Why the Rapture is a Load of Crap

I used to just accept this whole rapture thing. I wasn't really against it, but I was always kind of suspicious about it.  I wondered where it was that everyone got this notion some sort of Rapture would occur.  I was surprised to see that it wasn't until the 17th century that this doctrine was even in existence.  Prior to that I can find no written history or even a mention of it, not even among the vast collection of writings from early church fathers on newadvent.org.  It seems it's a modern day invention.

But I'm always one to give the benefit of the doubt.  So okay, please explain to me where you get the Rapture from in the bible.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 
1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 
1 Thess 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. 
1 Thess 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

[caught up=HARPAZO=Rapture]
1 Thess 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 
1 Thess 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 
1 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 
1 Thess 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

It says "alive and remain".  These are people who survive what is to come, because they are spoken of as being 'alive and remain'.  Some translations say 'left alive' to be more clear.  If they were not left alive and just happened to be alive when He comes, then we would not see "alive and remain", because only the faithful will remain in the end, having been spared from destruction.  If the author meant that Jesus was coming to spare us from destruction then he would have said "those of us who are alive [spiritually alive]", but it is clear from the surrounding text that he is talking about physical death of the body and people being left alive at the very end, who are the remaining faithful.  The entire passage does not seem to indicate that Jesus will take them up and then destroy a bunch of bad people left on earth.  Being spared from wrath simply means that you are not sent to hell but will be in heaven.

Okay, so what about 1Cor 15:51-55?  Well lets have a look:

1Cor 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 
1Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 
1Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 
1Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 
1Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 

Okay so apparently I'm supposed to just look at that italicized text and assume it's about the rapture?  It says simply at the last trumpet (a trumpet is a well known biblical symbol for 'revelation' or 'announcement'),  so this is clearly the last day, and that in a 'twinkling of an eye' (in an instant) everyone is changed.  It means it's not a long drawn out process.  It happens very fast.  We are all changed into immortal beings, and the people who were dead will suddenly be alive in their immortal bodies.  This new body will not die or be capable of sinning.  I don't see anything here about being whisked away from the bad people in the world and carried off to heaven while they are all destroyed.

Okay so what is next?

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Seems quite convincing but this passage doesn't seem to indicate that anyone is removed from the world to escape tribulation.  It could very well, and probably does, mean that God will protect you and you will not be destroyed.  Escaping something means that you are in danger but are able to come out of the danger in the end unharmed. Since when does escaping something mean you totally avoid the entire situation?


Ok so now what?

To Philadelphia: 
Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 
Rev 3:10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. 

Oh boy.  Seriously?  Revelation?  You can easily make Revelation mean whatever you want.  Here I'll show you:  The angel of the Church in Philadelphia represents one of the 7 spirits of God (the Holy Spirit has 7 attributes listed in Isaiah 11:2- might or fortitude is strength).  The passage is addressed to a church or believer having little strength, but possesses the other 6 attributes.  Since God understands the believer lacks the strength to stand up against trial, he will not test them (Rev 3:10).  Again, this does not seem to indicate that the person will be removed from the world, but simply that God will protect them.  In the book Job, God allows Satan to test Job and he passes the test, but because God knew Job had the strength to pass the trials which Satan put him through.  So how is my interpretation any more accurate than yours?  It's not. 

The Open Door and Last Trump are on the Feast of Trumpets, which is on the new moon.  The new moon feast (holyday) is a shadow/prophesy of the Rapture.  The open door is prominantly seen in the rapture verses of Rev 3:10, 4:1 & Matt 25:1-13.

Um no.  The door in Matthew has nothing to do with the door in Rev 3 and 4.  The door open in those versus is showing that the heavens are now open for mankind to pass into heaven, where before it was shut, and it demonstrates that only God could accomplish this not anyone else.  It may also represent understanding, which the Holy Spirit provides.  In Matthew 25, Jesus is teaching us about people who have obtained the highest virtue, which is virginity, must also do works of charity (oil in their lamp) or the lamp (their light) will go out.  If they become lazy and do nothing, and the Lord returns, it will be too late for them to do the good works of charity.  The moon in Revelation symbolizes the Church (a light in darkness) which gets its light from the sun (Jesus/God). 

Okay, so can we get back to the other books in the New Testament?  Ones that can't be so easily misinterpreted?

Matthew 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 
Matthew 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 
Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 
Luke 17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 
Luke 17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

If you expand this entire passage you will see that Jesus is answering two questions.  One is about  the destruction of the 2nd Temple and the other is about his second coming.  Jesus explains some things are to come before his second coming (persecution, the destruction of the temple, etc.), but then explains that no one knows the hour when He will come, and that is not for anyone to know.  In other words, we are not to obsess over when He is coming, only that we are to be ready for it at all times and make sure we are not deceived by false religions promising salvation.  This is why he says:

The days will come when you shall desire to see one day of the Son of man. And you shall not see it.  And they will say to you: See here, and see there. Go not after, nor follow them.  For as the lightning that lightens from under heaven shines unto the parts that are under heaven, so shall the Son of man be in his day. 

He says, do not go out.  Stay where you are, abiding in the Truth, because if you do go out even because of curiosity you could lose your salvation.  Just stay where you are, in the Church.

He explains that it will be just like in the days of Noah and and in the days of Lot when people were enjoying their lives of sin and not obeying God.  It will come suddenly, and like Lot's wife we should not look back on our life of sin and desire it or we will be destroyed.  You will notice that it was the wicked in both those stories who were destroyed (taken away-- they were swept away by the flood, they were burned up by the fire).  He says 'in that night' - meaning the darkest hour.  It is the wicked who are taken away for when they ask him "where Lord?", he replies "Wheresoever the body shall be, thither will the eagles also be gathered together." (Luke 17:38) which is from Job:

"Will the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest in high places?
She abideth among the rocks, and dwelleth among cragged flints, and stony hills, where there is no access.
From thence she looketh for the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
Her young ones shall suck up blood : and wheresoever the carcass shall be, she is immediately there."

Those who are taken are the dead, because the eagle/vulture does not feed on the living.  The living are spared, and this is why in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 it is the people who are left alive who will be taken up to the Lord.

The Rapture is a made up fairy tale that is based on a child-like understanding of scripture.  It was never taught by any Christian for almost 1,600 years of church history, and no real basis in scripture.  It's a load of crap.