When the rapture happens...?

Who would have thought that the ramblings of a young medium would grow to such proportions:

RAPTURE DOCTRINE ORIGINS

The origins of the "Pre-Tribulation" rapture can be traced to 15-year old Scottish-Irish girl named Margaret McDonald who was a follower of Edward Irving (August 4, 1792 – December 7, 1834).

McDonald would go into trances and record visions of the end of the world. In several visions she described Jesus' second coming as a private or 'invisible' affair between Himself and his followers.

Irving later re-interpreted this to mean that there would be a "secret" "catching up" or "absorbing unto himself" of his bride BEFORE the actual second coming.

Irving was a well-liked Scottish clergyman who was generally regarded as the main figure behind the foundation of the Catholic Apostolic Church which is later became precursor to the Apostolic Pentecostal movement during the 1900´s in the US.

Irving and his congregation took Margaret McDonald's visions as word for word “revelations” directly from god.

In 1830, Margaret had a vision describing a “secret rapture” which was later widely published in 1861.

In 1908, the doctrine of the rapture was further popularized by evangelist William Eugene Blackstone, whose book, Jesus Is Coming, went on to sell more than one million copies.

The first known appearance of the theological use of the word "rapture" in print occurs with the Scofield Reference Bible of 1909.

John Nelson Darby-(18 November 1800 - 29 April 1882) was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren, is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism.

Darby learned about the "secret rapture teachings" from Irving during one of his transatlantic trips to Scotland.

Darby brought the new popular teaching to US audiences. He later produced a translation of the Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek texts called The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation from the Original Languages by J. N. Darby which greatly influenced American minister, Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (August 19, 1843 - July 24, 1921) who was an theologian, minister and writer.

In 1908, the doctrine of the rapture was further popularized by an evangelist named William Eugene Blackstone, whose book, Jesus Is Coming, sold more than one million copies.

Scofield was a student of Darby and compiled the first study Bible reflecting Darby's teachings which was widely published in 1909 where the first known appearance of the theological use of the word "rapture" appeared in print.

This was the very first and by far most widely circulated "study bible" only revised and superceded by Charles C. Ryrie's Study Bible much later in the 20th century.

Lewis Sperry Chafer-(February 27, 1871 – August 22, 1952) Scoffiled’s most ardent student, synthesized Scofield’s biblical topical research with Darby's teachings based on the ‘secret rapture’ revelation.

Chafer later co--founded the Evangelical Theological College in Dallas in 1924 with theologian William Henry Griffith Thomas.

Unfortunately Thomas passed away before the school opened its doors, and Schafer, a non theologian, became the school’s president and chief theologian.

Under Chafer´s leadership DTS became the center of modern Dispensational teaching which he later developed into a systematic theology based on Scofield’s study notes that approaches the Bible with a "premillennial, dispensational interpretation of the Scriptures."

His eight-volume work describing this approach to theology, Systematic Theology, was first published in 1948 and is still a required textbook for many courses at DTS.

John F. Walvoord, himself a graduate, took over as president of DTS after Chafer's death in 1952.

In 1957, Dr. John Walvoord, published "The Rapture Question," which gave theological support to the Pre-Tribulation rapture; which sold over 65,000 copies.

In 1958, J. Dwight Pentecost authored another book supporting the Pre-Tribulation rapture, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology, that book sold 215,000 copies.

Hal" Lindsey (born November 23, 1929) who attended Dallas Theological Seminary in 1958 under John F. Walvoord, went on to publish the 1974 best-seller Armageddon, Oil, and the Middle East Crisis.

Lindsey graduated DTS in 1969, and then published his second bestseller, The Late, Great Planet Earth.

The Late, Great Planet Earth has since been published in 54 languages, with reported sales of over 35 million worldwide.

Lindsey’s book was instrumental in the world wide popularization of the “rapture doctrine” and its publicity also re-fueled record breaking sales of Scofield´s Study Bible which is the overall most widely distributed Study bible in history.

Charles Caldwell Ryrie (born 1925) Also a graduate from DTS, for many years served as professor of systematic theology and dean of doctoral studies at the Seminary and was also president and professor at Philadelphia College of Bible, now Philadelphia Biblical University.

Ryrie is a premillennial dispensationalist, though irenic in his approach. He is the editor of the very popular Ryrie Study Bible which is the second most widely sold study bible in the world second only to Scofield´s.

As of Fall 2007, DTS has nearly 12,000 alumni serving in various ministerial capacities in 97 countries worldwide.

Timothy F. LaHaye (b. April 27, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American evangelical Christian minister, author, speaker and a student of Ryrie, is best-known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins.

He has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction. Time magazine named LaHaye one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America and in the summer of 2001 the Evangelical Studies Bulletin named him the most influential Christian leader of the preceding quarter century.

Why do Rapture adherents not know about McDonald’s history and her claims?

Two reasons:

1.The Rapture Doctrine Business across the evangelic spectrum, is a multi-billion dollar industry.

2. McDonald later went on to identify Robert Owen, the founder of New Harmony, Indiana as in fact, being the Antichrist.

1) There are so many different views on the rapture...

Some think you have to be watching and waiting to go.

Some believe that all Christians will go , as long as you have

been saved.

Some don't believe in the rapture at all.

I guess it's not our place to say.

2) My husband wants to stay behind to help and watch

it all go down- the tribulation, battle of Armageddon

3) I really can't even pretend to know what Jesus would do.

1) They all should because that would be helping people which is what they are supposed to do, but it contradicts their belief that are supposed to all go when it happens.

2) It would be the Christian thing to do, but again.. contradiction

3) He would stay, but again.. the contradiction in it all boggles Christian mind and their way of thinking. It's pretty much a big loop. I mean, maybe that would be the ultimate test.. Leave the less fortunate behind and in need, so God sends you to Hell, or stay behind and not get invited into heaven in the end? WHOA. Paradox.

This "group rapture" is not what Jesus was talking about. I think the concept you are speaking about came from modern theologians who want to keep promising things...

It gives people hope, but when it doesn't happen, it also brings disappointment. I would recommend a review of the Original Kingdom Gospel. That will sort out this rapture thing. More info on my biography if you are interested.

The Rapture is a concept that was invented by an English Protestant preacher in the 1880s. There was not concept of "Rapture" for the fist 1,880 years of Christianity.

There will be no "Rapture" in which non-believers are "left behind". There will be a final judgement when Christ returns.

1) some, but not many assuming they had the choice.

2) Go with god.

3) Help others see the light before its too late

Well if yu read the bible there will only be a rapture at the time of the great white throne judgment. Sorry no pre trib, mid trib, raptures. So endure on my brother.

when raptures come, the dead in Christ will rise first and together with the saved ones meet Jesus on the clouds. there will be feast, rewards and crowning with God above but people on earth suffered great tribulations during that time. thats why, call and seek Him while he is near.God is so loving, gracious and merciful that even never spare to us his only son to die for us for our reconcillation with God, coz there is so other thing that can saved us, its through Jesus life and blood alone. but the other side of God is a consuming fire, a Judge and a wrath.repent, humble and empty your self infront of the living and true God while He is still pleading you to become His one of his sons.

The Lord will let you know! Be patient and pray for all the things you will need when the time comes. We are to help others to know Him. To feel His Love for us, while we are waiting, for His Glorious Appearance. Just know that you are in good hands and there is nothing to worry about. Allow God to take care of all your concern. That's one of the great and awesome things about Him. He's got you covered!

some Christians will be left behind, because they werent really living for Jesus like they should've.

If all the people going to heaven are gone.

The non-believers will have the world they want, one of chaos.

Everyone gets what they earned. How cool is that!