The Rapture

Sunday, 29 May 2011 21:37

In view of recent events, it is necessary to spend some time to provide a biblical overview of the Rapture.

Upon physical death, spiritual life continues for the believer, who is moved into the visible presence of Christ

2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. NKJV

Php 1:21–24 (NKJV) 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

Resurrection is the mechanism by which the believer moves from this phase of the spiritual life to the next. Every believer, regardless of the age or dispensation in which he lived, will experience a resurrection, but not all at the same time.

1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. NKJV

Jesus experienced a true resurrection from the grave: he was resurrected with the result that he will never face death again. The word “afterwards” refers to the next resurrections which will follow that of Christ:

the resurrection of the Church, 1Cor 15; 1Th 4; John 14
the resurrection of the Old Testament and Tribulation believers, Zech 4, Matt 24.29-31; Rev 19; 20:4
then the resurrection of the Millennial believers Rev 20.5,11-15.

It is the resurrection of the Church age (those saved between Pentecost and this resurrection) believers that is referred to as the Rapture.

The rapture comes from the Latin translation of the word translated "caught up" in 1Th 4:17 (NT 726 Harpazo) which means: "to seize, to carry off by force, to claim for one's self eagerly, to snatch out or away." It was used proverbially in the sense of "to rescue from the danger of destruction." It was used also of divine power transferring a person marvellously and swiftly from one place to another (from Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament).

The word is used to describe how the Spirit transported Philip from Gaza to Caesarea (Acts 8:39) and Paul being caught up into the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2-4). Therefore the rapture describes the removal of people from one place to somewhere else.

The rapture is the removal of Christians from the earth into the presence of God to receive their eternal inheritance.
Both the dead and the living will experience it
The rapture is limited to the church, it will not include the Old Testament or tribulation saints
The rapture is not the same as the second coming of Christ
The doctrine of the rapture is to be a comfort for the church
The church is not destined to experience the wrath of God
he Rapture is a Mystery

The Rapture is a Mystery

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (NKJV) 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The resurrection of the Church was a mystery until revealed by Paul. The resurrection of the church had to be a mystery because the church itself was a mystery [Eph 5.32; Col 1.26-27]. As a mystery it was unrevealed in the OT remained unrevealed until the NT. It was Jesus who first implied the rapture in John 14

John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. NKJV

Paul was looking for that same deliverance in the book of Titus

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, NKJV

What was unknown to the Old Testament prophets and holy men has now been made known to and through the church. The unsaved consider it nonsense and a growing number of believers don’t believe it either. Fortunately you do not have to understand the rapture in order to be in it!

God has not chosen to share when the Rapture will occur neither has He provided any signs to look for that the Rapture is coming.

False teaching regarding the translation or the resurrection of the saints can be used to cause fear and instability among believers. Uncertainty about their future state or the state of their loved ones can distract them from the task at hand which is spiritual growth and discipleship (see 1Th 4.3 the will of God…your sanctification”).

Misinformation and false teaching regarding the resurrection or rapture of the church will cause believers to question the promises of God regarding salvation itself: Can God rescue believers from the punishments reserved for the wicked? Will God save the church from the grave? Misinformation regarding the Rapture and the return of Christ also harms the unbeliever, who will make the prophecies of scripture to be a laughingstock,
and will become less likely to take the return of Christ seriously,

Differences Between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ.

Central Passages: Rapture-John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
Second Coming-Zechariah 14:1- 21; Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-27 and Revelation 19.

Without Visible Signs

The second coming is preceded by signs, but the Rapture comes without visible sign Matt. 24:4-28; Rev. 19:11-21)

Luke 21:25–27 (NKJV) “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars;
and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:29–30 (NKJV) 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

No Judgment before

The second coming is characterized by the wrath and retribution of God while the rapture is a comfort for believers who have saved from wrath.

Zech 14:1-5; Revelation 19:1 (NKJV) After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! After what things: the judgments and devastations of the tribulation.

In the rapture Jesus is coming to bless, in the second coming he is coming to judge.

Setting up the Kingdom

Passages referencing the second coming of Christ often include the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom. The rapture passages do not reference setting up the kingdom.

Matt 25:31"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy* angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: NKJV

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