A Quick Lesson on the Rapture for Beginners The Rapture is an event that many believers in Christ believe in and speak about but sadly many that I ask do not even know what the word itself means. They are told and believe what they are told without studying it for themselves. This Message will unveil to you what the rapture is and when it will take place. First of all I will speak about the word itself. The word Rapture that we use is derived from Middle French rapture, via the Medieval Latin rapture meaning (seizure, kidnapping) which derives from the Latin word raptus meaning (to carry off) The Latin Vulgate Bible translates as rapiemur meaning (we are caught up) or (we are taken away) and comes from the Latin Verb rapio meaning (to catch up or take away) The Greek word that is used is Harpazo and it also means (caught up or take away). As you can see with the Latin, the Middle French, the Medieval and also the English the word means to be seized and taken from one place to another and in all cases it is another means by which you are moved. Never in any of the languages does the word Rapture mean Resurrection. The Rapture word means to be seized and moved from one place to another. The word Resurrection means to be raised from the Dead to life. The Rapture word or Greek word Harpazo is used in 13 places in the New Testament and nowhere in those 13 places does it mean Resurrection or implies a Resurrection of any kind. The ONLY place where the word Rapture or Harpazo is used in the New Testament in relation to us believers is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Paul places the word Rapture or Harpazo in its proper and True context and that is to be moved from one place to another. Let me show you the Verses 16 and 17. 1Th 4:16 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: 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (Raptured) (Harpazo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Paul clearly states that the Resurrection of the Dead takes place First and THEN and I say THEN just as Paul did.
Then TOGETHER those that are Resurrected to Life and those that Remain SHALL be Raptured up from the earth into the Air to meet Jesus in the Air. Have you ever been told that before? Yes it is True, the Resurrection of the Dead is First and then Together we are Raptured from the earth to meet Jesus in the Air. Nowhere does Paul say that we are Raptured to Heaven to meet Jesus! We are Raptured to the Air to meet Jesus and then we shall be with Him. As I said earlier Rapture means to be moved from one place to another. Resurrection means to be raised from the Dead to Life. I will quickly show you the 13 Places where the Rapture word is used in the New Testament. They are as follows: Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force (RAPTURE). Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away (RAPTURE) that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. Joh 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force (RAPTURE), to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them (RAPTURE), and scattereth the sheep. Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them (RAPTURE) out of my hand. Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them (RAPTURE) out of my Father's hand. Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away (RAPTURE) Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. Act 23:10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force (RAPTURE) from among them, and to bring him into the castle. 2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up (RAPTURE) to the third heaven.
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up (RAPTURE) into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (RAPTURE) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out (RAPTURE) of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up (RAPTURE) unto God, and to his throne. They are the 13 places where the word Rapture is used and as you can see it does not mean Resurrection in any of those verses. Rapture means to be seized and moved from one place to another. I believe it is Vital for All Believers to know exactly what the Word Rapture means and where it is used in Scripture. You now KNOW what the Word Rapture means and where it is used in Scripture. You must agree with me when I say that Rapture does NOT mean Resurrection and in no way anywhere in Scripture does it mean or imply to mean Resurrection. Let me now take you back to what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 I will place it all in clear sequence for you just as Paul said: Jesus descends from Heaven with a shout that is heard The voice of the Arch Angel is heard The Trumpet of God is sounding The Dead in Christ are being Resurrected in their New Immortal Bodies (we know from 1 Corinthians 15 that it is the Changing of the bodies to immortal that happens in the twinkling of an eye) THEN and as Paul said THEN TOGETHER those that are alive and remain in Christ and those Resurrected from the dead will be RAPTURED up from the earth to the air to meet Jesus. Did you know that the Rapture of Jesus was an actual event that the Disciples saw? Jesus did not simply vanish into thin air! No! Jesus was seen ascending up into the Air by His Disciples. Look at what is recorded in Scripture. Jesus was talking to His Disciples before He ascended.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Yes! The Disciples literally saw Jesus ascend up into the cloud and then out of their sight. With their own eyes they saw Jesus ascend until He was taken out of their sight. The Disciples saw Jesus get Raptured. The Angels told the Disciples that Jesus will descend the same way, it will be visible. Jesus was raptured up visibly and I do believe that we will also be seen ascending (Being Raptured Up) into the Air. We do not just simply vanish. Do you know in the Old Testament that Elijah was raptured up into the Air? Yes Elijah was Raptured up and Elisha was told by Elijah that if Elisha saw Elijah ascending (Being Raptured) up he would receive the power of Elijahs mantle. Look with me in 2 Kings 2:9-14 and you will see what Elisha saw. 2Ki 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 2Ki 2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 2Ki 2:11 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. 2Ki 2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 2Ki 2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 2Ki 2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. I Believe people will see us being Raptured up into the air, it will be visible and people will know and they will not be able to go where we go.
But we must remember that the Resurrection of the Dead and Changing to Immortal comes First then the rapture together. Paul clearly states that the Resurrection of the Dead takes place before the rapture. If you look at all the verse in the New Testament regarding the resurrection you will soon see that it happens at the Last day, at the End of this Age that we presently live in. Revelations 20 even tells us when the First Resurrection takes place. Jesus and Paul tells us so clearly in many places that Jesus brings with Him all His Angels and all the Saints that are resting with Him when He comes down from Heaven for the Day of Resurrection. That is when the Rapture will take place and that is when Jesus will begin His 1000 Year Reign on earth with His Immortal saints. The 1000 Year Reign will begin. We will be called the Children of God and the Children of the resurrection. Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. I Hope you now understand what the Rapture is for Beginners.