Rapture of the Church After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." (Revelation 4:1, NIV) Scott Huckaby www.BibleTract.org Today’s Discussion: What is the rapture of the church? What is the timing of the rapture? How is the rapture different from the return of Christ? Where do we get the term rapture? 16the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV) The term “rapture” is derived from the Latin word for “caught up” What happens when believers meet the Lord? 16the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV) The Lord will call us with a command Dead Christians will be resurrected Live Christians will be “caught up” to meet the Lord and other resurrected Christians in the air How do we know living Christians will be resurrected? 16the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV) Context… “rise first” The fact that we will be “caught up together” Verse 17b: “And so we will be with the Lord forever” What is the “mystery” revealed here? 51I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, NIV) There will be a generation of people who do not die but will be “changed” (resurrected) into their eternal bodies directly from their mortal bodies. Why didn’t God reveal the rapture before Jesus came? 51I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, NIV) We are in the dispensation of grace when God has blessed us with the revelation of His Son... Hebrews 1:1-2 - God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son (NIV) Why does the word “sleep” mean here? 51I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, NIV) This is a euphemism for death… The Greek word koimao which is translated “sleep” here means to be deceased, physical death. For what happens when people die, see the story of the certain rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 How fast will Christians be changed into their new bodies? 51I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, NIV) Our resurrection will occur in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. This is faster than a blink… …people left on earth after the rapture will sure be doing some blinking! What is the significance of the trumpet? 51I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, NIV) This is the last call of God for the church… After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1, NIV) What must be taken off us and put on? 51I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, NIV) off with corruption & mortality… our sin nature with bodies that suffer the consequences of sin putting on incorruption & immortality… we will be sinless with completed sanctification in glorified bodies like Christ has right now How will those left behind at the rapture react? Photo by Teresa Huckaby, 2008 Many will believe the Bible… but for most: they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie (2 Thess 2:10-11, NIV) There’ll be some plausible explanation: Space aliens zapped them (so we all need to work together) Authorities purged those holding back society Collateral damage from nuclear war Why is it important to have a correct view of the timing of the rapture? Causes problems with other aspects of Bible prophecy Can lead to discouragement Can lead to dangerous false doctrines Doctrine of imminence is strong medicine against procrastination about serving God… So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him (Matthew 24:44, NIV) What kind of dangerous doctrines can come from other than a pre-tribulation rapture? survivalists stock-piling weapons and food …teaches people to depend on their own resources for deliverance rather than the power of God. thinking that the church has replaced Israel in the promises of God …one of the roots of anti-Semitism (devilinspired to keep people from discerning prophetic truth) How does 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 indicate that the rapture precedes the tribulation? the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV) Paul expected the rapture to be imminent in his day because he included himself in those who would not face death, “we who are still alive and left…” How does 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 indicate that the rapture precedes the tribulation? After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air… Therefore encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18, NIV) The doctrine of the rapture is intended to be encouraging. Knowing that we have to die or face the tribulation before we are resurrected is discouraging. How does 1 Thessalonians 5:9 indicate that the rapture precedes the tribulation? For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9, NIV) The context of this passage means that the term “wrath” refers to the tribulation. God will save the church from suffering through the time when He pours out his wrath on the earth during the tribulation. How does 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 indicate that the rapture precedes the tribulation? the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the One who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, NIV) This was written to put the Thessalonians at ease that the persecution they were suffering was not the tribulation… this would have meant that they missed the rapture described in Paul’s first epistle 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the One who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming (NIV) Who is the One holding back lawlessness? The Holy Spirit… who indwells Christians How will the Holy Spirit be taken away? The Holy Spirit’s ministry of holding back lawlessness will be removed with the church at the rapture 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the One who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming (NIV) When will the Holy Spirit be taken away? Before the “lawless one” is revealed Who is the “lawless one”? This is the coming world ruler, a.k.a. the Antichrist 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the One who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming (NIV) How will the “lawless one” be revealed? When he confirms a 7-year peace treaty with Israel at the beginning of the tribulation… he will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' …he will put an end to sacrifice and offering …he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him (Daniel 9:27, NIV) How is the rapture different from the second coming of Christ? Rapture Second Coming Seeing Jesus: Meeting Jesus: Resurrection: Believers only In the air All believers All people On earth No one The church: Judgment: Predictability: Goes to heaven Believers’ works Imminent Returns to earth Nations Tied to key events Timing: Bible references: Satan: Pre-tribulation Veiled in O.T. No references Post-tribulation Prophesied in O.T. Satan will be bound What distinguishes these two passages? Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:28, NIV) …rapture: Appearing to believers Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him (Revelation 1:7, NIV) …2nd coming: All will see Him What distinguishes these two passages? we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1Thessalonians 4:17, NIV) …rapture: Meeting the Lord in the air On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley (Zechariah 14:4, NIV) …2nd coming: Jesus will set foot on earth What distinguishes these two passages? When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4, NIV) …rapture: When believers are resurrected The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. (Revelation 19:14-15, NIV) …2nd coming: No one is resurrected What distinguishes these two passages? if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:3, NIV) …rapture: Believers go to heaven May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones. (1Thessalonians 3:13, NIV) …2nd coming: Believers come to earth What distinguishes these two passages? These have come so that your faith… may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7, NIV) …rapture: Believers’ works are judged When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25:31-32, NIV) …2nd coming: Nations are judged What distinguishes these two passages? for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2, NIV) …rapture: Imminent (so always be ready) "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” (Daniel 12:11-13, NIV) …2nd coming: Related to specific events Why is the timing of Christ’s return known? So that those who trust in Jesus during that time will have hope knowing their suffering is limited. What distinguishes these two passages? Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (Revelation 3:10, NIV) …rapture: Occurs before the tribulation I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. (Revelation 19:11, NIV) …2nd coming: Occurs after the tribulation What distinguishes these two passages? The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net. (Micah 7:2, NIV) …rapture: Veiled in the Old Testament In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. (Daniel 2:44, NIV) …2nd coming: Prophesied in Old Testament What distinguishes these two passages? For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till He is taken out of the way. (2Thessalonians 2:7, NIV) …rapture: Satan given more autonomy He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:2, NIV) …2nd coming: Satan is incarcerated