You know I have been thinking about this for a while now and this is the conclusion I have come to. We will not know the hour that Jesus returns. We can guess, interpret and all that good stuff but I think the most important thing is being ready for Jesus when he comes.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Should we be more concerned with when Jesus is coming back? Or should we be more concerned with preparing ourselves for his return. If he comes back post tribulation and we are not ready we will be left behind, if he comes back pre trib and we are not ready we will be left behind. If he comes back midtrib and we are not ready we will be left behind. So what does that tell you? Don't worry so much about when he is coming back and just be ready when he does.

-- Jacob R. (jacobrainey@hotmail.com), May 11, 2004

Answers

Hi Jacob,

What we commonly know as the "Rapture" (aka "premillenialism") is a Protestant invention from the 1800s that was never heard of among Christians before that time. Many Protestants still do not hold to this idea of the Rapture. For more on this, read the history of the various views at Catholic Answers: The Rapture.

According to Catholic Answers, the Catholic position is as follows:

As far as the millennium goes, we tend to agree with Augustine and, derivatively, with the amillennialists. The Catholic position has thus historically been "amillennial" (as has been the majority Christian position in general, including that of the Protestant Reformers), though Catholics do not typically use this term. The Church has rejected the premillennial position, sometimes called "millenarianism" (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church 676). In the 1940s the Holy Office judged that premillennialism "cannot safely be taught," though the Church has not dogmatically defined this issue.

Here is what the CCC says on the issue.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 11, 2004.

I understand that Emily, I do consider the Rapture Theology erroneous. But as I said earlier, is it not more important to be more concerned with being prepared, regardless of when (pre,mid,post)?

-- Jacob R. (jacobrainey@hotmail.com), May 11, 2004.

Ah, I see your point. Yes, I agree it is more important to be prepared for Jesus' coming, just as it is more important to be prepared for your own death. Maintaining a right relationship with the Lord is crucial.

God bless,

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 11, 2004.

Right! If you are ready to face death each day and anytime, then you are ready to face Jesus when he comes, whether rapture, tribulation or anything at all.

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), May 11, 2004.

Should we be concerned with preparing for Christ's actual return or should we be living our lives as He taught so that "when" is not important?

-- mark advent (adventm5477@earthlink.net), May 28, 2004.

IMHO, "When" is only important in that it be kept always in mind that He IS returning and that we have an obligation to all of the folks we know and love to encourage them to know and to love Him as we do. Often, when I am able to get out, I sit and watch people pass by and wonder how many of them do not know God? It makes me very sad to think about how many folks are going about their business totally oblivious to the love that Christ has for them.

-- lesley (martchas@hotmail.com), May 28, 2004.