Mormons Believe in the Rapture?

[BookofMormonLuvr]

( Notes that BookofMormonLuvr is not LDS, and is not expressing an LDS viewpoint)

You are all welcome to ******foot around with false doctrine all you want... I call a spade a spade... No apologies.

(Perhaps you need to research how and when this diabolical doctrine came about?)

[seriously honestly]

Part of the concept of Zion is to build up your communities and beautify the earth preparing it for the Second Coming of Christ. If you believe you are going to escape you begin to lack urgency in making necessary physical preparation. When the unprepared rapturist comes up against the horrors of the Last Days, he will be like all men lifting his sword against his neighbor to eat instead of fleeing to the refuge that will be Zion (New Jerusalem).

We learn from the Bible that we are always to be prepared. That means even if someone does believe in the Rapture, they should still be prepared! Believing in the Rapture doesn't change what the Bible has already told us.

[David T]

You are all welcome to ******foot around with false doctrine all you want... I call a spade a spade... No apologies.

(Perhaps you need to research how and when this diabolical doctrine came about?)

Dude, I grew up in a Pentecostal Rapture-believing Church. There were more than one occasions where I woke up in the morning, couldn't find my parents in the house, and assumed the Rapture came, took my parents, and I was somehow not good enough, and was left behind. It was terrifying.

Since then I have come very familiar with its origins, and basis. I am also familiar with what Restoration Scripture teaches on that point. Clearly, I disagree with the doctrine. That doesn't obligate me to be obnoxious about it, or to believe it's a doctrine that will damn someone for hell for believing.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Dude, I grew up in a Pentecostal Rapture-believing Church. There were more than one occasions where I woke up in the morning, couldn't find my parents in the house, and assumed the Rapture came, took my parents, and I was somehow not good enough, and was left behind. It was terrifying.

Since then I have come very familiar with its origins, and basis. I am also familiar with what Restoration Scripture teaches on that point. Clearly, I disagree with the doctrine. That doesn't obligate me to be obnoxious about it, or to believe it's a doctrine that will damn someone for hell for believing.

Did I damn anyone to hell? I never said believing it condemns someone to hell, but the potential fruits of the doctrine COULD led someone in that direction- especially as we enter the Last Days.

(If calling false doctrine, false doctrine, is obnoxious, I guess I will have to live with that label.)

[seriously honestly]

You are all welcome to ******foot around with false doctrine all you want... I call a spade a spade... No apologies.

(Perhaps you need to research how and when this diabolical doctrine came about?)

No, what you're doing is basically condeming those who do believe in the non-essential doctrine of the rapture. Meanwhile while those that believe in it aren't condeming you for not believing because belief or disbelief in the rapture doesn't change a thing.

[ebeddoulos]

As has been previously alluded to, the rapture is a prominent theme in contemporary Protestant theology. Sermons, articles, books and even movies are based on this doctrine. Interestingly, the only Biblical reference to the rapture or being caught up into the air is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

[seriously honestly]

...but the potential fruits of the doctrine COULD led someone in that direction- especially as we enter the Last Days.

Well that sounds like a personal problem, one that stems from not picking up on the urgency the Bible places on being ready.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

No, what you're doing is basically condeming those who do believe in the non-essential doctrine of the rapture. Meanwhile while those that believe in it aren't condeming you for not believing because belief or disbelief in the rapture doesn't change a thing.

No... I am calling a false doctrine a false doctrine and warning of the potential perils to those who believe in it. Believing it condemns no one and I condemn no one, but people have to hear the truth.

[seriously honestly]

No... I am calling a false doctrine a false doctrine and warning of the potential perils to those who believe in it. Believing it condemns no one and I condemn no one, but people have to hear the truth.

See my above post

[BookofMormonLuvr]

See my above post

If I fail to warn people about this false doctrine, and someone believes in it because of my failure, and looses faith when it doesn't occur, I will bear some responsibility for not raising a warning voice.

[volgadon]

Part of the concept of Zion is to build up your communities and beautify the earth preparing it for the Second Coming of Christ. If you believe you are going to escape you begin to lack urgency in making necessary physical preparation. When the unprepared rapturist comes up against the horrors of the Last Days, he will be like all men lifting his sword against his neighbor to eat instead of fleeing to the refuge that will be Zion (New Jerusalem).

Why would a protestant, say, a pentacostal, believe that he had to gather to Zion, even if he did not believe in the rapture.

[seriously honestly]

If I fail to warn people about this false doctrine, and someone believes in it because of my failure, and looses faith when it doesn't occur, I will bear some responsibility for not raising a warning voice.

BoML, I find it to be a greater use of my God-given time here on Earth to teach others about that which does affect salvation and would help them get prepared, both spiritually and physically. There is a lot in the Bible that teaches on being prepared (regardless of the rapture belief). I think that would be a much wiser use of your time to focus on that as well.

