Does the Bible really refer to a rapture? What is it? What will it be like? Are there any places in the Bible that give a clear indication as to when Jesus will return or is His return completely shrouded in mystery and uncertainty?
Do not confuse fictional novels with the truth. Be certain of this one thing: Jesus is coming again to this earth in judgment to reign with those who are His whom He gathered together with Him. Are you His? Don’t wait because there will be a time when it is too late. Let’s examine this step by step.
The Rapture
I Thessalonians 4:16,17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
In this scripture we see that the event which is called the rapture is clearly described and foretold as that which will take place. The Greek word translated ‘caught up’ is ‘harpazo’ and means “to seize, to catch (away, up), to pull, to take (by force)”. The English word ‘rapture’ means “to be caught up, to be taken up, to be overtaken.”
Matthew 24:30-31 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Here the word ‘gather together’ is ‘episunago’ and means “to collect upon the same place”.
Matthew 24:37- 42 But as in the days of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken and the other left. Watch therefore for you know not what hour your Lord does come.
Jesus says that he when returns it will be a normal day with everyone carrying on their normal activities such as work and celebrations. When he returns he will take those who are his. Then he warns us to be ready because we do not know what hour he is coming.
Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ‘You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.
Two beings (either angels appearing as men or two men) clearly tell us that Jesus will return just like he left - that is he will return in the clouds which is what the other scriptures also tell us.
Signs of the Rapture
While it is true that Jesus says that “you do not know what hour your Lord comes,” he also went on to describe and tell us the events that will take place before he returns in the clouds to take (rapture) his saints. When Jesus was on the earth even he did not know exactly when these things would take place, the Father had not revealed them to Him. Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no man knows, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. However after he rose from the dead there is an indication that He knew that information then.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power.
Now this verse might also seem to say that it is not for us to know the times or the seasons either, but Jesus was speaking to those disciples 2000 years ago. He knew these things were far off in the future and he knew they could not understand, but he specifically told us to watch for the signs of his coming.
Matthew 24:32-34 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh: So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
What generation? The generation that sees and understands the signs of his return and the end of the world. Throughout the Old Testament, the fig tree is a symbol of the nation of Israel. One of the signs of Jesus’ return is the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948.
Matthew 24:15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel... (vs.21) then there will be a great tribulation... Then in verse 29 Jesus says, immediately after the tribulation of those days ...the sign of the Son of man will appear in the sky and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory...and with a great trumpet the angels will gather together his elect.
Notice the sequence of events here: First the abomination of desolation; then a great tribulation; immediately after the tribulation Jesus returns. Notice that Jesus says after the tribulation not before or during. Other scriptures refer to the saints suffering great persecution during this time and are tempted to being deceived. Notice also that He says that people will see Him coming in the clouds! When Jesus comes to gather His elect it will not be a secret, people will not simply “disappear”, the whole world will see Him and they will see the resurrection of believers. They will see the transformation of mortals being changed into immortals and they will see them (us) rising into the air to meet Jesus. Then they will mourn because they know the end has come and they missed him.
Revelation 20:4, 5, 6 ...those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. All believers who have died will be resurrected (including the “they” mentioned above who went through the tribulation) and those who are alive at his return. Since “the first resurrection” occurs after the tribulation there could not have been one before that could there! Those who believe the rapture takes place before the tribulation completely ignore this verse in Revelation. They come to a false conclusion basing their beliefs on I Thessalonians 5:9 “God has not appointed (or destined) us for wrath...” They view the tribulation as a time of wrath and use this verse to proclaim that therefore we will not go through it. The tribulation is indeed a time of wrath; it is the wrath of Satan upon the earth against mankind especially Christians and Jews. Both Christians and Jews have always historically gone through times of great persecution. Our present time is actually some of the worst persecution that has ever taken place on earth. The above verse in Thessalonians is referring to the wrath of God at the judgment not the wrath of Satan on earth. Be warned about these things dear believer. Those who teach such things are mistaken - They want to believe that they will not go through the tribulation and so they have invented an interpretation of scripture to suit their own desires. This scripture in revelation is very clear – the first resurrection and the rapture take place at the end of the tribulation.
In Daniel 2:31- 45, Daniel tells king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon the dream that the king had and its interpretation. The king saw a statue of a man whose head was gold, arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. God says that these are five kingdoms which arise and rule one after the other. But then there is a sixth kingdom which appears after those five. In the dream there came a stone made without hands that struck the statue on the feet, crushed all other kingdoms, became a great mountain and filled all the earth. Notice that the rock appeared after the kingdom of iron and clay was established and reigning on the earth. Verse 44 says, “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed...and it will endure forever.” Notice it says “In the days of those kings”, not before the days, but in the days of those kings. What kings? The kings of the kingdom of iron and clay for the rock struck the statue on the feet. This means that that kingdom must be on the earth and reigning when Jesus returns. This ten nation or ten person ruling kingdom must be running the earth both before during and after the rapture.
Summary
The abomination of desolation takes place.
Three and one half years tribulation begins following the abomination of desolation.
Jesus returns toward the end of that 3 ½ year period known as the great tribulation.
Jesus returns in the clouds just as he left.
His appearing will be visible to all.
His appearing will be accompanied by trumpet blasts and shouting!
The dead “in Christ” will be resurrected and ascend into the clouds to meet Jesus. Immediately with them those who are alive and in Christ will be changed (transformed) and will also rise into the air to meet Jesus.
Why is knowing the time of the rapture important? It is important because you dear believer will go through the tribulation here on earth if you are alive at that time. So you must be aware of the things (current events) that happen right before your eyes (in the news). By the way do not make the mistake of believing that everything that is mentioned in Revelations is a world wide event, most of them are signs that occur in a locality not the entire world. You must understand and know the fulfillment of these prophesies when they happen and make the right choices. You must not take the mark of the beast. You must be able to recognize when that mark is being presented to you and refuse it with your very life. We are warned many times throughout scripture that false prophets, (proclamations, sayings, teachings, etc.), false Christ’s, false signs and wonders will appear at the end, and you must be able to recognize them and not be deceived by them. Jesus will reign on the earth for a thousand years. The resurrected believers will serve his administration. You have an opportunity to believe right now dear friend. Will you choose to believe Jesus today? Take Him up on His offer of eternal life before it is too late.
Remember too that some of you are closer to the end than others. Your personal end of your time on earth may come at any time unless God has revealed something differently to you (God is giving dreams and visions during this time in history.) So no longer be living your lives for the things of this world, but rather “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you!” Matthew 6:33. This does not refer to salvation, but to His Kingdom - that is - His ruling and reigning in you and through you toward others that your life may be a glory and wonder for Him!
© 2007 GODSAYS
Do not confuse fictional novels with the truth. Be certain of this one thing: Jesus is coming again to this earth in judgment to reign with those who are His whom He gathered together with Him. Are you His? Don’t wait because there will be a time when it is too late. Let’s examine this step by step.
The Rapture
I Thessalonians 4:16,17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
In this scripture we see that the event which is called the rapture is clearly described and foretold as that which will take place. The Greek word translated ‘caught up’ is ‘harpazo’ and means “to seize, to catch (away, up), to pull, to take (by force)”. The English word ‘rapture’ means “to be caught up, to be taken up, to be overtaken.”
Matthew 24:30-31 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Here the word ‘gather together’ is ‘episunago’ and means “to collect upon the same place”.
Matthew 24:37- 42 But as in the days of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken and the other left. Watch therefore for you know not what hour your Lord does come.
Jesus says that he when returns it will be a normal day with everyone carrying on their normal activities such as work and celebrations. When he returns he will take those who are his. Then he warns us to be ready because we do not know what hour he is coming.
Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ‘You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.
Two beings (either angels appearing as men or two men) clearly tell us that Jesus will return just like he left - that is he will return in the clouds which is what the other scriptures also tell us.
Signs of the Rapture
While it is true that Jesus says that “you do not know what hour your Lord comes,” he also went on to describe and tell us the events that will take place before he returns in the clouds to take (rapture) his saints. When Jesus was on the earth even he did not know exactly when these things would take place, the Father had not revealed them to Him. Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no man knows, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. However after he rose from the dead there is an indication that He knew that information then.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power.
Now this verse might also seem to say that it is not for us to know the times or the seasons either, but Jesus was speaking to those disciples 2000 years ago. He knew these things were far off in the future and he knew they could not understand, but he specifically told us to watch for the signs of his coming.
Matthew 24:32-34 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh: So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
What generation? The generation that sees and understands the signs of his return and the end of the world. Throughout the Old Testament, the fig tree is a symbol of the nation of Israel. One of the signs of Jesus’ return is the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948.
