Is “Rapture” an Acceptable Term?

[David505]

At times, I encounter disagreement among Christians regarding the acceptability of the term “rapture” to describe the migration of the end-time saints to Heaven's gate. My personal preference to describe this event is “translation” [1]; however, I think “rapture” is equally acceptable. I've found the following selection from an article by Chuck Missler to be helpful:

There are those who claim that the word "rapture" isn't in their Bible. That's because they aren't using the Latin translation:

...deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus.. -1 Thessalonians 4:17 (Latin Vulgate)

The Latin equivalent of the Greek harpázô is the Latin verb rapio, "to take away by force." In the Latin Vulgate, one of the oldest Bibles in existence, the appropriate tense of rapio appears in verse 17. (Raptus is the past participle of rapio, and our English words "rapt" and "rapture" stem from this past participle.) [2]


[1] http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/t ... tion&t=KJV

[2] http://www.khouse.org/articles/2002/444/print

[Canuckster1127]

Rapture is perfectly acceptable term whether it occurs in the bible or not.

The word Trinity doesn't appear in the Bible either but the concept is certainly there.

[David505]

Absolutely--thanks.

[Gman]

I tend to like this article on it..

http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/t ... n3aLl3uaIf

[David505]

I tend to like this article on it..

http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/t ... n3aLl3uaIf

Thanks Gman. That's a well-thought-out article contrasting tribulation versus wrath in support of Marvin Rosenthal's pre-wrath position, with which I concur in essence, although I question a couple of Rosenthal's ancillary assumptions. I'd like to add the following selection for our consideration:

5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Rev. 15: 5-8

I think the preceding verses relate the symbolism of “the tabernacle of the testimony” (v. 5) to the ark of the covenant as a type of Christ, and Christ's intervention via the rapture, preceding the “wrath of God” (v. 7).

[RickD]

I tend to like this article on it..

http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/t ... n3aLl3uaIf

I agree. Great article. I hear some Christians hope for the rapture when they get discouraged. Almost like they will be bailed out before any serious persecution starts. I think we in modern America forget history and how Christians were persecuted. And even how they are persecuted in other parts of the world today.