Last Updated on 26. February 2026 by Andi
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction: My Personal Experience
- 2. Key Bible Passages According to the NAC Catechism
- 3. Preparing the “Bride of Christ”
- 4. Criticism of NAC Doctrine on the Return of Christ
- 5. Who May Participate in the Return of Christ?
- 6. Comparison: Biblical View vs. NAC
- 7. Distinction from Exclusive Doctrines of Salvation
- 8. What is Missing in the NAC
- 9. Summary
Comparing NAC Doctrine on the Return of Christ with the Bible
What does the New Apostolic Church (NAC) teach about the return of Christ? In this article, I compare the NAC Catechism with biblical statements on the Rapture and the Bride of Christ.
Chapter 10 of the NAC Catechism (“The Doctrine of Future Things”) forms the basis of my analysis. Here, we find central statements about the Return of Christ and the Rapture. Furthermore, I examine the church’s claim to prepare the “Bride of Christ” for this event.
1. Introduction: My Personal Experience
Faithful Christians await the return of Christ as promised by Jesus. I used to think that holding onto this promise was a unique feature of the New Apostolic Church. Since we had almost no contact with other believers, this impression became deeply rooted. After leaving the NAC, I discovered that the expectation of Christ’s return is very much alive in many other Christian communities. Often, I found it even more vibrant than within the NAC. Moreover, most believers do not associate this expectation with a bad feeling. Instead, joy and anticipation of meeting Jesus define their faith.
What is the difference between the NAC faith and the biblical expectation of the return of Jesus?
Let us first look at the Bible passages used by the NAC Catechism. Other churches also use these verses as central pillars for this aspect of the Christian faith:
2. Key Bible Passages According to the NAC Catechism
| Bible Passage | Summary in the Catechism |
|---|---|
| John 14:1-3 | Christ promised to take His own to Himself. This is seen as a promise of His return and the rapture of the bridal congregation. |
| 1 Thess. 4:16-17 | The Lord comes to take the dead and the living who believe in Him. This is the foundation for the doctrine of the Rapture. |
| Rev. 19:7-9 | The “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” symbolizes the union of Christ with His bridal congregation. |
| Matt. 25:1-13 | The parable of the ten virgins is understood as a picture of the believers’ preparation for Christ’s return. |
| Rev. 22:17, 20 | The Spirit and the Bride cry, “Come!” – an expression of the congregation’s expectation. |
The Catechism views the New Apostolic Church as the community specifically commissioned to prepare the “Bride of Christ.” This is meant to ensure the Bride can be raptured upon Christ’s return. In this process, the Apostles receive a central role. They administer the sacraments and prepare the believers for the return.1
3. Preparing the “Bride of Christ”
According to NAC doctrine, preparation for the return of Christ consists of the following aspects:
- Faith in the Apostleship
- Receiving the sacraments (Sealing, Holy Communion, Baptism)
- Living according to the Gospel
The New Apostolic congregation is understood as the Bride, prepared for the return through faithfulness, love for Christ, and watchfulness.
4. Criticism of NAC Doctrine on the Return of Christ
4.1 Theological Criticism
From a theological perspective, it becomes clear: this doctrine is closely linked to the NAC’s exclusive view of salvation. In contrast, the New Testament offers a promise of salvation that applies to all people, regardless of their church affiliation.
The exclusivity of a church community under a specific apostleship creates tensions with many New Testament statements. There the Church is described as the totality of all believers and as “one body”:
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
1 Corinthians 12:13
The NAC acknowledges that people are “incorporated into the Church of Jesus Christ through baptism” (Catechism, p. 320). Yet, it separates general Christianity from the “Bride” as an exclusive group. In the Bible, this distinction does not exist. Paul demonstrates this clearly in the passage cited above.
The New Testament presents the return of Jesus as a hope for all believers. In contrast, NAC doctrine restricts the circle of those raptured primarily to its own members. This discrepancy remains, even if the church emphasizes God’s sovereignty and possible “exceptions.” Such exclusivity contradicts the fundamental understanding of salvation in New Testament teaching, which includes all Christians.
4.2 Pastoral and Ethical Criticism
Pastorally, the question arises regarding the consequences of constantly emphasizing the “bridal congregation” and the threat of being left behind. In NAC history, the constant expectation of an imminent return often led to inner tension. Believers experienced pressure to perform and feelings of guilt when they felt “unworthy.” Such a religious climate can lead to a spirituality characterized by fear rather than trust.
A pastorally healthy doctrine should emphasize trust in God’s grace. Human performance or institutional belonging should not be the focus. Therefore, the church’s mission should be to provide comfort and hope. It should not tie eternal salvation to conditions that are humanly impossible to fulfill.
4.3 Criticism of Biblical Interpretation – Hermeneutic Criticism
The NAC interpretation binds the bridal congregation institutionally to the church. This fails to do justice to the biblical texts. A holistic interpretation of the New Testament suggests: “Bride” and “Marriage of the Lamb” express the final union of Christ with all believers.
The promise of Jesus’ return is meant to provide comfort and is not a primary theme of the New Testament. Authors emphasize it whenever persecution looms. It widens the believers’ gaze toward the final union with Jesus. The Gospel primarily contains God’s offer of salvation for today. It encompasses forgiveness of sins, justification before God, assurance of salvation, and joy in daily life. Anyone living with Jesus today does not need to shift their hope solely to the hereafter. They can joyfully anticipate the encounter with Jesus.
5. Who May Participate in the Return of Christ? – A Biblical-Theological Alternative
Who is allowed to participate in the Rapture? This is one of the central eschatological themes of the New Testament. Below, based on exegetical literature, I show which biblical criteria the New Testament names.
