Topic: What is rapture?

Date originally posted: 11-25-2002

Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Phillip

Question:   What is rapture and why do some people believe that it is a necessary belief to be Christian?

Answer: 

Thank you, J.T., for your question about the "rapture."

In a nutshell, "rapture" is a word used to describe what some people believe will happen to those Christians who are alive in this world just prior to the Second Coming of Christ.

Belief in the rapture is usually predicated on the passage in Sacred Scripture in First Thessalonians 4:13-5:6. Here Saint Paul is addressing a specific concern which has arisen in the ancient Church of Thessaloniki.

Apparently, Paul was in this northern Greek city fairly 'early' in his ministry as an Apostle. During this 'early' period, the Apostle's preaching seemed to include a heavy emphasis on his belief that the Lord Jesus would return SOON.

All the evidence points to the fact that the Second Coming has, in fact, been delayed. The Bible supports the now long-held thesis of the Catholic Church that nobody knows when Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. For example, check out Matthew 24:37-44; Mark 13:33-37.

But since Saint Paul seemed to have preached to the Thessalonians that they themselves would live to see the Second Coming of Jesus, these early Christians were perplexed when some among their number died before the Lord returned in glory. So, they got word to the Apostle asking if those who had died before the Lord returned had something like an "inside track" on being with Jesus forever. Since they believed that Jesus would raise the dead, the early Thessalonians wondered if their sisters and brothers who had "fallen asleep in the Lord" were going to be with Jesus and if those who remained alive in this world were, somehow, going to be 'left out.'

The verses of Scripture which many Christians today read as the primary support for believing in the "rapture," I Thess. 4:13-5:6, was, in fact, Paul's attempt to assure the ancient Thessalonians that those who remain alive will also be included in the eternal dominion of Christ. That is to say, Saint Paul was trying hard to bring comfort to a very specific group of Christians who had a very specific question about a very specific set of circumstances.

One of the 'problems' with trying to generalize on the basis of a particular passage of Scripture is that sweeping generalizations often miss the real point of the original Word of the Bible.

As Catholic Christians we have fairly consistently understood Saint Paul in First Thessalonians (and elsewhere) to be saying that (1) Jesus will DEFINITELY come a Second Time; (2)WHEN that Second Coming will occur is something nobody can pinpoint with accuracy; (3) the people who are alive whenever Jesus returns will not be at any disadvantage as compared to those who have died; and (4) those who have died will be raised.

Beyond that, most Catholics are simply not prepared to go with positive, absolute statements. We just have to trust that our God, Who is always so loving, will handle the Second Coming with the same compassion, power, truth, and goodness which has characterized ALL of God's dealings with humankind.

Indeed, we rely on Jesus' Own Word in the Scripture, "About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels or heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36) The Lord Himself clearly says that ONLY God the Father -- not even the Son!!! -- knows the exact time of the Second Coming.

Along with our 'ignorance' of the exact time of the Second Coming is a related lack of specific knowledge about the 'mechanics' of how the Second Coming will occur. We have a good deal of speculation, but we really can't say with certainty what will happen at that glorious moment.

Will Christians who are alive at the time of the Second Coming be "raptured"? Will Christians "be caught up in the clouds together with" those who have died prior to the Second Coming "to meet the Lord in the air"? (I Thess. 5:17) Saint Paul seemed to think so...and I am fairly comfortable saying that it just might happen that way. But we don't have any absolute, firm, and certain guidance from the Church on this topic. So, we're 'free,' within certain limits to inform ourselves fully and then to come to a faithful, prayerful personal judgement.

However, I restate my caution about making "big generalizations" based on a Scripture passage that was addressed to a particular group of people who had a particular question in a very particular time and setting.

Regarding the second part of your question about why "some people believe that is is a necessary belief to be Christian" -- well, the answer is, "I don't know exactly why others make this claim." Certainly, I respect their right to make the assertion, and surely their belief system is based on faithful assumptions. But as a Roman Catholic I don't feel obligated to agree with them although precisely as a Catholic I am obligated to respect their consciences on this matter.

Take care and God bless!
Father Phillip