Is the Rapture Biblical?
Pastor Tim provides a special Zoom class on the topic “The Rapture: Left Behind”. The topic is not considered a "tier one" issue because salvation is based on a relationship with Christ and his work on the cross, not one's specific view on the rapture. Secondly, God's people are marked with the Holy Spirit and will not be lost or miss out on heaven, regardless of their theological stance on the rapture.
Deep Dive - Debate for further understanding (15 min)
Study Guide: Is The Rapture Biblical?
This study guide provides a comprehensive review of the key concepts, theological arguments, and historical context presented in the lecture "Is The Rapture BIBLICAL?". It is designed to test and deepen understanding of the material through a series of questions and a detailed glossary of terms.
Quiz: Key Concepts Review
Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each, based on the information presented in the source material.
What are the two primary reasons the speaker identifies for why the topic of the rapture "doesn't matter" in the context of Christian salvation?
Explain the linguistic origin of the word "rapture," tracing it from the original Greek term to its modern English usage.
What is eschatology, and how does a person's eschatological view, particularly concerning the millennium, impact their understanding of the rapture?
According to the speaker, what is the primary, central message that the Apostle Paul is communicating to the believers in the key passage of 1 Thessalonians 4?
Who was John Nelson Darby, and what was his significance in the historical development of the modern understanding of the rapture?
How does the speaker challenge the common interpretation of Matthew 24's "one will be taken, the other left," using the context of Noah and the flood?
Define the Greek word parousia and explain how its historical meaning, as a welcoming procession for royalty, reframes the events described in 1 Thessalonians 4.
The speaker argues that the popular image of a silent, secret disappearance of believers contradicts the biblical description of Christ's return. What specific scriptural details from 1 Thessalonians 4 are cited to support this argument?
What is the "dispensationalism" perspective on the end times, as summarized in the lecture?
What historical and theological critiques does the speaker offer regarding the modern view of the rapture, specifically concerning its timeline and prevalence in church history?
Answer Key
The topic is not considered a "tier one" or salvific issue because salvation is based on a relationship with Christ and his work on the cross, not one's specific view on the rapture. Secondly, God's people are marked with the Holy Spirit and will not be lost or miss out on heaven, regardless of their theological stance on the rapture.
The word "rapture" is not a Greek word found in the New Testament. It originates from the Greek word harpazo, meaning "to snatch up" or "suddenly take away," which was translated into the Latin Vulgate as rapimur, leading to the English word "rapture."
Eschatology is the study of the end times. A person's eschatological view directly influences their view of the rapture; for example, one's belief about whether the millennium (a 1,000-year period) occurs before (premillennialism), after (postmillennialism), or is symbolic (amillennialism) in relation to Christ's return will shape their entire end-times framework.
The primary message of 1 Thessalonians 4 is one of encouragement for the believers. Paul's main focus is to reassure them that those who have "fallen asleep" (died in Christ) will be resurrected and that they should not grieve like those who have no hope.
John Nelson Darby was a key figure in the 1800s who began to teach the modern understanding of the rapture, possibly after hearing of a vision from a woman named Margaret Macdonald. He is considered the progenitor of this teaching, which was later popularized by figures like Scofield and D.L. Moody.
The speaker argues that in the context of Noah, the flood "took them all away," referring to the unprepared people who were destroyed. Therefore, being "taken away" in this passage is a picture of destruction and judgment, making being "left" behind (like Noah in the ark) the positive outcome, which flips the popular "Left Behind" theology.
Parousia is the Greek word for "coming" used in 1 Thessalonians 4. Historically, it described the practice of citizens going out from a city to meet an arriving king or victorious army and then escorting them back into the city in celebration, suggesting believers meet Jesus in the air to immediately return with Him to earth.
The Bible describes the event with a "loud command," the "voice of the archangel," and the "trumpet call of God." These auditory and declarative elements present a powerful, public, and triumphal return of a king, which is the opposite of a silent, secret, and subtle event where people simply disappear.
Dispensationalism is presented as one of the four views on the end times. Its perspective is summarized as: "It's going to get worse, but the church will miss it."
