Page 11 - The Rapture Question by John F. Walvoord

The Rapture Question: Revised and Enlarged
and spiritualize a literal Second Coming is still all too evident.
For constructive scriptural exegesis of unfulfilled prophecy,
the student of Scripture is forced to rely on those who accept
the inspiration of the Scriptures and who use the principle of
its literal interpretation as the norm. Liberal and neoorthodox
theologians, for instance, contribute nothing to the rapture
question.
Importance of the Rapture Question
The rapture question, while neglected by modern liber­
als, is one of the main areas in dispute in conservative es­
chatology. The Scriptures predict that the church will be rap­
tured, or “caught up" to heaven, at the coming of the Lord for
them. The word rapture is from rapcre. found in the expression
“caught up” in the Latin translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
If this is a literal, future event, it is a most important aspect of
the hope of the church. The doctrine is a part of the larger
truth of a literal second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It
involves the accuracy and authority of Scripture. Modern lib­
erals, who deny the Scriptures, by their premises are insulated
from any real understanding of the doctrinal problems that
relate to the Rapture. It is as impossible to discuss the ques­
tions pertinent to the time of the Rapture without assuming
the authority of Scripture as it is to solve a problem in
mathematics without accepting normal meaning for numbers.
With these proper assumptions, however, the scriptural reve­
lation casts a broad shaft of light on the entire problem of the
Rapture, not only inviting study of the subject itself, but il­
luminating and enriching many kindred truths.
Late in His earthly ministry, our Lord Jesus Christ dealt
with the searching question of His disciples: “When will this
happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the
end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3). In answering this question our
Lord predicted certain major events which would be signs of
the Second Advent. The period in general is described in verse

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