Rapture anxiety

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Rapture anxiety is a psychological phenomenon characterized by an overwhelming fear or general anxiety concerning the Christian belief in the Rapture, an event in some Christian eschatologies where it is believed that Jesus Christ will return to Earth and raise faithful Christians into heaven before the apocalypse. [1]

Contents

In many popular depictions of the Rapture, Christians physically rise into the sky, sometimes leaving their clothes behind. Many children raised with the concept of the rapture report having fears that they will be left behind, or that they will be raptured before being able to live their full life. This anxiety can follow many into adulthood. [2] [3]

Background

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples that no one will know the day and time when the second coming will happen. [4]

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the father."

Matthew 24:36

The concept of the rapture has been widely criticized. It is not accepted by either the Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Church, who purport that the calling of Christians into heaven as described in verses such as 1 Thessalonians [5] will not be a literal, physical ascension. They also dispute the exact timing relative to the second coming when this event will happen, or if it will even be a single event at all. [6] [7]

Despite this, many children fear that because of some minor sin or transgression, they will be left behind on Earth while their loved ones enter heaven. There are numerous reports of children coming home to empty houses, and fearing that they have been condemned. [2]

This fear may also be influenced by popular works of fiction such as the Christian book and film series Left Behind or the 1972 film A Thief in the Night, which both depict the collapse of society and suffering following the rapture. [2]

Many who suffer from Rapture anxiety are hesitant to voice their fears due to their belief that only sinners should fear judgement. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

Christian eschatology, is a major branch of study within Christian theology, deals with the doctrine of the "last things", especially the Second Coming of Christ, or Parousia. Eschatology – the word derives from two Greek roots meaning "last" (ἔσχατος) and "study" (-λογία) – involves the study of "end things", whether of the end of an individual life, of the end of the age, of the end of the world, or of the nature of the Kingdom of God. Broadly speaking, Christian eschatology focuses on the ultimate destiny of individual souls and of the entire created order, based primarily upon biblical texts within the Old and New Testaments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eschatology</span> Part of theology concerned with the final events of history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity

Eschatology concerns expectations of the end of the present age, human history, or the world itself. The end of the world or end times is predicted by several world religions, which teach that negative world events will reach a climax. Belief that the end of the world is imminent is known as apocalypticism, and over time has been held both by members of mainstream religions and by doomsday cults. In the context of mysticism, the term refers metaphorically to the end of ordinary reality and to reunion with the divine. Various religions treat eschatology as a future event prophesied in sacred texts or in folklore. While other religions may have concepts of renewal or transformation after significant events, the explicit description of a new earth is primarily found in Christian teachings within the context of eschatology, this description can be found in the book of Revelation, Chapter 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Coming</span> Belief regarding the return of Jesus

The Second Coming is the Christian, Islamic and Baha'i belief that Jesus will return to Earth after his ascension to heaven. The idea is based on messianic prophecies and is part of most Christian eschatologies. Other faiths have various interpretations of it.

In Christian eschatology, the Great Tribulation is a period mentioned by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse as a sign that would occur in the time of the end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapture</span> Eschatological concept of certain Christians

The Rapture is an eschatological position held by some Christians, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an end-time event when all dead Christian believers will be resurrected and, joined with Christians who are still alive, together will rise "in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." The origin of the term extends from the First Epistle to the Thessalonians in the Bible, which uses the Greek word harpazo, meaning "to snatch away" or "to seize". This view of eschatology is referred to as dispensational premillennialism, a form of futurism that considers various prophecies in the Bible as remaining unfulfilled and occurring in the future.

The Olivet Discourse or Olivet prophecy is a biblical passage found in the Synoptic Gospels in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. It is also known as the Little Apocalypse because it includes the use of apocalyptic language, and it includes Jesus's warning to his followers that they will suffer tribulation and persecution before the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God. The Olivet discourse is the last of the Five Discourses of Matthew and occurs just before the narrative of Jesus's passion beginning with the anointing of Jesus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archangel</span> Second lowest rank of angel

Archangels are the second-lowest rank of angel in the Christian hierarchy of angels, put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 5th or 6th century in his book De Coelesti Hierarchia. The word "archangel" itself is usually associated with the Abrahamic religions, but beings that are very similar to archangels are found in a number of other religious traditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Last Judgment</span> Eschatology of the Abrahamic religions and Zoroastrianism

The Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Day of Reckoning, Day of Judgment, Judgment Day, Doomsday, Day of Resurrection or The Day of the Lord is a concept found across the Abrahamic religions and the Frashokereti of Zoroastrianism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apocalypticism</span> Religious and political belief in an imminent end of the world

