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The Rapture

Melvin L. Clifford

 

The Rapture will be one of the most glorious happenings in human history.  Predicted by the prophets and promised by Christ, this unprecedented event of unimaginable magnitude will suddenly and unexpectedly burst upon the scene of human affairs.  The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout; the trumpet will sound along with the commanding voice of the archangel.  The dead in Christ will rise first and those who are alive will join them to meet the Lord in the air.  (See I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

 

The word rapture comes from Jerome's translation of Scripture into the Latin language in AD 405.  He translated the Greek term for harpazo, "to be caught up," into the Latin, rapturo.  From this ancient translation, we have the English rapture meaning "to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air."  Although "rapture" is most generally used to express Christ's return, this future event is also known as the second coming of Christ, the translation of the saints, the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ.

 

Christ's Return Promised

At the Last Supper, under the ominous shadow of Christ's pending passion, the Lord spoke the comforting promise of the Rapture to His disciples.  He said, "Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3).  This promise was first confirmed by angels at the Ascension with the assurance that, "this same Jesus...shall so come in like manner" (Acts 1:11).  Further explanation and confirmation of the teaching of the Rapture is found throughout the epistles and in the Book of Revelation.

 

Paul Dispels Ignorance

Concerning the Rapture

Not having received the expected promise of Christ's return, along with martyrdom and the death of their loved ones, the early believers became overwhelmed with grief and feelings of hopelessness.  Not wanting these believers to grieve unnecessarily, Paul sought to dispel their ignorance concerning the afterlife, the Resurrection, and the Rapture.  "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" (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).  What Paul communicated to these early Christians remains a relevant truth to this day.

 

Rapture Secrets Revealed

The apostle Paul began his revelation to the Corinthians with, "Behold, I shew you a mystery."  Although these New Testament believers were aware of Christ's promised return, their understanding of the Rapture was limited.  Paul explained, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (I Corinthians 15:51-53).  This glorious truth takes on added meaning when we consider John's contribution to this doctrine: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (I John 3:2).

 

A "twinkling of an eye" has been defined as 1/25th of a second.  A "moment" however, has been described as being a time so brief that it is impossible to measure.  Think of it!  In less time than we can comprehend, we will be changed to like Him forever!

 

The Rapture Foreshadowed

A number of Old Testament passages forshadow the Rapture.  "Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24).  Noah was instructed to build an ark that would allow its occupants to rise above the wrath of God (Genesis 6).  Judgment was pronounced on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Angels brought Lot and his family forth and set them outside the doomed city because the heavenly messenger said, "I cannot do any thing till though be come thither" (Genesis 19:22).  Elijah was taken "up out of the den" (Daniel 6:23).

 

Staying Rapture Ready

Christ informed us that without the new birth one could neither see nor enter the kingdom.  Peter explained the way to be born again in Acts 2 and John spoke of the church, as a bride who "hath made herself ready" (Revelations 19:7).

 

Several Scriptures provide instructions about what to do while we wait for the Rapture:

  • Assemble and encourage: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25).

  • Watch and pray: "The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (I Peter 4:7).

  • Be steadfast and unmoveable: Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth night" (James 5:8).

  • Show love and kindness: "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door" (James 5:9).

  • Be about the Master's business: "Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13).

  • Keep the faith and be holy: "We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him;...and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself" (I John 3:2-3).

  • Guard your reward: "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" (I John 2:28).

  • Wait patiently: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.  Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:7-8).  "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Hebrews 10:37).

Rapture Benefits

Nothing has provided more comfort to the grieving than the promise of Resurrection and reunion with those who have died in the faith.  Nothing has fostered more spiritual awakenings, encouraged more evangelism, or stirred more saints to soul winning than the concept of the Rapture and the fate of those left behind.  The pending Rapture causes saints to purify themselves and to watch and obey, lest coming suddenly, Christ finds them unprepared.  The Rapture gives the church the hope of being "caught up ... to meet the Lord in the air" (I Thessalonians 4:17).  No more heartache or sorrow, no disease or death.  We will be changed to be like Him, to forever live with Him in a place that He has presonally prepared for those who "love his appearing" (II Timothy 4:8).

 

The New Testament ends with Christ's references to His return.  Three separate and distinct times in the last chapter of the Book of Revelation.  Christ capstones the "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13) with these words, "Behold, I come quickly" (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20).  John's answer to Christ's definitive statement speaks for the saints of all ages, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).