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What is the rapture of the church?
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8/15/2009 6:44:48 PM
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The Blessed Hope: Basically, we Christians believe that the church, true believers in Jesus Christ, who are alive in the Last Days will be removed from this planet in the "twinkling of an eye"! (see: 1 Corinthians 15:52) This removal process is what we call "The Rapture". While the word is no where in the Bible, it is just a word we use to describe the event. The bible has many references to this event and uses different terms to describe it which we will look at now:
1 Corinthians 15:50-53Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Here the apostle Paul informs the Corinthian Christians about this event. First he explains to them "that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God", meaning we can not enter heaven in an earthly body. This explains the reason why The Rapture has to occur. We must be changed! That is what happens in The Rapture. He clarifies this event by telling them that we shall not all sleep referring to the death of a Christian. As Christians, death is just a transplantation into heaven. The term sleep is indicative of a restful state. It is a place we go to rest from the life we lived while we wait for our full resurrection. But Paul's point is addressing the Christian people that are still alive at the end during the time of the Second Coming of Jesus! We that are alive will not die, but rather be changed. That change is The Rapture which Paul referred to as "a mystery".
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18For 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 together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
In these verses, Paul gives the most in-depth explanation of what event surrounding the Lord's return and The Rapture church! He gives them the series of events in the order that they will happen in a logical sequence. He states that in the Last Days the angel will blow "the trumpet of God" and the dead Christians from across the centuries will rise first. Secondly, we Christians, "who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air".
Finally, Paul explains the outcome of this family reunion with Jesus: "we shall always be with the Lord!" Here he give Christian of the last days an admonition: "Therefore comfort one another with these words". How merciful God is to us! Here WE are mentioned! In the days that the bible is being written, and Paul, under the inspiration of God, Delivers God's message to US. Just think, That is a direct message from God to Us! How ironic, that the very message God sends to us, to use to "comfort one another" (The Rapture), are the very words that course confusion in the church today! God is speaking directly to us in the bible as Christians in this day and time and we still "don't get it"! Well the Thessalonians did not "get it" either:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2aNow, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first.
Paul had explained the "mystery" of The Rapture to the Thessalonians in his first letter to them. However, false teachers were creating confusion and spreading lies in the church (as they always do). There were folks telling the young Christians that the Lord had already returned and that these things were already fulfilled. Others were saying that Jesus was coming "any day now". So Paul is addressing The Rapture again to clear-up these fallacies! He uses the terms "our gathering together to Him" to describe The Rapture. He also uses the terms "falling away". Many interpret this phrase to mean the apostasy. But it is my believe that this "falling away" symbolizes our "falling up" to meet Jesus in the clouds.
Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote this letter to Titus, a young Christian that he had personally let to salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul tells him that we should be looking for the return of Jesus to this world. He defines The Rapture here as "blessed hope" which will be followed by the Second Coming of Christ to earth! Paul is still emphasizing on the fact that The rapture is a GOOD thing! The word "blessed" in the bible can be transliterated as "Oh the happiness of" as is clearly seen in the Beatitudes (see Matthew 5: 3-12). He also uses the term "hope", which when used as a noun like here, means the effective and sure outcome of the belief. For the Christian, the hope is in fact a fact! It is a certainty!
In conclusion, as we go through these days of sorrow, misery, uncertainty, strife, and confusion in the world, we as Christians have a "blessed hope". We are strangers and pilgrims in this world. As the old gospel song so correctly declares, "This world is not my home . I'm just passing through!". Jesus is coming soon to set us free and take us to be with him, "And so we shall always be with the Lord"! This is indeed a Happy Day for us as we look to His appearing! He will redeem us from this world of pain and body of sin in an instant! He will transform us into His world of Peace, Love & Joy!
Therefore comfort one another with these words!
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Summary
We are being
warned! God is showing us what His purpose for this
world entails. As we get closer and closer to the end,
the world has become more and more sinful! And
unfortunately, this condition will worsen till He
returns and redeems us from ourselves. Don't let sin,
self or Satan who has invaded our planet separate you
from the free gift of salvation that Jesus extends to
you in His invitation to be born-again:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send
His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that
the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes
in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe
is condemned already, because he has not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)
Are You Ready? If not get ready, "Repent
for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand"!
Click to Read:
Luke 13:3;
Ephesians 2:8-9;
Romans 10:8-13;
Acts2:38
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