The Rapture is False Theology

"The Rapture" is based on a 1,000 year reign of the Saints with Christ.  It was started by John Nelson Darby, a 19th century "theologian." Unfortunately for many, it is bad theology, but it does sell a lot of books.

The early Fathers of the Church said the 1,000 year period is NOT a literal 1,000 years.  Rather, it is a large number denoting the time from the Incarnation to the end of the world.  It is a time where the Saints do reign with Christ because He remains with us in the Holy Eucharist.

The 1,000 year reign is actually a time frame that is marked out by 2 "literal resurrections."  One at the beginning, and one at the end, much like bookends on the 1,000 year reign.

The 1st Resurrection - The soul is restored to grace and is alive again.  It is a "literal resurrection."

When Christ spoke of the prodigal son He said:

"It is right that we rejoice, for your brother was DEAD, but is ALIVE again."

The Prodigal Son was still PHYSICALLY alive, but his soul was DEAD.  The forgiveness of Christ restores the life of God in the soul, where the soul lives yet again.

The 2nd Resurrection - Is at the end of the world, when the good and the bad are "bodily" resurrected.  It is when the body is restored to the soul and everyone is judged.  The good, with their body to glory, the bad with their body to damnation.

In the Apocalypse 20: 1-5 we read:

1: "And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand."

2: "And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years."

3: "And he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should no more seduce the nations, till the thousand years be finished.  And after that, he must be loosed for a little time." (Note: before the 1st resurrection Satan had free reign over all the nations.  At the Incarnation his influence was greatly curtailed until the end of the world where he would be set free to wage the final battle.)

4: "And I saw seats, and they sat upon them; and judgement was given unto them; and the "souls" (Note: notice the word soul? They have died.) of them that were "beheaded" (Note: they were NOT physically alive anymore) for the testimony of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and who had not adored the beast nor his image, nor received his character on their foreheads, or in their hands (in the later days) and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." (Note: all of the "souls" who had lived and died reigned with Christ.)

5: "The rest of the dead lived not (Note: they were not the saved, they had not resurrected in the general resurrection to be judged yet, but their souls, being immortal in their nature, were none the less dead to grace) till the thousand years were finished. (Note: from the time of the Incarnation till the end)."

What you have just seen is the 1st resurrection.

The 2nd Resurrection is the "General Resurrection" of the body when it is reunited to the soul.  Remember, the good and bad will have their bodies restored to them.  The good to glory, the bad to damnation.  The body will be joined to the soul for whatever judgement is laid upon the person.

In the Apocalypse 20: 11 - 15 we read:

11: "And I saw a great white throne, and one sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was no place found for them."

12: "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things written in the books, according to their works." (Note to Protestants - They were judged by their "works.)

13: "And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell gave up their dead that were in them, and they were judged everyone according to their works." (Note to Protestants again - They were judged by their "works.)

14: "And hell and death were cast into the pool of fire.  This is the second death." (Note: man dies physically once, but he can end up in the pool of fire body and soul, which is the second death.  He can die impenitent.)

15: "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the pool of fire."

That is the 2nd resurrection.

One last thing.  Many compare the "Rapture" to the story of Noah, being "swept away" to be "with Christ in the sky."  Well, that is not a good thing because in the days of Noah those who were swept away "died in the flood."

Roger L.