What Do You Believe About the Rapture?
The Rapture
Whenever I make a telephone call to a number of people and can't find them, I jokingly say, "Did the rapture come and took these people out of the world, and I am left behind?
I say that in jest because I do understand what will happen during the rapture.
The word "rapture" is not in the Bible. However the concept is clearly conveyed in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 when Paul says, "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."
Different Views About the Rapture
There are different views even among Christians. I can only write and articulate what I believe based on my study and God's revelation to me.
Some think the rapture is figuratively and not literal. They base this on an ancient custom. When dignitaries would visit a city, the leading citizens would go out of the city and escort them back during the last stage of the journey.
The picture here is that the Christians are going up to meet Jesus in the air and return to earth with Him. Others say believers will return with Jesus to heaven. Whether this meeting is literal or figurative, Christians will undoubtedly join Jesus when He returns. I personally think it will be a literal event; therefore, I am writing from that perspective
The Rapture: A Biblical Event
The rapture is clearly a biblical event, but there is much dispute about the timing of this event. According to my understanding those who are saved will be "raptured" or "caught up" in the air to meet Jesus. The feet of Jesus will not touch the earth. The dead in Christ will rise first and those who are still alive will meet Jesus and we will go up to heaven with Him and return later. Only unbelievers will remain on the earth.
Paul teaches in 1 Thessalonians that Jesus will come FOR the saints. Then in 2 Thessalonians, Paul teaches that Jesus will come back WITH the saints.
Be Rapture Ready
The Bible says and most people agree that the rapture will happen. However, no one not even angels and Jesus knows when it will happen. Only God knows this. Therefore, we should be Rapture Ready at all times.
I have seen on television where a pastor leads his congregation in rapture practice. He says, "Get set, get ready, rise up." The parishioners jump straight up from their pews.
Don't they know that our rising will not be done by human efforts?
Jesus will come FOR believers, first those who have died in Christ and are in the grave and then those still alive on earth. Jesus' feet will not touch the ground. All believers, dead and living, will be caught up in the air with Jesus.
Second Coming of Christ
Paul talked about the rapture to clear up some misunderstanding about the Second Coming of Christ. He explained that the rapture will be a future event.
It is believed that those born-again Christians who have died will have their bodies raised from the dead and meet Jesus Christ in the sky. Then a second mass migration of the born-again believers who are still alive with join Jesus and the others and go back to heaven.
Order of the Rapture
| Explanation
|
|---|---|
Dead in Christ will rise first.
| Believers who have died will come up from their graves.
|
Living in Christ will rise second.
| Believers still alive on earth will be caught up in the air.
|
Dead and living in Christ will meet Jesus in the air.
| All believers dead and living will go back with Jesus.
|
Living unbelievers will stay on earth.
| Living unbelievers will not be caught up in the rapture.
|
Dead unbelievers will stay in grave.
| Dead unbelievers will not leave grave and be caught up in the air.
|
The Bible Tells How Rapture Will Happen
It is believed and the Bible supports that two people could be lying together in bed and one could be snatched, pilots will disappear from planes, drivers from their automobiles, and others will be separated if one is a believer and the other is not.
Matthew 24:39-49 says, "That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
So, now you know why when I cannot locate family and friends I jokingly ask, "Has the rapture come?"
- What Heaven Is Like
Many things are asked about heaven. The answers to these questions are found in the Bible. There is no other infallible source of revelation about heaven or anything else. There are many things about heaven... - Questions People Ask About Heaven
There are many questions people ask about heaven. Some will not be answered until we get there. However, the Bible does provide answers to some of the questions people ask about heaven. Below are just a few of... - The Inhabitants of Heaven (Who Will Be In Heaven)
Heaven is more than the eternal home of the saved. Many others will forever live with us there. These include God and his angels and specific creations. Both Jews and Gentiles will live in heaven in perfect... - Do Pets Go To Heaven?
Every pet owner has asked this question or something similar: "Is my pet going to heaven?" Every pet owner whose pet has died has been comforted by someone saying, "Yes, you will see your pet in heaven." Then...
Comments
AUTHORJaimeDawn76, thanks for reading and responding!
I love your Hub it is absolutely amazing and in my opinion biblicaly accurate!
- AUTHOR
Sharejoy, I am glad you learned something from reading this article about the rapture.
I was talking about the rapture today. Thanks for the artcle. You really explained it well. Now I have a better understanding of what will happen during the rapture. Many thanks.
- AUTHOR
crystolite, thanks for your kind remark.
Nice information,thanks for sharing.
- AUTHOR
soaps, thanks for reading and responding!
Nice I like it.
Enlightening.
revmjm: I put no personal thought into my comments. God's Holy Spirit expresses what He feels needs to be said and I simply type away at the keyboard. Glory to God!
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Genna, for reading and sharing your belief about the rapture.
I have read about the rapture, and how certain people will be taken, while others will not. I truly believe that if we have faith in God as love, and believe in the teachings of Christ, we will know his deliverance and his love.
- AUTHOR
Dave, as usual, thanks for your comments. You always seem to put much thought into them.
revmjm: Voted UP and AWESOME! This is something that needed addressing thank you. Indeed there will be a day, known only to Almighty God Our Father, when Jesus will finally be dispatched from Heaven to gather up the faithful beginning with those already dead, and then the ones still living. 1/3 of the earth's living population will be caught up in the "Rapture" and yes it could be a scary thing, for pilots could disappear from a plane in flight, bus drivers, taxi drivers, truck drivers, doctors nurses firemen police friends neighbors one day will in the twinkling of an eye vanish, be taken up by Jesus and the angels. All born again in Christ will be gathered up with Jusus on that day.
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Michael for reading and responding. It is interesting you are hearing and reading about the rapture from two different sources this week.
Very well done, as I read today I was thinking of the radio broadcast from Point Of View radio yesterday and today. They have a guy on talking about the rapture. He has a 3 book and dvd set explaining a lot about the days we live in. Excellent work you gave us!
16