49 - THE RAPTURE
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. 1 Thessalonians 4:17
INTRODUCTION
One of the most unusual events to occur in this world is yet to happen. The Bible talks about the rapture of every Christian who is alive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns in the air. These Christians will be caught up in the air to meet him and, instantaneously, they will receive glorified bodies. To the Christian, this is a wonderful hope, but what will be the response of the unsaved? Instantaneously, millions of Christians will suddenly vanish from sight. What explanation will be given for their disappearance?
Only two men, as far as we know, have entered the presence of God in a similar way (without dying), Enoch and Elijah. In both cases the experience of these men typically represents the experience of all Christians living at the time of the rapture. Enoch was "translated" into the presence of God as a result of his relationship with God, a relationship that had been established by faith (Hebrews 11:5). So those who are included in the coming rapture are also included because of their faith in God. In the same way, the coming of Christ to meet his saints in the air will be an indisputable act of God.
Bible scholars sometimes disagree concerning the details of the doctrine of the rapture, but that does not take away from the importance of the biblical doctrine. Apart from a belief in the rapture, it is impossible to recognize the return of Christ, apparently one of the basic presuppositions of the New Testament. A correct understanding of the rapture also gives hope and comfort at a time of disappointment or sorrow (1 Thessalonians 4:18). As in the study of all doctrines relating to Bible prophecy, understanding this doctrine will help us establish the right character and accomplish those things God wants us to do. THE NATURE OF THE RAPTURE The word "rapture" never occurs in our English Bible but the idea is described specifically in two key passages. The word comes from the Latin term rapto, meaning "to be caught up." The apostle Paul teaches this doctrine in 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18. In these chapters he describes a day when the dead in Christ will be raised and all who are living and know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will be changed and will meet Christ in the air. When properly understood by the believer, the rapture will become a major motivating factor in determining the life-style of each individual.
Description. The rapture is a future event in which Christ returns for his own, for he promised, "I will come again" (John 14:1-3). The rapture is not his coming at death to take Christians to heaven. Rather, Christ will descend toward earth. "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At this meeting in the air, we will be transformed and given glorified bodies. Paul describes this event: "We shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). All the dead in Christ will be resurrected at the time of the rapture. Paul reminds those in Thessalonica who were concerned over Christians who died that "the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). They too will receive glorified bodies. "The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52).
Every indication is that this rapture could occur at any moment and will include every believer.: While our faithfulness to Christ and obedience to his Word are very definitely issues which affect the reward we will or will not receive, it is never indicated that backslidden Christians would be in danger of losing any part of their salvation (1 Corinthians 3:15). Some groups teach a partial rapture theory, that only some Christians will be taken, while sinning or unbaptized Christians are left behind. The reason some accept the partial rapture theory is their belief that sin or disobedience in the Christian’s life is punished in the Tribulation period. But the proper meaning of redemption is that Christ has paid the complete price for every sin. Since every sin has been punished, God cannot legally punish sinning Christians again by omitting them in the rapture. If a person is in Christ, he will be caught up with Christ in the air.
Distinction. Most evangelical Christians make a distinction between the rapture of the church and the revelation of Christ. There are a large number of similarities in these two events that make it easy to confuse them. Both the rapture and the revelation include a resurrection, both feature Christ’s coming, and both include believers being gathered by Christ. The rapture could occur at any moment (1 Thessalonians 4:16), where the revelation of Christ will be preceded by various events, some of which are still unfulfilled. At the rapture, Christians will meet Christ in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13), but the revelation occurs on the Mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4, Zechariah 14:9). The changes in nature described at the revelation of Christ (Matthew 28:28-30; 2 Peter 3:10) are unknown at the rapture of the church. Some of these distinctions are contrasted in the following chart.
