Mystery of the Church
1 Cor 15:51-52 "Behold, I show 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
1 Th 4:13-18 " But 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."
One of the several mysteries (hidden truth) of the Church is what has come to be known as "THE RAPTURE". A term not found in the scriptures, but is the Latin rendering of "CAUGHT UP" or a snatching away.
Regardless of your religious affiliations, the bible says just what it says. How, then, are we to understand this very important concept? If we look at scripture, (1) that it is God's revealed Word to us, (2) He is the author and the revealer, (3) Be objective and not sectarian, we might see and understand a lot differently. After nearly 30 years of study and searching God's thruths I came to this non-sectarian, non-denominational conclusion. I hope you will take time to chew it up. If it taste good, swallow it. It's food for thought. I believe that God's Word is personal and that we must, as Paul says in 2 Tim 2:15, " Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." because, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Before we can fully grasp the rapture principle, and of course there are a myriad of theories floating around, we must first fully understand the CHURCH. Who and what is the church and what is its purpose? Once again, there are many different views and teaching about the church. Properly understanding the CHURCH puts everything else in proper perspective.
How do we get here from there? Paul says in Romans 11:16-23 that we, non-Jews, are a "wild olive branch" grafted or placed in to the natural tree. This was done so that we could be fellowheirs and partakers of God's promises in Christ, (Ephe.3:1-6) and again in Colo.2:26-27. We will discuss the method God ahs chosen to add or graft us into His building later, but first, a little background history is needful.
God created man in His likeness and in His image. It was God's intention from the beginning for man to possess the character and attributes of his creator. But God did not want androids so He also instilled in man the freedom of choice which allows man to make his own decisions. One of man's choices was to disobey God which resulted in man's innate ability to be God-conscious. He became spiritually dead to God and carnally alive to self. The chaotic result led to the total destruction of what God had created. But before the end came, God chose one (Noah) who was obedient to Him and had Noah build an ark of safety for his family to carry them above the destruction that would come. Noah belived God by faith, not knowing what rain or a flood was, and was kept safe.
The remnant began again, but man's basic nature had not changed so God chose another man, Abraham, who by faith believed and did what God told him to do. Because of this God promised Abraham that he would become the father of a nation. Physically, the genetic sire of the Israelites, spiritually, the father of those who believe by faith. Abraham's grandson, Jacob whose name God changed to Israel, became the father of the twelve tribes (families, the Israelites) of Israel , God's chosen people.
The Israelites eventually became the slaves of the Egyptians (God's way of protecting them so they could multiply) for 400 years. God chose another man, Moses, to deliver His people from their slavery. He promised them a land "flowing with milk and honey" which would be their land. It was to be the place God intended for them to be. In order to get to that promised land, the Israelites must journey through the "wilderness." Once again they refused to trust God to lead them safely and they perished in the wilderness, (except those who believed by faith in the operation of God).
The Old Testament is repleat with God's dealings with His people and their refusal to obey. Through it all, God never forgot His people and promised them a Messiah, Saviour, Deliverer. He, through His prophets, told them how He would come, where He would be born and even gave them signs to recognize His birth. But the children of Israel, because they had the LAW and maintained the outward observanves of the LAW believed they were alright to the extent that when their Saviour, Messiah, Delivere came they were so blinded with themselves they refused to accept Him.
Through all of Israel's experiences, the events all pointed to Christ and to faith in Him. As Jesus Christ began His ministry of reconciliation He told His disciple to go only to the children of Israel (Matt.10:5-6). It was the Father's purpose to bring His people back to Himself. When they continued to refuse, God went two the next phase of His plan, (Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.) It was to call out from among the non-Jews a people of faith who would make up the Body of Christ. We don't want to confuse Israel with the Church, (read Romans, chapter 11), for in Christ there is neither Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or freeborn, but all one in Him (Gal.3:28). Believers make up His body and He is the Head of the Body and that through His body the Father would continue to reconcile the world to Himself,(2 Cor.5:18-20) We have become His new creation, like His first ( made in His image and likeness). We are to grow up into Christ as the Father intended, (Romans 8:29).
Before God allowed the flood to destroy the then known world, He provided an escape to Noah and his family from the destruction. Before God would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot was removed. We see other types of the "rapture in Enoch who was translated, God took him up. Also with Elijah who was caught up in a whirlwind, alive. The Scripture speaks for itself and through it we are able to see the Father's intention for His children. Notice Paul's writing to the Thessalonians, 1 Th 5:9-10 "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." and 1 Th 1:10 "...to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
These are but a few verses that indicate we will leave here before God begins to pour out His wrath on the earth to both redeem the earth and continue to deal with the nation Israel. The Word teaches us in Romans 11 of God's temporary respite for Israel until the "fullness of the Gentiles has come in."
Now there are several views as to the time of this "catching away" and space does do allow us to examine all these views. They have been labelled, "pre-tribulation", "mid-tribulation", and "post-tribulation." Most all will agree that the "Tribulation" or "time of Jacob's trouble"(Jere.30:7) will be a time of God's wrath. If God's children, the CHURCH, is not appointed unto wrath it is only logical to believe she will be remove prior to that time.
The "catching away" of the Church is called a mystery that had not been revealed to the prophets of old as it had been revealed to the Apostles by the Holy Spirit. It is considered a special, glorious event when the Bride-groom comes for His Bride. It is to be regarded as a joyous, anticipated event by the Church and not one of debate and denial. The Bride is to remain faithful and always looking for "the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
The church I am refering to is the "ecclesia" that Jesus said He would build. Not a religious, denominational entity. His church is world-wide and is referred to as the "Body of Christ" (Ephe.1:22) and each member is added to the body as the Father sees fit (1 Cor.12:27). Now then, let us rightly divide the word of truth.
We , as the CHURCH universal who believe by faith wait for the glorious union, to wit when the Body is united with the HEAD, the Bride with the Bride-groom (Rom.8:22-23; I Thess.4:16-17).
If you have questions or comments, please let me know.