Rapture Question #1: Is the Word “Rapture” Found in the Bible?
As many uninformed people point out, the word “Rapture” does not occur in the “Bible.” They are only right in the fact that it doesn’t appear in the ENGLISH translation of the Bible. However, It does occur in the Latin translation of the Bible.
The word Rapture comes from the Latin word rapiemur. Raptus is the past participle of rapio, and our English words “rapt” and “rapture” stem from this past participle.1 It appears in the following New Testament verses:
Revelation 12:5 “et peperit filium masculum qui recturus erit omnes gentes in virga ferrea et raptus est filius eius ad Deum et ad thronum eius”
Revelation 12:5 “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”
2 Corinthians 12:2 “scio hominem in Christo ante annos quattuordecim sive in corpore nescio sive extra corpus nescio Deus scit raptum eiusmodi usque ad tertium caelum”
2 Corinthians 12:2 “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such a one caught up to the third heaven.
12:4 “quoniam raptus est in paradisum et audivit arcana verba quae non licet homini loqui”
12:4 “How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
Acts 8:39 “cum autem ascendissent de aqua Spiritus Domini rapuit Philippum et amplius non vidit eum eunuchus ibat enim per viam suam gaudens”
Acts 8:39 “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more…”
1 Thessalonians 4:17 “deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus”
1 Thessalonians 4:17 “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
In the original Greek, the word that is translated “caught up” is ἁρπάζω (harpazo), “to take away by force.” The definition of “Harpazo” is:
1) to seize, carry off by force
2) to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly
3) to snatch out or away2
Philip is an interesting example of someone being caught away. In Acts 8, there is the account of the Ethiopian Eunuch who was traveling along trying to understand Isaiah 53:7,8. The Eunuch asked Philip what this passage meant. After Philip explained it to him, the Eunuch asked to be baptized. Philip agreed and baptized him, then immediately after the Eunuch was baptized, Philip was “caught away.”
Acts 8:39 “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
“Caught away” in this passage uses the Greek word “Harpazo.” Philip disappeared and then was “found” or “seen to be present” in Azotus. (Acts 8:40). I think it is an interesting comparison that when we are raptured as believers, WE will be found in the presence of the Lord!
Conclusion: The word “Rapture” and “Harpazo” are found in the Bible.
Footnotes:
1 http://www.khouse.org/
2 http://www.blueletterbible.
Next: The Rapture Question #2: What does the term “In Christ” mean?