What about the Rapture?

Introduction: One hears numerous references today to the term “rapture.” What does this term mean? The word itself (harpazo) simply means “a taking up” or “a snatching away.” The popular idea is that, all at once, with no warning, all believers will suddenly disappear from planet Earth, being snatched away. (See ,). This will mark the beginning of the end of the world. Within seven years the Battle of Armageddon will begin, and Christ will return visibly to set up His millennial kingdom. (References of the word “harpazo” or a form of it occur in the following Scriptures: ; ,; )

Why do so many people look forward to the rapture as their “blessed hope?” Because (it is believed) those who are thus raptured will not have to live through the period of terrible persecution and tribulation that will precede the end of the world.

It is unfortunate that the Biblical Doctrine of the Rapture has been lost in the shuffle of those who are fixated on date setting and trying to fit current events dogmatically into the structure of Revelation. Such obsessions distort the fact that Revelation is designed to be a source of comfort for Every Age till Jesus returns. “If an interpretation would not have helped believers in every age, that interpretation needs to be rethought. Rather, let’s read this wonderful book from the perspective of a disciple who wants to follow Christ no matter what the cost.” (Charlie Crowe)

The purpose of this study is to outline the events as they will occur at the end of the world., with particular emphasis on the place and purpose of the rapture. Just what will happen at the end of the world?

I. Background of the Doctrine of the Rapture

a. This popular doctrine has been promoted in the 1970’s by the writings of Hal Lindsey (The Late Great Planet Earth, etc.) and more recently by Jim Jenkins and Tim LaHaye in their Left Behind fictional books and films.

b. The doctrine itself generally goes to a 19th century theologian, J. N. Darby. C.I. Scofield then picked it up and promoted it in his references in the Scofield Reference Bible.

c. It is important to point out that there is no mention of this doctrine in the previous 1800 years of Church history!

II. The State of the world at the time of Christ’s Second Coming

a. Satan is loosed, gathers his followers together, and launches an all-out attack on God’s people. ().

b. This is the famous Battle of Armageddon (also called the Battle of Gog and Magog (see ,; ; Rev.1911-21). This is most likely a spiritual conflict rather than a military one. Also note that the decisive and immediate victory is by God.

III. The Return of Jesus Christ

III. The Return of Jesus Christ

a. What will we See?

a. What will we See?

i. ; ; ; ; ; ,

ii. Christ will come visibly. His coming is referred to as His Appearing (or Manifestation); ; ; ,

b. What will we Hear?

b. What will we Hear?

i. ; ; ; ; (“Day of the Lord”)

ii. Note that the Second Coming which results in the rapture of Christians can hardly be a “secret coming”; three distinct sounds are heard: Voice of the Lord; Voice of the Archangel; the Trumpet of God.

c. What will we do?

c. What will we do?

i. God’s people will rejoice: ;

ii. The wicked will try to flee and hide (), but Christ will destroy them. ; ;

d. See additional material in Cottrell’s notes on “The Manner of His Coming.”

IV. The Resurrection of the Dead

a. All the dead will be raised to life: that is each person will receive the body which will be his for eternity. ,;

b. The living saints will at the same time be changed; they will receive a glorified body without having to experience death. .

V. The Rapture

a. A little observed but clear Biblical teaching is that the wicked are raptured (i.e. “taken away”) before the righteous!

i. , . Here Jesus specifically says that the tares (sinners) are gathered first by His angels at the end of the world. (See ).

ii. , “One is taken, and the other is left.” Who is taken away? Following the parallel of the days of Noah when the flood came and took the wicked away, so also we must conclude that at the end the one that is taken is the sinner (the unrepentant), and the one that is left is the saint (Christian).

iii. This shows conclusively that the pre-millennial interpretation of the end of the world lacks support at this point. This view requires that the resurrection must precede that of the wicked by at least 1,000 years (and for most, 1007). But the Bible teaches that the wicked are taken first!

b. Almost immediately afterwards (the time lag is insignificant), God’s people, having been raised and changed are raptured. (,).

c. Therefore, we affirm that the Bible does teach that there will be a rapture. It will NOT be secret! There are actually two raptures, one for the wicked, one for the righteous. And the most surprising fact of all is that the wicked are raptured first. (Cottrell)

VI. The Renewal of the Universe by Purifying Fire

a. ; ; ;

b. The fiery holocaust does not annihilate the universe, rather, it purifies it. The result is the NEW HEAVENS and the NEW EARTH. The New Earth itself will be the eternal home of the righteous –Peter 3:13;

c. The purpose of the rapture (of both wicked and righteous) is to clear the physical universe of human beings so that the purification can take place.

VII. The Judgment

a. . There is but a single judgment, and it involves all people: good and bad; redeemed and unredeemed; saint and sinner.

b. The judgment is going on simultaneously with the purification of the universe. All people have been raptured (taken up) from the earth and taken to the throne-room of God where the judgment occurs. God’s throne-room is “outside” the physical universe; in the dimension of the spiritual world.

VIII. Eternity

a. The wicked are condemned to eternal torment in hell.

b. The righteous are blessed to dwell forever upon the New Earth in the presence of God Himself. ,. “And so we will always be with the Lord!”

Final Word. Let’s not focus on the signs of when Jesus returns. It is a waste of time because neither you nor anyone else is that smart! Let’s focus of the signs of how we can remain faithful to our Lord whatever the circumstance; whatever the situation; whatever the year. We need to live under His Lordship as if everyday is the day of His return! (because it could be!).