Apocalypticism is the religious belief that the end of the world is imminent, even within one's own lifetime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amillennialism</span> Belief there will be no millennial reign of the righteous on Earth

Amillennialism or amillenarism is a chillegoristic eschatological position in Christianity which holds that there will be no millennial reign of the righteous on Earth. This view contrasts with both postmillennial and, especially, with premillennial interpretations of Revelation 20 and various other prophetic and eschatological passages of the Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post-tribulation rapture</span> Doctrine in Christian theology

The post-tribulation rapture doctrine is the belief in a combined resurrection and gathering of the saints coming is after the Great Tribulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Futurism (Christianity)</span> Christian eschatological view

Futurism is a Christian eschatological view that interprets portions of the Book of Revelation, the Book of Ezekiel, and the Book of Daniel as future events in a literal, physical, apocalyptic, and global context.

<i>The Rapture</i> (novel) Book by Tim LaHaye

The Rapture: In the Twinkling of an Eye/Countdown to the Earth's Last Days is the 3rd prequel novel in the Left Behind series, written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins in 2006. This book is the final of the three prequels and covers events leading up to the first book Left Behind. The narrative of the novel The Rapture includes events that take place during the first chapters of Left Behind and provides a backdrop story for the book Left Behind. The book was released on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 (6/6/6), which is the Number of the Beast, a concept that plays a large part later in the series. It takes place from 14 months before to the day of the Rapture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark 13</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Mark 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It contains Jesus' predictions of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and disaster for Judea, as well as Mark's version of Jesus' eschatological discourse. Theologian William Barclay described this chapter as "one of the most Jewish chapters in the Bible" and "one of the most difficult chapters in the New Testament for a modern reader to understand".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entering heaven alive</span> Physically ascending into the afterlife without first experiencing corporal death

Entering heaven alive is a belief held in various religions. Since death is the normal end to an individual's life on Earth and the beginning of afterlife, entering heaven without dying first is considered exceptional and usually a sign of a deity's special recognition of the individual's piety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian views on Hades</span> Place or state of departed spirits

Hades, according to various Christian denominations, is "the place or state of departed spirits", borrowing the name of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. It is often associated with the Jewish concept of Sheol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven in Christianity</span> Heaven as understood by Christianity

In Christianity, heaven is traditionally the location of the throne of God and the angels of God, and in most forms of Christianity it is the abode of the righteous dead in the afterlife. In some Christian denominations it is understood as a temporary stage before the resurrection of the dead and the saints' return to the New Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Spirit in Christianity</span> Third person of the Trinity in Christianity

For the majority of Christian denominations, the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, is believed to be the third person of the Trinity, a triune God manifested as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each being God. Nontrinitarian Christians, who reject the doctrine of the Trinity, differ significantly from mainstream Christianity in their beliefs about the Holy Spirit. In Christian theology, pneumatology is the study of the Holy Spirit. Due to Christianity's historical relationship with Judaism, theologians often identify the Holy Spirit with the concept of the Ruach Hakodesh in Jewish scripture, on the theory that Jesus was expanding upon these Jewish concepts. Similar names, and ideas, include the Ruach Elohim, Ruach YHWH, and the Ruach Hakodesh. In the New Testament it is identified with the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, the Paraclete and the Holy Spirit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1 Thessalonians 4</span> Chapter of the New Testament

1 Thessalonians 4 is the fourth chapter of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, likely written in Corinth in about 50-51 CE for the church in Thessalonica. This chapter contains an exhortation about a life pleasing to God and describes the circumstances of the Second Coming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1 Thessalonians 5</span> Chapter of the New Testament

1 Thessalonians 5 is the fifth chapter of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, likely written in Corinth in about 50-51 CE for the church in Thessalonica. This chapter contains a message about Christ's second coming, and various final exhortations and greetings.

References

  1. Slade, Dr Darren M. (2022-09-29). "Rapture Anxiety: The Disgraceful History of Prophecy Pundits and Harmful Apocalyptic Hysteria". GCRR. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Willingham, A. J. (2022-09-27). "For some Christians, 'rapture anxiety' can take a lifetime to heal". CNN. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  3. "Rapture anxiety is a thing". Washington Post. 2023-04-21. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  4. "Matthew 24:36 - "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even..." Bible Study Tools. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  5. “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” —1 Thessalonians 4:17 ESV
  6. "The Rapture". Catholic Answers. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  7. "Orthodox Christian Teaching on the Rapture: Is the Rapture in the Bible?". St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church Bellingham, Washington. Retrieved 2024-01-03.