The Rapture is already in Mormon theology, but it is rarely discussed and when spoken of, not very well understood. It is not called "Rapture" in Mormon theology, but it is still there. What many people in Christianity agree or disagree on, is the timing of the event (that's the biggest divide), the exact nature of the event, and what qualifies a person to be selected to be in this event.
Most typical Christians that believe in the Rapture, believe that it will happen something like this: The world will be in a state of ongoing apostasy (check!), with increased perils (check!) and then on the chosen day by God, angels seen or unseen will whisk away the faithful up to heaven, and that the faithful will go through some kind of sudden change in their bodies, and they will become spiritualized bodies.
They base it upon a couple of scriptures from the New Testament:
1 Corinthians 15:
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Also, 1 Thessalonians 4:
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Without discussing those scriptures, I first want to briefly establish, that the Rapture is in the LDS belief system.So for those of you, readers, that are familiar with the Doctrine and Covenants, section 76, open your books. Here's a link:
(Just section 76): https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/76?lang=eng or
(The whole book): https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament?lang=eng
This section of the D&C is famous among Mormons for a vision of the 3 degrees or kingdoms of heaven: Celestial (the most Godlike), Terrestrial (the middle kingdom), and the Telestial (the bottom kingdom with the least reward). The kingdom which will have no reward, but will rather face total destruction is those persons who will be called, "Perdition," which means "lost" as in cursed and destroyed, in an eternal and very real sense.
Verses 50-70, of above mentioned section 76, describes the Celestial heirs and some of the events.
Interestingly, verse 102, in speaking about the Telestial heirs, says,
102 Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up unto the church of the Firstborn, and received into the cloud.
If you need another reference to lifting up (which in a general sense could meaning being exalted, rewarded with honor from God, after this life, here's 3 Nephi 27:22
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/27.22?lang=eng&clang=eng#p21
22 Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
That's quite a promise, isn't it, for being good and being in Covenant with the Lord, and having faith...and enduring to the end of your life or end of the worldly Age.
A picture is worth a thousand words
No comments:
Post a Comment