Rapture means being caught up when Jesus appears in the clouds. First the dead will rise, and then the saints who’re alive. Here are some scriptures that talk about rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [a]sleep in Jesus.
15 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 [b]asleep. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Behold, I tell you a [m]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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will 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 has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
The question that may come across our mind is if we die before the Rapture, will we go to heaven? The answer is Yes, but it’s our spirit and soul that go to heaven.
Only during the rapture, the spirit and the soul of the people who’re in heaven will get a new body. How is this body different from the earthly one? Paul clarifies about the new body in 1 Corinthians 15: 35-49
Here are some people, who have experienced Rapture:
- Genesis 5:24 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
- 2 Kings 2:11 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
- Matthew 27:50-52 – 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
- Acts 1:9-11 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
- 2 Corinthians 12 It is a]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
Why Rapture?
Jesus says in John 14:1-3, that He has prepared a place for us in heaven. God wants us to be with Him.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many a]mansions; if it were not so, b]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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Jesus loves the Church intensely. He wants to draw the Church (the one without spot, or wrinkle or blemish) to Himself. Ephesians 5:25-27 talks about His love for the Church as that between a husband and a wife.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might g]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
We are members of His own body – Ephesians 5: 30
30 For we are members of His body, h]of His flesh and of His bones. 3
It’s God’s will that we should live together with Him.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
When will the Rapture happen?
To address this question, let’s analyze the response from Jesus.
The disciples asked Jesus: Matthew 24: 3 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
This question was asked when Jesus prophesied about the destruction of Solomon’s temple (rebuilt by Herod).
Two questions disciples asked Jesus: When and what signs will take place about His second coming.
The disciples like the rest of us were eager to know when. To answer the question, Jesus highlights the events, in Matthew 24:4-13, that will take place before His second coming.
He talks about the desecration of the temple by AntiChrist during the Great Tribulation as prophesied by Daniel. God’s chosen people, residing in Jerusalem, are given the instructions of what they need to do to escape and not to get deceived.
Just after the tribulation, the sun will go dark, the moon will not give light, and stars will fall from heaven. See Matthew 24:29. It’s at this point in time, Jesus will come down, in power and glory, as mentioned in Matthew 24:30-31. Zechariah 14, talks about Jesus coming on the Mount of Olives facing Jerusalem. In Matthew 24:31, and Zechariah 14:5, we read all the saints coming along with Jesus.
Where did these saints come from? These saints are the ones caught up during the Rapture.
This second coming of Christ where Jesus reigns on the planet earth along with His saints is different from Rapture.
In Luke 21:36, Jesus instructs His chosen ones to be watchful and in prayers so that they may escape the tribulation. This verse indicates that God’s people (who’re pure, unblemished, without spot or wrinkle) will escape tribulation. But there will be a remnant of God’s people who are not perfect or holy, that will pass through the tribulation.
In Luke 21:29, Jesus gives the hint – look at the fig tree. The fig tree is symbolic of the nation of Israel. When we see the news about the US, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Saudi, Iraq, Russia, Syria, it’s amazing, how close we are to the battle of Armageddon.
Matthew 24:36-42, looks like a pre-tribulation period. The world is doing business as usual, they are deep into sin. Jesus compares it with Noah’s days. Only Noah and his family board the Ark. This according to me is when the Church (the righteous ones) will be raptured. Shortly after the rapture, the 7 years tribulation period starts.
Does Matthew 24:40-41 or Luke 17:34-35 , talks about Rapture? I think so. Jesus answers the disciple’s question about where they will be taken. Read Luke 17:37
Many will lose their faith during the tribulation period. But there will be a group of people who will be overcomers.
Who will attain Rapture?
>>Everyone who has the eagerness, or desire like Apostle Paul to attain resurrection. See Philippians 3:8-12.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attaina] to the resurrection from the dead.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
>>Everyone who’s saved through faith in Jesus Christ
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
>>Everyone whose minds are set on the heavenly kingdom, and are one with Christ.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
>>Everyone who practices righteousness.
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that a]when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
>>Everyone who is pure.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of a]God! Therefore the world does not know b]us, because it did not know Him. 2 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. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
>>Everyone who has the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies a]through His Spirit who dwells in you.
>>Everyone who walks in Light, has fellowship, and purified by the Blood of Jesus Christ.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
>>Everyone who’s blameless and harmless
14 Do all things without a]complaining and disputing,b] 15 that you may become blameless and c]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
References
Pastor Benny Hinn – What to do if you miss the Rapture
