Posted by Understanding the Rapture.
The Rapture means different things to many people. To this effect there is so much confusion concerning its true meaning.
The word ”Rapture” is an English translation from the Greek word ‘’harpazo’’. Harpazo literally means to be caught up, snatched out or taken up. In the Greek New Testament, the word harpazo appears more than 15 times and in over 10 different scriptures.
It is very important to note that the Rapture is not the same as the 2nd coming of Christ. The Rapture is the event that Christ shall come to ‘’take away’’ or ‘’catch up’’ the saints from the earth. This will be after the tribulation of the world as per prophecy. Christ will come in the clouds and will not set foot on the earth. It’s important to note that the tribulation period is different from the WRATH. The tribulation is of the devil and His Luciferian stronghold while the WRATH is from God. The tribulation period will precede the WRATH.
In His second coming, Christ will come at the end of the WRATH to destroy the beast satanic system. Immediately after that, Christ will set up His millennial reign with the saints.
God has raptured His faithful servants before.
In the scriptures we find that God did actually ‘’take up’’ faithful servants into Heaven. As we study further on, we shall see the reasons that made God rapture His servants off the earth.
The first person to be Raptured was Enoch who was upright and faithful before God. Enoch was the great grandfather to Noah because he was the father to Methuselah, who begat Lamech who begat Noah.
Genesis 5:24. “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”
The second person to be Raptured was Elijah who was a mighty prophet before the Lord. He had walked in uprightness and had served God faithfully. Elijah knew that he was going to be raptured and it had come time for him to ordain Elisha, and anoint him as a prophet.
2 Kings 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.”
Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven.
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ was taken to Heaven forty days after His resurrection.
Acts 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.”
See also: Luke 24:50,51 Mark 16:19, John 20:17, 1st Timothy 3:16
Before the Rapture, comes the Antichrist Tribulation.
It’s important to note that the church and the world will experience tribulation first before the Rapture. In contrast, the tribulation is not from God but is from Satan. This will be the culmination of years of rejection of the word of God. This fallen world that has rejected God and embraced evil will finally find herself at the clutches and jaws of satanic and elitist stronghold.
As more and more darkness reigns over, Lucifer, through evil rulers and fallen churches will finally have his stronghold and will unleash the tribulation. That will be the end result of the world that has been pushing God away over the years. The world that has allowed Lucifer (as it’s god) to have control through world governments, satanic elites and Luciferian organizations.
The god of this world will bring the tribulation.
2nd Corinthians 4:4. Whose minds the god of this world has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God should shine on them.
John 14:30. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing on me.
John 12:31. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
In all the tribulation, Christ shall be with us and see us through
The scriptures tell us that despite the tribulation, Christ shall be with us and see us through. The tribulation will also be a time for trials and testing of Christians. Many lukewarm and unrepentant Christians will fall away.
- John 16:33. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
- Revelation 7:13,14. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- Matthew 24:21,22. 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
- Matthew 24:29,30. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
We must endure to the end.
The apostle Matthew rightfully says in Matthew 24:13: But he who endures to the end shall be saved. We must persevere and endure the hard times.
Note that Matthew 24:22 says that those days shall be shortened for the elect’s sake. That can only happen through the Rapture. This is echoed again in Revelation 7:14 where it says ‘’These are they which come out of the great tribulation’’.
The world has experienced many tribulations. However, the end-time tribulation is revealed in Revelation 6:1-17 as the 7 seals.
Why God will Rapture the church as per prophecy.
Before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord literally took away Lot, his wife and two daughters to another City. This isn’t an actual Rapture. However we get to know that God can physically take away a person to a different place. The sinful city had driven God to WRATH. Despite the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his family were upright before Him. Therefore He saved them from fire and brimstone that befell the city. He will do the same for the saints.
Genesis 19:16. “And while he lingered, the men(angels) laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.”
Revelation 3:10. “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
The taking away of Lot and his family is the same way the Rapture will take away the faithful church. This will be just before the WRATH. This is the wrath that God will unleash on the world. The world that has embraced satanic, Luciferian rule and the beast antichrist system. The wrath will manifest as the sixth seal of Revelation 6:12-17 and seven trumpets of Revelation 8:1, onwards. After this will come the seven bowls of vials in Revelation 15 (onwards).
Daniel’s prophecy and the wrath of God.
Daniel 12:1,2. 1: At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the Book of Life. 2: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
The wrath of God will bring immense destruction to the fallen earth, literally. Revelation 8:6 onwards mentions the trumpets and vials. There will be destruction of trees and all green grass. The oceans will turn into blood and there will be death of a third of the sea creatures. Furthermore, there will be a destruction of third of all ships. It is this destruction that God will save the saints from.
The Rapture and How it will happen
The time of the Rapture will be a joyous time for the faithful people of God. However, it will be a terrible day for the wicked. It will be the start of the WRATH of God on the world and the beast system. Christ Himself will come in the lower heavens i.e., the clouds to receive us to Himself.
- Matthew 24:30,31. 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
- Matthew 24:40,41. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
- Luke 17:34-35. 34I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
The dead will rise first
- 1st Corinthians 15:50,51. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
- 1st Thessalonians 4:16,17. 16For 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: 17Then 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.
- John 14:2-4. 2In 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. 3And 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. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
The presence of the saints in Heaven further proves the Rapture
The presence of the saints in Heaven further proves the Rapture.
- Revelation 7:9,10. 9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
- Revelation 7:13,14. 13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- Revelation 15:2. 2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
- Revelation 19:1. “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:”