The Rapture (Part One)

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: 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. ~ 1 Thess. 4:16-17.

We are living in a period of time that is of overwhelming interest to all. Political leaders and legislators, men and women who hold positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention focused upon the events taking place around us. People are watching the strained, restless relations that exist between countries. Thousands observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element, and they realize that something great and decisive is about to happen—it appears that the world is on the verge of its most tremendous crisis. But speaking of the last day's events, only the Bible, and the Bible only, gives us the correct view of these things. In it are revealed the great and final scenes of the history of our world.

As a fundamental Bible-believing Christian, let me share to you what the Bible really tells us about what will surely happen in the near coming days. To be concise on this matter let me share the first major event that will take place in the near future.

Christ's Appearing For The Church—The Rapture (1 Cor. 15:51-53, 1 Thes. 4:16-17,)

For us to have a better understanding about this major event called “The Rapture of the Church”, let me explain to you, first, what Church really is according to the Bible.

The Church is not “The Kingdom.” John the Baptist came preaching that the “Kingdom of Heaven” was “at hand” (Matt. 3:1-2) and Jesus sent out the Twelve (Matt. 10: 5-8) and the Seventy (Luk. 10:1) to do the same, but the Jewish people rejected their King, and the setting up of the Kingdom was postponed. The Church is never confounded with the Kingdom in the Bible. The Church is compared to a “House” (1 Tim. 3:15), to a “Temple” (1 Cor. 3:16-17), to a “Body” (1 Cor. 12:27-31), but never to a Kingdom. Christ is the “HEAD” of His Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18), but He is never spoken of as its King. The Church's relation to Christ is to be that of a “Bride” (Eph. 5: 23-32; Rev. 21:2, 9-10).

The Church is a “Mystery.” The Kingdom was no mystery. The Old Testament prophets describe it in glowing terms. But there was something that was a “Mystery” to them, and that was what to come in between the “Sufferings and Glory” of Christ (1 Pet. 1:9-10, 11-12). That is, between the Cross and the Crown. Jesus intimated that there was to be something that He called the “Church,” but He did not say when it should appear, or what should it be like (Matt. 16:18). The “Mystery of the Church” was first revealed to Apostle Paul.

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the “Dispensation of the Grace of God” which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me “THE MYSTERY”; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That THE GENTILES should be fellowheirs, and of THE SAME BODY, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel... according to the Eternal Purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:1-11).

From this we see that the Church was unknown to the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets. That the Gentiles were to be saved was no mystery (Rom. 9:24-30). The “Mystery” was, that God was going to form an entirely “NEW THING,” composed of both Jew and Gentile, to be called--- “THE CHURCH.”

The Church is the “Body of Christ”. In Ephesians 1:22-23 we read,

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave HIM to be the HEAD over all things to the church, Which is His BODY, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The context shows (Eph. 1:20) that this “Headship” was not possible until Jesus had been raised from the dead, and seated at the right hand of the Father. The Church, therefore, could not have been in existence before there was a Head. The Church then is the Body of which Christ is the Head. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 we are told how this “Body” is formed.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into ONE SPIRIT.

From this we see that it is the “Baptism of the Spirit” that incorporates us into the “BODY OF CHRIST.” There could be no Church until the “Day of Pentecost” (Acts 1:4-5, 2:1-4). And each individual today who trust Jesus is also baptize into that same body the very moment he trusted Jesus (Eph. 1:13). Apostle Paul emphasizes this baptism.

“There is One Body (the Church), and One Spirit (the Holy Spirit), even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord (Jesus), One faith, ONE BAPTISM (of the Holy Spirit), One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6).

This Church will soon be removed from the world scene and be translated into glory at the appearing of Jesus in the Clouds (1 Thes. 4:17) to give way for the establishment of the Kingdom promised by God to Israel (Acts 1:6-7). This coming event is called “The Rapture of the Church.” The period of time from the Day of Pentecost to the Rapture is called “THE CHURCH AGE.” The Rapture could happen today, tomorrow or within this week. No one knows exactly when the Rapture will take place. In fact, every day that the Lord added to your lives is God demonstration of His great love... how He extend His grace just for you to repent and to get right to God (2 Pet. 3:9).

Are you ready for the Rapture?

Jesus Christ is coming again. Are you ready? Have you been saved? Are you born again? Is your name written, not on the church roll, but in the Lamb's book of life? "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev. 20:15). This is the second death! Are you ready for His return? If Jesus were to come today, would you be ready? He told us to watch. It is one thing to wait; it is another thing to watch. Are you ready? Are you watching? If you who is reading this article is not ready for the coming of Christ, I pray that by faith you will this moment receive Christ as your Saviour.

See the part two of this series.