The speaker notes that the modern view of the rapture is a relatively new phenomenon, originating in the 1800s, which should make one skeptical. It is also described as an exclusively Protestant, and almost exclusively American, theology that was not held by major thinkers throughout most of church history like Augustine, Aquinas, or Calvin.
Essay Questions for Deeper Reflection
Analyze the speaker's argument that "context is king" by examining the interpretations of Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 4. How does a focus on the surrounding text and historical context change the meaning of being "taken away" and the purpose of meeting the Lord "in the air"?
Trace the historical lineage of the modern rapture theology as outlined in the lecture, from John Nelson Darby to the Scofield Reference Bible and D.L. Moody. Discuss the role that popular media, such as the Left Behind series and A Thief in the Night, played in embedding this view into cultural consciousness.
Compare and contrast the four primary views of the end times presented: premillennialism, postmillennialism, amillennialism, and the dispensationalist perspective. Based on the speaker's presentation, how does adopting one of these views predetermine one's belief about the tribulation and the nature of Christ's return?
The speaker argues that a correct understanding of end-times theology should result in "peace" and "confidence" for the believer. Synthesize the main points of the lecture to explain how the speaker's preferred interpretation (a single, triumphal return of Christ) is intended to produce this peace, as opposed to the anxiety that can be associated with date-setting and rapture predictions.
Construct an argument using only the evidence provided in the lecture for the position that the popular conception of the rapture is "not biblical or theologically robust." Your argument should address linguistic evidence (harpazo, parousia), historical evidence (the 1800s origin), contextual biblical interpretation (Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 4), and logical consistency (the problem of a "two-part return" of Christ).
Glossary of Key Terms
Term
Definition from Source Context
Amillennialism
The belief that there is not a literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth, but that his second coming occurs at the end of history. The summarized view is: "It's simple, Christ is returning. The rapture's road maps or much scary stuff—Jesus is coming back, game over."
Dispensationalism
A specific end-times theology mentioned as a minority report. Its perspective is summarized as: "It's going to get worse, but the church will miss it."
Eschatology
The study of the end times. A person's eschatology, or view on end times, will impact how they see the rapture.
Harpazo
The original Greek word from which "rapture" is derived, meaning "to snatch up" or "to suddenly take away." It is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 where it says believers will be "caught up."
John Nelson Darby
A gentleman from the 1800s who is credited with beginning the modern understanding and teaching of the rapture. He is the progenitor of the Plymouth Brethren denomination.
Left Behind series
A popular book series that has sold over 65 million copies and has shaped the modern, pop-culture understanding of the rapture, involving people disappearing from the earth.
Millennium
A concept related to a 1,000-year period of time discussed in the Bible. Theologians debate whether this is a literal 1,000 years or symbolic, and when it occurs in relation to Christ's return.
Parousia
The Greek word for the "coming" of the Lord used in 1 Thessalonians 4. It describes a historical custom where citizens would go out of their city to meet an arriving king or victorious army and then escort them back into the city in a triumphal procession.
Postmillennialism
The belief that the second coming of Christ occurs after the millennium. The summarized view is: "The world will only get better through the unstoppable gospel."
Premillennialism
The belief that the second coming of Christ occurs before the millennium, which is a literal 1,000 years. The summarized view is: "It's going to get worse, but the church will overcome it."
Rapture
In modern English, a feeling of intense joy. Theologically, it refers to the concept of believers being "caught up" or "snatched away" to be with the Lord, an idea derived from 1 Thessalonians 4. The word itself is not in the Greek New Testament.
Salvific Issue
A "tier one" theological issue that is directly connected to a person's salvation. The speaker argues that one's view on the rapture is not a salvific issue.
Scofield Reference Bible
One of the first reference Bibles, created by C.I. Scofield. It was very influential in promoting Darby's rapture theology by including study notes and subtitles in the Bible text itself, such as "Jesus predicts the rapture."
Tribulation
A famous concept from end-times theology referring to a period of intense suffering. Different theological views debate whether Christians will be present for it.
Vulgate
The Latin translation of the New Testament. The Greek word harpazo was translated as rapimur in the Vulgate, which is the Latin root for the English word "rapture."
