WILL THERE BE A RAPTURE?

By Jonathan Mensah-Bonsu

Probably you have read a bumper sticker with this inscription: In case of the rapture, this car
will be unoccupied. Seem consistent to say that the popular tenant of dispensational theology is
rapture. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins were labeled ‘the New Prophets of Revelation’ on the
May 24, 2004 issue of Newsweek with their book on rapture ‘Left Behind’ selling about 62
million copies. Many movies and videos have been made to proclaim that there is an impending
rapture of the saints. The movie Left Behind starring Nicolas cage and others are clear examples
set to teach the concept of rapture. The dispensational timeline stating the course of events
resonates from many pulpits across the globe with a touch of drama. However, the question is
will there be a rapture? It is not surprising to careful student of Scriptures that the Bible is
grotesquely distorted by dispensationalist to be a predictive code and end-time formular. These
teachers look into the Bible searching the next frontpage news of the dailies. Strangely, the word
“rapture” is not found within the pages of any standard English translation of the Bible.
Nonetheless, that alone does not make the doctrine erroneous. The concept of rapture as
explained by these advocates is not taught within the pages of the Bible.
The word ‘rapture’ is a transliteration of the Latin word ‘raptio’ which is the correspondent to the
Greek word, ‘harpadzo’ which is often translated caught up. Ryrie observed: “The English word
comes from a Latin word, ‘raptio’, which means to seize or snatch in relation to an ecstasy of
spirit or the actual removal from one place to another.” (Ryrie Caldwell, p. 27). Rapture is the
sudden and possible secret coming of Christ in the air to catch away from the earth the
resurrected bodies of those who have died in the faith and with the living saints. According to
this fanciful theory only those “in Christ” will be resurrected and together with those alive, they
will be caught up with Jesus for a period of about 7 years. After which Jesus Christ will come
again to judge the world and utter in a millennium of peace and prosperity on earth as He rule
from Jerusalem.
With open minds and discarded prejudices, let’s ask; where is this concept found in the Bible?
Honest seekers of truth always come to the inevitable conclusion that rapture is a denominational
dogma that has been forged in the furnace of human desires, characterized by a blind wish to be
treated specially and granted a second chance for a wasted first! What is erroneous about the
rapture theory?
The rapture theory allows for too many comings of Jesus Christ. Those who teaches this
fanciful theory holds that Jesus will come for the dead saints and the living ones in the rapture.
And come with the saints about 7 years later to judge the world. Not admitted by these
advocates, however, the doctrine implies a second and third coming of Jesus Christ. The Bible
teaching of the second coming of our master does not give room for a literal multiple future
coming of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “so Christ was offered once to bear the
sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin,
for salvation.” Hebrews 9:28
The rapture theory contradicts the Bible teaching on resurrection of the dead. The rapture
advocates teach that the righteous dead from the time of Pentecost and those living will be
raptured. Charles Ryrie explains “At this point in history only the dead in Christ will be raised;
that is, only Christians. Although there have been many believers since Adam, no believer was
placed in Christ until the day of Pentecost when the baptism of the Holy Spirit first occurred
(Acts 2). So those raised at the rapture include all believers from the day of Pentecost until the
rapture.” (Ryrie, p. 29) That means that there will be another resurrection for those remaining
after the 7 year when there will be judgment of the world. However, the Bible explicitly and in
plenary language teaches that there is one and only one resurrection for the wicked and righteous
alike. Paul told Felix the governor, “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that
there will be resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Acts 24:15 [emphasis
mine]. The resurrection of the dead is a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. Jesus said in
John 5:28,29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves
will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life and
those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” [emphasis mine] Jesus told us
there is a resurrection of both the good and the wicked at the hour that is coming. Clearly, those
who teach this rapture theory are either not allowing the Bible to speak or have not been reading
their Bibles.
The rapture doctrine contradicts the parable of tares as given by our Lord Jesus Christ. In that
parable Jesus powerfully employing divine words said: …first gather together the tares and
bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn!”  Matthew 13:30
(emphasis added mine). The burning of the tares which signifies the dreadful end of the wicked
was done first before the glorification of the saints which is represented as gathering of the
wheat. For those who preach the rapture theory, the righteous are taken away for some years first
before Jesus come back to punish the wicked. C. I Scofield, one of the leading proponents of this
error saw the problem of their doctrine with Matthew 13:30. Hence, in commenting on that verse
Scofield wrote: “The gathering of the tares into bundles for burning does not imply immediate
judgment. At the end of this age the tares are set apart for burning, but first the wheat is
gathered into the barn.” [emphasis added mine] Either the Bible or the reference notes of
Scofield must go for there is no way of reconciling the two.
The rapture theory denies the universal second coming of Jesus Christ. Some among the
advocates teaches that the rapture will be a secretive event where only the raptured souls will see
Jesus. The Bible affirms that the second coming of Jesus Christ is not secretive. Every eye will
behold his glory for it will be the greatest scene in the history of the world. John said: Behold he
cometh with clouds and every eye shall see Him…, Revelation 1:7.
The rapture doctrine is a false philosophy arisen by misapprehension of the Bible teachings on
the final coming of Jesus Christ. Advocates base their interpretation on human intuition rather
than on a thus saith the Lord. Paul enjoins Timothy then and us now, ‘… accurately handle the
word of truth.’ 2 Timothy 2:15. Visit the church of Christ near you today for further studies on
the word of God.

Works Cited
Ryrie Caldwell, Charles. What you should know about the Rapture. Chicago: Moody Press, 1925.
Document.

Scofield Reference Notes (1917)