The Reality of the Rapture
The significance of this study is not to let ourselves fall under wrong teachings, or to steal your faith and hope concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus who will receive his body (the church) unto himself.
After studying for years on the topic of prophecy and revelation, which was mostly for my own personal knowledge. At the time I never thought I would be teaching it to believers.
The closer we get to the end times; I have begun to realize the body of Christ needs to understand these end time events.
That is why I believe this study will help you get a firm grip on the hope that is set before you concerning Christ’s return.
I believe it will reassure you of the reality of the rapture. First, we must not ignore the Word of God.
Some say the bible never mentions the word rapture.
Technically that is true.
The word Rapture is not found in the bible. It is simply a substitute word we use that means “caught up” or “a catching away.
The rapture of Gods people can be found throughout the scriptures. Not just in revelation but in biblical history as well.
The rapture isn’t just a future event. Three raptures have already taken place.
Hebrews 11:5 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God
2 Kings 2:11 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Mark 16:19 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
The bible even tells us of Old Testament saints who were resurrected when Jesus arose and were seen walking the streets of Jerusalem before they were caught up into Heaven.
Matthew 27:52-53 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
This was Just after Jesus’ resurrection. Even thought they were resurrected they couldn’t go to heaven yet because Jesus had not returned to heaven to prepare for them.
There is nothing new about such teachings. They have been around since the apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian church.
Revelation 3:10 10 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.
To the unsaved person thinking in the natural this might seem somewhat illogical.
Doctrines that are not scriptural can rob you of the promises of God. There are those who say we are not going to go up but grow up in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 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.
16 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:
17 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
In addition to the coming rapture of the church, revelation tells us of a mid tribulation rapture of a great multitude of tribulation saints
The following gives details on this subject.
Revelation 7: 1-17
Afterwards there will be a rapture of the two witnesses who stand against the antichrist.
Revelation 14:1-3 14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
There you will find the 144,000 Jewish evangelists that have been raptured.
To say there is no rapture you would have to ignore the bible and close your mind to the words of the Apostle Paul and others.
The bible reveals that there are several raptures, of which three have already taken place.
The rapture of Enoch, Elijah and Jesus have already taken place next is the church then the mid tribulation saints.
At the three- and one-half year period the 144,000 Jewish evangelist and at the last day of the great tribulation the two witnesses will be raptured
If you are a born-again believer it is the heart cry of Jesus that you be with him where he is.
He said so himself in John
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 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 and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Notice Jesus did not say: I will come again you will receive me unto yourself, that where you are, I may be also.
It will be a wonderful time in heaven but it won’t last long. We will be coming back to Earth with Jesus to rule and reign for a thousand years at the end of the seven year period.
Jesus said, I will receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also. That is a big difference in those two statements.
Revelation 19: 11-16 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
Actually, you have to have help to misunderstand what Jesus is saying
Matthew 24:29-31 29 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:
30 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.
31 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.
Some critics have accused those who believe in the rapture of looking for a great escape. It is scriptural to look for the rapture.
Luke 21:36 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.
Paul is referring to when Jesus comes in the clouds to receive us unto Himself, and we go with him to heaven for the marriage supper of the Lamb.
4 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.
If there wasn’t a rapture the church wouldn’t be able to take part in that marriage supper because it takes place in heaven after the rapture.
There is another rapture, during the last three- and one-half years of tribulation on earth; the saints will be at a banquet with Jesus in Heaven.
This is something that too many believers are worried about, and it is not necessary for the child of God to consider going thru any part of the tribulation.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 3 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;
4 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.
Before we go any farther let’s examine the phrase falling away. Many have taken that phrases at face value and said that in the end times people are going to fall away from the church in great numbers.
The word of God does not mention such a falling away.
We need to ask ourselves what does that phrase mean?
After doing some research I find that the words falling away can also be translated a removing away from.
I believe that Paul is saying that the church must be removed away from the earth before the Anti-christ can be revealed.
2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
There has been a lot of controversy over the phrase, he that letteth and until he be taken out of the way.
Some think the he in this phrase is the Holy Spirit. that he must be taken out of the earth before the antichrist can be revealed.
But if you will study the scripture you will find that during the tribulation period there are going to be multitudes of people saved.
Since people can’t be saved without the Holy Spirit drawing them to Christ, we know it is not the Holy Spirit that will be removed.
He that is taken out of the way is the body of Christ, the Church. It is the true church who is holding back the antichrist.
The body of Christ is inhibiting him and he will not be revealed or released until the church is taken out of the way.
People ask if the rapture of the church is a biblical certainty and why doesn’t the book of revelation say much about it?
I consider that a fair question. It is because the majority of the book of revelation is written about events that take place after the church is caught away.
Read it for yourselves and you will see what I mean.
You will find out that the first three chapters of revelation deal with the seven Churches that are representative of all churches at this time.
Revelation 4:1 4 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.
Think about this verse, it refers to a voice like a trumpet that says come up hither.
1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18 16 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:
17 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Now let’s put that together with what we read in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18. Paul says with a trump of God we shall all be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
There is no doubt that the trumpeted phrase come up hither is Gods call to the church.
The church is not mentioned again as being on earth.
Then in revelation 5:9-10 the bible shows us a heavenly scene taking place before the throne of God.
Revelation 5:9-10 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Who are these people singing this new song?
It is the church that has been raptured and is in heaven.
At this time, you must be right or be left! If there is going to be a second coming with all his saints with Him, we would have to be in heaven to be able to come back with him. Proof that the rapture has happened before the tribulation period.
No comments:
Post a Comment