THE COMING RAPTURE
Our Escape
“Watch therefore,
For you do not know
what hour your Lord is coming.”
(Matthew 24:40-42)
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”
The Bible warns of a coming day when all who are found waiting in faith for Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha’Mashiach in Hebrew), will be removed from the Earth “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” . . .
What is this strange, bizarre, mysterious, Bible prophecy all about?
The Scriptures warn us Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, will return . . . TWICE:
First, “As a thief in the night” . . . FOR those who waited in faith
Second, “Every eye shall see” . . . WITH those who waited in faith
It might help to understand WHY God feels it will be important to remove this remnant (or ‘body’) of believers from the Earth in such a decisive and startling way. We find the Rapture is somewhat analogous to a loving Bridegroom yanking His young wife (‘betrothed’) off the railroad tracks just as the train goes thundering by …
Prophet after prophet in the Bible warns us of a very specific period of time referred to by many names, including the “The Day of the Lord’s Wrath,” “The Time of Israel’s (Jacob’s) Trouble,” “the Great Tribulation,” and the “Apocalypse” (which actually refers to the ‘Revelation’), when God is going to “pour out” His wrath on a “morally corrupt” and “violent” generation who has turned its back against Him and His Word in arrogance and unbelief. We are also told all those who sincerely believe in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, and humbly wait for Him in faith, are not “appointed” to this coming ‘Apocalypse’ which will one day engulf the whole world . . .
“And to wait for His Son from Heaven,
whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus (Yeshua),
who delivers us FROM the wrath to come.”
(1 Thessalonians 1:10)
“For God did NOT appoint us (believing Christians) to wrath,
but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah),
who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep,
we should live together with Him (in Heaven).
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another,
just as you also are doing.” (The Rapture is called our “Blessed hope!”)
(1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)
“The prudent (man or woman)
sees danger and hides himself,
but the simple go on and suffer for it.”
(Proverbs 22:3 & 27:12)
Note the word “hide” or “hidden” is used four times in the Rapture verses further below.
The actual word “rapture” is not found in most Bibles. The original Greek word “harpazo” which was translated “caught up” in many English translations could have been, or should have been translated, “to seize, to pluck away, or to take by force.” The original Greek word “harpazo” was later translated in the Latin as “raeptius” or in some cases “rapturo”. So, the term “rapture” comes from the Latin translation.
There are at least TWO precedents in the Bible …
Both Enoch (the 7th from Adam in the book of Genesis) and the prophet Elijah were taken up (‘raptured’) before they died.
“The Rapture” IS controversial …
The “Rapture of the Church” is controversial. So, before we get started, please remember one important thing. Whether you believe the body of believers will be “snatched away” before the great and terrible Day of the Lord, or in the middle of it, or if you just don’t know, doesn’t really matter. The only thing that matters is that you don’t get left behind. The door will be shut. This prophecy, or any prophecy, should not be a point of contention between believing Christians.
It should be noted, though, that you might hear the Rapture of the Church is a new concept brought forward by a man named John Darby in 1830. A diligent study of ancient and early church writers (and modern writers and teachers who have documented these early Christian writings) will reveal that the concept of the Rapture, where Christ could return at any moment with no prophetic signs required beforehand (also called the doctrine of “Imminency”), can be found throughout Church history, starting around 110 AD all the way through the 18th Century.
However, it is an interesting prophecy. The belief expressed here is that the Lord will suddenly remove all those who sincerely believe in and trust in His Messiah (Jesus Christ) from the Earth before the coming Apocalypse. Many of us also feel the generation which is alive today is the generation of the Rapture, and a worldwide body of faithful believers will be abruptly removed before the person or the identity of the coming Antichrist (a ‘counterfeit’ messiah) will be, or even can be, revealed. And since many feel this man (the coming Antichrist) is probably alive today, it is worth the time to look at some of the verses found in the Bible which directly, or indirectly refer to this strange, forceful, prophetic event which we simply call, “The Rapture” …
“Behold, I tell you a mystery:
We shall not all sleep (die a bodily death),
but we shall all be changed
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet.
(See the “trumpet of gathering” Numbers 10:11-14)
For the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we shall be changed.”
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
“For the Lord Himself
will descend from Heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up (“raptured”) together
with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
“For in the Time of Trouble (The Great Tribulation … the Apocalypse)
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
in the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a Rock.”
(Psalm 27:5) (We are told Jesus is “the Rock”)
“Come, MY people,
enter your chambers,
and shut your doors behind you;
hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment,
until the indignation (the great Tribulation) is past.
For behold, the LORD comes out of His place
to punish the inhabitants of the Earth
for their iniquity (the coming Apocalypse);
the Earth will also disclose her blood,
and will no more cover her slain.”
