 |
| A raptor poised to rapture |
Hey, what's with this 'Rapture' business? Why is it such a hot topic?
Many Christians have never heard about the Rapture because they don't study their Bibles and mostly it's not taught from the pulpit. Many are just not interested or even scoff at the idea. At least one world-wide sect attacks the idea of an imminent event. For others like me, it is our day-to-day hope to exit this scene instantly to be with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - for ever!
Well that sounds more sci-fi than Star Wars to me. I couldn't find any 'rapture' in my mum's Bible then Dad said: "Don't bother looking, it's not even there."
He's right - you won't find the word 'rapture' in a contemporary Bible, not even the Authorised King James Version published in 1611.
So where does it come from?
You have to go back to the Vulgate Bible published by Saint Jerome in 405 AD and used for 1000 years until English translations were available. The Vulgate was meant for the vulgus or common people (you and I!) - if we knew Latin.
Okay, where is 'rapture' in the Vulgate?
In the New Testament you will find the apostle Paul's 1st letter to the Thessalonians; chapter 4 verse 17 reads:
"deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus"
'Rapiemur' translates from the Greek αρπαγησομεθα (harpazo) meaning 'to seize' or 'catch away' (in our lingo, snatch or grab) and comes from the same root as the English word...........'rapture'. Harpazo is commonly translated as 'caught up'.
In other words: harpazo = rapiemur = caught up = raptured!
It's as simple as that.
Next: 'Our only hope!'
Why did Paul write this letter to Thessalonians?
Why did Paul write this letter to Thessalonians?
Photo credit: xamobox.blogspot
No comments:
Post a Comment