The word rapture is defined by the dictionary as “an intense feeling of pleasure or joy”. Interestingly, if we go through the entire King James Version of the Holy Bible, the word rapture has not been mentioned even once. In simple parlance, and as laid down by the proponents of rapture, it refers to the return of Jesus Christ for the gathering up of His elect. During the 1800’s this concept surfaced. With the efflux of time this concept has not only survived but undergone innumerable changes, making it one of the most polemic Christian beliefs of the day.
The concept of the Rapture, finds its roots in the Dispensationalist teachings of John Nelson Darby, a prominent Christian preacher in the 19th century. This concept is one of the most discussed and debated topics in Christian eschatology - the study of the end times, focusing on events such as the return of Christ, the final judgment, and the ultimate destiny of humanity. The plethora of literature available, by and large indicate that this word is construed to mean both the second coming of the Christ, and the establishment of the New Jerusalem – the kingdom of God, apart from secret rapture and many other such articulations.
It is surprising that the Last book of the Bible – The Revelation of Jesus Christ penned by John was written somewhere around 95 AD, but the concept of the rapture was propounded somewhere seventeen hundred years down the line. Such a long silence on the subject speaks of the lucid and fertile imagination of man rather than spiritual revelation. The rapture in its present form was never taught prior to 1830.
In John 14:2, the Lord says “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” The Lord does not say I will take you in secrecy or I will keep coming again and again. Further in Mathew 24:37 states “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.” The concept of secrecy is again blown to the winds.
That the first coming will be a secret rapture—or carrying away of the saved to heaven—at the beginning of a seven-year period of tribulation, during which the antichrist will appear is to be read with the Scriptures. The second phase occurs at the close of this time of tribulation when Jesus will return to Earth in triumph and glory is certainly again to be construed biblically.
After His resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven, and the disciples watched as He rose into the sky. The Bible says, “While they [the disciples] watched, He [Jesus] was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men [angels] stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11, NKJV).
Two points stand out in these verses. First, the Jesus who returns to Earth the second time is the very same Jesus who lived here on Earth with us and went back to heaven following His resurrection. And second, He will return to Earth to take his people in the same way— “in like manner”—as He went back to heaven.
Dr Ashwin Drummond
Laddertoheaven.co.in