WILL THERE BE A “RAPTURE”? (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) Not all who teach of a “rapture” agree on the details. We will look at the general teaching. “Rapture” = 1. Ecstatic joy or delight; joyful ecstasy. 2. An utterance or expression of ecstatic delight.
3. The carrying of a person to another place or sphere or existence (American College Dictionary) The “Rapture” is actually a “piece” of a bigger religious jigsaw puzzle referred to as “Premillennialism”. “Pre” = before. “Millennial” = One thousand years. The belief is that Jesus is going to establish a PHYSICAL kingdom on earth and reign for 1,000 years. The “Rapture” is a key element to this false doctrine.
A. “Rapture” is NOT a Scriptural Term
1. The word “Rapture” is NOT in the Bible
a. “Rapture” is a word COINED from the Greek word HARPAZO used in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ---“Caught up” = {726} [Harpazo] = “To seize (in various applications): catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force). [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]
b. But, HARPAZ0 is used 13 times in the New Testament and is NEVER translated “Rapture”
2. This a “faith” NOT of the Bible (Romans 10:17), because the TERMS are NOT in the Bible
B. “Rapture” is NOT a Scriptural Event
1. “Rapture” is to be a SECRET “catching away” of the CHURCH, both living and dead
a. The 2nd coming of Jesus will be VISIBLE (Revelation 1:7) “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wailbecause of him. Even so, Amen. ---A General Resurrection (John 5:28-29) “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” ---A General judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) (2 Corinthians 5:9-10) “Wherefore we labor that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of hem. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
2. The “Raptured” saints are to reign over a physical earthly kingdom with Christ for 1000 years
a. Peter tells us the earth will be destroyed at Jesus’ return (2 Peter 3:9-11) (c.f. Revelation ch.21&22)
3. The “Rapture” is to “take the church out of the world” [Vernon McGee, “The Rapture Comes Next”]
a. Jesus has already called his disciples out of the world (John 15:19) “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
b. Jesus told Pilate “…My kingdom is not of this world:” (John 18:36)
c. As Christians, our “citizenship” is in HEAVEN (Philippians 3:20) “For our conversation [citizenship ( Strong’s; 4175)] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
4. According to the “Rapture” theory, 7 years after this event, Jesus will “set up” His Kingdom on earth
a. The Church and Kingdom are the SAME THING (Matthew 16:18-19) ---Jesus did NOT build one thing (church) and give the Apostles keys to something else (kingdom)
b. Apostle Paul said Christians in his day had been translated INTO the kingdom (Colossians 1:13) “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”
c. Writer of Hebrews assured Christians, they had already received the kingdom (Hebrews 12:28) “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ---Kingdom will be given TO the Father at the end of this world (1 Corinthians 15:24-27)
A. We have seen that it will be VISIBLE (Revelation 1:7)
B. We have seen it will be at the End of the World (1 Peter 3:10-11)
C. The Kingdom will NOT be ESTABLISHED at the end of this time, but rather, it will be DELIVERED UP to The Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-27)
D. A General Resurrection (John 5:28-29)
E. There will be a GENERAL Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) (2 Corinthians 5:10)
F. SO, Obey the Gospel today (Romans 6:1-4, 17), and be added by God to his Kingdom (Matthew 16:18), and DO NOT wait for a “RAPTURE”, but LIVE for the day when all the saved will be with him in heaven.