Greetings and blessings and welcome to my new blog. I’ve long felt driven to write publically about very personal matters of spirituality and the relation is has to the current times we are living through. I’ve felt compelled to do this for some time and am finally glad to be expressing these ideas in a public forum. I will be covering a variety of topics relating to spirituality and prophecy, specifically, coming from a modern-day Christian perspective. Although my hope and sincere prayer is to share my perspectives and ideas, I welcome other’s perspectives and thoughts, as well. In fellowship of thoughts and study of scripture, I hope we may all come to a greater understanding of the fullness of the gift of grace given by our heavenly father through his son, Jesus Christ. I hope to shine light on issues and discuss phenomenon that is often overlooked or even marginalized by the modern Fundamentalist church. My first topic, I believe is a very important issue and will serve as a springboard to many other issues discussed here in the future. Its popularity in modern culture, even secular media and entertainment, cannot be underestimated.
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Biblical prophecy, Spiritual matters, End Times, etc 
Excellent topic to kick off your blog buddie. And it’s one that you and I both very much agree on. The rapture theory is absolutely a false doctrine. It’s anti-biblical, and in my opinion one of the biggest misleading Christian teachings today. It’s a teaching that has lead, millions upon millions, of well intentioned Christians astray from the real teachings that are found in sacred scripture. This is a topic that I myself have spent plenty of time researching and praying on, and will briefly expand on my reasons that lead to my conclusion in this response. Even still, there is also another certainty, in that we don’t agree on everything, which we joke about from time to time. Coming from a Catholic and Protestant viewpoint, we do butt heads on some issues, and I will certainly point out these issues also. But I’m glad your putting out this topic first, so lets get started.
You are right in stating that a vast majority of Fundamentalist Christians believe in the rapture. Other than Catholicism, Anglican, Orthodox, Lutheran and Methodist, (which I know do not preach the rapture), there are many more that do. And given that there are approximately 33,820 Protestant denominations worldwide (source: Newsweek. April 16, 2001), that are allowed to come up with their own personal interpretations of scripture, which the bible clearly states against in 2 Peter 1:20 “Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation”, imagine how many more might fall victim by this heretical teaching.
As far as scripture verses that Fundamentalist like to use as “proof” for rapture theory, there is none. And as you stated, Matthew 24:40, is widely used as that ammunition for this, but once that scripture verse is placed back into context, it states the exact opposite. For obvious reasons, Fundamentalist don’t like to reference Luke 17: 34-37, which accounts Luke’s version of the same event. And why not? Because when his disciples ask him where the bodies will be taken in (verse 36) “They answering, say to him: Where, Lord?”, Jesus replies in (verse 37), “Wheresoever the body shall be, thither will the eagles also be gathered”. The term “eagles”, or also called “vultures”, in some bible versions, is used to reference the Roman armies of the period, which used the eagle as an insignia. Luke’s version describes an account of the Roman armies (eagle) seizing upon two, taking one (to be killed later), and leaving the other to tell the story, or in some cases left for dead in the field. Now does that sound like someone being raptured to Heaven? I think not.
Your second point is one that I agree with also. No one can escape suffering. It is one of the tenants of our faith, and one that is clearly pointed out in Philippians 2:12 “Wherever, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more in my absence,) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.” Nowhere in sacred scripture does it say anything about being able to escape or be spared suffering and persecution, on the account of faith alone. And not just in the rapture theory, but this same belief, can also be found today in what is called ‘sola fide’, or justification by faith alone (another topic for another day). Verses like Philippians 2:12 go directly against both, and is the reason why they both are false teachings.
Your view of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is pretty spot on, and isn’t gonna get much rebuttal from me. 1 Corinthians 15:52 has nothing to do with a rapture type event, and to be honest, I’m kinda scratching my head as to why someone would use this to support this theory when it clearly states only 2 verses later in (verse 54) “And when this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” How could death be swallowed up in victory take place in a pre-tribulation rapture scenario? It can’t because that will be the end. Victory will be complete. It’s finished. Done. Game over. The fat lady has sung!
Now this is the part in your blog where I have to respectfully disagree with you: The bride of Christ, The Church (which probably deserves it’s own blog). While I do agree with you that the church does not specifically mean a particular building, it also does not mean an invisible body of believers. How could it, unless Christ intended for his church to be one where every believer had free reign to interpret whatever they believed his church is. If Jesus Christ intended for an invisible collective body of believers to be able to pick and choose what they wanted to believe and not believe, then a verse such as John 6:54-55, holds no value and meaning. Jesus was simply wasting his breath. I simply can not imagine or accept that that’s what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 16:18, when he said “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This Church will always be the One True, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church (Ephesians 5:27) “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.”. Not many churches and believers, but one Church that will outlast the trials and tribulations of history without blemish or wrinkle, just as Jesus declared to Peter.
“Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be, even as where Jesus may be, there is the Catholic Church.” – St. Ignatius of Antioch. Epistle to the Smyrnaeans. AD 110.
To wrap up, the rapture theory is not only heretical and anti-biblical, but also a dangerous doctrine for believers in Christ to get trapped into following. And if one day a rapture style event should unfold before our eyes, remember that Jesus Christ, his disciples, or the early Church never taught this. Who would be behind manufacturing and benefiting from such a event remains to be seen.
God bless and STAY ON YO TOES SUCKA!
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If a believer knows their position “in Christ,” whether trials or tribulations come before or after shouldn’t matter. In the twinkling of an eye shall come. All I know is that it will come. Before, after, or later will not deter that He is Lord.
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