I had an interesting query posed to me.
He claims there’s already been a rapture in 76 AD with 3 million Jews missing. They believe in 2 with the next one coming. I told him it can’t be cause revelations was written 26 yrs after 76 by a friend and disciple of Jesus. Also Daniel was alive during that time and went on to write of his events... Just wondering have you ever heard of this and how can I teach my friend it never happened?
The word rapture is not found in the bible. Within Christianity, this term is normally defined as events related to the return of Jesus Christ. This idea became popular around 1830's with John Darby.
John Nelson Darby invented the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine around 1830 AD. There is one finding of the rapture idea prior to 1830 with a short essay by Morgan Edwards as a college paper for Bristol Baptist College in Bristol England in 1744. (Source) Many current day pastors hold the rapture as doctrine, and it was pushed out to the public with the successful books by
This view of the rapture is generally broken into three arguments: pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation. The tribulation is believed to be the last seven years of mankind on Earth, before the final judgment of all. There are many many articles and books arguing when this rapture will take place. Too many to go into here. However, from my research, most believe this rapture (caught up) will occur sometime in these last seven years.
Regarding the idea of the rapture already taken place in the 70's AD comes from the idea of preterism.
What is Preterism?
According to preterism, all prophecy in the Bible is really history. The preterist interpretation of Scripture regards the book of Revelation as a symbolic picture of first-century conflicts, not a description of what will occur in the end times. The term preterism comes from the Latin praeter, meaning “past.” Thus, preterism is the view that the biblical prophecies concerning the “end times” have already been fulfilled—in the past.
Preterism denies the future prophetic quality of the book of Revelation. The preterist movement essentially teaches that all the end-times prophecies of the New Testament were fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans attacked and destroyed Jerusalem. (Source)
I believe this is where your friend is acquiring his belief on the rapture having already occurred. This same means of thinking accepts the church has replaced Israel in God's plan, also known as replacement theology. Or the idea of the church being an expansion of Israel (convent theology).
I also found this interesting paragraph in my research.
Preterists usually point to a passage in Jesus’ Olivet Discourse to bolster their argument. After Jesus describes some of the end-times happenings, He says, “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (Matthew 24:34). The preterist takes this to mean that everything Jesus speaks of in Matthew 24 had to have occurred within one generation of His speaking—the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 was therefore “Judgment Day.” (Source)
In opposition of this means of thinking (preterism) is from the apostle Paul who warned against those who, like Hymenaeus and Philetus, teach falsely “that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some” (2 Timothy 2:17–18).
There is an interesting article titled The Menace of Radical Preterism by Wayne Jackson. It provides the preterist points and refutes them. You may find this information helpful.
Rapture vs Second Coming
We need to take a moment to differentiate the rapture and second coming of Christ. The rapture and second coming are similar but separate events.
Rapture
The rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all believers in Christ) from the earth. The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living, will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye.
Second Coming
The second coming is when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom. The second coming is described in Revelation 19:11-16. I should also point out Islam also teaches this judgement day at the end of times.
Muslims believe that at the end of time, all human beings will have to face God and account for their deeds, good and bad. God will judge them accordingly, assigning reward or punishment. The time of the Day of Judgment is not specified in the Quran but is understood to be near. Its depiction is similar to biblical accounts, with earthquakes, moving mountains, the sky splitting open, heaven being rolled back, the sun ceasing to shine, stars being scattered and falling upon the earth, oceans boiling over, graves opening, the earth bringing forth hidden sins as well as lost stories and the dead themselves, and people vainly trying to flee divine wrath. Everyone will bow before God. Traditional Islamic thought portrays the Day of Judgment as preceded by a cosmic battle between Satan's forces, represented by the false messiah al-Dajjal and Gog and Magog, and God's forces, led by the Mahdi and Jesus. (Source)
The term mahdī (divinely guided one) has come to denote a messianic figure whose presence will usher in an era of justice and true belief immediately before the end of time.
Personal Thoughts on the Rapture
This transformation is conveyed this way: At the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, all born again Christians will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). At the sound of the “last trumpet,” the dead who were born again during their lifetime will be resurrected from the dead. At the same time, those who are born again and still alive on earth will be transformed instantly, from mortal beings to immortal beings. Romans 8:11 tells us that our mortal bodies will be made alive if we have God’s spirit living in us.
Honestly, I use to believe the rapture would occur pre-tribulation. We would be swept away prior to the last seven years. However, two things to consider.
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36
This clearly states no-one but the Father knows when Christ will return. Therefore, for those attempting to put a date on the rapture, do so in error. I grow very weary of those trying to prophecy when the end is coming. I am thinking Y2K, ect.
Second thing I take is the words, "At the sound of the last trumpet." The last trumpet, meaning at the end. This makes me believe there will be believers in Christ that make it through the tribulation.
The following verse provides us a view of what is to occur.
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord." Thessalonians 4: 16-17
There definitely appears to be a rapture, for no better word. Those who died prior are asleep but will be raised first, then those remaining alive at this event will meet them. This is something to keep in mind, when we are told our dead relatives speak to us beyond the grave. But I digress.
As far as when this event will happen, it is provided to us in the next couple of verses. We need to keep on the same context. Keep in mind, we are told what to watch for, not a specific date/time.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." Thessalonians 5: 1-3
Here we are told the return will come like a thief in the night. Meaning (to me), by surprise. This re-emphasizes we don't know. It will sneak up on us, unaware. The writer calls those in belief to remain sober and waiting. Interestingly, we are provided some additional clues. Notice the 'peace and security' comment. If we look at the world now, it's nothing about peace and security, with all the school shootings, sex trafficking, ethnic cleansing going on worldwide. This means it's a false 'peace and security'. When that is proclaimed destruction occurs. Some believe this is the 7 year treaty the Anti-Christ will have with Israel, and then break it midway meaning the last 3 and half years.
At the end of the day, there does appear to be an event called the Rapture (for lack of better terms) taking place. When that takes place is unknown and debated. The take away is for the believers to remain vigilant, and sober. To be a Christian, we must not only believe that Christ died for our sins, but equally important, rose from the dead the third day.
This is important. Most religions preach love and good deeds. See my article on A Look at Religion's Afterlife. However, the Christian believes that Christ died for their sins (an offering to live eternal), and rose again. The risen from the dead means sin and death were defeated.
Because it is through the resurrection from the dead that one is born again—born into the Family (Kingdom) of God. It is only after being born of both water (baptism) and Spirit (being raised with incorruptible spirit bodies) that one enters the Kingdom of God (John 3:5-6).
I hope this helps.
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