(Isaiah 26:20 – 21)
“Seek the LORD,
all you meek of the Earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness,
Seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden
in the Day of the LORD’S anger.” (The coming Apocalypse)
(Zephaniah 2:3)
“Because you have kept
My command to persevere,
I also will keep you from the hour of trial
which shall come upon the whole World,
to test those who dwell on the Earth.”
“Behold, I come quickly (suddenly)!”
(Revelation 3:10-11)
“But of that day and hour no one knows,
no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
(Matthew 24:36)
“Then two men will be in the field:
One will be taken and the other left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill:
One will be taken and the other left.”
“WATCH therefore, for you do not know
what hour your Lord is coming.”
(Matthew 24:40-42)
“Be dressed and ready (in readiness),
and keep your lamps lit.
Be like men who are waiting
for their master when he returns
from the wedding feast,
so that they may
immediately open the door to him
when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those slaves
whom the master will find on the alert
when he comes.
Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour you do NOT expect.”
(Luke 12:35-36,40)
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren,
you have no need that I should write to you.
For you yourselves know perfectly
that the Day of the Lord
so comes as a thief in the night.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)
“WATCH therefore,
and pray always
that you may be counted
worthy to ESCAPE
all these things
that WILL come to pass.” (The coming Apocalypse)
(Luke 21:36)
Who will get “Raptured” (and who will be left behind)?
To simplify things, let’s divide all of the people in the world into four groups:
1. Those who sincerely believe and trust in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. All those (both Jew and Gentile) who believe Jesus Christ willingly and lovingly suffered and died upon the Cross for all of our sins, was buried, and then rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15). Those who have sincerely accepted Him as their Lord and Savior (who saves us from our sins and from Hell). The Bible also promises all those who are “eagerly awaiting” His return in faith will be “counted worthy to escape” (be removed or raptured from) the coming Apocalypse.
2. Those who call themselves Christians, but don’t really believe these things, and have no real faith in Jesus, God, or the Bible. Those who don’t believe they will need a Savior to get into Heaven. Those who have never willingly opened the door of their hearts to invite Jesus into their lives and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. Those who don’t believe, or take the Bible (or Christ’s return) seriously, and will not be ready to go with Him when He returns suddenly, “as a thief in the night.” For the Bible warns that no regular church attendance or crosses around our necks can ever save us without Godly repentance (acknowledging and turning away from our sins) and placing all of our faith and trust in Jesus Christ’s completed work on the Cross, where He demonstrated His perfect love for us.
3. “The World.” Those who do not believe, and who ridicule, scoff at, or despise those who do. Those who deny Jesus as Lord and willfully reject His loving offer of forgiveness and His freely offered gift of eternal life in Heaven. Those who think all of this Bible stuff is just plain crazy. These will not escape, but will enter into “The Day of the Lord” … the coming Apocalypse.
4. Israel. Those children of Jacob (Israel) who have not yet accepted Yeshua (Jesus) as their promised Messiah have a clear prophetic destiny. Watch Israel. Israel is God’s timepiece in Bible prophecy, and all the prophecies of the coming ‘Apocalypse’ revolve around the tiny nation of Israel … the only nation which God calls His own.
It appears that only those believers in Group 1 will be “Raptured,” and thus safely removed and hidden before the coming Apocalypse. Many churches, pulpits, synagogues, and pews will still be filled. Many people will be left behind. The Bible warns of a coming world leader who will be revealed sometime soon after the Rapture. This coming world leader has been given many names and titles in the Bible, both in the Old and the New Testaments … one of his ‘titles’ is the “Antichrist.” There are some who feel this coming world leader may even powerfully convince those who are left on Earth after the Rapture that this missing segment of global population was kidnapped or removed by a much different kind of alien “force.”
WHEN will the Rapture take place?
We do not know, and we are told that no man will ever know the day or the hour. However, there doesn’t appear to be anything left in prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before the Rapture can take place, so, it could easily happen any day . . .
“But of that day and hour NO ONE knows,
not even the angels of Heaven,
but My Father only.
(Matthew 24:36)
“WATCH therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour
in which the Son of Man is coming.”
(Matthew 25:13)
The Lord says it could happen at any moment, “In the twinkling of an eye!” He says it will happen at a time when the world will least expect it. We are told we should always be prepared by simply believing in Him and “eagerly” waiting for Him in faith. We are also taught we should help prepare others.
Be dressed and ready waiting for the Bridegroom …
Blessed are those invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
“And the angel said to me, “Write this:
Blessed (happy) are those who are invited
to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”
And he said to me,
“These are the true words of God.”
(Revelation 19:9)
The door of escape will then close AFTER the “Rapture”…
So, WHO WILL ENTER Into The Kingdom Of Heaven???
Jesus Christ greatly loved us in order to save us from the utter darkness, aloneness, and torment of Hell …
All God asks of us to enter into His Kingdom of Heaven is that we love Him for all that He has done for us.
Grace and Shalom