1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (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: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Could this be the day / week / month / year that the Rapture will occur? If you’re new to this word, and have never heard of this Rapture I write of, we’ll be taking a closer look at its meaning and what it represents to the born-again Christian. It is a message of hope and excitement to all believers who are awaiting the Lord’s return in the clouds for His bride. Read through today’s Bible verses and we’ll explain, and prove, this event can occur at any moment. Let’s cover what the word means and where it is found in the Scriptures.
We are seeing a great divide in Christian circles about the pre-tribulational occurrence of the Rapture. Not only is the topic is being ridiculed by unbelievers but sadly also by believers. They are calling it a “secret” Rapture or escapism by those who believe it will happen before the Tribulation. As Amir Tsarfati and Jan Markell say about being accused of being escapists: YES!!! I always thought that those who scoffed at Christians would be unbelievers. However, it makes perfect sense that it comes from within the Church itself. The devil will stop at nothing in order to divide the church so her testimony for Christ is hindered!
2 Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
The fact that these scoffers are referring to “the fathers,” tells us that they are religious. Is it any wonder that people are not turning to the Church in these end times? So let’s get down to business.
Although the word “rapture” doesn’t appear in the English translation of the Bible, it’s a term that describes the removing of born-again believers from the earth. The Latin words “rapiemur or rapturo” is where our English word comes from. The term “caught up” in verse 17 is elsewhere translated “pluck”: (John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.) We see another reference to it when Philip was snatched away after he witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch (Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.) We are living at a time where the antichrist will come into power. We know we are in that time because Jesus spoke of it in Matthew 24:32-35. He said when the fig tree’s branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves (this speaks of Israel), we know that the end is near. Israel became a nation in 1948. We are that generation that will see His coming; both at the Rapture and at the end of the Tribulation period! The seven-year Tribulation is a time that no born-again believer will go through and a time that you do not want to experience if you are not born again. Prior to the revealing of the antichrist, the Rapture will occur: it can happen at any moment: it is imminent and you do not want to be caught unaware.
The New Testament was written in Greek and, therefore, we will see what the Greek language has to say about the word “rapture.” Strong’s Concordance states this:
G726
ἁρπάζω
harpazō
Total KJV Occurrences: 18
caught, 5: Act_8:39, 2Co_12:2, 2Co_12:4, 1Th_4:17, Rev_12:5
force, 3: Mat_11:12, Joh_6:15, Act_23:10
take, 3: Mat_11:12, Joh_6:15, Act_23:10
away, 2: Mat_13:19, Act_8:39
catcheth, 2: Mat_13:19, Joh_10:12
pluck, 2: Joh_10:28-29 (2)
pulling, 1: Jud_1:23
It will help you if you look up each of these verses in your Bible to see the different uses. The Rapture represents being caught up, taken by force, taken away, plucked, snatched up and pulled away. The word “rapture” isn’t found in the English Bible. But, friend, neither is the word “bible” found in the Bible or the word Trinity. But the concept and description of the Rapture is found in the Bible and, therefore, it’s worthy of study, amen?
If you are a born-again Christian, you may have heard of the various beliefs of when the rapture will occur. To understand why it is important, you need to know when the different beliefs occur. There are three popular schools of thought of when the rapture will occur: the pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation (or pre-wrath) and post-tribulation. Pre-tribulation is defined as occurring before the tribulation. Mid-tribulation is defined as occurring in the middle of the tribulation. And finally, the post-tribulation is defined as occurring after the tribulation.
The latter two beliefs claim that the pre-tribulation rapture was only recently “invented” but there is historical proof showing that this was the belief of the Christians as early as third century AD. This is only one example of the writings of that day:
All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.-Pseudo-Ephraem (c. 374-627)
Please read his quote and let it sink in. But even before Ephraem, Irenaeus of Lyons (a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John) said:
And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this,” “There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.”
Proponents against the pre-tribulation Rapture claim that Darby introduced it in the 1800’s. However, we see in this quote that the pre-Tribulation Rapture was not invented in the past 150 years but was taught in the third century! So why do people claim Darby introduced it? People had come out of the Dark Ages where they were not allowed to read the Scriptures for themselves. Priests were the only ones allowed to read and interpret the Scriptures. The Gutenberg printing press came out in 1455 which later produced the Bible in printed form. It is after this that the Reformation took place once people began to read the Bible for themselves. A great revival followed and the devil knew he had his work cut out for him. What could he do to stop this revival? He resorted to the same old trick he used in the Garden of Eden: “Hath God said” in Genesis 3:1. This infiltrated Darby’s heart and the rest is history.
The Apostle Paul spoke a lot about this blessed reunion and we will cover those verses to bring it all together. No other Tribulation viewpoint can explain away these four verses:
Joh 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (4) And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
After Jesus’ Second Coming, the Millennial Kingdom begins. If the Rapture happens at the end of the Tribulation, how will the Church go to Heaven where Jesus went to prepare a place and THEN go into the Millennium? They will never go to Heaven? That makes no sense at all. Who will populate the earth during the Millennium if all believers are raptured and unbelievers are cast into Hell? Jesus says in verse 2 that He was going to prepare a place for us. Then verse 3 says that He will come again and receive us unto himself so that where He is, we will be also! This fits the pre-Tribulation Rapture belief perfectly!
If you are a born-again Christian and have never studied this out, I hope you are blessed by it and encouraged in your heart. If you are not born again, I urge you to settle the matter right now! Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
