What is The Rapture?

[Bronson]

According to my online dictionary, the word rapture means “an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion” and “being carried away by overwhelming emotion.” But according to the Bible, the Rapture is the event in which all who have put their trust in Jesus Christ are suddenly caught up from the earth and taken into heaven by Him. The English word rapture is a translation of the Greek word harpazo. It occurs fourteen times in the New Testament, and it means “to carry off by force,” “to seize,” or “to carry away.”

To help you get your bearings concerning the Rapture, please read these words thoughtfully and carefully.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Corinthians 15:51–53

I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 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 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. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

By putting these passages together a stunning sequence of events becomes clear. But remember that everything described in these verses took place “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” We know this, right? It all happened in a split second. However, to help us see it more easily, the Lord slows down the film to super-slow-motion so we can see it frame by frame.

 

[JLB]

According to my online dictionary, the word rapture means “an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion” and “being carried away by overwhelming emotion.” But according to the Bible, the Rapture is the event in which all who have put their trust in Jesus Christ are suddenly caught up from the earth and taken into heaven by Him. The English word rapture is a translation of the Greek word harpazo. It occurs fourteen times in the New Testament, and it means “to carry off by force,” “to seize,” or “to carry away.”

To help you get your bearings concerning the Rapture, please read these words thoughtfully and carefully.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Corinthians 15:51–53

I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 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 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. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

By putting these passages together a stunning sequence of events becomes clear. But remember that everything described in these verses took place “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” We know this, right? It all happened in a split second. However, to help us see it more easily, the Lord slows down the film to super-slow-motion so we can see it frame by frame.

The rapture is the resurrection for living people.

It’s where the physical body is transfigured to a resurrection body that will never die, just like the dead in Christ.


The resurrection of the dead in Christ is 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.
There are some key points to understand about this doctrine.

• The resurrection and rapture occur at His coming.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:15

• The resurrection and rapture occur as one event, in order, with the resurrection occurring first.

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. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

• This is where the Lord gathers together His people.

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. 1 Thessalonians 4:18



Once His people are caught together with Him high above the earth, then comes the destruction of the wicked. This destruction of the wicked includes the Antichrist.

This Second Coming of Christ is called the Day of the LORD.


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. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4


Please take note that the Day of the LORD does not come as a thief in the night for His people who are watching for the signs He gave for us to watch for.

• But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.