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I have looked up on the Christian Forums the word "rapture", expecting to find a thread that is similar to what I believe the rapture is. But, I have not been able to find a similar rapture theory. To me, this theory made way more sense than any of the other theories. (I am sure this is already out there, but I might as well post it up)
In 1Thes 4:17 it says “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.”
The English phrase “caught up” (NASB) translates the Greek word harpazõ, which means “to seize upon with force” or “to snatch up.” This is the Greek word from which the English word “harpoon” is derived. The Latin translators of the Bible used the word rapere, the root of the English term rapture. So, the word Rapture does appear in the Bible, but the question then becomes, who are “we who are alive” and when does this happen?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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 asleep. 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. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words"
After reading 1Thes 4:13-18, we can conclude that the people who are alive will not go to be with Jesus until “the dead in Christ” have been raised first. So, the question is, who are these dead believers in Christ? In Revelation 20:4-6 it speaks about this first resurrection of the dead. This verse gives us insight into who these believers are and what they do. These believers who are raised first are not all the believers, but some who were willing to give their lives in the name of Christ during the time of the tribulation. They come back with him and reign for 1000 years.
Revelation 20:4-6
"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years."
So, what 1Thes 4:13-18 is saying is that the martyrs are raised first, and they reign with Christ for 1000 years. Then sometime after the 1000-year reign, those that remain, that is everybody, Christian and non-Christian, will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (for the day of Judgment). Everyone will be “caught up together”, or “Snatched up” all at the same time.
In Matthew 25:31-33 it says that we are all gathered together at the same time. That is non-Christians and Christians at the same time. The sheep and Goats at the same time. Then Jesus will separate the non-believers from the believers at the Judgement seat.
Matt 25:31-33
"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. “And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left."
Matthew continues to explain the judgement further in the remainder of Matthew 25
Now, I have heard some people say that believers are not judged because they are raptured up before the judgement seat of Christ. I do not believe this is correct because in Rev 20:12 and Romans 14:10 it says that everyone will be judged; So, those that believe in Christ will be judged too (Hebrews 10:30).
Rev 20:12
"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books"
Heb 10:30
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.
After God gathers everyone, they are judged. This makes sense as there are many people who believe in Christ but they do not repent. So to find the true believers of Christ each person will give an account of how they lived. Did they turn from their sin, and did they really have faith in the sacrifice that Jesus did? If so, God will grant them mercy.
Now, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 is a verse that is often used incorrectly regarding the rapture. It does speak of the rapture but not at the time that most believe, which is either Pre, Mid or Post Tribulation. This event happens at the end of time. That is, the very end of the age (After the 1000-year reign). Corinthians even confirms this too.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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.”
This last trumpet is the 7th trumpet mentioned in Revelation 11:15-18. “Then the seventh angel sounded…..and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
This seventh trumpet, the last trumpet ushers in the Great White Throne Judgement. So, the rapture happens after the 1000-year reign and just before the Judgement Seat of Christ. Anyone who is dead or alive (not asleep), will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. This includes non-believers as well as believers, as it does not differentiate between them. Then they face the judgement.
Matthew 24:40-41 is also another verse used to justify the rapture. Although, within the text, there is no mention of the rapture. But since a person is “taken”, people who believe in the rapture have associated this as Christ taking the believers. Here is the verse:
“Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.”
The verses prior to this say that when we see the end time signs happening, that we can know that the coming of Christ is nearby. In these perilous times, the antichrist and his army will advance and even take over Jerusalem. In Matthew 24:9 it says that believers will be delivered to tribulation and death. So, as the antichrist armies advance, there will be two men in a field; the Christian will be taken by the antichrist's army (and most likely beheaded), and the other, non-believer will be left. There will also be two women grinding at a mill; the Christian will be taken and the other will be left.
Verses 16-18 of Chapter 24 even tells people to flee. Do not be left in the field.
“then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.”
So, in reality, to be taken is a terrible thing. I think if Christians see that “to be taken”, is to be taken to tribulation, then they would not be wanting to be taken so much.
So yes, there is a rapture but not as a lot of Christians think. It is the final trumpet call in Revelation which is at the Great White Throne Judgement.
