The Rapture Revelation 3:22 NKJV Notes by Pastor Mike Sasso Introduction Since the teaching of the rapture is confusing to many and a point of contention for some, please proceed with grace and love. Give room for different opinions. Always state your case with love. And never build your argument by quoting your favorite Bible teacher. Instead, derive your doctrinal understanding from the context of scripture. Learn to reason through the scriptures in a logical way. Don t jump to conclusions, but move carefully and thoughtfully. Let the Word of God lead you to your conclusions. If a matter remains unclear or cannot be fully and clearly defined by scripture then reserve your final conclusion for another time. May God s grace, peace, and love rule your study time and your lives. WHAT is the Rapture? The word rapture is found nowhere in the English Bible. But it is found in the Latin translation of the New Testament verse 17 of the passage quoted below. 13* But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14* For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep 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 by no means precede those who are asleep. 16* For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17* Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18* Therefore comfort one another with these words. --1 Thess. 4:13-18 In verse 17, the English phrase "caught up" translates the Greek word harpázô, which means "to seize upon with force" or "to snatch up." Translation into Latin:...deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus.. -1 Thessalonians 4:17 (Latin Vulgate) The Latin equivalent of the Greek harpázô is the Latin verb rapio, "to take away by force." In the Latin Vulgate, one of the oldest Bibles in existence, the appropriate tense of rapio appears in verse 17. (Raptus is the past participle of rapio, and our English words "rapt" and "rapture" stem from this past participle.)
Whatever you choose to label this event, it is clear that this verse promises that living believers will be "caught up" in the air, translated into the clouds, in a moment in time, to join the Lord in the air. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Before moving on to our next topic, discuss among yourselves the context of this passage and your understanding of its interpretation. 2. Discuss any questions members of your study group might have concerning the meaning of this event. Hold your questions concerning the timing of the rapture. We will deal with its timing later. HOW AND WHY WILL THIS HAPPEN? Read 1 Cor. 15:35-58 1. Discuss your understanding of the nature of this event. Make sure you come to your conclusion and can support your answer from the text and not from some preconceived idea. 2. According to verse 50, why must this event take place? Discuss. 3. What observations can you make from verses 51-58 to bring more clarity to this event and its purpose? Take your time and study the text carefully. 4. What does this event give Christians victory over?
5. Find and discuss the similarities between Phil. 3:20-21 and 1 Cor. 15.? WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN? Read 2 Thess. 2:1-8 and answer the following questions. 1. According to this text, what seems to be the reason Paul is writing these words? 2. In verse one is Paul describing one event or two? Explain and defend your answer. 3. Define the phrase, the day of Christ. What exactly does it mean? (See also Phil. 1:10 & 2:16) 4. According to this 2 Thess. text, what has to happen before the day of Christ takes place? 5. Look up Matt. 24:36, Mark 13:32, and 1 Thess. 4:15-17. What are these verses referring to? 6. What conclusions can you come to with confidence about this day? 7. What remains inconclusive?
WHY ALL THE CONFUSION? One of the problems with the doctrine of the rapture is that there is not one single book or chapter of the Bible in which an apostle sits down to clearly address the issue from beginning to end covering everything from its definition to timing. The same can be said of the doctrine of the Trinity. This does not nullify the truth of a doctrine. It just makes it a bit more difficult to build a solid case. Topics such as these take what is called systematic theology, which systematically gathers various Bible texts and weaves them together to come to a conclusion. We must be very careful with this system because this is also how cults build their doctrines. Context is always the best way to study the scriptures. When we jump from verse to verse out of context it is easy to jump to all sorts of incorrect conclusions. Because of verses like 1 Thess. 5:1-2, which follows the introduction of the rapture; and verses like 2 Peter 3:10, which describes an end of the world scenario, many believers see the rapture and God s judgment against sinners as one simultaneous event. 1. Look up the verses quoted above and discuss their meaning and timing. Draw your conclusions only from the scriptures and not from a teaching you may have heard from some Bible teacher. 2. Much of the confusion rests upon the defining the difference between the Rapture and the Day of the Lord. If they are indeed the same event, then the rapture would take place on the same day that God begins his judgment and pours out His wrath on a Christ rejecting world. Therefore, look up the following verses and see what conclusions you can come to in clearing up this confusion. 3. Take note of phrases like The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, to wait for his Son from heaven, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. Clarify whether each phrase is referring to a different event or if these phrases all refer to the same event 1 Cor. 1:7-8, 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9; 2 Thess. 1:6-10, 2:1-3, 8; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1. 4. According to 1 Thess. 1:10, what specifically does this promise rescue us from?
5. According to John 16:33, 1 Cor. 7:28, 2 Tim. 3:12, Rev. 2:10 what are we not promised to be rescued from? 6. It is easy to see why there is confusion among sincere Bible students when it comes to this topic. 7. Discuss your understanding of the Rapture so far, and why you think the confusion among Christians exists. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME TODAY? 1. Regardless what your view is on the timing of the rapture, there are still very important lessons to learn in applying its truth to our lives. Use the questions below to focus upon practical applications of today s topic to your life. 2. Read Titus 2. Find the verse that refers to the return of our Lord. Discuss the context and what bearing Jesus' return should have on our lives today. 3. What phrases are used to describe the return of the Lord in verse 13 of 1 Thess. 4:13-18? What might these descriptions imply? 4. According to 1 Thess. 4:13-18 should this being caught up be a fearful or unsettling thing? Discuss.
5. According to 1 Cor. 15:51-58, what effect should this teaching have upon the Christian? CONCLUSION: It is possible that even after a careful study of these interactive notes you may have disagreements or confusion among your members. There may always be variances among true Christians concerning this topic. The important thing is that you all agree that Jesus will return and we will all stand before God some day. And the way we live our lives today is so crucial as to affect eternity. The rapture is an important topic in scripture so far as it affects our attitudes and actions in this life. But there are many topics of much greater weight such as God s plan of salvation, the nature of God and of Christ, the authority of scripture, etc. Make sure you keep first things first. And never lose sight of our blessed hope! "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you" (Titus 2:11-15, NKJV). Looking for His Return, Mike Sasso