What is the rapture of the Church, is the word rapture in the bible?
The word ‘rapture’ is a term used to describe the end times, according to some interpretations of the Bible. It is a belief that Jesus will return to Earth and take away His followers to Heaven, leaving the rest of humanity behind. While the word ‘rapture’ is not actually used in the Bible, there are many passages that refer to this event in one way or another. In this article, we’ll explore what the Bible has to say about the rapture, and how it might relate to the end of the world.
In the Gospel of John, we read some words that Jesus said to his disciples.
This happened just before his death and resurrection. Jesus told them not to be sad because even though he was physically leaving, he would come back. He was going to prepare a place for them, but he would come back for them to take them there where they would spend eternity with him:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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. 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.
(John 14:1-3)
We see that Jesus does not refer to his resurrection but to the moment in which he would return to look for them, them, and all those who have received him as Lord and Savior until that day. That is why he spoke of many dwellings. He assured them that he would come back to find his Church and all his children. Jesus encouraged them with that hope and certainty. He will come back to look for his own!
Let’s see other biblical references related to this event that we call the rapture.
Relevant verses:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
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 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
In these verses, Paul encourages the Thessalonian believers by speaking to them about the end times. Within the church, there were some who asked what would happen to the believers who died before Jesus came back to find the Church from him.
Paul tells them about three things that will happen one after the other during the end. First, Jesus will descend and his coming will be announced. Revelation 1:7 says that “everyone will see it with their own eyes.” Second, the dead in Christ will rise. And third, the children of God who are still alive will be caught up and meet the Lord in the air.
We see, then, that the primitive church already had the certainty that Jesus would come to look for (to snatch) his people and they lived waiting for that moment. They knew that it didn’t matter if they were dead or alive when this happened. If they had surrendered their lives to Jesus by accepting him as Savior, they would spend eternity with him.
Matthew 24:30-31
The sign of the Son of man will appear in the sky, and all the races of the earth will be anguished. They will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And at the sound of the great trumpet he will send his angels, and they will gather the elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Matthew 24:30-31)
Matthew chapter 24 mentions different signs about the end of the world. Jesus knew that he was nearing the end of his earthly life. That is why he took the time to explain to his disciples what would happen at the end of time. Above all else, Jesus wanted to exhort them to prepare for that moment. He encouraged them by assuring them that he would come back for his chosen one.
Jesus will return with “power and great glory”, victorious. Once again we see that it will be an awe-inspiring moment with the sound of trumpets, angels, and the gathering of his elect “from one end of heaven to the other.” In Daniel 7:13 we find a prophecy about that time. Daniel had a vision in which “someone with a human appearance was coming in the clouds of heaven” and Jesus confirmed to his disciples that this would happen. He will return!
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Take a good look at the mystery that I am going to reveal to you: We will not all die, but we will all be transformed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the final blast of the trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will rise with an incorruptible body, and we will be changed.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
Paul encouraged the church in Corinth by telling them about a mystery, something they had not heard of until then. He spoke to them about that wonderful transformation that the children of God will go through when Jesus returns to look for his people. This will happen suddenly, “in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye.”
He assured them that when the final trumpet sounds, those who have already died will be resurrected with incorruptible bodies. The children of God who are still alive will be transformed immediately, they will not remain the same.
In 1 Corinthians 15:44b it says that “if there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” We only know our physical or natural body. We do not know what our spiritual body will be like, but we do know that when we are transformed, our body will be different from the one we have today.
Philippians 3:20-21
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
(Philippians 3:20-21)
Paul emphasized the importance of having the right perspective in life. Our real citizenship is not on earth but in heaven and our lives must reflect that truth. Our greatest desire should be to live for Jesus, pleasing him in everything. At the same time, we must look forward to his return From him.
The physical world in which we live will end without any doubt. God will transform our bodies and we will have glorious bodies, something difficult to imagine. Then, everything that exists will be subdued under the incomparable power of our Lord. There is nothing and no one greater or stronger than him. In that wonderful moment, we will realize how enormous his greatness and power are.
1 John 3:2
Dear brothers, now we are children of God, but what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know, however, that when Christ comes we will be like him, because we will see him as he is.
(1 John 3:2)
Our identity is this: we are children of God! Let’s not doubt it. If we have received Jesus as Savior and King of our hearts, that is our identity. As children of God that we are, we will experience great things here on earth and for eternity.
However, as long as we are in our earthly bodies, all that we really are will not yet manifest. But when Christ comes and we experience all that he has already prepared for us, we will understand many things. We will see him as he is and everything that came before, the earthly, will lose its attraction and its importance.
When will the rapture occur?
The reality is that the Bible makes it clear that only God the Father knows when it will be.
But as for the day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
(Matthew 24:36)
We must understand that we are human beings and God does not have to explain everything to us in great detail. He has told us in his Word what we need to know and that should be enough for us.
We know that Jesus will return to seek his Church and therefore we need to be prepared. How do we do it? Making sure we have put our faith in Jesus by receiving him as Savior and Lord.
That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Because with the heart one believes to be justified, but with the mouth one confesses to be saved.
(Romans 10:9-10)
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The Rapture and Second Coming of Jesus
Most Christians believe and are aware that the Bible speaks about the end times. But being something prophetic, there are symbols and many things difficult to fully understand with our finite minds.
It is for this reason that, even within the Christian people, there are a variety of interpretations as to how the events of the end will occur and in what order. For example, when will the rapture of the Church occur? Will it be before, during, or after the great tribulation? Is it the same as the second coming of Jesus or is it a different event?
When the Bible talks about the second coming of Jesus, it refers to the moment in which he will return to earth to judge all nations and reign for eternity. All eyes, all the world will see when this happens, it will not be a secret event.
For just as the lightning that comes from the east is seen even in the west, so will the coming of the Son of man be.
(Matthew 24:27)
We know that both things will happen, and the Bible says so. Jesus will come looking for his own to take them to live with him for eternity. Jesus will also return as King and Judge to establish his eternal kingdom.
In that night vision, I saw that someone with a human appearance was coming through the clouds in the sky. He approached the venerable Ancient One and was brought into his presence, and he was given authority, power and majesty. All peoples, nations and tongues worshiped him! His dominion over him is an eternal dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom will never be destroyed!
(Daniel 7:13-14)
There will be two men in the field: one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding: one will be taken and the other will be left. Therefore, stay awake, because you do not know what day your Lord will come.
(Matthew 24:40-42)
Only God knows for sure how this will happen, whether they will be simultaneous events or not. But what really matters is that we are sure that our lives belong to God because we have received Jesus as our Savior. We must live filled with his Holy Spirit allowing him to always guide us so that we live according to his will.
The security of the children of God is that in Christ we have eternal life. We will spend our eternity with him! Glory be to the Lord!
There will be no more curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him; they will see him face to face, and they will bear his name on their foreheads. There will be no more night; they will not need light from a lamp or from the sun, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.
(Revelation 22:3-5)
Blessed are those who wash their clothes to have the right to the tree of life and to be able to enter through the gates of the city.
(Revelation 22:14)
