How can one reconcile the Resurrection scriptures with the mainstream doctrine of a rapture?

Answer 1

The doctrine of "a rapture" is not a belief of mainstream Christianity.

Answer:

The modern doctrine of the "rapture" is a fairly recent one [begun in the 1800's, not with the disciples] that's mainly the result of a gross misunderstanding of the scriptures, combined with belief in the false doctrine of the "immortality of the soul."

The scriptures that the "rapturists" use to explain their doctrines are actually the prophetic ones that reveal the "one and only" time of Jesus Christ's return to the earth with the Kingdom of God [the gospel {good news} message with which Jesus began His ministry {Mark 1:14-15}, and which still resounds in The Bible to this day for anyone who can hear it].

He will send His angels to gather His saints into the clouds with Him when He gets here "within the earth's breatheable atmosphere" [for those of His saints who are still alive at that time -- and breathing]. "Clouds" are a phenomenon within the earth's atmosphere.

But, His angels will not do that until all of the "dead in Christ" are RESURRECTED FIRST. That is... all of the dead people who "died in faith"... whose faith and trust were in their hearts and minds toward God when they died in all the generations of the past. These "saints" are people like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, David, Isaiah, Daniel, Malachi, Paul, Peter, James, etc...

It's these folks who will live again in the "First Resurrection" and rule Christ's Kingdom from Jerusalem with Him during His thousand years rule on earth[along with those still alive on earth at that time, and caught up into the clouds afterwards with them].

The confused "rapture stories" of people disappearing suddenly, or perhaps crashing through airplane fuselages or the roofs of cars or house tops, or whatever -- isn't biblical.

The Bible clearly reveals that the whole world will "see it happen"... and "mourn" over the visible reality of it.

"...then shall ALL THE TRIBES [nations] OF THE EARTH MOURN, and THEY SHALL SEE the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matt.24:30-31)

Prophecy reveals an earth "darkened by clouds" prior to this. Jesus Christ, described as appearing as the "blinding brilliance of the sun," will pierce through those clouds. It will hardly be able to be missed by the gloom-covered nations on earth. Not to mention the blaring of noisy trumpets. It will hardly be "a secret rapture."

"...Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My Holy Mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the Day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; a Day of darkness and gloominess, a Day of clouds and of thick darkness... there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it..." (Joel 2:1-2).

Some "rapture" doctrines promote several returns of Christ... but the rapturing of God's saints up to the third heaven of the Father's throne isn't in the Bible.

Jesus Father reigns in heaven... and His will is done, there.

Jesus' throne is "David's throne," which is on earth. That's the one upon which He is coming back to sit from whence He shall establish God's will on earth. Few professing Christians seem to know it... or believe it. Even though they celebrate Jesus' alleged birthday in December every year and read the passage over and over... the vast majority of modern professing Christianity still doesn't understand:

"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God SHALL GIVE UNTO HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID: and He shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end." (Luke 1:32-33)

The "First Resurrection" occurs at the time of the prophesied events that men call "the rapture" [which is really the one and only return of Jesus Christ to earth with the Kingdom of God]. It won't happen in any of the several confused manners in which the "rapture" is taught to men -- which teach Christ sitting on a throne in heaven, ruling the earth below (!?!).

Jesus' throne, David's throne, is on the earth. The so-called "rapture" is a doctrine of confusion and misunderstanding about the gathering of God's saints to Christ just above the earth in the cloud-covered atmosphere at His return... when the "dead in Christ" shall be "resurrected"... and with the "living in Christ" on earth, be "carried by the angels" [see Luke 16:22] into the clouds to meet Christ as He makes His final descent upon the Mount of Olives -- from whence He and His army shall wipe out the armies of nations of men, gathered at "Armageddon" to fight Him, on His march toward Jerusalem; the seat of His throne and headquarters of His Government.

The "Second Resurrection" will occur one thousand years later... on the "Last Great Day" of God's plan [see John 7:37-38]. It's called "Judgment Day"... when all the rest of the dead of the many "un-called," blinded and deceived generations of man will resurrect, live again, and have their life's works judged, according to what is written in the "opened books" of the Bible [Rev.20:5 & 11-15]. Most of whom will then get their first opportunity to receive God's salvation.

The modern mainstream doctrine of the "rapture" doesn't "reconcile" with the Resurrection scriptures, because the "rapture" doctrine doesn't recognise "death." It teaches that "man is immortal" and can't die [see Gen.3:4].

The True Bible scriptures regarding the return of Jesus Christ, however [from which the several confused rapture doctrines branch off into their beliefs], is perfectly in keeping with the "First Resurrection."

"Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection: on such the Second Death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and SHALL REIGN WITH HIM A THOUSAND YEARS." (Rev.20:6)