So basically the rapture is loosely based on these 4 scriptures and

[LynneSin]

someone's really creative imagination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture

Scriptural basis
Supporters for this belief generally cite the following primary sources in the New Testament:

Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. (Matthew 24:40-41)
John 14:1-3

In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, the Apostle Paul writes: "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul writes: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

In Philippians 3:20-21, Paul writes: "For our conversation is in heaven; from where also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
Generally, an elaborate set of predictions about the end times are constructed from these sets of verses, together with various interpretations of the Book of Revelation and the predictions of Christ's return in Matthew 24:30-36.

In general, believers in the rapture consider the present to be the end times, and offer interpretations of the various symbolisms in the book of Revelation in terms of contemporary world events.


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I mean this is almost as silly as the idiots who actually think the 'Men lying down with Men' was actually about homosexuality but still haven't grasp the concept that eating at Red Lobster is a sin in the eyes of God (creatures from the sea without fins is an abomination - it's all from Leviticus)

Seriously, I'm a Christian and even I have a problem with all of this

[elshiva]

1. You are not alone as a Christian. The rapture is baloney.

Ever read John Shelby Spong's "Christianity Must Change or Die?"

[tjwmason]

5. I'm no where near Spong's position - but yes the rapture is nonsense.

n/t

[jackelope72]

2. And you notice that most of those scriptures were written by the same man.

So, basically, because Paul got this idea into his head, it HAS to be true!

[LynneSin]

3. Yes but Paul never wrote the scriptures

This is legend of what one person told another who told another who told another of what Paul said.

And xtians, in my humble opinion are more Paulists than Christians and Paul was the first fundie Xtian out there.

Most true Christians like myself pretty much disregard most of what Paul did because he was so extreme

[elshiva]

4. Paul had his good points, but he was only a human.

I don't think he knew exactly what was going to happen.