Concerning Our Gathering Together Unto Him

The Rapture Reality

The rapture is stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18.It can be defined as Jesus’s sudden appearance in the sky to take from the earth both dead and living Church era saints to be with Him.

Harpagesometha: From the Greek “Harpazo”: To catch up; to snatch away; to seize as by force.

Rapiemur: From the Latin “Rapio”: To catch up; to take away

6 Phases of the Rapture

Jesus descends from the Heavens.

Jesus issues a command by shouting.

An archangel (possibly Michael or Gabriel?) will repeat the command.

A trumpet will blast. These events follow the pattern of military commands.

Previously deceased Church age saints will rise from their graves or resting place and be caught up into the clouds.

Living church saints are also caught up into the clouds immediately after deceased church saints.

Other Raptures

Enoch: Genesis 5:24. Hebrews 11 states that he pleased God by his great faith.

Elijah: 2 Kings 2:1, 11. He is taken up in a fiery chariot and whirlwind.

Jesus: Acts 1:8-11 at His ascension. This passage also shows that the coming of Christ will be physical and visible, since He will return in the same way He was taken.

Philip: Acts 8:39-40 He was “caught up” in a whirlwind. This was not a rapture directly to the spiritual realm, but a purely physical rapture. It is the same term, nonetheless.

Paul: 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 where Paul is “caught up” into the 3rd heaven.

The Two Witnesses: Revelation 11:12.These are two men who are God’s witnesses in Jerusalem during the tribulation. They are killed, but God resurrects them after 3.5 days and they are then seen ascending to Heaven by the whole world.

The Rapture Refuge

Four Views on the Timing of the Rapture

Pretribulational Rapture: The rapture will occur before the beginning of the seven year tribulation first described by Daniel in Daniel in Daniel 9, outlined by Jesus in Matthew 24, and described in detail by John in Revelation chapters 6-19.

Midtribulational Rapture: This view espouses that the rapture will take place in the middle of the tribulation period at or right after the abomination of desolation.

Partial rapture view: According to this view, the rapture will occur more than once - generally believed to be twice: once at the beginning, and once before God’s full wrath is poured out during the bowl judgments.

Postribulational Rapture: The church goes through the entire tribulation period and is at the same time as the 2nd coming of Christ.

Other interpretations: Reformed, Orthodox, and Catholic churches believe we are in the Millennial Kingdom now. As such, the rapture is just a relatively insignificant event that occurs at the very end of all things - right before God finally judges the whole earth. All the events of the book of revelation have already occurred, and we are just waiting for God to bring about the eternal state.

The Rapture Reassurance

The purpose of rapture teaching, according to the Scriptures themselves, is not primarily doctrinal but practical. The Rapture brings comfort regarding a specific issue, our loved ones have not missed the day of the Lord, or the resurrection in particular.

Rapture teaching, and eschatology in general, is meant to give us hope and peace regarding the future.

Be careful not to get sidetracked over endless debates that cannot be won: timing, sequence, current events alignment, etc.

**Rapture teaching, and eschatology in general, reinforces hope: difficult times don’t last forever. You can endure any difficulty if you know it won’t last forever. **

Rapture teaching, and eschatology in general, renews our vigor for the Gospel and the Great Commission.