The popular "Rapture" theory -where believers suddenly vanish from the earth before a time of tribulation-is a recent invention. It was first promoted in the 1800s by John Nelson Darby, an Anglican clergyman. In the early 2000s, the Left Behind TV series popularized the apocalyptic theory of the "Rapture." It claimed that Jesus would take Christians up to Heaven before His Second Coming, leaving non-Christians behind on earth for seven years of great tribulation" (Revelation 7:14), in which the Antichrist reigns. But no one ever taught this for the first 1,800 years of Christianity.

Those who support the Rapture often point to 1 Thessalonians 4:17 - "we will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord" - but the Apostle Paul is clearly speaking about the Second Coming, not a secret event before it. He says the dead in Christ will rise first, and then those alive will join them to meet the Lord: this is the Resurrection and the Final Judgment - not an escape from it.

Jesus also warns in Matthew 24 that His coming will be after tribulation, not before. The idea that Christians will be taken away while unbelievers are "left behind" isn't supported by the Holy Scripture. The word used for "left" (áoierat in Greek) actually means "released" or abandoned.

For 2,000 years, the Orthodox Church has taught one Second Coming, one Resurrection, and one people of God. The Rapture isn't part of that -- and never was.

God desires all His people, both the living and the dead, to live with Him forever when the Second Coming takes place.

SOURCE: [GOARCH Department of Religious Education](https://www.goarch.org/documents/32058/12709588/The+Truth+About+the+Rapture/dd5bd199-1625-bbc4-0530-6e39474f8ada)

"Did you know the idea of the 'Rapture' is not Biblical?" (GOARCH Department of Religious Education)