WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE RAPTURE

 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE RAPTURE
By Alan Yusko

In these last days, some do not understand the simple doctrine of the pre trib rapture of the saved. Here we will go through several verses in the bible and show the doctrine of the rapture, or harpazo.

I'll first start out by saying that the word 'rapture' is not in the bible. The rapture is a common term description of the actural word called harpazo. First realize this. The word 'bible' is also not in the bible. Yet everyone uses that word and we all understand the word... bible. The same is true of the word rapture. The new testament was written in greek. The actual word in the bible is the word harpazo. This word means to grab, to snatch away, to be caught up, with great force.

We start by looking at the main rapture verse. This verse shows that there is one generation of the saved christians who will be taken without dying. This happens before the wrath and judgment of God comes on earth during the 7 year time of jacobs trouble.

1 Thess 4:
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For 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:
17 Then 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The dead in Christ rise first. Then the living saved christians on earth will be caught up to meet the Lord Jesus in the clouds. This event is part of the first resurrection of the saved. The Lord Jesus was firstfruits of the first resurrection. Other saved will be resurrected later from this time. They are all part of the first resurrection. We are told we meet the Lord in the air and will forever be with the Lord. This is good news and of great comfort to those who hear.

How fast in time is the rapture: Here we are told...

1 Cor 15
51 Behold, 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The speed of the rapture is very fast. It happens in the twinkling of the eye. This is so fast we cannot comprehend how fast. It is 1 time 10 to the 43 power of 1 second. Again this resurrection is when the saved receive their incorruptible new bodies. They are bodies just like the Lord Jesus had after He rose from the dead. These bodies are perfect in health, never get sick, never die, never get old, and will last us throughout all eternity.

Another rapture verse:

John 14
2 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.
3 And 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.

Here we are told that the Lord Jesus will come again and receive us unto Himself. This happens at the rapture or harpazo.

Another promise in the bible:

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.”

This verse is a promise warning of a terrible time coming to earth. The saved are promised here to be removed from earth before that terrible time starts.

After the rapture the antichrist rises to power as the restrainer is removed. He then confirms a covenant of death and hell with Israel. This starts up the 7 year time of jacobs trouble. This is where the wrath and judgment of God comes in 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls. You can read about this terrible 7 years in Revelation chapters 6-19.

Here in the bible is where the rapture happens.

Revelation 4:1
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”

We are living in Revelation chapters 2,3 for almost 2000 years now. Chapter 4 is the rapture of the saved church. The words, come up hither, and a trumpet can be heard at the rapture.

The rapture is for the saved and it is our blessed hope.

Titus 2:13
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

The saved live their lives and place their hope on the sudden return of the Lord Jesus to take us home to heaven. This is why it is our blessed hope. Other false rapture views are looking for the antichrist. The saved are looking for the Lord Jesus to come take us in the rapture before the wrath and judgment of God.

Now today, many reject sound bible teaching and are against the sound teaching of the rapture. Beware as many false teachers make it their job to mislead you and turn people away from the sound bible teaching of the pre trib rapture. Do not let them do this to you. Stand strong and hold fast to sound bible doctrine and the promises of the Lord.