Six Important points of the Rapture of the Church Point 1. What is the rapture? The rapture promised to the believers in Christ, or called in scripture his Church, is a fulfillment of the Lord’s prayer in John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world.” This specific verse clearly shows the Lord’s desire to be united with his body the Church. We know from scripture that when a believer dies he is immediately in the presence of the Lord. Paul the apostle clearly expresses it in this testimony, “Absent from the body, present with the Lord” (2nd Corinthians 5:8). Body Needs the Head If, however, all believers had to die in order to be in the presence of the Lord, then the body of the Church (all believers down through history)
would certainly not reflect the Christ who arose from the dead and ascended into heaven victoriously. Subsequently, a bodily resurrection of the body of the Church must take place. The Church is Jesus’s Christ’s body, and He is the head. It is impossible to separate the body from the head. The Lord’s will then is clear, he wishes those who he bought with his precious blood, to be in his presence so that they may at last behold and grasp his great and righteous glory.
Our Transformation The rapture then is our transformation into the image of Him who was transformed before us: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is� (1st John 3:2). Then we shall be able to proclaim that the rapture fulfills Bible prophecy.
Sons of God We are “sons of God” but we are not like Him, yet. We have not been transformed into the eternal state or his image; at this moment we are not like him or as he is now. This is yet to come and could happen at any time. After the rapture Satan is cast down to the earth in Revelation 12:7-9. Wickedness will then abound because the light (the Church) has been taken away and in Revelation 12:12 which is close to the middle of the great tribulation he knows that he has but a short time. Point 2. How Will the Rapture Take Place? The rapture of the Church will take place in “the twinkling of an eye.” Instantaneously, unannounced, without fanfare or news coverage, the rapture will occur when the Lord comes for his body of the Church. Corinthians 15: 51-53
The rapture of the Church is proclaimed in Cor. 15:51-53, “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall all not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (transformed), 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.” In 1st Thessalonians 4: 16-17 we read, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise: 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 we shall ever be with the Lord.”
Point 3. Why is the Rapture Necessary? The calling of Christ for his body is necessary in order to permit sin to reach its culmination. The The Church is the light unto the world, thus when the light is gone the world descends into darkness. Sin can develop to its full potential because there is no one there to stop the wicked! Remember this happens before the great seven year tribulation, thus God is causing everything to speed up for his son to return. God cannot send destructive judgment on the earth because
the measure of sin has not yet been fulfilled according to God’s wisdom. When the light is gone sin will reach its prophesied apex. Allows the Anti-Christ The rapture of the body of the Church is necessary in order to allow the Anti-Christ to be revealed. Darkness can only operate when hidden from the light. The Anti-Christ is revealed when he offers a seven year peace treaty to Israel; this starts the seven year tribulation. This is yet in the future. As you can see we have but a short time before the rapture if you know what is happening in the Middle East today.
Satan Cast Down WE know that Satan is in heaven because of scripture that says in Revelation 12:10 “for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.� Satan is cast down in the middle of the tribulation, scripture tells us, so that he may possess the anti-Christ to make him perform the abomination of desolation. The rapture of the
Church then is necessary to initiate the casting down of Satan from heaven. Word Must Be Fulfilled The rapture is also necessary because the Lord’s word must be fulfilled. Although Jesus defeated the powers of Satan and death on Calvary’s cross, his victory over death has not been transferred to the body of the Church. For two thousand years the saints have been buried without being transformed. They are waiting for the fullness of the body of the Church to be raised “in the twinkling of an eye” and meet the Lord in the air. The prophecy “then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory,” can only be fulfilled when the body is united with the head, the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Point 4. Who Will Be Raptured? Scripture says very clearly that only those belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ will be
raptured. Paul said in 1st Thessalonians 4:17 “Then we which are alive (meaning we who are alive in Christ) on the earth shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall ever be with the Lord.� Those that are then alive and those asleep in the dust will then be reunited with Jesus in the air to forever be with God.
Point 5. When Will the Rapture Take Place?
Scripture says in Luke 12:40 “Be ye therefore ready also: for the son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Date setters are false prophets. To target a date takes away the element of surprise. The Bible says we must be ready at all times. The Bible says the only one who knows about the time of the rapture is God himself. We are not God so we do not know. Point 6. How can You Be Ready for the Rapture? You must be born again. Without regeneration, you will remain in darkness, without hope, and lost for all eternity. John in 3:36 testifies, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” The gift of waiting for him must be a reality in your life. Looking for that blessed hope is paramount in the life of a Christian. Look up for your redeemer draweth nigh.