, there is NO need for a rapture... and Paul told us what the tribulation would be in Ephesians 6 and specifically verses 10-24....
Paul talks about a 'mystery' in ICorinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that FLESH and BLOOD cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I show 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 (there are 7) trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...
So long as the flesh walks this earth Christ has NOT returned.
AND so long as the 'law of gravity' is in effect, there is not going to be flesh bodies flying away.
Oh, I am NOT diminishing or ignoring the rest of ICorinthians 15... as Paul expounds upon further about some things of the 'law' and 'works'.
Paul further teaches... IICorinthians 5: 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the LORD:
For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD.
These flesh bodies have an expiration date and when they die they return to the dust from which they came, but the 'soul/spirit intellect', all of them, return to the Maker that sent them.
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
well in the end, that is all that matters, see you on the other side friend
IMO, Talisker is a bitter person who despises Christians who do not believe as he does. We will see plenty of this type of “Christian” in the end times working for the persecution of politically incorrect Christians. Brother will turn against brother...
You don’t see Talisker’s wide brush of hateful Christians because they are not there with the exception of lost individuals. I don’t see them, either.
40 million liberals see them. Your position is that they are all exactly what Jesus knew would happen. I'm reflecting on the importance of what He called His Greatest Commandment, and whether it's being properly practiced - and if it's not, if it's had anything to do with creating 40 million people raised in Christianity but entirely unable to experience or accept Jesus Christ.
Your savage words are yours alone - I blame no one in particular. I'm merely asking if this could be something we all should reflect upon. Because the fact is that those 40 million lost souls are going to vote for a woman who intends to kill every one of us, if she can. Therefore, if Christians are making a mistake, it's a good time to correct it.
And if you're personally offended by that, maybe it's because you personally identify with some of it. Just remember that Jesus commanded it - not me. So blame Him.
If you dare.
You confuse the trumpet of God with the messengers in the Unveiling of Jesus The seventh trumpet is sounded by a messenger. Voices in heaven proclaim the advent of the King and His kingdom. Not so when He comes for us. The Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with the shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God (1 Thess.4:16). The trumpet is indeed sounded by a Messenger, but it is the Lord Himself, not another. In all He has the pre-eminence. He is the Chief Messenger. His voice alone can wake the dead. His blast alone can change the living.
hrist
What is your answer talisker?
Are you a Christian or not?
Once and for all.....
You have plenty of invective but no specifics
I confess I was unaware I was living in your head.....all I know about you besides you’re nutty is you love Sikhs and often pop up taking the liberal slant on homosexuality....that’s it.....I may have seen you race bait but that’s it
since you refuse to man or girl up to your own beliefs I can only guess about you
That you confuse Christianity with Ghandi and Good Works and maybe Tikkun Olam as well or karma even
Christianity is reduced to one simple creed of do you believe Jesus is son of God sent here to live and die and suffer on the cross as a man for our sins ....if you truly believe and trust in that notion and try to obey Gods commandments in conjunction but not separately then you are saved
So Talisker....do you believe Jesus Christ is the son of God sent here to die for your sins so that you might be granted salvation and everlasting life
Do you believe that in your soul Talisker?
I think most on this thread sure do
Do you know who the ‘anti-Christ’ literally is? Christ foretold us...
I don’t answer to you.
I don’t recognize you as a Christian.
I told you that.
you just don’t make any sense....except to yourself
But you do, shill.
You make perfect sense to me.
Your kind are all the same.
That is what I thought. Someone was asking about who will take care of the elders (left behind) and the youth (left behind). I said the youth (13 or less?) will be raptured, and the elders (left behind) will be witnessed to, and be afforded one last chance to come to the Lord. Some other commenter said that I was wrong, and that these 144,000 do not do this and they will help Christ rule the World; to be perfectly honest, I never heard that one before.
Why don't you point out my display?
The Clinton approach.
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Some about Scripture that offends you??
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