Rapture Terri Lormand There is a common teaching among Christians that an event is coming in which all believers will be raptured away to heaven when Christ returns to the earth. But where did this idea come from? The word rapture is not found anywhere in scripture. However, there is an event that can be described perfectly with this word. Let s first look at what it means. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 1 defines rapture as: noun 1. The state of being transported by a lofty emotion; ecstasy. 2. An expression of ecstatic feeling. Often used in the plural. 3. The transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven. Dictionary.com defines it as: noun 1. ecstatic joy or delight; joyful ecstasy. 2. Often, raptures. an utterance or expression of ecstatic delight. 3. the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence. 4. the Rapture, Theology. the experience, anticipated by some fundamentalist Christians, of meeting Christ midway in the air upon his return to earth. 5. Archaic. the act of carrying off. Wikipedia 2 has this to say about the word: The Rapture is an event in the futurist interpretation of Christian eschatology, in which it is posited that Christians will be gathered together in the air to meet Christ at his return On the same page further down under Etymology, Wikipedia says this: "Rapture", in the context of eschatology, is an English word derived from the Latin rapio, "caught up" as found in the Vulgate rendering of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 So we see that this term is widely accepted to describe an event in which Christians will at some point in the future be gathered together to meet Christ in the air. Now that we know a bit more of the meaning of this word, let s look at a few biblical passages associated with rapture. We Will Be Caught Up 1Th 4:16-17 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. 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. (NKJV 3 ) The Greek word translated caught up is harpazo (har-pad -zo) 726 from a derivative of 138; to seize (in various applications):--catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force) 4. It is the same word used in 2Cor 12:2 also translated caught up. In other parts of the New Testament it is translated take by force, 5 catch away, 6 shall pluck, 7 and pulling. 8 But they all mean pretty much the same thing, even though they are used in different situations. 1 http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/ 2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/rapture 3 All scripture in this document are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted. 4 Strong s Greek Dictionary, Power BibleCD 5.4 5 Matt 11:12; John 6:15; Acts 23:10
Let s step back a moment and look at the context here in 1 Thessalonians 4. In this chapter Paul is teaching the Thessalonians to continue to live as they have been taught, to please God. They were urged to avoid sexual immorality and to control themselves in a way that was holy and honorable. He encouraged them to continue to show brotherly love and to keep busy with their own hands so that they would not have to depend on anyone. Then in verse 13 Paul gives new encouragement. He didn t want anyone to grieve over those who have died. He says that if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. He then tells us that if we are still alive at the coming of the Lord, something amazing will happen. We will not go before those who have died, but at the command of the Lord, the dead will be raised and we will be caught up together to be with Him forever more. We Will Be Changed 1Co 15:51-52 Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Let us first summarize the context. If you read the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15, you will see that Paul has been teaching the people about the resurrection of Christ, pointing out all the evidence from witnesses who saw it firsthand, including himself. But there were some in the crowd who denied the resurrection of the dead. In verses 13-19 Paul explains that if there is no resurrection, then Christ is not risen, and if that were true then the people would still be in their sins and will also die in them. But then he continues in verses 20-28 and shows them that in Adam all die, but in Christ all shall be made alive. He teaches them how Christ will in the end be head over all things, including death. In verses 29-34, Paul asks them what the point of his suffering and preaching was if there was no resurrection. Then the questions of how the dead are raised, and, in what body do they come arise and Paul explains it to them in verses 36-50, teaching about the differences in terrestrial and celestial, and comparing the first man made of dust and the second Man, who is the Lord from heaven. Now that Paul has thoroughly explained what resurrection is all about, he is going to teach them something new, something that the Twelve never preached. It is a mystery that he will now share. In verse 51, Paul says that we will not all sleep now that does not mean sleeping as in going to bed, but dying, as talked about in verses 6, 18, and 20 of this chapter as well as many other places in scripture including the passage in 1 Thessalonians 4 that we covered earlier (in a Greek Concordance look up the word koimao, which means figuratively, to be dead) but we shall be changed. This change will happen so fast that if you blink you will miss it! Paul explains in the next several verses why this will happen. We can compare this change to the transfiguration of Christ, pointed out in Mt 17:2, Mr 9:2 and Lu 9:29 when the Lord was transfigured before the eyes of His apostles. In this manner we will also be changed, as Paul teaches in Ph 3:21, which we ll talk about more later on. At this moment, Paul says two things will happen. The dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. These two events will happen at the last trumpet. Now, trumpets were used throughout history for two reasons. 