Viewing 'The Rapture' As Symbolic, Not Literal

A symbolic, artistic representation of gems inspired by the book titled “Gems of Divine
Mysteries” by Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá’í Faith. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0./BWAA.
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by Glenn Franco Simmons

While Evangelical Christians and Bahá’ís interpret some Bible verses differently, understanding each other’s beliefs is important in a society that is in desperate need of an authentic relationship with God and needs all the religion it can get.

The Bahá’í Faith does not employ the term “Rapture,” a concept rooted in 19th-century Christian theology. Rather, the Bahá’í teachings, as I understand them, interpret associated biblical prophecies — concerning resurrection, ascension, and meeting Christ “in the clouds” — as symbolic representations of spiritual realities.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 states: “16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So, we will be with the Lord forever.” 

“Bahá'ís view this not as a literal physical rapture or evacuation from Earth but as a metaphor for the spiritual awakening and collective recognition of the returned Christ (fulfilled in Bahá'u'lláh) by believers, both ‘dead’ (those from past ages who symbolically ‘rise’ through renewed understanding) and ‘alive’ (contemporary souls transformed by the new Revelation),” Grok explained. “The ‘clouds’ symbolize veils or obscurations that hide divine glory — such as human prejudices, outdated laws, or worldly attachments — that prevent immediate recognition of the Manifestation. The ‘shout’ or ‘trumpet’ represents the proclamation of the new divine Message, calling souls to spiritual ascent. Once recognized, believers are ‘caught up’ into a state of rapture-like ecstasy and unity with the divine, entering the ‘City of Love and Rapture’ through spiritual re-creation.”

In “Gems of Divine Mysteries,” Bahá'u'lláh wrote: “When once the seeker hath ascended unto this station, he will enter the City of Love and Rapture, whence he will never turn away. His sense of transience will vanish, even as the wayside dust which children throw up with their feet as they skip along and reckon it not.”

The Bahá’í view contrasts with Evangelical Christian interpretations.

“The general Evangelical Christian view of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 centers on the doctrine of ‘The Rapture,’ a future event where Jesus Christ will return to gather believers,” Grok explained. “These verses describe the Lord descending from Heaven with a shout, accompanied by the archangel’s voice and the trumpet of God, at which point the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by living believers who will be ‘caught up’ together with them in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air. Evangelicals typically interpret this as a literal, future event marking the sudden removal of the church from earth before a period of tribulation, emphasizing hope in Christ’s return and eternal life with Him. While some debate the timing (pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, or post-tribulation), the passage is seen as a promise of resurrection and reunion with Christ for believers.”

“The Rapture” concept originated with British preacher John Nelson Darby around 1827–1833 as part of his Dispensationalism. The term traces back to Latin and Greek and means “to snatch away, Grok stated.

“Before Darby, mainstream Christian theology — spanning Catholic, Orthodox and early Protestant traditions — interpreted 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 as part of Christ’s singular return, not a distinct pre-tribulation event,” Grok stated. “… The structure of Darby’s doctrine and remain debated.

“The Rapture gained a foothold in the United States during the Second Great Awakening, amplified by Revivalists like D.L. Moody and the widespread influence of the Scofield Bible. Its popularity surged in the 20th century through Hal Lindsey’s ‘The Late Great Planet Earth’ (1970) and the ‘Left Behind’ series, embedding the concept in American Evangelical culture. Yet globally, ‘The Rapture’ remains a minority view, with many Christian denominations dismissing it as a non-biblical innovation tied to Dispensationalism.”

(Note: This article was assisted by Grok, xAI's AI model. Use does not imply endorsement of such use.)