Hell, Faith, And The Rapture

Q

I have a question on the limited rapture theory. I do not believe that people will be left behind because of sin. However, what about based on faith? Hebrews 11:5-6 is about believing that God rewards those who believe in Him. The reason I question this is because there are many people that are outright against the rapture. My in-laws believe in Jesus and claim to believe in the Bible but they also say those who believe in a rapture will go to hell. They base this on a teaching by a televangelist they really like.

A

If you take the Bible literally, the event we know as the rapture of the Church is referenced in several places, 1 Thes. 4:16-17 and 1 Cor. 15:51-53 being the clearest. In fact, we get the the word rapture from the Latin translation of 1 Thes. 4:17 where it’s translated “caught up” in English.

But the Bible never says that only those who believe in a rapture will go. It says we who are alive and are left at the time the dead are raised will be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes 4:17). That means all of us, whether we believe in the rapture or not.

Also, believing in a rapture doesn’t have anything to do with going to Hell. That will be determined solely by whether we’re saved or not.

John 3:3-5 says no one will enter the Kingdom of God unless He’s born again. Being born again means we believe we’re sinners, that Jesus died to save us from our sins and rose again, and we’ve asked Him to be our Savior. In Matt. 7:7-8 Jesus said that everyone who asks for this will receive it. Therefore, no one who is born again will go to Hell.

So, the Bible says there will be a rapture, it says that everyone who believes that Jesus died for their sins and rose again will be saved, and it says everyone who is saved and is alive at the time of the rapture will take part in it. Praise The Lord!