what does the rapture mean

The rapture is a Christian eschatological belief referring to a future event when all believers in Christ, both living and dead, will be suddenly "caught up" or taken up from the earth to meet the Lord in the air. This event symbolizes a divine rescue of the faithful before a period of tribulation and marks the beginning of eternal fellowship with Christ. The concept is primarily based on passages from the New Testament, especially 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, where believers are described as being transformed and united with Christ in an instant, often described as happening "in the twinkling of an eye." The term "rapture" itself does not appear in the Bible; it comes from a Latin word meaning "to snatch away." The doctrine distinguishes this event from the Second Coming of Christ, which is portrayed as a later event where Jesus physically returns to earth. Views on the timing and nature of the rapture vary, with some seeing it as preceding a tribulation period, while others link it closely with Jesus's final return. In summary, the rapture means the moment when Christians are taken up to be with Christ, escaping earthly suffering and entering eternal life, marked by resurrection and transformation of believers' bodies.