Expert: Joe Norman - 4/12/2010

Question
Please send me your understanding of Rapture. What do you think the meaning of 2 Thessalonians 2nd chapter verse 3. I would appreciate it very much!

Answer
Hi Gary,

I do not believe in Pre-millennialism and therefore do not believe in a "rapture" at all. The idea of Rapture comes from people who do not carefully read God's Word in context and confuse figurative language with literal language.

When reading II Thessalonians it is important to keep in mind who Paul was writing to and the context of what he wrote. In Chapter one of 2 Thess., we see that Paul says God will repay with tribulation those who trouble the church in Thessalonica.(2 Thess.1:6). He also said they "will receive rest when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (vss. 7-8).

But one thing needs to be pointed out. The church in Thessalonica is no longer being "troubled" and therefore, whatever is predicted to happen has already happened. Now there is no way to prove beyond all doubt who this "son of perdition" is specifically, but I believe Paul was referring to the first Pope and the establishment of the Catholic church.

In particular when I read verse 3 of chapter 2, I do not see a "rapture" as you probably understand it and as many pre-millennialists believe and teach. I see a foretelling of the destruction of Jerusalem and the birth of Catholicism predicted. To me, this becomes more clear the further you read in this chapter. In verse 7, Paul says "the mystery of lawlessness is already at work" which indicates to me all this was soon to happen.

I hope that I have been of some help to you.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman