The Rapture is perhaps the most important piece of prophecy for us to understand since it could very well impact us personally. This [article] will help you examine what the Rapture is, defend it biblically, and explain its personal and practical importance.
What is the Rapture? The Rapture is the biblical prophetic event where all who have put their trust in Christ, living and deceased, will suddenly be caught up from earth, be joined with Christ in the air, and taken to heaven. Paul describes the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV – “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
The Meaning of โRaptureโ
Rapture is derived from the Latin translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which translates the Greek harpazo (to catch up or carry away) as rapiemur from the Latin rapio. The Greek harpazo occurs fourteen times in the New Testament with four variations of meaning, each of which contributes to our understanding of what Paul is describing in verse 17: โThen we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with [the dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.โ
First, harpazo can mean โto carry off by force.โ Christ will use His power to remove living and deceased believers from the last enemy, death.
Second, harpazo can mean โto claim for oneself eagerly.โ Christ purchased us with His blood, and He will return to claim those who are His.
Third, harpazo can mean โto snatch away speedily.โ The Rapture will occur โin the twinkling of an eyeโ (1 Corinthians 15:52).
Fourth, harpazo can mean โto rescue from the danger of destruction.โ This meaning supports the idea that the Rapture will save the Church from experiencing the terrors of the seven-year Tribulation.
This coming event is the first part of Christโs two-part return to earth. First, Heโll remove the Church from the world. Second, seven years later, Heโll establish His Kingdom on earth. For every prophecy in Scripture about Christโs first advent, there are eight about His second. The 260 chapters of the New Testament contain 318 references to the Second Coming of Christ.
The Rapture Is Different From Christ’s Second Coming
Will the Rapture occur at Christโs Second Coming? The short answer is, โYes, butโฆ.โ The Rapture sets in motion the End-Time events leading to Christโs Second Coming. The two stages, Rapture and Return, will be separated by a seven-year Tribulation on earth. The purpose of the Rapture is to spare Christโs own from the horrors of the Tribulation according to Revelation 3:10.
The prophets saw what appears to be the Tribulationโโthe time of Jacobโs troubleโ (Jeremiah 30:7)โnot the Rapture. But that is not surprising; they didnโt differentiate clearly between the First and Second Advents of Christ. The prophets โinquired and searched carefullyโ (1 Peter 1:10-11), but they saw more of the big picture than the details. And they didnโt see the Church at all, which is who the Rapture affects. The prophets saw the future like seeing successive mountain peaks through a telephoto lens. They saw the peaks (events), but not the distance that separates them.
Three New Testament passages tell us about the Rapture: John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Paulโs words in 1 Thessalonians are the most complete and form the basis for this discussion.
First, we must note that Paul gained his understanding of the Rapture via special revelation from Godโhe called it a โmysteryโ in 1 Corinthians 15:51, meaning a truth not previously revealed. The revelation was โby the word of the Lordโ (1 Thessalonians 4:15).
Second, Paul shared this revelation in order to meet a practical concern of the Christians in Thessalonica. They were concerned about the fate of Christians who died before Christโs Second Coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and about the timing of the Raptureโwhether it had already happened (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).
Three Reasons the Rapture Could Happen Today
Reason 1: The Rapture is a signless event.
Unlike the Second Coming, no signs will precede the Rapture. This is called the doctrine of imminencyโthat is, the Rapture is imminent; it could happen at any moment. Specifically, nothing in Godโs prophetic program must take place as a prerequisite to the Rapture. Things may happen but nothing must happen. That means we donโt know when it could happen. It could be today or years from today.
Without any warning, Jesus Christ will return to rapture His saints and take them to heaven. Christians must live prepared lives, ready to meet their Savior at any moment.
Reason 2: The Rapture is a surprise event.
While many through the years have predicted the date of the Rapture and Jesusโ Second Coming, Jesusโ words in Matthew 24:36-39 should be taken literally: No one, including Jesus and the angels, knows the time of His return. Only God the Father knows. Not knowing when Jesus will come for His Church causes us to be ready at all times.
Reason 3: The Rapture is a sudden event.
Paul wrote that the Rapture will take place โin a moment, in the twinkling of an eyeโ (1 Corinthians 15:52). โTwinklingโ likely refers to the amount of time it takes for light, traveling at 186,000 miles per second, to be reflected on the retina of oneโs eye. In less than a nanosecond, the Lord will call believers to Himself!
1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, โFor the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.โ These are not three distinct sounds, but one sound described three different ways.
This sound will be like a shout, ringing with commanding authority like the voice of an archangel. It will also be like the blare of a trumpet in its volume and clarity. And the sound will be heard only by those who have trusted Christ as Savior. Jesus shouted, โLazarus, come forth!โ in John 11:43. His shout of โCome forth!โ at the Rapture will not name a single individual, but will be heard by every believer in every grave around the world.
At the moment of the Rapture, Godโs people from every eraโthe disciples, the martyrs of the ages, your godly ancestors, and many moreโwill rise from their graves.
The Rapture Only Involves Christians
Each of the three major passages that teach about the Rapture indicate that it involves believers only (including innocent children too young to believe). Anyone who does not trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior will not be raptured into the Lordโs presence and will be left to suffer the horrors of the Tribulation.
Jesusโ words in John 14:1-3 were spoken to His disciplesโmen who were obviously believers. He assured them that He would prepare a place for them in His Fatherโs house; they were members of the family of faith in the same way Christians are today. โI will come again and receive you to Myselfโ (verse 3) describes what we call the Raptureโthe uniting of Jesus Christ with His faithful followers.
In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul talked about โthose who are Christโs at His comingโ (verse 23). Verse 1 informs us that the passage was written to โbrethren,โ and verse 58 concludes the passage by talking about abounding in the work of the Lord, an obvious reference to Christian believers.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul refers to believers as โbrethrenโ (verse 13), as those who โbelieve that Jesus died and rose againโ (verse 14), and as the โdead in Christโ (verse 16).
These passages are clear: the Rapture is restricted to believers. Only those who are followers of Christ will be taken up into heaven when He returns.
Three Ways the Rapture Can Impact Our Life Today
The Rapture can change our life; it is a source of personal comfort and hope. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about it to ease their concerns about their departed loved ones. Death is not final. The resurrection of believers who have died will reverse the effects of death. All who have lost loved ones to the sting of death can be comforted in the knowledge that they will see them again. But it is also a source of strength. Jesus promised His disciples, on the night He was arrested, that He would return for them (John 14:1-3).
It is no wonder that Paul told the Thessalonians to comfort themselves with the truth concerning the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:18). The Rapture can impact our life now, in three ways, while we wait for it to happen.
We can live with expectation.
The letter from Paul to Titus puts into words how the expectation of the Rapture should impact our life:
Titus 2:11-14 KJV – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and pur”
We can live with dedication.
I am told that Robert Murray MโCheyne, a brilliant young Scottish preacher who died at age 29 in 1843, wore a watch with the words โThe Night Comethโ engraved on its face. Every time he checked his watch, he was reminded that time is marching on. We wonโt always have time to win souls for Christ or to consecrate our own life for His service. The apostle John exhorted his readers โnot to be ashamed before Him at His comingโ (1 John 2:28). The imminent return of Jesus for His Church is lifeโs greatest stimulus for living a dedicated life.
We can live with preparation.
Jesus warned that He is โcoming quicklyโ (Revelation 22:12). That means we should live every day as if He were coming that day. But will we be ready? Will we be found with heart and hands dedicated to serving Him at the moment we see Him face to face? Even more important, have we committed ourselves by faith to Christ, so we are assured of being part of His Church that is called into His presence at the Rapture? When the Rapture occurs, there will be no opportunity to decide. Be sure that you have said โYesโ to Christ so that you will be prepared to rejoice at His appearing.