5.1 Fundamental New Testament Evidence
The main passages regarding the Rapture (1 Thess. 4; 1 Cor. 15; John 14; Matt. 24) consistently speak of people who are “in Christ.” They stand in a living faith relationship with Him. Paul explicitly emphasizes: the dead in Christ will rise first. Afterward, the living believers will be raptured together with them.
Membership in a specific church is not the decisive condition. Rather, personal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ counts. You are saved if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9-10). The Rapture affects all who are “born again by the Spirit of Christ.” Rebirth happens when people come to faith. The Bible is clear: faith in Jesus saves you.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13 (NIV)
This salvation includes Jesus accepting you at His return. Sealing means protection from external access. God “seals” you because of your faith. This ensures you are accepted by Him when He returns.
5.2 The Church as the “Bride of Christ”
In Ephesians 5:25-27, the church is described as the Bride of Christ. His sacrifice cleanses and sanctifies her. This description concerns the universal church which means all believers. The Bride is not bound to an institution. She forms a spiritual unity of all the redeemed. Revelation 19:7-9 shows the marriage supper as a symbol of this completion. The invitation applies to all whose names are written in the Book of Life.
5.3 Conditions for Participation According to the New Testament
- Rebirth and Faith: Anyone born again through faith in Christ (John 3:3; Titus 3:5) will be accepted at His return.
- Sanctification and Watchfulness: Believers are called to be watchful. This is not a criterion for salvation, but an expression of living faith (1 Thess. 5:23 and Matt. 25:1-13).
- Perseverance in Faith: The “crown of righteousness” applies to all who have longed for His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).
The return of Jesus triggers joy, not fear. It promises perfect fellowship with Christ. Participation depends solely on the relationship with Him, not on church structures.
6. Comparison: Biblical View vs. NAC Return of Christ View
| Topic | Biblical-Theological View | NAC Doctrine |
|---|---|---|
| Basis for Participation | Personal faith in Jesus, rebirth, and salvation through grace. No church membership required. | Membership and loyalty to the NAC; receiving the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by an Apostle. |
| Who is the Bride? | The universal church of all born-again believers, regardless of denomination. | NAC believers preparing for the return under the guidance of the church. |
| Role of Apostles | The early Apostles laid the foundation; ongoing mediation of salvation through new Apostles is not taught. | An ongoing Apostleship is necessary to prepare believers and administer sacraments. |
| Understanding the Rapture | Includes all believers “in Christ,” regardless of church affiliation. | Primarily only “bridal souls” (faithful NAC members) are raptured. |
| View of Salvation | Received by grace through faith alone, not through institutions or sacraments. | Mediated sacramentally and institutionally under apostolic authority. |
7. Distinction from Exclusive Doctrines of Salvation
The table clarifies: NAC doctrine represents an exclusive view of salvation. In contrast, the biblical-theological view emphasizes Christ’s universal invitation. This invitation applies to all believers redeemed by grace. The tension between these approaches is the core of theological criticism.
The New Testament rejects ideas that only a specific community belongs to the Bride of Christ. This contradicts the New Testament witness. According to the Bible, all believers form the members of His body (1 Cor. 12:12-13). Access to salvation is possible only through faith based on grace:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
8. What is Missing in the NAC
While NAC doctrine emphasizes devotion and watchfulness, one often misses the reference to the freedom of faith. The question of belonging to the “Bride of Christ” cannot be answered institutionally. God’s grace alone decides this. It also has nothing to do with personal “faith performance.” Rather, God gives His love freely and unmerited.
Anyone living with Christ today can expect Him with joy. You do not need to worry about not being accepted by Jesus. No special “preparation” by NAC Apostles is necessary for this.
9. Summary
According to Holy Scripture, all believers will be raptured at the return of Jesus. This happens completely independent of church membership or office. No one knows when this will happen. Only faith in Jesus is decisive. Faith brings about rebirth. The sealing according to Ephesians 1:13 is the guarantee that God has already redeemed and accepted us today. Hope, not fear, is the main message of the Bible for all believers. The return of Jesus is an act of grace for all who trust God.
10. FAQ: The Return of Christ
Who is the Bride of Christ according to the Bible?
According to the biblical understanding, the Bride of Christ is the universal church of all believers. A specific church institution plays no role in this.
What does the New Apostolic Church (NAC) teach about the Rapture?
The NAC teaches that primarily those believers sealed by Apostles are raptured. They refer to this group as the “bridal congregation” that participates in the marriage supper in heaven.
What conditions does the Bible name for participating in the return of Jesus?
The Bible names personal faith in Jesus Christ as the central condition. The decisive rebirth through the Spirit of God happens through faith (Ephesians 1:13). Membership in a specific church, however, is not a biblical criterion.
Footnotes:
1. Catechism of the New Apostolic Church, Chapter 10.1–10.6, available at: https://nak.org/en/know-us/catechism (Accessed: November 2025).
2. Ibid., Section 10.4 “The return of Christ and the rapture of the bridal congregation.”
Note:
ChatGPT assisted with the literature research and the outlining of this article.
For further reading:
- All my Articles on the New Apostolic Church, especially:
- The Reality of New Apostolic Church Exclusivism Today
- New Apostolic Church: Forgiveness of Sins – A Biblical Comparison
References:
- John F. Walvoord: The Rapture Question (Zondervan, 1979).
- Warren Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary (Cook, 1989).
- William MacDonald: Believer’s Bible Commentary (Nelson, 1995).
- John MacArthur: The Second Coming (Crossway, 1999).
- F. F. Bruce: The Epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians (Eerdmans, 1984).