Matthew 24:15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel... (vs.21) then there will be a great tribulation... Then in verse 29 Jesus says, immediately after the tribulation of those days ...the sign of the Son of man will appear in the sky and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory...and with a great trumpet the angels will gather together his elect.
Notice the sequence of events here: First the abomination of desolation; then a great tribulation; immediately after the tribulation Jesus returns. Notice that Jesus says after the tribulation not before or during. Other scriptures refer to the saints suffering great persecution during this time and are tempted to being deceived. Notice also that He says that people will see Him coming in the clouds! When Jesus comes to gather His elect it will not be a secret, people will not simply “disappear”, the whole world will see Him and they will see the resurrection of believers. They will see the transformation of mortals being changed into immortals and they will see them (us) rising into the air to meet Jesus. Then they will mourn because they know the end has come and they missed him.
Revelation 20:4, 5, 6 ...those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. All believers who have died will be resurrected (including the “they” mentioned above who went through the tribulation) and those who are alive at his return. Since “the first resurrection” occurs after the tribulation there could not have been one before that could there! Those who believe the rapture takes place before the tribulation completely ignore this verse in Revelation. They come to a false conclusion basing their beliefs on I Thessalonians 5:9 “God has not appointed (or destined) us for wrath...” They view the tribulation as a time of wrath and use this verse to proclaim that therefore we will not go through it. The tribulation is indeed a time of wrath; it is the wrath of Satan upon the earth against mankind especially Christians and Jews. Both Christians and Jews have always historically gone through times of great persecution. Our present time is actually some of the worst persecution that has ever taken place on earth. The above verse in Thessalonians is referring to the wrath of God at the judgment not the wrath of Satan on earth. Be warned about these things dear believer. Those who teach such things are mistaken - They want to believe that they will not go through the tribulation and so they have invented an interpretation of scripture to suit their own desires. This scripture in revelation is very clear – the first resurrection and the rapture take place at the end of the tribulation.
In Daniel 2:31- 45, Daniel tells king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon the dream that the king had and its interpretation. The king saw a statue of a man whose head was gold, arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. God says that these are five kingdoms which arise and rule one after the other. But then there is a sixth kingdom which appears after those five. In the dream there came a stone made without hands that struck the statue on the feet, crushed all other kingdoms, became a great mountain and filled all the earth. Notice that the rock appeared after the kingdom of iron and clay was established and reigning on the earth. Verse 44 says, “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed...and it will endure forever.” Notice it says “In the days of those kings”, not before the days, but in the days of those kings. What kings? The kings of the kingdom of iron and clay for the rock struck the statue on the feet. This means that that kingdom must be on the earth and reigning when Jesus returns. This ten nation or ten person ruling kingdom must be running the earth both before during and after the rapture.
Summary
The abomination of desolation takes place.
Three and one half years tribulation begins following the abomination of desolation.
Jesus returns toward the end of that 3 ½ year period known as the great tribulation.
Jesus returns in the clouds just as he left.
His appearing will be visible to all.
His appearing will be accompanied by trumpet blasts and shouting!
The dead “in Christ” will be resurrected and ascend into the clouds to meet Jesus. Immediately with them those who are alive and in Christ will be changed (transformed) and will also rise into the air to meet Jesus.
Why is knowing the time of the rapture important? It is important because you dear believer will go through the tribulation here on earth if you are alive at that time. So you must be aware of the things (current events) that happen right before your eyes (in the news). By the way do not make the mistake of believing that everything that is mentioned in Revelations is a world wide event, most of them are signs that occur in a locality not the entire world. You must understand and know the fulfillment of these prophesies when they happen and make the right choices. You must not take the mark of the beast. You must be able to recognize when that mark is being presented to you and refuse it with your very life. We are warned many times throughout scripture that false prophets, (proclamations, sayings, teachings, etc.), false Christ’s, false signs and wonders will appear at the end, and you must be able to recognize them and not be deceived by them. Jesus will reign on the earth for a thousand years. The resurrected believers will serve his administration. You have an opportunity to believe right now dear friend. Will you choose to believe Jesus today? Take Him up on His offer of eternal life before it is too late.
Remember too that some of you are closer to the end than others. Your personal end of your time on earth may come at any time unless God has revealed something differently to you (God is giving dreams and visions during this time in history.) So no longer be living your lives for the things of this world, but rather “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you!” Matthew 6:33. This does not refer to salvation, but to His Kingdom - that is - His ruling and reigning in you and through you toward others that your life may be a glory and wonder for Him!
© 2007 GODSAYS