I hope this makes sense. If you do think that this is not correct, please let me know how as I would like to learn. Cheers and God Bless.
In 1Thes 4:17 it says “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.”
The English phrase “caught up” (NASB) translates the Greek word harpazõ, which means “to seize upon with force” or “to snatch up.” This is the Greek word from which the English word “harpoon” is derived. The Latin translators of the Bible used the word rapere, the root of the English term rapture. So, the word Rapture does appear in the Bible, but the question then becomes, who are “we who are alive” and when does this happen?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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 asleep. 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. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words"
After reading 1Thes 4:13-18, we can conclude that the people who are alive will not go to be with Jesus until “the dead in Christ” have been raised first. So, the question is, who are these dead believers in Christ? In Revelation 20:4-6 it speaks about this first resurrection of the dead. This verse gives us insight into who these believers are and what they do. These believers who are raised first are not all the believers, but some who were willing to give their lives in the name of Christ during the time of the tribulation. They come back with him and reign for 1000 years.
Revelation 20:4-6
"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years."
So, what 1Thes 4:13-18 is saying is that the martyrs are raised first, and they reign with Christ for 1000 years. Then sometime after the 1000-year reign, those that remain, that is everybody, Christian and non-Christian, will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (for the day of Judgment). Everyone will be “caught up together”, or “Snatched up” all at the same time.
In Matthew 25:31-33 it says that we are all gathered together at the same time. That is non-Christians and Christians at the same time. The sheep and Goats at the same time. Then Jesus will separate the non-believers from the believers at the Judgement seat.
Matt 25:31-33
"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. “And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left."
Matthew continues to explain the judgement further in the remainder of Matthew 25
Now, I have heard some people say that believers are not judged because they are raptured up before the judgement seat of Christ. I do not believe this is correct because in Rev 20:12 and Romans 14:10 it says that everyone will be judged; So, those that believe in Christ will be judged too (Hebrews 10:30).
Rev 20:12
"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books"
Heb 10:30
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.
After God gathers everyone, they are judged. This makes sense as there are many people who believe in Christ but they do not repent. So to find the true believers of Christ each person will give an account of how they lived. Did they turn from their sin, and did they really have faith in the sacrifice that Jesus did? If so, God will grant them mercy.
Now, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 is a verse that is often used incorrectly regarding the rapture. It does speak of the rapture but not at the time that most believe, which is either Pre, Mid or Post Tribulation. This event happens at the end of time. That is, the very end of the age (After the 1000-year reign). Corinthians even confirms this too.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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.”
This last trumpet is the 7th trumpet mentioned in Revelation 11:15-18. “Then the seventh angel sounded…..and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
This seventh trumpet, the last trumpet ushers in the Great White Throne Judgement. So, the rapture happens after the 1000-year reign and just before the Judgement Seat of Christ. Anyone who is dead or alive (not asleep), will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. This includes non-believers as well as believers, as it does not differentiate between them. Then they face the judgement.
Matthew 24:40-41 is also another verse used to justify the rapture. Although, within the text, there is no mention of the rapture. But since a person is “taken”, people who believe in the rapture have associated this as Christ taking the believers. Here is the verse:
“Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.”
The verses prior to this say that when we see the end time signs happening, that we can know that the coming of Christ is nearby. In these perilous times, the antichrist and his army will advance and even take over Jerusalem. In Matthew 24:9 it says that believers will be delivered to tribulation and death. So, as the antichrist armies advance, there will be two men in a field; the Christian will be taken by the antichrist's army (and most likely beheaded), and the other, non-believer will be left. There will also be two women grinding at a mill; the Christian will be taken and the other will be left.
Verses 16-18 of Chapter 24 even tells people to flee. Do not be left in the field.
“then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.”
So, in reality, to be taken is a terrible thing. I think if Christians see that “to be taken”, is to be taken to tribulation, then they would not be wanting to be taken so much.
So yes, there is a rapture but not as a lot of Christians think. It is the final trumpet call in Revelation which is at the Great White Throne Judgement.
I hope this makes sense. If you do think that this is not correct, please let me know how as I would like to learn. Cheers and God Bless.
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