Demands. Whenever we study Bible. doctrine, we should ask, "What does this mean to me?" Too often, even in recent history, Christians have studied Bible prophecy to argue events or symbols, or to draw charts. When studying prophecy, Christians have failed to make practical application in their personal lives. As a result, those who believe in an imminent rapture are not those who win souls or live pure lives. But TWO DISTINCT EVENTS Rapture of the Church Revelation of Christ 1. Meeting in the air- 1. Standing on Mt. of
1 Thessalonians 4:13 Olives- Zechariah 14:4, Zechariah 14:9 2. Dead in Christ raised- 2. Judgment- 2 Thessalonians 1:7
1 Thessalonians 4:16 3. Imminent- Php 4:5 3. Preceded by signs
4. Day of Christ 4. Day of the Lord
2 Peter 3:10 5. Believer judged- 5. Unbeliever judged
2 Corinthians 5:10 1 Thessalonians 5:4 6. Lower creation unchanged 6. Nature is changed
Matthew 24:29-51. Message of comfort- 7. Message of judgment
1 Thessalonians 4:18 1 Thessalonians 5:4-28. Blessed hope- Titus 2:13 8. Glorious appearing Titus 2:13 since they believe that Christ could return at any time, they should be most active in serving him. The concluding line of Paul’s explanation of the rapture to the Thessalonians reads, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18). If we believe what Paul wrote concerning this doctrine, we must also apply his conclusion. The doctrine of the rapture demands we comfort one another. A second demand of this doctrine challenges our life-style. "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand" (Php 4:5). The word translated "moderation" here literally refers to our self-control or forbearance. If we are consistently looking for the Lord to come, then we will exercise self-discipline in soul-winning, Christian service, and obedience to Christ. The truth about the rapture makes a third demand on our lives. The apostle John wrote, "and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3). God will instantaneously change us to be like Jesus at the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51). George Whitefield realized this truth and once prayed, "Lord, someday I will be like Thee. And if someday, why not today when I can be the greatest blessing to the most people?" In the light of the imminent rapture of the church, this should represent our daily desire and prayer to God. THE TIME OF THE RAPTURE
Good men have studied the prophetic Scriptures and arrived at different conclusions concerning when the rapture occurs in relation to the Great Tribulation. Some claim the rapture occurs after the Tribulation is over because the Church is promised tribulation on earth (John 16:1-2; Revelation 12:12). The Tribulation is a distinct era, not just a general condition of trouble as experienced over the years of history. Others claim the rapture will occur at some point: in the middle of the seven years. Usually they argue that the rapture will occur at "the last trump" (1 Corinthians 15:52), when the seventh trumpet is blown in Revelation 15:1-8. The expression "the last trumpet" is a reference to the four trumpets blown in the wilderness wandering to notify Israel to move out and break camp. This more closely parallels the meaning of "the last trump" at the rapture. It is a notification to Christians that time has come to break camp and move on out. There are several arguments suggesting the rapture comes at the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
Seventieth week. Daniel provided a key to understanding Bible prophecy in his vision of seventy weeks (Daniel 9:24). More accurately, a week was "sevens of years," therefore the last week is seven years long. A gap of some unspecified duration exists between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week, but the final week (seven years) is described in terms of a single unit. Several other passages describe this week as a single unit, the entire week having the same characterization. It is a time of wrath (Revelation 14:19), judgment (Revelation 15:4), and punishment (Isaiah 24:20-21). The week will be marked with darkness (Joel 2:2) and destruction (Joel 1:15). The week is identified as an "hour of trial" (Revelation 3:10). For the church to pass through this week would conflict with the truths of John 5:24, Romans 8:1, and 1 Thessalonians 5:9. The church will not have any further condemnation, judgment, or suffering of the wrath of God. God is just and will not repunish the same sin. Since Christ has suffered our wrath, the church cannot go through the Tribulation and suffer wrath a second time.
Israel and the church. A second key argument for the pretribulation rapture of the church is the biblical distinction of Israel and the church. The church was not announced until after the rejection of the Messiah by Israel. This does not mean the church was an afterthought, but rather it is a mystery, previously kept hidden from others until this present age (Ephesians 3:1-2). God will not renew his program of salvation with Israel again until he has completed his objective with the church.
Israel and the church represent two distinct and separate programs. The rapture is part of God’s program for the church, the revelation of himself to the nations is a part of God’s program for Israel. These are different groups and should not be confused (1 Corinthians 10:32).
If we say the church enters the Great Tribulation, we have difficulty harmonizing that idea with the unique relationship that exists between Christ and the church. Christ and his church are vitally and intricately united together. If the church goes through wrath-i.e., the Great Tribulation-then Christ must also pass through wrath a second time. This conclusion minimizes the accomplishments of Christ in his work at Calvary.
Imminence. One cannot read the New Testament and conclude the writers believed in other than an imminent return of Christ. Christ can return at any moment. Christians are exhorted to keep watching for his return (1 Thessalonians 5:1-8; 2 Peter 3:8-10) and wait for it (1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Titus 2:13). These commands were as meaningful and applicable to the first century as they are today. Even if there are certain signs concerning the end time, that does not preclude the belief in the imminent return of Christ. Signs relate to general conditions on the earth when Christ returns, whereas imminency means he can come at any time.
CONCLUSION The next significant event on God’s prophetic timetable is the rapture of the church. It could occur at any moment. Just that quickly, Christ would descend to meet us in the air. We would instantaneously become like Jesus and begin our eternal existence in his presence.
DAILY READINGS Monday: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Tuesday: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Wednesday: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Thursday: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 Friday: Titus 2:11-15 Saturday: 2 Kings 2:1-11 Sunday: Genesis 5:11-14; Hebrews 11:1-6