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MrGuedes Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
Biblical ‘Rapture’: American word only?
Hello, guys! I have a question about the word ‘rapture’.
My question comes as a result of the fact that, as I was writing, my spellchecker signalled the word ‘raptured’. Curious about this, I checked the dictionary. Here's what I found:
Leonora listened with rapture
And I thought, ‘Wow! Really? You can say that? OK. What else?’
2(the Rapture)North American (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
And I thought, ‘OK, that's the meaning I want. But why does it say “North American”? Well, whatever. I'm looking for the verb...’
people will be raptured out of automobiles as they are driving along
And I thought, ‘All right, this is it. But why does it still say “North American”? What would be the British term?’
Then, I thought that, since the verb ‘to rapture’ appeared to be only American, perhaps that would have been why my British spellchecker has signalled ‘raptured’ but not ‘rapture’ (the latter of which it interpreted as the first meaning). So I attempted to use my American spellchecker, but it still signalled ‘raptured’.
So, now I have two questions: 1) ‘What is the British term to describe the biblical Rapture?’; and 2) ‘Why does my spellchecker signal the word “raptured”?’
Could you please help me? Thank you so much!
My question comes as a result of the fact that, as I was writing, my spellchecker signalled the word ‘raptured’. Curious about this, I checked the dictionary. Here's what I found:
noun
1[MASS NOUN] A feeling of intense pleasure or joy:Leonora listened with rapture
And I thought, ‘Wow! Really? You can say that? OK. What else?’
2(the Rapture)North American (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
And I thought, ‘OK, that's the meaning I want. But why does it say “North American”? Well, whatever. I'm looking for the verb...’
verb
[WITH OBJECT] North American (According to some millenarian teaching) transport (a believer) from earth to heaven at the Second Coming of Christ:people will be raptured out of automobiles as they are driving along
And I thought, ‘All right, this is it. But why does it still say “North American”? What would be the British term?’
Then, I thought that, since the verb ‘to rapture’ appeared to be only American, perhaps that would have been why my British spellchecker has signalled ‘raptured’ but not ‘rapture’ (the latter of which it interpreted as the first meaning). So I attempted to use my American spellchecker, but it still signalled ‘raptured’.
So, now I have two questions: 1) ‘What is the British term to describe the biblical Rapture?’; and 2) ‘Why does my spellchecker signal the word “raptured”?’
Could you please help me? Thank you so much!
Top answer
’ There aren't many British Christians who believe in the 'Rapture', so the idea is not talked or written about.
- ’ There aren't many British Christians who believe in the 'Rapture', so the idea is not talked or written about.
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25 Answers
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MrGuedes‘What is the British term to describe the biblical Rapture?’There aren't many British Christians who believe in the 'Rapture', so the idea is not talked or written about.
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MrGuedespeople will be raptured out of automobiles as they are driving alongI hope they announce it ahead of time so I can stay off the roads that day.
CJ
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fivejedjonThere aren't many British Christians who believe in the 'Rapture', so the idea is not talked or written about.Really? Well, any Christian should believe in the Rapture; the Bible talks about it, and Christians, by definition, believe in the Bible. But whatever! That's not what's being discussed here.
Well, if you guys don't know, tomorrow m
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MrGuedesChristians, by definition, believe in the Bible.I doubt it. Many denominations reject the virgin birth, for example. But as you say, that's not what's being discussed here.
CJ
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CalifJimMany denominations reject the virgin birth, for example.Really? Wow! Why would they?
Well, whatever! I really don't care.
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MrGuedesWell, any Christian should believe in the Rapture; the Bible talks about it,The word 'rapture' does not appear in English translations of the Bible.
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fivejedjonThe word 'rapture' does not appear in English translations of the Bible.Of course it doesn't! But that does not mean the concept is not there! The word ‘Rapture’ is the word used to refer to the process described in this passage:
‘For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that *** will bring with Jesus those who ha
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MrGuedesSo, there it is: problem solved! I shall keep on using the word ‘Rapture’.Fine. Just live with the fact that most Brits will have no idea what you are talking about.
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fivejedjonFine. Just live with the fact that most Brits will have no idea what you are talking about.All right! Tell me word for it, and I shall use it; without an alternative, I must use what I know.
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I don't recall hearing the term 'Rapture' being used much in Canada either.
Clive
Clive
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