1) To call a meeting (Ex 19:10-13) and 2) sound the alarm to go to battle (Nu 10:1-8). This particular one does both. It is called the last trump because it is the last one for this dispensation. Many people assume that because it is called the last trumpet, it must be the same as the last trumpet spoken of in the book of Revelation, but this is not so. Albert Barnes Commentary says this: "At the last trump. When the trumpet shall sound to raise the dead. The word "last" here does not imply that any trumpet shall have been before sounded at the resurrection, but is a word denoting 6 Matt 13:19; John 10:12 7 John 10:28-29 8 Jude 1:23
that this is the consummation or close of things; it will end the economy of this world; it will be connected with the last state of things." In the book of Revelation, John writes about the seven trumpets of God. The seventh is sounded by the seventh angel in Revelation 11:15 and announces that the kingdom of the world has now become the kingdom of our Lord. There are no other trumpets mentioned in Revelation after that, so it cannot be the same as the "last trump" that Paul speaks about. If we are not called home before the 7th trumpet of Revelation, then Paul is a liar because he said that we will not suffer God's wrath (the trumpet judgments) as it says in Ro 5:9, 1Th 1:10 and 1Th 5:9. There are some who would argue that this has to happen at the end of the Millennium because of what verses 54 and 55 say regarding the victory over death. However, Paul does not mention that death is thrown into the Lake of Fire, which will happen at the Great White Throne Judgment (Re 20:13-14); only that it is swallowed up in victory. In other words, we will no longer have to fear death because we have won the victory over it! Death has been defeated by the resurrection of Christ (see Ro 6:8-9), but it will not receive its punishment until after the Millennium. For a weak analogy, think of a person who is on trial for murder. When he is found guilty, the victims are happy because they were victorious. The guilty party is locked up in a holding cell until his punishment is decreed and executed, which, by the way, never happens on the same day as the trial. Does this make the situation for the victims less victorious? Of course it doesn t. The victims are the victors, as long as the sentence will be carried out at some point in the near future. Now, back to the Scripture. Paul gives thanks to God because He (God) gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. What do we have victory over? Death! Because our bodies have been changed to incorruptible ones that will never die. So the question now arises, can these two passages we just covered be referring to the same event? Let s look at them side by side to compare. 1Th 4:13 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. 1Co 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall 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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. In both passages Paul speaks first about those who have fallen asleep and then about those who are still alive. 1Th 4:14 says that if Jesus rose again, so will those who sleep in Jesus. In verse 16 he explains the resurrection of the dead. In 1Co 15:52 he also speaks of the resurrection of the dead. In 1Th 4:17 Paul tells us that we will be caught up together
with the risen dead to be with Christ for eternity. In 1Co 15:52b-53 says that we will be changed from being mortal into being immortal. He told us that the dead will be raised immortal as well. The first passage tells us that all believers, dead and alive, will be caught up. The second passage tells us that all believers will be changed from mortal to immortal. That is the only condition we can be in to be caught up to heaven; as immortal beings. So to answer the question, these two passages must be speaking of the same event. Let s look at some other passages to confirm this thought. Our Heavenly Citizenship Php 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. The Philippians were living among many worldly people, including Jews who were zealous for the Law just as Paul used to be. He taught them to keep their eyes upon their heavenly goal. In these two verses, Paul tells us that our home is in heaven, from which the Lord will descend. He will transform our mortal bodies into immortal ones like His own. This supports both of the previous passages (1Th 4:16-17; 1 Co15:51-53.) Col 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. This passage is a continuation of Paul s teachings of our hope in Christ. The entire letter is to believers regarding our heavenly hope. It, too, supports the previous passages as it talks about how we will be with Christ in glory. The passage continues with Paul teaching us how to live while we are still on the earth while we wait for the Lord to call us home. Waiting For Our Heavenly Body 2Co 5:1-4 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. This too is a continuation of the previous chapter when Paul is giving encouragement to the Corinthians and telling them not to lose heart. The One who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up. The tribulation we go through is just temporary: 2Co 4:13-18 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. The Question Is When When will He call us home? No one knows but God Himself. But there is coming a Day when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to the earth to pour out His wrath upon the non-believers. Paul explains this to the Thessalonians because of all the suffering they were going through:
2Th 1:3-10 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. These people were being persecuted for their faith, and God will repay with tribulation those who persecute them. On the Day of the Lord, He will come down to take vengeance on those who do not know God and He will be glorified and admired among those who believe. One thing we do know is that we will not suffer God s wrath. 1Th 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. Because of passages like these, it is in this writer s opinion (among many other believers) that this event will happen prior to Judgment Day. Matthew s Trumpet Mt 24:30-31 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Many churches teach that this passage is referring to the same event, but there are several factors pointing to a different calling. First of all, let s look at one of the parables of Jesus in the book of Matthew and His explanation of it. Mt 13:30 'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. 36-42 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Notice at the end of this passage it says that the Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend and will cast them into the furnace of fire. Compare this with Mt 24:31 where it says, and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds Some will argue that the latter verse is talking about the elect, which are the saved. But what does the word elect actually mean?
Dictionary.com defines it as: verb (used with object) 1. to choose or select by vote, as for an office: to elect a mayor. 2. to determine in favor of (a method, course of action, etc.). 3. to pick out; choose: First-year students may elect french, spanish, or German. 4. Theology. (of God) to select for divine mercy or favor, esp. for salvation. verb (used without object) 5. to choose or select someone or something, as by voting. adjective 6. selected, as for an office, but not yet inducted (usually used in combination following a noun): the governor-elect. 7. select or choice: an elect circle of artists. 8. Theology. chosen by god, esp. for eternal life. noun the elect, 9. a person or the persons chosen or worthy to be chosen. 10. Theology. a person or persons chosen by God, esp. for favor or salvation. Now although it often refers to God s elect for salvation, the definition is also used to choose or select someone. In Matt chapter 13, God selected all things that offend and all people who practice lawlessness to be harvested out by the angels and thrown into the fire. If you still believe Matt 24:30-31 is talking about the rapture, what do you do with the rest of the chapter? Jesus said that in the end times it will be just like it was in the days of Noah right before the flood. Everyone was having a great time until the flood came and took them all away. In this passage, Jesus is warning them that the angels will come and take away the wicked. These days were prophesied many years before Christ came to earth. Read Isaiah 13:6-22; 65:1-8, 12; 66:15-18. This is what is referred to as the Day of the Lord. Read also Joel 3:9-17. Now compare Matt 24:30-31 with 1Th 4:16-17. The verses in Matthew say that Jesus will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they (the angels) will gather His elect. In 1Th 4:16-17, Paul says that the Lord HIMSELF will come down with a loud command with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God. These cannot be the same event. Another passage to note is in the book of Revelation. It would appear that there are two different reapers: Re 14:14-16 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17-20 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs. Notice in the first paragraph that there is One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown. This is the Lord Jesus Christ. In His hand is a sharp sickle, and He uses it to reap the earth. In the next paragraph, we find an angel also
carrying a sharp sickle. He is told to thrust in his sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe. When he did this, he gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. It is possible, in fact, very probable, that when the Lord uses His sickle it is the very same event that we spoke of in the beginning of this article. Let s read it once more: 1Th 4:16-17 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. 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. (emphasis mine) Then, once we are taken out of the earth to be with Him, He sends His angel to harvest the elect that will be punished for their wickedness. In Summary Whether I am correct in my understanding of these passages or not, it is obvious through the Scriptures that there is coming an event that will be true rapture for us, the believers in Christ, when He calls us home. In that I say, come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen.