Rapture

                    Rapture--Myth or Reality?

The rapture is one of the most controversial topics in the Bible. The word rapture itself does not appear anywhere in the Holy Scriptures. However, it is evident that in the future there are two separate appearings of Jesus Christ, one to collect His saints, and the other to set up His kingdom. I don't believe the "when" is as important is the "fact" that it does happen. Typically, we see in the Bible that anywhere that God was about to judge the earth, He delivered His people, for example, Noah before the flood, and Lot before the destruction of Sodom. However, there are absolutely no guidelines or specifics as to when Jesus will appear the next time. We are not guaranteed absolute protection from the Great Tribulation. After all, Jesus did tell us that we would " be persecuted and put to death for his names' sake". In other words, the Bible does not tell us if we will be spared from that time or not.

Let's look at what the Bible DOES say about the rapture. John 14:2-3 tells us: "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. 3: And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also." Here it is obvious that Jesus plans a physical return for the saints.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 says: "And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." This passage would appear to be a pre-tribulation event, or possibly mid-tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says: "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." This passage tells us that this is a physical happening, and that not all saints will die, nor will we meet Jesus ahead of the dead. The graves will open first, and all saints will ascend up to the Lord. This will take place before the last coming of Jesus at the end of the tribulation, and I'll explain that in a few paragraphs down. Vs. 14 also tells us that the dead saints will return with Jesus to collect their resurrected bodies.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Paul is writing a letter to the Thessalonian church. Rumors were circulating that the rapture had already taken place, and this church was concerned that they had been left behind. It says: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, not by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." Here again, it would seem that the saints may indeed see the anti-christ.

Matthew Chapter 24 is an excellent place to read about the end times. In Verses 27-51 Jesus explains what will happen leading up to and including his return. I will highlight some descriptive passages here instead of typing it all, since it is rather long.

Vs. 27 "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

Vs. 29-31 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 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."

Vs. 36 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. "

Vs. 38 "For as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38: 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."

Vs. 40 "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42: Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

Vs. 44 "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

Jesus explains that this event will happen fast. Verses 30 and 31 seem as if it could happen at the end of the tribulation, possibly before the Battle of Armageddon, but He could be speaking of His glorious appearing since the Bible tells us that He comes with Power and Great Glory. Notice in latter passages here, though, it seems as if life is going on as normal, with 2 being in the field, one taken and the other left. This could speculate pre-tribulation rapture.

In Revelations 3:10 we see a promise to the church of Philadelphia, "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." The only problem with this passage of scripture is that we know that Jesus addressed certain church ages in these letters. The church age referred to here is already past history. However, after the letters to the churches, the church is not mentioned again in the book of revelation. Could it mean that the institution of church as we know it doesn't exist after that point because it was raptured?

Revelations 4:1-2 "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit; and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne." What a privilege! John was "raptured" up to heaven to see future events. Many people say this is an example of what is to come. John was raptured up to heaven before any of these events took place, or were shown to him.

Here are some contrasting events to show 2 very separate comings of Jesus.

   RAPTURE                    GLORIOUS APPEARING

1. Christ comes in the air           Christ comes with His own to earth
     for His own

2. Translation of all Christians       No One translated

3. Saints taken to Father's              Resurrected do not see Father's
       House                                                      House

4. No judgment on earth                Jesus judges inhabitants

5. Rapture could happen                Can't happen for 7 years (then
    anytime                                           you could predict it)

6. Church taken to Heaven           Jesus sets up kingdom on earth

7. For believers only                      Affects all humanity

8. No signs for rapture                  Many signs for Christ's return

9. Time of joy                                 Time of mourning

10. Marriage of Lamb                     Bride descends with Him

11. Only His own see Him               Every eye shall see Him

So we see that there are two very real comings of Jesus to earth. The rapture is deliberately hidden from time, because only the Father knows the day and hour, not even the Son Himself. The rapture could take place today, or next week, or 7 years from now, or even longer. It is not meant for us to know of the time of His coming, it's just one of those things in the Bible that shall remain a mystery until we see Him. Just remember that Jesus said, "Be ye watchful and therefore ready." We should anticipate His return every day, so we are not caught unaware.