There is a lot of speculation coming from the Christian world about the "rapture" taking place on September 23, 2017. There are strong voices proclaiming so and as always such will always gather a level of following.
The real question to ask is this. Did the Bible ever speak about such an event with a date attached to it? The answer is NO!
The proclamation that we are nearing the end of the world is a basic intepretation of certain in the Bible. Unfortunately this has misled many people who put their trust in leadership to provide proper directions as it regards their faith.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 has been the subject of debate in eschatological circles. For futurists and dispensationalists this is one of the most relied places when it comes to the theory and teaching of the rapture.
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.[a]
15 "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 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 thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words."
Now let’s consider three important Greek words in 1 Thessalonians 4:17:
- HARPAZO – “Caught up”
- APANTESIS - “meet”
- AER - “air”,
The word HARPAZO does not necessarily mean physical removal. It can mean “to seize on, claim for one’s self.” The other time we see this word was by Paul himself in 2 Corinthians 12:2-6 when he tells how he caught up to the third heaven. The experience is not quite clear as it unfolded by he could only explain it as a trance and not as a physical relocation.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (NKJV)
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago; whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows; such a one was caught up (harpazo) to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man; whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows; 4 how he was caught up (harpazo) into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
The word APANTESIS is a technical term which was used in the ancient world to speak of a king or royal dignitary that was making a visit to a given city. As he drew near to the city for his coming the citizens of that city, being watchful for him, would, when his entourage was sighted, leave their city and go out to “Meet” (Apantesis) him. They would then escort him back to their city. The city was the destination of the dignitary. He was not coming take them away from their city.
This is why the word Parousa and Apantesis have been indentified closely with regards to return of the Lord Jesus. The king was not coming to remove the city. He was coming to visit them. As noted by scholars the Parousa and Apantesis are often companion words in the koine (common) Greek langage of Paul’s world.
The word AER is same that Paul uses when he said in Ephesians 2:2 “according to the prince of the power of the air”. It is obvious he is not referring to the air we breathe but a spiritual realm or position.
Understanding the biblical "last days" is one hotly contested topic. I believe the bible that mentions it is the best answer for it. Through out scripture we see references to the phrase "last days" "end of the age", "last hour" "last times". These phrases which written to an audience must have relevance to them primarily or else the essence of the corresponding prophecies would be irrelevant to them.
Peter declared that “the end of all things was at hand.” (1 Peter 4:7) as it related to the church of the 1st century. They seeing the end of the Mosaic age and knew that they were also in transition into the New covenant age where was coming at the return of Jesus in His "Messiahship".
The endtimes?
Why we misunderstand the end times.
We interpret scriptures without taking cognisance it was written by Jews and interpret it as if it was speaking to us. We forget it is a Jewish concept at the time the gospels were written that God lived in a house call the Temple was Jesus is alive. Hence that place is call “heaven” and the priest served him in a place call “earth”. Hence the temple was called “heaven and earth”.
Hence when the Bible speaks about the end of heavens and earth, it speaks about the destruction of the temple. Not the end of the world. The Bible does not speak about the end of the world. This is a mistranslation by the King James Version.
The NIV gets it correct. It is the end of the age. To be specific, it is the end of the age of the old covenant. That was fulfilled in AD70 when the Jewish land and temple was razed down by the Roman army.
That is a fulfilled event. For anyone to stand up and declare a coming end of the world will be either to deceive people or to speak out of ignorance. Integrity in the Christian ministry is fundamental and it is neccesary for leaders to be established in the truth of the scriptures say.