A common declaration about the Rapture is frequently made by both Christians and non-Christians that the word Rapture is not found in the English Bible. That is true. The English word Rapture is clearly absent within the pages of the New Testament. However, the concept and the actual “event of our catching away” is evident, as you will learn.
The 4th Century Birthed the Use of the Word “Rapture”
Interestingly, the word Rapture is found in the Latin Vulgate Bible still in use in the Catholic Church today. Bible scholar and author, Dr. Chuck Missler, in his Revelation teaching series under the auspices of Koinonia Institute, identifies for us the similarities and origins of the English word Rapture and the Latin word for Rapture, which is Rapiemur.
If one were to look at (and understand) the Latin Vulgate, translated by Jerome into Latin in 380 A.D., one would find the verse 1Thessalonians 4:17, wherein the word Rapture is identified (in Latin, of course):
Latin Vulgate
“deinde nos qui vivimus qui refinquimur simul rapiemur (Rapture) cumilles in nubibus abviam. Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus.”
King James Version
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (Rapture/rapeimur) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Analyzing this verse carefully, the word Rapiemur is the proper tense of rapio. As the reader can probably ascertain the English words Rapture and rapt are the products of the past participle of rapio, according to Dr. Missler.
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Since the New Testament, including the epistles of Paul, was originally written in Greek, the Greek word for Rapture is harpazó, which means to seize, catch up, snatch away.
We can observe this in one of the primary Rapture verses in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (go ahead of) them which are asleep.(already dead) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (Greek - harpazo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
The reference for the term caught up can be clearly found in Strong’s Concordance #726.
Using Strong’s Concordance will greatly assist the true Bible student in uncovering what every English word found in the Bible originally meant in the Greek or Hebrew languages.
The Mystery of the Rapture Was Given to Paul - Not John Darby
Perhaps the reader is familiar with the name of a 19th century evangelist named John Darby.
To him was attributed the “creation” of the Rapture concept. A large part of the misunderstanding of the false gospels regarding the Rapture is wrapped around this errant fable.
Indeed, Darby did publicly teach and profess his eschatological views to the peoples of 186
England, Ireland and the eastern United States. His ministry was well-received and he doubtless brought many to salvation. His efforts to breathe life into the Biblical doctrine of the Rapture helped generations of believers more fully understand and embrace this blessed hope.
However, it was the apostle Paul, one thousand eight hundred years earlier, who, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, first disclosed the mystery of the Rapture.
“Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep (having died) but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
(I Corinthians 15: 51- 53) Be clear, dear saints, that the origin of the doctrine of the Rapture belongs only to God.
Darby and others did indeed bring attention to the doctrine of the Rapture, and they deserve credit for resurrecting new life into the Biblical Rapture. However, accurate credit is due only if they subscribe to what God’s word states about the surety of the pre-tribulation Rapture.
Early Church Fathers Wrote About the Rapture
Contrary to what many Rapture critics claim about the latter-day origin of the Rapture, there is a historical record of those early faithful Christians who left written documentation of their belief in a pre-tribulation Rapture.
The 4th Century theologian and prolific writer of hymns named Ephriam the Syrian was one of earliest expositors and writers of the pre-tribulation Rapture. Thanks to one of the world‘s foremost authorities on prophecy, Grant Jeffrey, we now have proof positive that the early saints 187
did preach the pre-tribulation Rapture.
Ephriam the Syrian composed one of the earliest texts about the pre-tribulation Rapture found in a sermon entitled “On the Last Times, the Anti-christ, and the End of the World:”
Ephriam wrote the following:
“For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm
the world because of our sins.”
The totality of Ephriam’s sermon discusses end time events from the Rapture to the second coming of Jesus to earth. The solid research conducted by our brother Grant Jeffrey greatly helps both Christians and non-Christians in ascertaining the truth of God’s word and helps to dispel false doctrine by those who refuse to look to God’s word for the truth.
There are several other documented references to the pre-tribulation Rapture authored by Church fathers, who wrote that Jesus would remove the redeemed prior to the tribulation.
The reader will observe that the men referenced below are well-known theologians whose doctrinal positions regarding the Rapture are succinctly defined in the following section.
Other Accounts of a Belief in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Following is a snapshot of the pre-tribulation doctrinal position held by some of the more prominent scholars who helped to establish the development of the Church and its inherent principles:
Tertullian (210 A.D) “He says that those who remain unto the coming of Christ, along with the dead in Christ, shall rise first, being ‘caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.’…By the mouth of Isaiah, it was said long ago: Who are these that fly as clouds unto me, as doves with 188
their young ones?” Tertullian (c.207, W) 3.462
John Wycliffe (1320-1384): "Wherefore let us pray to God that he keep us in the hour of temptation, which is coming upon all the world, Rev. iii" (Writings of the Reverend and Learned John Wickliff, D.D., p. 155).
John Knox (1515-1572): "...the great love of God towards his Church, whom he pleased to forewarn of dangers to come, so many years before they come to pass...to wit, The man of sin, The Antichrist, The Whore of Babylon" (The History of the Reformation..., I, p. 76).
Matthew Henry (1662-1714): "Those who keep the gospel in a time of peace shall be kept by Christ in an hour of temptation [Revelation 3:10]" (Commentary, VI, p. 1134).
However, it is to our Father God to whom we are to look for guidance as to the veracity of the Rapture promise. God’s word is clear. If He tells us we will meet Jesus in the clouds and then be escorted to heaven, let us take what He says literally. Let us not allegorize God’s word because we just do not wish to believe what He plainly wrote in the scriptures.
A bit of a warning here. Remember, if we ever refuse to believe what the word of God tells us in the Bible, we are calling God a liar. God says it - we are to believe it. Do you believe that God inspired the writing of the Bible? Similarly, do you believe that the men who authored the Bible were inspired to write by the Holy Spirit?
God cannot lie. Numbers 23:19 states that:
“God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent; hath he said, and shall not do it? Or that he spoken and shall he not make it good?”
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Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of Our Faith
Are we to believe God? Are we to discount what the God breathed, inspired word of God tells us in the Bible, in favor of theories found in some extra biblical source? God forbid! Do you secretly doubt in your heart any part of the scriptures? Notice what the sure word of God emphatically alerts us to in 2 Timothy 3: 16:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Conversely, the incalculable numbers of the people of the world who either are buried in their “religions” or have chosen to embrace atheism or the myriad of other “isms,” are dead to the true word of God and are, therefore, doomed. We all must continue to pray for the unsaved billions that are yet submerged in satan’s darkness. These tragic billions are those to whom 1 Corinthians 2:14 refer:
”But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The Rapture is upon us, saints. Prophetic world events are exploding into life before our eyes every day. Jesus is about to return. If you truly do not know Him as Savior, tell Jesus that you know that He died for your sins, and that you believe in His death, burial and resurrection. This may be your last opportunity to be saved.