The Rapture - We Will Not All Die - 1st Corinthians 15:50-54 (NASB)
In this passage, the Apostle Paul describes the transformation of the believer into the Heavenly Kingdom of God. A perishable, mortal human body cannot enter the Kingdom, therefore believers will be given new bodies that are imperishable and immortal. Paul reveals a mystery: every believer will not die but some will be translated into the Kingdom of God in the blink of an eye. During the Rapture, living Christians will enter the Kingdom directly without experiencing death! Paul uses the term "sleep" which is Greek idiom or a metaphor for physical death. But when a believer, either dead or alive is changed, they are immortal for eternity:
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality ...
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality ...
The Rapture - Christians Taken Alive - 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NASB)
The Apostle Paul again uses the idiom for physical death, this time clearly explaining that those Christians who have experienced physical death will be resurrected by Christ. Here again we see the Rapture in the 17th verse, which is the Greek word "harpazo" translated into English as "caught up":
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 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.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 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.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
He Ascended to Heaven - Revelation 12:5 (NASB)
The Greek word "harpazo" is again translated into English as "caught up" in Revelation 12:5. Here it is used to describe the Ascension of Christ into Heaven; a demonstrated rapture event:
5 And she gave birth to a Son, a Male Child, Who is to rule all the nations with a Rod of Iron;
and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.
and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.
There He Goes - Luke 24:49-53 (NASB)
In the Gospel According to Luke, Jesus tells the Disciples to await the Holy Spirit of God, Whom Jesus would send unto them after He ascended to God the Father's right hand. The Disciples are ordered to stay in the city of Jerusalem until the Spirit comes upon them. In the city of Bethany, Jesus blesses His Disciples and Ascends into the Kingdom of God on high. His Rapture is found in verse 51:
49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.
52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and were continually in the temple praising God.
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.
52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and were continually in the temple praising God.
He'll Be Back - Acts of the Apostles 1:6-11 (NASB)
The Ascension of Christ into Heaven is described in the first chapter of Acts; a book written by the same author of the Gospel According to Luke. The Apostle Luke is classically known as a medical doctor having particular attention to detail. As expected, this short passage contains a great deal of information.
First the Disciples asked Jesus if Israel would soon be restored as His Kingdom. Jesus had other plans which included the birth of the Gentile Church and evangelizing the world. Therefore, Jesus told them that the appointed times ("times") and how much time would pass ("epochs") were a mystery of God the Father and known only to Him. Though signs are visible, the exact day and hour is not known.
The demonstrated Rapture event in this passage occurs in verse 9 immediately after Jesus reaffirms the Great Commission. Suddenly two angels, which always appear as men in the Bible, inform the Disciples that the visible, Second Coming of Christ will occur in a like manner, albeit reversed:
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the Earth."
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11 They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, Who has been taken up from you into Heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven."
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the Earth."
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11 They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, Who has been taken up from you into Heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven."
Two Witnesses Raptured - Up With a Shout - Revelation 11:11-12 (KJV)
In Revelation Chapter 11 we discover another demonstrated rapture event as God resurrects the Two Witnesses and then takes them directly into Heaven in plain view of the world:
11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.
12 And they heard a loud voice from Heaven saying to them, "Come up here", Then they went up into Heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
12 And they heard a loud voice from Heaven saying to them, "Come up here", Then they went up into Heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
Come Up Here - Revelation 4:1 (NASB)
In Revelation Chapter 4 we see yet another demonstrated rapture event as the Apostle John is called up into Heaven to view the events of the future. This event was much like the Apostle Paul's 2nd Corinthians journey:
1 AFTER these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in Heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
Sneak Preview - 2nd Corinthians 12:2-4 (NASB)
In 2nd Corinthians, "harpazo" is once again translated into English as "caught up" describing the bodily or spiritual rapture of the Apostle Paul into Heaven. The First Heaven is the sky above the Earth. The Second Heaven includes that which is known as outer space. The Third Heaven is the dwelling place of Almighty God:
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- such a man was caught up to the Third Heaven.
3 And I know how such a man -- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows --
4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
3 And I know how such a man -- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows --
4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
The Rapture - Surprise! - Luke 17:26-36 (NASB)
Jesus speaks about the Rapture in the Gospel according to Luke. Though He speaks of two destructive events, the important focus is that believers are removed by God before the REALLY tough times happen on Earth; i.e. prior to God's wrath being poured out. Regarding Sodom and Gomorrah, the destruction happens after Lot departs from Sodom. The Rapture is seen in verses 34-36 which also demonstrates that the event will happen simultaneously in each of the three major time zones on the Earth. Working in the field is done in the Morning (36), grinding is done in the Afternoon (35) and sleeping, of course, occurs at Night(34):
26 And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;
29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all.
30 It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
31 On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left.
36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.
27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;
29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all.
30 It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
31 On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left.
36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.
The Rapture - They Were Preoccupied - Matthew 24:37-44 (NASB)
Jesus speaks again about the Rapture in the Gospel according to Matthew. Here, He speaks again of the destructive worldwide flood. However, the important focus in this passage is that most of the world is busy with their "normal" daily lives. Therefore they did not comprehend what was coming and it took them completely by surprise, despite Noah's preaching. The Rapture is seen in verses 40-41 but only two time zones are referenced here. The Greek word "parousia" is translated here as "coming". However, the last part of this passage absolutely states that the Rapture will be a SURPRISE and occurs on an average, boring day, when even Christians think not:
37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
42 Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the Thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
42 Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the Thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
For nearly 2,000 years, Christians have been eagerly awaiting the Return of Jesus Christ to Earth. This anticipation has inspired fervent evangelism and steadfastness in trials and tribulations. Jesus admonished Christians to not become so preoccupied with the cares of this life that they become unfruitful. Jesus promised that the Faithful will be accounted worthy to ESCAPE the terrible things that will come upon the Earth in the Last Days. Some ridicule "escapism", yet Jesus taught it Himself:
34 And TAKE HEED to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and CARES OF THIS LIFE, and so THAT DAY COME UPON YOU UNAWARES.
35 For as a SNARE SHALL IT COME on ALL THEM that dwell on the face of the WHOLE EARTH.
36 WATCH YE THEREFORE, and PRAY ALWAYS, that ye may be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS that SHALL COME to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
35 For as a SNARE SHALL IT COME on ALL THEM that dwell on the face of the WHOLE EARTH.
36 WATCH YE THEREFORE, and PRAY ALWAYS, that ye may be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS that SHALL COME to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
What Happens to Those Who are Left Behind?
Though many will be converted to the Gospel during the Tribulation Period (Revelation 20:4) it will be the most difficult time ever seen on the Earth. The fifth and final earthly kingdom of Daniel's prophecy will arise and be led by the man known as the Antichrist (false messiah), and he will be assisted by the False Prophet (false witness) and they will cause people to worship a False Deity (false god) which is called the "image of the beast". It will also be the time of conversion of the Nation of Israel to the Gospel of Christ (Romans 11:25-29).
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour wherein the Son of Man Cometh" (Matthew 25:1-13 KJV)
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