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THE RAPTURE
Many people are excited today over an event that they believe will astound the
world--an event that will be the beginning of the end for the evil men of this
world and the culmination of God's plans.
People are excitedly awaiting what they call the "rapture," when Jesus
will return to deliver the church. Silently and secretly He will appear to call
away His saints from this world prior to a great worldwide Tribulation.
This "rapture" will supposedly leave the rest of us dumbfounded as
to what happened to all of these people who just mysteriously disappeared. Its
purpose is to spare the church from the seven year period of Tribulation.
We are told that there will be great evangelistic work and intense persecution.
Then at the end of the seven year Tribulation, Jesus will return to destroy
the Antichrist, sit on a literal throne in Jerusalem, and reign over the earth
for 1000 years.
Does The Bible Teach A Rapture?
The Bible never once uses the term "rapture." But does it at least
teach the principles of the rapture?
One passage is key to understanding the answer, "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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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. 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. Therefore
comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
What is the main point of this text? What was the inspired apostle trying to
tell these Christians, that they needed to know for their own personal benefit?
The point of this text is that they need not sorrow or mourn over the dead in
Christ, like they would over unbelievers who die without hope (1 Thessalonians
4:13). They will NOT miss the return of Christ just because they have already
died.
Some brethren in Thessalonica feared that the righteous dead would miss the
glory and blessings of Jesus' return. This passage lays THAT fear to rest, by
assuring them that the righteous dead will rise up first--even before the righteous
who are still living--to meet the Lord.
Paul is not contrasting the righteous dead with the wicked dead, and claiming
that they will be part of a rapture. He is contrasting the righteous dead with
the righteous living, and assures them that the righteous dead will not miss
out on the Lord's return.
What Will Happen When The Lord Returns?
Actually something very different from the rapture scenario.
There will be nothing silent or secret about His return, "The Lord Himself
will descend from heaven with a shout." (1 Thessalonians 4:16). He will
not be alone when He comes either (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 1:7).
There will not be two different resurrections--one resurrection of the saints
and another resurrection 1000 years later for the wicked. The contrast is not
between the resurrection of the righteous dead and the wicked dead. The contrast
is between the dead in Christ and the living in Christ.
The New Testament teaches only one resurrection--both the righteous and the
wicked at the same time, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming
in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth--those
who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil,
to the resurrection of condemnation." (John 5:28-29).
The Bible does not say that He will ever again set foot on the earth. It says
we will meet Him in the air "Then we who are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
(1 Thessalonians 4:17). He will not be coming back to sit and reign on a throne
in Jerusalem.
When the dead are raised, they will be raised incorruptible, and at the same
time the living will be changed, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in
a moment, in the twinkling of any eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
(1 Corinthians 15:50-52).
If, as the concept of the rapture assumes, the saved have been raptured and
taken to heaven already, then this passage suggests a very strange thing--that
He will bring the righteous back, return each of them to their former body,
and have that body be changed again to inhabit heaven. The rapture is inconsistent
with other Bible teachings.
The coming of Christ will be at the end of the present earthly order, "For
since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one
in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at
His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father,
when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and all power." (1 Corinthians
15:21-24).
The resurrection will come at the last day, "And this is the will of Him
who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting
life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40). There will
not be 1000 years of events unfolding after the resurrection. Neither will there
be 1007 years worth of events.
When Jesus returns, all nations will be gathered unto Him for the final judgment
(Matthew 25:31-46), everything about this earth and its works will be burned
up and destroyed (2 Peter 3:10-12), and a new spiritual, eternal order will
be introduced in heaven (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 20:11-15).
The purpose of Paul's words to the Thessalonian Christians was to give them
comfort and hope that their fellow believers would not miss out on the glory
of Jesus' return since they had already died, "Therefore comfort one another
with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Conclusion
The theory of the "rapture" is nothing more than that--a theory!
When the Lord returns, there is not a corner of the globe where His presence
will not be witnessed (Revelation 1:7). And there will be nothing left of this
world for Him to rule over (2 Peter 3:10-12).
The truth is that all rule has been handed over to Him already so that He is
ruling NOW at this very moment, "and what is the exceeding greatness of
His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at
His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power
and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but
also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave
Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness
of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:19-23).
When the Lord returns, there will be nothing left of this world to rule over--not
even a cinder--because it will be destroyed by fire, "But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away
with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth
and the works that are in it will be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10).
When the Lord returns, there will be no second chances for anyone (Hebrews 9:27-28).
"Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons
ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the
coming of the day of God&?" (2 Peter 3:11-12).
Written by: Rob Harbison
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