[wisconsheepgirl]

Hello Dear Friends

I had a conversation with very close family members over the weekend and we got on discussion about the Rapture. I was raised in a very conservative Pentecostal church/home. It is an absolute belief of nearly all my family in this Rapture idea. Some (most) believe in their body/soul will be taken before the Apocolypse, a few afterwards. Many years ago I believed this but since have not paid attention as it isn't part and parcel of my "new" Catholic beliefs since my conversion

Most of my family believe that Paul said in 1 Thes 4:17, and also Apopc. 3:10 and some other passage explains that this is "real". I mentioned that this Rapture idea is only since mid 1800's and before that there is nothing mentioned prior to that in scholarly works.

What is the Catholic understanding of this?

[ServusSpiritusSancti]

The rapture is mentioned nowhere in the Bible. Protestants simply do not know how to interpret Scripture.

[Nishant]

Some (most) believe in their body/soul will be taken before the Apocolypse

The cited passage (1 Thess 4:15-17) itself says this will happen after the general Resurrection and on the Last day, not in a "secret" manner as Protestants believe. That alone should suffice to disprove the so-called "pre-tribulation rapture"

As for the true understanding, the bodies of the Catholic faithful who are on earth in that time will likely be translated after a painless death.

St.Thomas says,

Objection 3. Further, when the Lord comes to judgment He will find some men living, as appears from the words of 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Reply to Objection 3. All men shall die and rise again: yet those are said to be found alive who will live in the body until the time of the conflagration