The word "Rapture" is connected to the Latin word rapiemur, which
appears in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians in the Latin Vulgate
translation of the Bible. The Koine Greek of 1 Thess 4:17 uses the verb
form ρπαγησόμεθα (harpagisometha), which means "we shall be caught up" or "taken away", with the connotation that this is a sudden event.
The dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left,
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:16–17)
Catholics do not generally use the term Rapture, nor do they believe in a
Rapture that will take place some time before the Second Coming, as do
many Evangelicals.
The "end times" which applies to the era of Christ's first coming (Heb
1:2, 1 Cor 10:11, Heb 9:26) and to the events immediately before his
return and the end of the ages (Mt 24:13, 2 Tim 2:1, 2 Peter 3:3). The
Catholic teaching on the end time is contained in the Catechism of the
Catholic Church under the discussion of the article of the Creed, "He
will come again to judge the living and the dead." [CCC 668-682]
As the Creed infallibly teaches, the Second Coming is associated with
the end of the world and the Last Judgment. Therefore, it is NOT
associated with any earlier time - such as to establish a "Millennium"
and the so called visions and relevations we hear day-in-day-out. Do you
remember that some claimed the world will end in the year 2000 and many
started trooping churches? Why didn't the world end?
The Catholic Church specifically condemns "millenarianism," according to
which Jesus will establish a throne in this world and reign here for a
thousand years [ CCC 676]. She teaches instead that Jesus already reigns
in eternity (1 Cor. 15:24-27, Rev. 4 & 5) and that in this world
His reign, established as a seed, is found already in the Church [CCC
668-669].
Rapture, as explained by Paul in 1 Thes 4:15-17 is that at the return
of Christ (v.15) and the General Resurrection of the Dead (v.16), those
who survive the persecution of the Antichrist will have no advantage in
being resurrected over those who died before His Coming [ CCC 1001].
All will go to meet Him and be with Him forever (v.17; cf. Rev
20:17-21:27).
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI states that (in the context of the message
of Fátima), we are not at the end of the world. In fact, the Second
Coming (understood as the physical return of Christ) cannot occur until
the full number of the Gentiles are converted, followed by "all Israel."
Again, Paul used the expression “falling asleep” to describe death.
Sheol, the underworld abode of the dead, was believed to be a place
without physical or mental activity, an extreme form of suspended
animation where even deceased kings were consigned motionless to their
thrones (Isa. 14). In this state Christians who died were understood to
await Christ’s return in victory and their own resurrection in glory.
In conclusion, the real hour of the second coming of Christ is
unknown and it would be a waste of time trying to figure it out. What is
necessary is living the gospel message so that when Christ comes we may
be numbered among saints.
* CCC - Catechism of the Catholic Church
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