Rapture Theory has Kidnapped Christianity

Here is a snippet of an email I received recently:
Quote: "The Rapture theory was developed in the 1830s by a young woman named Margaret McDonald, and now it has kidnapped Christianity. In no way does the Scripture ever say there is a rapture." End Quote

I for one am very saddened to read such things. But the sad fact is that this "No rapture" theory is being accepted so fast within the Body of Christ that, before too much more time passes, it may very well become the norm.

I call it a sad fact, because the Bible does say there is a rapture. Here is a link to an article I have written entitled, "Why Can't I Find the Word 'Rapture' in the Bible?" http://www.scribd.com/doc/548590/Why-Cant-I-find-the-Word-Rapture-in-the-Bible

Of course the real opposition isn't to the fact that there is actually an event taught in the Bible that many call "the rapture." The opposition is to belief in the pre-tribulational timing of the event.

As to the theory that Margaret McDonald was the "mother of the rapture theory," that simply cannot be true for one very good reason--Margaret McDonald did not believe in or teach a pre-tribulational rapture. Todd Strandberg wrote an excellent article addressing that aspect of the debate: http://www.raptureready.com/rr-margaret-mcdonald.html

These are the last days, and there is no doubt that Bible Prophecy--especially the biblical doctrine of the rapture--is on trial. It does matter what we believe. And it is important to know why we believe it. The lattie-da attitude of "Oh well, we'll all find out one day," is not the attitude the Bible teaches us to have concerning the coming of our Lord. The Bible has much to say about it, Jesus had much to say about it. The rapture is that "Blessed Hope" the Bible speaks of.

For those who would like to study this subject further, the book, "Redemption: Bible Prophecy Simplified," explores the subject in detail, using lots of scripture. Redemption is available FREE for download at www.Lulu.com/JocelynAndersen