2 min. read
I was recently reading 1 Thessalonians 4 and was reminded it has nothing to do with the popular concept of the rapture.
This passage of Scripture has spawned quite a bit of theologically irresponsible notions, such as the rapture. The Left Behind series is testament to that.
Did you know the word “rapture” does not appear in Scripture?
Rapture Is Not Biblical
The very idea that we will leave this earth at the Second Coming of Christ is not biblical at all.
Stop, take a breath. I know that sounds heretical.
But read the entire Book of the Revelation. Especially the ending chapters. It’s clear that the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John is about the end our salvation story. And we will not be leaving. Instead, Christ will return to this world in bodily form, making a new heaven and a new earth, and we will dwell with Jesus in this newly reconciled world! What a concept.
A biblical view of the end of story does not trivilize salvation as some “get out of earth and hell” card. Instead, salvation history is the story of God reconciling all things … ALL THINGS … to himself.
How? I don’t know. But he’s promised to do it: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.”
Hope Is Biblical
Paul’s emphasis in this text is not on the particulars of the return of Christ.
Then what is it on? Hope.
Paul is encouraging people who have legitimate questions about what comes after death that even in death we will not be out of God’s care. What a joy to know that because of Christ even death cannot separate us from the faithful love of our Creator.
And Paul urges us to encourage each other continually in light of this great hope.
So Tell Me Something
Why do you think the non-biblical notion of the rapture has become so popular?