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not answered in the Bible. The lack of details has led to different theories and

interpretations.

Majority Interpretation

There are many other New Testament passages describing the resurrection of

the dead and the gathering in of the faithful when Jesus comes again (Matthew16:27, 24:30-31, 25:31-32, 26:64, Mark 12:18-27, 13:26-27, Luke 17:26-35, 

John 5:21, 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 6:14, 15:12-32, Philippians 3:20-21, 

Colossians 3:4, 2 Peter 3:8-10, Revelation 1:7). These other passages use

various descriptions and images to describe wondrous events that we cannot

fully understand (1 Corinthians 2:6-10, 13:9-12). None of these other passagesuse the image of the faithful being caught up in the clouds and meeting the Lord

in the air, nor did Paul use that description in his later writings. Therefore, most

Christians do not place any great significance on the particular imagery Paulused in 1 Thessalonians. Most Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias do not

mention the Rapture at all.

Dispensationalism

A theory of Bible interpretation known as Dispensationalism was developed in

the 1700s and 1800s, primarily by theologians Pierre Poiret (1646 - 1719), John

Edwards (1637 - 1716), Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748) and John Nelson Darby

(1800 - 1882). Dispensationalism favors a very literal interpretation of Bible prophecies and gives unique interpretations and special significance to end-

times events. These theories were popularized by the Scofield Reference Bible,

first published in 1909.1 

In Dispensational theology, the Rapture will be the centerpiece of Jesus' second

coming - a glorious, dramatic event with Jesus coming to literally take believersup into the sky. There are several theories about the timing of the Rapture:

  Pre-tribulational rapture: When John ascends to heaven (Revelation 4:1-

2). In this theory, Christians will be taken up before the Great Tribulation(Daniel 9:24-27, Revelation 7:14) and will be spared its suffering.

  Mid-tribulational rapture: When the two prophets ascend to heaven

(Revelation 11:11-12) 

  Post-tribulational rapture: At the end of the seven bowls (Revelation16:17-21)

The Rapture in Popular Culture

The Rapture and other ideas about events surrounding the second coming ofChrist have spawned a whole industry in recent years. Hal Lindsey's 1970 book

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The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind  series by Tim LaHaye and

Jerry B. Jenkins have been at the forefront. Besides the many books, there are

websites, TV evangelists, lecture series, movies and videos. Some of these

feature imaginative and vivid embellishments of Bible prophecies mingled with

contemporary political and social theories. Most of these works go well beyondanything revealed in the Bible and are properly classified as fiction - not asBible prophecy.

Will the Rapture Happen Soon?

Over the past 2000 years, countless groups and individuals have compared

events of their time to Bible prophecies and come to the conclusion that Jesuswould be returning soon. Some have set a specific date and led their followers

into the wilderness to wait for Christ to come. Every one of those predictions

turned out to be wrong, but that has not deterred people from making modern-day predictions that Jesus will be returning in the near future. Most mainstream

Bible scholars, however, do not think current world affairs are evidence of the

imminent return of Christ.

Jesus, Himself, said,

However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not

even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. (NLT,

Matthew 24:36)

Jesus also said we should not believe anyone who claims to be the Messiah or

anyone who claims to know when He is coming again. The second coming of

Jesus will be sudden, unexpected and unmistakable, like lightning flashingacross the sky (Matthew 24:23-51, Mark 13:21-23, 13:32-37 Luke 17:20-37).

The important thing is not to know when or how the end will come, but to be

spiritually prepared when it does (Matthew 25:1-13 Matthew 24:42-44, Luke21:34-36, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).

Related article: What does the Bible say about the Second Coming of Jesus? summarizes events surrounding the second coming of Christ and the end-times

and includes Bible references.

1Enns, P. P., The Moody Handbook of Theology, Moody Press, Chicago,IL,1989, pp. 515 – 516.

http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_rapture.htm