The Koine Greek of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 uses the verb form ἁρπαγησόμεθα (harpagisometha) and is rendered as harpazō (ἁρπάζω). The Latin Vulgate translates the Greek as rapiemur from the Latin verb rapio. 

It’s interesting to note that those who usually reject the Latin Vulgate as a “perverted” translation, will randomly adopt some of its terminologies, such as “Rapio” which is where we get the word rapture from.

There are many denominations within Christianity that do not hold to a Rapture Theology, and many within the Messianic or Nazarene Israelite communities do not accept this theology based on its lack of scriptural support.

Rapture theology finds its origin in the 1830’s, when an English Protestant minister named John Nelson Darby began teaching this new idea to his followers. Although he studied Law at Westminster School and Trinity College ‐ Darby chose to enter the diaconate of the Church of Ireland instead of practicing law. He was later ordained as a priest in that church.

Over the next several years, his theology developed and changed to the point where he rejected the very idea of a clergy claiming that it limited the Holy Spirit from speaking through any and all members of the Church. He eventually broke away from the Church of Ireland, found some like‐minded believers and formed The Plymouth Brethren ‐ a conservative, low church, nonconformist, evangelical Christian movement. It was around this time that he began to formulate and preach a new doctrine: “The Rapture”.

There was no Scriptural basis for Darby’s “Rapture” Theology. Neither was there a basis for it in Tradition since it had never been a teaching of the historic Christian Church. Since then, Darby’s novel invention has been picked up by many newer Protestant groups, that is, groups which have sprouted up over the last 100 years or so. It has also become the topic of many books and films, such as the “Left Behind” series.

The Bible is clear that the Second Coming of Yahusha/Jesus will be preceded by a period of persecution (Matthew 24:20‐31; Mark 13:19‐27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1‐4) commonly referred to as the “Tribulation”. However, there is no mention of Yahusha/Jesus coming a second time to rescue his believers only to return a third time. 

When we read 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in context with the other Scripture verses that mention the Tribulation and the Second Coming, it is clear that is speaking about what is going to happen when the Lord returns at the end of this current age not before.

It is interesting to note that none of the Protestant Reformers taught about this supposed event.

Before the 1800’s, every Protestant denomination agreed that this event of being “caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” would occur simultaneously with the Second Coming of Messiah. Like many other aberrant pseudo‐Christian teachings, belief in the Rapture has become widespread among Evangelical and Fundamentalist groups.

The idea that God’s people will be rescued on earth from earthly persecutions is completely Non‐Biblical. At no time in human history did God ever pull His people out of worldly danger. The early Christians suffered horribly at the hands of their persecutors. They were crucified, fed alive to wild animals, beheaded and set on fire for following the Messiah. The idea the Christians in the future will be spared persecution is wishful thinking especially when Yahusha/Jesus called it a blessing  (Matthew 5:10).

On the contrary the Scriptures are full of admonitions that we will indeed suffer for Christ (Matthew 10:38, 16:24, Mark 8:34, John 12:24, Romans 8:17, 2 Corinthians 1:5‐7, Ephesians 3:13, Philippians 1:29, 2 Timothy 1:8, 1 Peter 2:19‐21, 4:1‐2).

Yahusha/Jesus told His disciples that they would be hated by the world because it hated Him first. He stressed the fact that those who wished to be His disciples must pick up their cross DAILY and follow Him (Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27). Messiah promised His followers everlasting joy when His Kingdom came but not here on earth in this present age.

Darby’s Rapture theology gave rise to what became known as “Dispensationalism”. Dispensationalism is a timeline, dividing history into about 6 "dispensations". They represent various ages in which God interacted with humans in distinct ways. Darby taught that we were currently in the Dispensation of the Church, which was started during the Apostle Paul’s ministry.

His “Premillennialist” position was adopted by another 19th century man named C.I. Scofield. He picked up on Darby’s teachings and taught this view in the footnotes of his Scofield Reference Bible although he had no formal training in theology. It was widely distributed in England and America and many Protestants accepted this view without question as completely authoritative.

Scofield, who later abandoned his wife and 2 daughters and married another woman, added the title “D.D.” (Doctor of Divinity) to his name even though there is no record of his having earned a doctorate in Divinity

Consequently, the Rapture Theology spread like wildfire which is evidenced by the fact that it has become a cottage industry. Along with the millions of adherents who blindly follow this false teaching, it has spawned countless books, songs, movies and websites all dedicated to something that was invented by a guy in England less than 200 years ago and promoted by another guy who had no formal theological education.

Sadly many preachers today use the rapture doctrine as a way to get people saved and join their church instead of preaching salvation as the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of Messiah, putting fear into the minds and hearts of the people as opposed to teaching them that it's through much tribulation that we will enter the Kingdom of God Acts 14:22.

Rapture believers are divided into 3 camps:

Pre‐Tribulation -   The belief that the Rapture will occur before the coming Tribulations.

Mid‐Tribulation - This view claims that the Rapture will occur during the middle of the Tribulation.

Post‐Tribulation - This is the belief that the Rapture will occur after the coming Tribulation.

As with 1 Thessalonians 4:16‐17, there are a few other verses that have been taken out of context to promote the false idea of a “Rapture”.

For example ‐ the “Left Behind” series of books and movies get their name from the following passage of Scripture: