Rapture Abuse, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 & Acts 8:39

Send us Fan MailThere's a common question among pastors: "What's the most unbiblical thing your congregation believes is biblical but isn't?" Some are quite funny, but I think the most harmful one is the Rapture. It is a theology developed by John Nelson Darby in 1833 based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the Greek word "harpazo." Modern dispensationalists (Darby's theology) claim harpazo proves the Rapture is true. I discuss the use of this word. I also discuss why Paul used the imagery of Jesus meeting people in the air in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. There is nothing that says this is about separating believers from non-believers, or the saved from the unsaved. That was entirely fabricated by mashing this verse with Matthew 24:40-41 and Revelation 20:4-6. I also discuss the great harm to civic life and the environment Rapture theology has done. It is the main source for Christian Zionism, anti-environmentalism, and anti-intellectualism in American evangelicalism. #rapture #harpazo #endtimes #saved #unsaved #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa