The rapture is a fairy tale

The Greek and English meaning for the word Rapture

“Rapture” G # 1611 ekstasis: a displacement (of the mind), i.e. bewilderment, ecstasy Original Word: ἔκστασις, εως, ἡ Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: ekstasis Phonetic Spelling: (ek'-stas-is) Definition: a displacement (of the mind), bewilderment, ecstasy Usage: (properly: distraction or disturbance of mind caused by shock), bewilderment, amazement; a trance.

G # 1839 existémi: to displace, to stand aside from Original Word: ἐξίστημι Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: existémi Phonetic Spelling: (ex-is'-tay-mee) Definition: to displace, to stand aside from Usage: (lit: I remove from a standing position), (a) in trans. tenses: I astonish, amaze, (b) in intrans. tenses: I am astonished, amazed; insane… I am out of my mind, am mad.

Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
By all definitions, adding the word “rapture” or the concept of it to the scriptures when it’s not found in any of the original manuscripts is in direct violation of the verses above.

Lets focus on the word “rapture”. When you examine the literal meaning of the English word itself it has nothing to with the second coming or an appearing as rapture believers call it. Below is an example from the Webster’s dictionary.

rap•ture [ˈrap(t)SHər] NOUN a feeling of intense pleasure or joy:
"Leonora listened with rapture" SIMILAR: ecstasy bliss euphoria elation exaltation joy joyfulness
NORTH AMERICAN ENGLISH (according to some millenarian teaching) the transporting of believers to heaven at the Second Coming of Christ:
"thousands of Christians gathered outside Rochester and other cities, awaiting the Rapture" "people will be raptured out of automobiles as they are driving along"

Even Webster is confused by calling it the second coming when rapture teachers call it an appearing. The word itself has nothing to do with the second coming or an appearing but it is a description of feelings of euphoria. It’s a fairy tale.

The word rapture has nothing to do with being “caught up” and the Greek word Harpazo. The literal meaning of rapture in English is intense joy or euphoria and it has nothing to do with being caught up.

These words should never be associated with each other when rightly dividing scripture. It is just so fundamentally wrong on so many levels but yet most of the Christian church believes in this fairy tale. It is by far the most misused word in Christian nomenclature.

By all indications the word harpazo describes the separation of the soul and spirit from the physical body as they are snatched away by force at death and go back to the Father in heaven. Not the physical body flying around in space and removed from the earth. When is the last time you saw a person fly around in the sky?

Ecclesiastes 12:6 and 7 describe the Greek word Harpadzo. 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
This is an allegory describing death of the carnal body or being “caught up” as it describes the dust which is the human carnal body going back into the dust or the grave after death.

Below in verse 7 the spirit is being separated from the body and going to heaven. This process is described as being “snatched away by force” in the Greek and has nothing to do with feelings of euphoria as in the English description of the word rapture.

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Caught Up G # 726 harpazó: to seize, catch up, snatch away Original Word: ἁρπάζω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: harpazó Phonetic Spelling: (har-pad'-zo) Definition: to seize, catch up, snatch away
Usage: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery. catch, seize, take by force. From a derivative of haireomai; to seize (in various applications) -- catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force). see GREEK haireomai

The expression “Coming” Strong'’s Greek # 3952 parousia: a presence, a coming Original Word: παρουσία, ας, ἡ: parousia Phonetic Spelling: (par-oo-see'-ah) Short Definition: presence, a coming, arrival, advent Definition: (a) presence, (b) a coming, an arrival, advent, especially of the second coming of Christ. (parousía) is a "technical term with reference to the visit of a king or some other official, 'a royal visit' " (Souter) – "hence, in the NT, specifically of the Advent or Parousia of Christ"

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man COMING in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
As you can see the words appearing and coming are used in the same verse to describe the second coming; If you come to somebody you will automatically appear to them.

The expression “Appearing” Strong's Greek # 3700 appear, look, see optanomai: to appear Word: ὀπτάνομαι Transliteration: optanomai Phonetic Spelling: (op-tan'-om-ahee) I appear, am seen (by), let myself be seen (by).A (middle voice) prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) optomai (op'-tom-ahee); which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternate of horao; to gaze (i.e. With wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from blepo, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from eido, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while theaomai, and still more emphatically its intensive theoreo, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and skopeo a watching from a distance) -- appear, look, see, shew self.

G # 2015 epiphaneia: appearance Original Word: ἐπιφάνεια, ας, ἡ Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: epiphaneia Phonetic Spelling: (ep-if-an'-i-ah) Definition: appearance Usage: appearing, manifestation, glorious display. appearance, brightness. From epiphanes; a manifestation, i.e. (specially) the advent of Christ (past or future) -- appearing, brightness. see GREEK epiphanes
This applies to the past present and future and not just the second coming

G # 2016 epiphanés: notable Original Word: ἐπιφανής, ές Part of Speech: AdjectiveTransliteration: epiphanies Phonetic Spelling: (ep-if-an-ace') Definition: notable Usage: manifest, glorious, illustrious.

The word harpazo describes the separation of the soul and spirit from the physical body as they are snatched away by force at death and go back to the Father in heaven. Not the physical body flying around in space and removed from the earth. When is the last time you saw a person fly around in the sky?

G # 142 airó: to raise, take up, lift Original Word: αἴρωPart of Speech: Verb Transliteration: airó Phonetic Spelling: (ah'-ee-ro) Definition: to raise, take up, lift Usage: I raise, lift up, take away, remove. to take up, take away A primary root; to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e. Weigh anchor); by Hebraism (compare nasa') to expiate sin -- away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).see HEBREW nasa'

I Thessalonians 4:17 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.
This is a perfect description of Ecclesiastes 12:6 and 7

Here are your Greek words that are key to understanding these verses
G 726 “caught up” (har-pad'-zo) to seize, catch up, snatch away obtain by robbery.
G 3509 “clouds”; nephos a dense crowd, a multitude, great company.
G 5590 “psuché”: breath, the soul (a) the vital breath, breath of life, (b) the human soul,
Air G#109 aér air, the lower air we breathe. From aemi (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. Respire; by analogy, to blow); "air"