[consiglieri]

If I fail to warn people about this false doctrine, and someone believes in it because of my failure, and looses faith when it doesn't occur, I will bear some responsibility for not raising a warning voice.

It is starting to look to me like it is a true doctrine after all; hence this thread.

I will consider myself warned . . .

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[bluebell]

It is starting to look to me like it is a true doctrine after all; hence this thread.

I will consider myself warned . . .

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

I thought that the doctrine of the rapture that is espoused by some protestants is that the 'righteous' will be caught up to heaven to be with Christ before things really go to crap, thus escaping the tribulation that the wicked will have to go through.

The verses in D&C speak about the righteous dead being resurrected, but do not say that the righteous living will be taken from the earth, before the Lord's arm falls, thus, they are still around going through the tribulation-a complete contradiction to what pro-rapture protestants believe.

To me, that is a distinction worth mentioning since it seems to clearly show that LDS scriptures do not support the traditional view of the rapture.

Can you explain why you believe the D&C does support it because i don't think i'm understanding you right.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

BoML, I find it to be a greater use of my God-given time here on Earth to teach others about that which does affect salvation and would help them get prepared, both spiritually and physically. There is a lot in the Bible that teaches on being prepared (regardless of the rapture belief). I think that would be a much wiser use of your time to focus on that as well.

Warning against false doctrines which could cause more serious errors IS preparing people spiritually.

[seriously honestly]

Warning against false doctrines which could cause more serious errors IS preparing people spiritually.

So what do you do when you run into someone who does believe in the Rapture, but doesn't let it affect any other aspect in their life or belief (that is to say, they prepare as if the rapture isn't going to happen)?

[BookofMormonLuvr]

So what do you do when you run into someone who does believe in the Rapture, but doesn't let it affect any other aspect in their life or belief (that is to say, they prepare as if the rapture isn't going to happen)?

I don't go around asking people if they believe in the "rapture", so unless I magically develop ESP I don't think I am going to know what their beliefs are one way or the other. If they try to teach me, I will rebut them. I didn't bring up this topic, someone else did... I have merely responded according to my beliefs- is that not acceptable here?

[Lightbearer]

Is this something we should be teaching in Church?

More importantly, should Mormons start sporting clever bumper stickers?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

I am not familiar with all the nuances of this doctrine as taught by Evangelical Christians, however the idea that the Saints will be lifted up to meet the Savior in the air before the fire burns the wicked is mentioned in the scriptures (and not just the resurrected saints) as the following:

(D&C 88:95-98) "And there shall be silence in heaven for the space of half an hour; and immediately after shall the curtain of heaven be unfolded, as a scroll is unfolded after it is rolled up, and the face of the Lord shall be unveiled; And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him. And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven

[bluebell]

I am not familiar with all the nuances of this doctrine as taught by Evangelical Christians, however the idea that the Saints will be lifted up to meet the Savior in the air before the fire burns the wicked is mentioned in the scriptures (and not just the resurrected saints) as the following:So aparently this is a true doctrine.

I thought this scripture referred to after the tribulation?

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

I thought this scripture referred to after the tribulation?

I will point out that there are many different beliefs associated with the rapture.

To our views of the "rapture" are not that different from some in mainstream Christianity. I will say that the majority view that I at least saw in WV is that the rightessnous will be taken and caught up to meet the savoir before the tribulation period begins. I think we believe some of the same things but it appears the time line of events is different among the LDS then what I will call the majority view.

I will say the most notable differnce is that we do not call it the rapture.

[seriously honestly]

I don't go around asking people if they believe in the "rapture", so unless I magically develop ESP I don't think I am going to know what their beliefs are one way or the other. If they try to teach me, I will rebut them. I didn't bring up this topic, someone else did... I have merely responded according to my beliefs- is that not acceptable here?

Generally, people don't put too much focus on the rapture because one's belief in it doesn't matter; the Bible says be prepared, so we should be prepared. So there would be no need to rebut them if you somehow found out they do believe in it. Just remind them that the Bible teaches preparedness and endurning to the end, both of which trump the rapture belief. In the mean time, try and understand that it's possible to believe in the rapture, and prepare as if you don't.

[Lightbearer]

I thought this scripture referred to after the tribulation?

Depends on what tribulations you are refering to, the Saints will bearly escape the destructions that will come about before Christ returns. But when the wicked are burned at His coming, the people who are alive and are of a Celestial and a Terrestrial spirit will be spared. Whether we are literally lifted up in the air while the earth burns or if the burning will only effect those of a telestial or lower nature I am not really sure. It does state that we will be "changed in the twinkling of an eye" and the morning of the first resurrection will begin with the dead who are Celestial in nature will come forth also and meet Christ. But the righteous will inherit this earth (as a Terrestrial sphere) and the wicked will be destroyed by fire. I refer to the following:

(

[David T]

I'd like to note that I cited and linked to that chapter back on the first page, but nobody seemed to notice