Rapture the beginning of the end7/27/2023 ![]() ![]() This way of understanding the Bible and God’s interaction with man divides history into six dispensations. It gave rise to a theological view known as Dispensationalism. However, there is no way of confirming if this was an influence on Darby’s teaching.ĭarby’s teaching made its way across Europe and eventually to America. Many people believe he piggybacked off of the comments made by a young girl named Margaret MacDonald, who had a vision in 1830 of the end times and the Church being raptured from the Earth. Darby taught the view of a rapture out of the world. ![]() They were conservative, nonconformist Protestants who broke away from the Church of Ireland. He is the founder of the group later known as The Plymouth Brethren. John Nelson Darby was the first to teach and introduce this idea to his congregation. In fact, this is a relatively new view for Christians to hold. Where did this idea or teaching come from? Has the Church believed this doctrine for the entirety of its nearly 2,000-year history? The answer is no, it hasn’t. Again, this is a slight variation to the same idea: believers whisked away being spared having to endure tribulation. Some believe this rapture will include Jesus appearing in the clouds and then taking them to Heaven, while still leaving multitudes here on Earth. The key point being, they believe, at any moment, Christians will be taken alive from Earth to Heaven while multitudes of unbelievers remain on Earth. There may be some slight variations, but this is the general view of folks who claim to hold beliefs in the Rapture. Then, at the end of the tribulation, Jesus will return and judge the nations, bringing about the end of all things. Some of those people will become believers, even as they suffer great trials. Following this “rapturing” of Christians away from the Earth, the remaining people on the Earth will experience great tribulations for seven years. This scenario is depicted in the popular book series Left Behind and other biblically apocalyptic movies. The reason it is called a “secret rapture” is because Christ is not going to appear, rather, Christians are going to disappear. People who believe in the Rapture believe that Christians are going to be taken away from the Earth to Heaven in a secret rapture of the Church. Afterwards, I will lay out a biblical case from Scripture as to what is truly taught about the fate of Christ’s Bride prior to his Second Coming. I’m going to outline Rapture beliefs, highlight its origins, and examine what biblical passages are used to support it. I believed in a Rapture and thought Christians were waiting for Jesus to whisk us away from the world. Trust me when I say, I was once in your shoes. I recognize that for many reading this, you already disagree with me. ![]() For that reason, I figured it was time to articulate a written outline of my position and why I believe that the Rapture, as it is popularly understood and communicated, is not a biblical idea at all. To this day, I continue to have people ask me questions about this concept of a rapture of God’s people before the Second Coming of Christ. However, one positive result of that teaching is that it has led many others to see my position more clearly, and even more positive, it has caused them to align their views more closely with the Bible. It has been several years since all of that happened, yet it is still a running joke within our church. That is why I’m popularly known in my church, and by some in our community as “the Rapture guy.” It’s not a designation I want, nor ever dreamed I’d have. I had shaken the hornet’s nest and believers from churches all over our community were commenting on my video-upset. That video went semi-viral and caused a firestorm in our community. In lieu of the controversy surrounding the topic, I followed that Sunday with a Facebook video outlining more details as to why I didn’t hold a belief in a biblical Rapture. What I had forgotten is that it had taken me years to arrive at that position, and therefore, I casually annihilated it in my sermon and moved on. We had a few families leave the church, furious. This statement rocked some people’s world. ![]() Several years ago, in a sermon on the return of Christ, I briefly mentioned that the Rapture is not taught in the Bible. The running joke at my church is that I’m the “Rapture guy.” It isn’t a joke because I believe in what is commonly called “the Rapture,” rather, it is because of my unbelief in this popular doctrine. ![]()
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