No — the English word 'Rapture' is not found in the New Testament.
The New Testament in English never uses the word 'Rapture.' Les Feldick acknowledges this, saying, 'Of course it isn't, I know that. Not in the English version anyway.' He points out that 1 Thessalonians 4:17 uses 'caught up' instead, which carries the same meaning, and he mentions that the word does appear in a German translation. The absence of the English term does not mean the event itself is not taught in Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — This is the key New Testament passage where believers are described as being 'caught up together' to meet the Lord in the air — the event commonly called the Rapture.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 — Paul calls the transformation of believers a mystery and says we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.
Scripture does not use the English word 'Rapture.' Instead, the New Testament describes the event with the phrase 'caught up.' In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul writes, '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: 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 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Paul calls this a mystery: 'Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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.'
Les Feldick says that the word 'Rapture' is not in the English New Testament, and he does not dispute that. But he explains that the Bible uses 'caught up' in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, and that this is the same event with the same meaning. He also notes that a German translation uses the word 'Rapture' in the sense of an outcalling of believers.
Les says people often try to corner him by pointing out that the word 'Rapture' isn't in their Bible. He answers, 'Of course it isn't, I know that. Not in the English version anyway.' He points to two words that mean the same thing: 'caught up.' In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the Bible says believers will be 'caught up' to meet the Lord in the air, and Les says this is the same as the Rapture.
Paul says the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. The dead in Christ will rise first, and then believers who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Paul also describes this as a mystery and says it will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.
Paul calls this event a mystery or secret: 'Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.' Les teaches that this secret was revealed to the apostle Paul and is now no longer a secret; believers are to believe it. He connects this directly to what is called the outcalling or rapture of the church.
Les says that in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Paul speaks of 'our gathering together unto Him.' At the Second Coming, Christ will be coming in judgment, but here Paul is speaking of an act where Christ gathers His own to Himself. Les says that little phrase sets the Rapture completely apart from the Second Coming.
Revelation 4 & 5 Explained: The Throne Room & the Scroll
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Word 'Rapture' Not in English Bible
Les agrees the word 'Rapture' is not in the English Bible, but says 'caught up' appears in 1 Thessalonians 4 and has the same meaning.
Rapture Is Imminent
Les says the Rapture has always been imminent and no one knows when, but it could happen before the end of the year.
Paul's Description of Being Caught Up
Les reads Paul's description of the Lord descending and believers being caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air.
Rapture Is a Mystery
Les teaches that the outcalling or rapture is a mystery revealed to Paul and is now to be believed.
Gathering Together Unto Him
Les says Paul's phrase 'our gathering together unto Him' in 2 Thessalonians 2 separates the Rapture from the Second Coming.
Caught Up Is the Same Meaning
Les says the two words 'caught up' comprise the cliche word Rapture, so the absence of the exact English term is not a problem.
German Translation Uses Rapture
Les notes he read that the German translation uses 'Rapture' as the word for the outcalling of believers.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: 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: 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.
This passage supplies the phrase 'caught up,' the biblical phrase behind the doctrine called the Rapture.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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.
Paul calls the transformation of believers a mystery and describes the sudden change at the last trump.
2 Thessalonians 2:1: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
Paul speaks of the gathering together of believers to Christ, which Les distinguishes from the Second Coming.
The English word 'Rapture' is not found in the New Testament. Les Feldick agrees with that. He explains that the Bible uses 'caught up' in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which has the same meaning.
Les says 'caught up' is the same as the cliche word Rapture. It refers to the dead in Christ being raised and living believers being caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.
Les says the Rapture has always been an imminent event, even in Paul's day. He says we don't know when, but he thinks it could happen before the end of the year.
Watch the Teaching: Revelation 4 & 5 Explained: The Throne Room & the Scroll