Understanding The Rapture According to Christians

**Midwest Media Critic** · 20th November 2010 11:16 PM

I would like to have a discussion on the Rapture and what it means to Christians and Islam. What the Understanding is to Christians and those of any other religions that have the same concept.

This topic is not intended for those that are against religions.....nor is it for those who just want to put down any who believe in such. It is as the title says.....Understanding what it means to those that believe in such. It is to come to the discussion with an open mind and to ask questions and to respond with what could or would be connected to such a concept.

For those that do not believe for whatever reason the norm applies to logic and to deductive reasoning so the approach to this topic is analytical. Discovering the differences in what such means to different denominations of Christians and or any other relgions that believe in the same concept.

Why do they believe it? Why do they believe Darby who came up with it? What references in any holy books or Writings mention or allude to it? Are the 144,000 those of the Rapture? Or are they the surviving Jewish Tribes? Does an End of days scenario take place? What is connected to the Rapture and Revelations? What takes place afterwards if all goes as their Holy books and Writings state? Are there any Prophesies that state the same thing? Any other prophets that talk of such an act? What of those left behind? What of those that do not believe but will not just lay down and die either?

All of the above is what the discussion is framed around.....for those that are interested. Enjoy!

**kmiller1610** · 21st November 2010 03:08 AM

Many Christians would view the Rapture as symbolic. I was quite surprised that my professor of Eschatology viewed most of Revelations as a morality tale rather than a prophecy. Since then I have discovered that many Biblical scholars view whole portions of Biblical "history" as teaching opportunities for moral and spiritual lessons rather than highly accurate accounts of what happened.

The point of the Rapture is that God is coming for you. Be Ready. I have no strong opinion on the timing or literal nature of the descriptions.

**Midwest Media Critic** · 21st November 2010 06:02 AM

While true, how was is that Darby was able to get the concept changed by disputing what was being taught And why did not all Christian denominations believe in it?Some believe that their whole physical body will be taken. But most passages had become known and none were citing what was being stated in Revelations.....concerning the Rapture until much later in time.

Scottie · 21st November 2010 06:27 AM

I don't necessarily believe the rapture as taught. The only mention is "the dead in christ shall rise." I believe it's a metaphorical thing. As the christians will rise up and fight with Christ(Armageddon).

**kmiller1610** · 21st November 2010 06:29 AM

So here's the chapter the Rapture is based on, just for context.

Ist Thessalonians, Chapter 4

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

**Divine Wind** · 21st November 2010 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by Midwest Media Critics

I would like to have a discussion on the Rapture and what it means to Christians and Islam. What the Understanding is to Christians and those of any other religions that have the same concept.

What, exactly, Christians and Muslims believe about both the Rapture and life after death depends on how literally they take religious writings.

A short comparison of both Christian and Nuslim rapture beliefs is here: Islamic Parallels With Antichrist Story

A general outline of Muslim beliefs on life after death are here: 3. Beliefs: 5. Life after death

Note that Muslims seem to believe they will sleep after death until Judgment Day at which point all will be awakened and judged.

**Midwest Media Critic** · 21st November 2010 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by kmiller1610

So here's the chapter the Rapture is based on, just for context.

Ist Thessalonians, Chapter 4

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The dead in Christ will rise first and those left behind will rise up later to meet them in the clouds.....Then there will be those that are Left Behind.....But in that phrase it says both are going anyways. Yet thru-out both and old testaments there is the constant theme of the physical body turning to dust. Some that believe in this Rapture believe their whole body will be transmigrated physically.....thus leaving the End of Days scenario's playing out with all the catastrophies Planes, ships, vehicles all going down crashing etc etc. Which I guess is the divison between Christians. Or one of them.

**kmiller1610** · 21st November 2010 07:48 AM

Professor Hayden said: There are Christians who are A-millenial, Pre-millenial and post-millenial (when the 1,000 year reign will happen) but it was a preposterous thing to argue about.

Millenarianism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What do you find interesting about this topic?

**Midwest Media Critic** · 21st November 2010 05:01 PM

Well one thing is those that will be Left Behind.....to alledgedly suffer the wrath of the Anti-Christ and his followers. About those who will be left behind? There will be many that will not accept this Anti-Christ for whatever reason. Another thing is the 1000 years of peace which I think needs to be questioned. For according to their scripture even after Christ returns and take those and comes back to reign. Satan is not destroyed and rises up again.....but that then finally after another 1000 years of peace he rises up only to be Completely destroyed finally.

Also I would look to the Law of Opposition operating in a physical reality.....meaning there cannot be Evil without Righteousness or the good. Black/white, Light/Dark, Love/Hate etc etc....