Some Clarification on the Rapture
David Martin | The Daily Knight
One of the most misconstrued points of the Bible is what people call the rapture, a coined term referencing the Gospel prophecy concerning the mysterious removal of people from the earth just before Christ’s Second Coming.
The rapture is strictly a Catholic issue, though the Protestants have stolen it, thinking it backs their idea that they will escape the tribulations by being taken up beforehand. They hold to the error that the rapture is a supernatural removing of the Church from the earth before the tribulation.
The rapture, rather, is a mysterious occurrence that takes place just before the Great Chastisement and Christ’s Second Coming. This phenomenon is briefly mentioned only twice in the Bible. Jesus says that at that time, "Two women shall be grinding together: the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left: two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left." (Luke: 17:34-35)
The rapture is certainly part of God’s plan to remove certain souls before the Chastisement. Some understand that just before the culmination of nuclear WWIII, certain members of Christ will miraculously be taken up to a heavenly realm to pray for their brethren on earth, without which "no flesh should be saved." (Mt. 24:22) Because of their prayers, "those days shall be shortened” so that the world won’t be completely destroyed.
Eagles Gathered to the Body
When Jesus told the people that “one shall be taken, and the other shall be left," the disciples then asked him, "Where, Lord?" Who said to them: "Wheresoever the body shall be, there will the eagles also be gathered together." (Luke 17: 36-37)
We might understand the eagles to be the elect who exhibit spiritual foresight and vision, like St. John who is symbolized by the eagle, while the body to which they are gathered is Christ's Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. The deduction is that a select few will be taken up to a heavenly abode to pray continuously before the Blessed Sacrament for their brethren on earth. The late Thomas A. Nelson, founder of TAN Book Publishing was of this conviction.
The Rapture is not the Second Coming
While the Church has never defined what the rapture is, we can rule out that it is the Second Coming of Christ or that it is an escape through which the church can avoid the tribulations, quite obviously, since Scripture makes it clear that the elect will remain on earth through the tribulations to meet with Christ at his Coming.
"Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see him." (Apocalypse 1:7)
Again we read, “The Lord himself shall come down from Heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ, shall rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air." 1 (1 Thess. 4:15,16)
Mystical Body to Pass Through its Passion
Jesus himself says that with the approach of the tribulation his chosen ones will be beaten and dragged before governors and magistrates. “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for my name's sake.” (Matt. 24: 9) He says that “for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened” (Mt. 24:22), indicating that the elect will have passed through the tribulations on earth to meet with Christ at his Coming.
During the height of the Chastisement, the members of Christ will remain prostrate for six days and six nights, begging God’s mercy upon the world, just as those taken up in the rapture will be praying incessantly for their brethren on earth. It will be a time of great sorrow, but glory will ensue shortly thereupon with the Second Coming of Jesus.
God’s elect will brave these days with great hope knowing that God protects his people who listen to him – the loyal Roman Catholics. The mercy of God will envelop all those who remain faithful and “persevere to the end.” (Mt. 24:13) The elect arm themselves with the image of the living God by keeping the Crucifix on their person and upon the front and back door to their homes. The angel of death will literally bypass any home that has the Crucifix affixed, as it happened with the passing of the lamb during the Egyptian darkness when they sprinkled the blood of the lamb on the doorposts.
But some, dreading the trial, have construed the idea that they will be taken into instant glory without the cross, but this is born of fear, not faith. The true Christians of the last times know that Jesus Crucified will avail them all the protection they need. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is their true exodus, and the Blessed Virgin Mary is the ark of salvation that leads them safely to him. She is our refuge and our gateway to that true enrapturement that awaits those who keep the commandments of God.
1. Some erroneously see this in reference to the Rapture, when in fact it refers to Christ’s Second Coming, which is not the Rapture. The two scriptural references to the Rapture are SS. Matthew 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-37.
David, you haven't responded to my last email; that's fine, it's your web page ... we were talking about trabsubstantiation and the Eucharist.
You are talking about the rapture mentioned in the Bible. I am glad that you got a good few things right, in my opinion, on this. First, I agree with you that it certainly isn't the second coming of Christ, it is an event before that. And according to scripture it will take all believers out of the world at the moment that it happens. The problem is when does it happen? Where abd when are all the believers at that moment?
Your quotes from Luke 17 and Matthew 24 are in fact references to Jesus addressing…