Featured The rapture.

Indeed, caught up - Greek harpazo

same word in 2 Corinthians 12:2
Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Its mostly a timing issue for those who under stand this as a literal catching away.

 

"The Rapture" is usually understood to be a pre-wrath taking away of Christians prior to the Tribulation. However, even Amillennialists understand the dead in Christ will be resurrected to join with saints that are living. Whether that means they come in the air to meet with living saints or not is not without some debate. Of more importance is that all those who are in Christ will all be with the Lord. FWIW, I view this passage as referring to the second coming, not a pre-wrath taking away.

 

1 Thess 4:17 is the key "Rapture proof text". The context of the passage is the 2nd Coming. Paul is telling the Thessalonians the order of the Resurrection. God will bring with Him those who have died in Christ (v. 14), those who are alive and remain until His coming will not precede those who have died (v. 15), the Lord will descend (v. 16), then those who are alive and remain will be caught up together with those who have preceded them in death (v. 17). All believers will eventually be together in Christ's presence.

This passage doesn't teach a physical removal of believers. This would serve no purpose. Jesus prayed "I do not ask You to take them out of the word, but to keep them from the Evil One" (John 17:15). Christ compared His return with the days of Noah, where the unrighteous were taken away, and the righteous went through the flood but were saved.

 

My apologies. I just now edited my first reply to expound upon my view. I believe the passages from Hebrews and Titus are about Christ's return, not the Rapture.

 

Coming from a pre trib pre mill background.

The way I read the surrounding text fits this idea much nicer as well. The thessalonians are concerned about those who have died before the 2nd coming and Paul gives them doctrine so they can understand.

Telling them they will be teleported away soon and then that not happening wouldn't have been of any comfort.

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We meet the Lord in the air. It would make no sense to meet Him there if the rapture were the second coming after the second coming Christ will be on earth. In the rapture Christ never sets foot on the ground. The rapture and the second coming are two separate events.
MB

 

The broader context of this passage begins in verse 13. I completely agree that the subject is the resurrection of the dead. The only way I've ever seen a rapture there is because that was the only explanation for this verse that I ever heard for many years. Part of moving to the Partial Preterist view involved a different understanding of many passages including this one.

 

From that passage, I understand that we will bear His likeness when He comes. However, I don't see any hint of the rapture there. As my wife often reminds me, I could be wrong. We won't know for sure until He does come.

 

Something we agree on. I see no hint of it either

 

No problem with the phrase meaning "caught up". The disagreement is in the meaning of the phrase. The idea of being caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air is a picture of God's elect being brought into His presence. Looking at v. 16, "descend" was used to describe the priest's descent from the temple to announce that atonement had been completed. Of course, Jesus is our High Priest.

Have you ever compared 1 Thes 4:16 through 5:7 with Matthew 24:30-49? The parallels are fascinating. In both passages, Christ returns with a shout, accompanied by an angel with the trumpet of God. Both passages describe Believers gathered in the clouds, and the time is unknown - He will come as a thief. Unbelievers are unaware of the judgement in both passages. Judgement comes as travail upon expectant mothers. Both passages tell Believers to watch, and both have a warning against drunkenness.

 

Break it down for me how does it deny it?

 

Just as with the misunderstanding of the passage.