Q. What is the Rapture, and do we, as Catholics, believe in it?
A. During the first two weeks of Advent, the Church turns Her attention toward the Second Coming. Because our Lord’s return at the End Times is such a dramatic idea, it’s no wonder that there is a lot of speculation around it. Even those who lived at the time of Christ were fascinated by the End of the World, asking Him when it would happen and how they would know when it was coming. These questions are still asked today.
One of the answers that has been formulated to these questions is the Rapture. It is a relatively new idea in the overall context of Christianity, rising to prominence in the 1800s amongst fundamentalist Christians. While there are competing understandings of how the Rapture will occur, the general idea is that, prior to the Final Judgement, all of the “elect” on Earth will, without warning, be taken up into Heaven. Those who remain left behind will be forced to endure a period of tribulation in which the world descends into essentially a form of Hell on Earth.
Following this tribulation, Christ will come and usher in a thousand-year period in which the world becomes Christianized and peace and harmony reign supreme. It is essentially a form of Heaven on Earth. After a thousand years. the general resurrection of the dead will occur, followed by the Last Judgement and the definitive end of the world. Again, there are different interpretations on this, but this is the most widely held view, especially amongst Evangelicals.
As evidence for this belief, Christians who believe in the Rapture cite Matthew 24:40-42 and its parallel text Luke 17:34-37 as their main proof text. “Two men will be out 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. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”
If one reads this passage literally, then it is perfectly understandable how you could arrive at the idea of the elect being taken up to Heaven. However, that is clearly not the author’s intention. The purpose of these lines is to emphasize the suddenness of the Second Coming of the Son of Man, which will be like lightning in its immediacy (Matthew 24:27). Matthew 24:40-42 is just part of the longer narrative of the Second Coming, which is far more focused on the need to stay vigilant and not become slack in following the Lord because, if you do, you run the risk of not being in right relation with Him when he comes again.
An area that we as Catholics do agree with our Protestant brothers and sisters who believe in the Rapture is the fact that there will be a period of great tribulation that precedes the Second Coming. “Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers” (CCC 675). As much as we might wish it was different, faithful Catholics will not be taken up to Heaven and avoid these tribulations. We will be right in the middle of it, striving to keep our faith amidst all the terrible things happening around us and the deception of the Antichrist.
To that end, we are better served focusing on Matthew 24:45, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time?” As Catholics we have, all of us, been entrusted with the Truth of our faith and we are, all of us, regardless of our state in life, called to be faithful servants of our master, living our faith and handing it on to those around us. If we do that, we do not need to be worried about the Second Coming as, when we meet Christ, He will simply say to us, “Well done my good and faithful servant… come and share your Master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21)
This question was answered by Father Caleb La Rue, chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
