Calvary Distinctives

“The Rapture”

1. Jesus Is Coming for His Church

Christ announces His departure (V31)

Peter says, where are you going? (36)

John 14:1–3 ““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Discuss:

What does Jesus' promise mean to you personally?

Why do you think Jesus gave His disciples this promise?

How does knowing Jesus is coming again give us hope?

Key thought: Our hope isn't simply that we'll escape difficult things. Our hope is that Jesus Himself is coming for us.

2. What Happens at the Rapture?

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 “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.”

The translation of “caught up” in the greek is harpazo which means to be taken away by force

Paul tells us that:

The dead in Christ will rise first.

Living believers will be caught up.

We will meet the Lord in the air.

We will forever be with Him.

Discuss:

What stands out to you most in this passage?

Why do you think Paul says, ?“comfort one another with these words”

How does the resurrection change the way we look at death?

Key thought: Death doesn't have the final word for the believer.

3. Why Does Calvary Chapel Teach a Pre-Tribulation Rapture?

1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

Discuss:

What do these verses say about God's judgment and His people?

Why is it important to distinguish between normal Christian suffering and God's future judgment?

What questions do you still have about the timing of the Rapture?

You can explain:

“Calvary Chapel believes the Church will be caught up before the seven-year Tribulation.

We don't believe this because Christians won't suffer. Christians absolutely do suffer.

We believe Scripture teaches that the Church is not appointed to God's coming wrath.”

4. Rapture vs. Second Coming

Two separate events

Rapture — Jesus comes FOR His Church.

Second Coming — Jesus comes WITH His Church.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 “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.”

Revelation 19:11–16 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”

Matthew 24:30–31 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Discuss:

What differences do you see between these passages?

5. How Should the Rapture Affect the Way We Live?

Titus 2:11–13 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

1 John 3:2–3 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Discuss:

According to these passages, what should the hope of Christ's return produce in us?

Does believing Jesus could return at any moment affect the way you live? How?

Is there an area of your life where you need to become more spiritually prepared?

How should the expectation of Jesus' return affect the way we share the Gospel?

Key thought:

We're not supposed to be obsessed with predicting His return. We're supposed to be ready for His return.

Closing Question

“If Jesus came for His Church tonight, is there anything in your life you would wish you had made right, said, or done differently?”

Titus 2:13 “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

Timeline:

NOW │ │ Church Age

▼ RAPTURE Jesus comes FOR His Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

▼ TRIBULATION — 7 years Antichrist revealed God's judgment on the earth │

▼ SECOND COMING Jesus comes WITH His Church (Revelation 19:11–16)

│ ▼ MILLENNIAL KINGDOM Christ reigns on earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–6)

│ ▼ FINAL JUDGMENT

│ ▼ ETERNAL STATE New heavens and new earth

2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”