The rapture is a Christian belief about an end-time event when all believers, both dead and alive, will be "caught up" or "snatched away" to meet Jesus Christ in the air and be taken to heaven. This event is described primarily in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, where believers will be resurrected or transformed to have glorified bodies and be taken from earth to be with the Lord forever. The rapture is often viewed by some Christians as occurring before a future period of tribulation on earth, designed as God's rescue plan for the Church, distinct from Christ's later Second Coming to earth.
Key aspects of the rapture belief include:
- Jesus returning to "catch up" all believers suddenly.
- The resurrection and transformation of believers to eternal bodies.
- The rapture happening prior to a tribulation period of suffering and judgment on earth.
- This concept is particularly emphasized in some evangelical Christian teachings and is relatively recent in Christian history, originating in the 19th century.
The idea has gained popular attention recently on social media platforms like TikTok, with some people discussing or joking about its possible imminence.
