What is the Rapture?

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Paul’s letter to the Christians in Thessolonica is recorded in 1 Thessalonains chapter 4, and addresses what's popularly called the "Rapture." The Rapture is the miraculous transportation of all living Christians to the new heavens/earth at the return of Jesus. There's alot of misinformation about this event, but this passage reveals some truths bout it.

The Apostle Paul made it clear that Jesus’ return (what we refer to as His Second-Coming) will not be secret,. In fact, it will be quite the opposite as it will be a visible bodily return; a triumphant return, and a return in which Jesus will not come in lowliness as He did at His first advent, but in great power and glory. The angels told the disciples, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Just as jesus left visibly on the shekinah cloud, so He will return visibly, in glory. Now, ther's a view, that is widespread in the church today that assumes Jesus will come back to "rapture" the church out of the world, and that will begin the great tribulation. After that, the teaching says that Jesus will return again. That teaching; however, not only forces into the text of Scripture something that's not there, but results in two second comings, and this is a clear (or at least, it should be clear to students of the bible) misunderstanding of what the Apostle described in 1 Thessalonians.

I've spoken to many who hold this view, and that includes other pastors who, as a result, teach a “pretribulation” rapture. I've said many times, “I do not know a single verse anywhere in the Bible that teaches a pretribulation rapture. Can you tell me where to find that?” On one ocasion, a pastor actually responded to me with "No, I can‘t. But that‘s what I was taught from the time I was a little child.” Scary to think that there are many like this man holding sway over what comes out of the pulpit and into the hearts and minds of members!

What we must do is to look at the events Paul described. First he noted: “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." (vs. 16-17). Here we see that the purpose of the dead rising and our being caught up into the sky is not to go away but to meet Jesus as He is returning. He will not be taking us out of the world to stay. He will be lifting us up to participate with Him in His triumphal return.

When the Roman legions were dispatched to go into a foreign country on a military campaign, their standards bore the letters SPQR, an abbreviation for Senatus Populus Que Romanus, which means “the Senate and the people of Rome.” It was understood in Rome that the conquests of the military were not simply for the politicians who governed, but for all the citizens of the city.

The army might be gone for a campaign of two or three years, but eventually... the soldiers would return, leading captives in chains. They would camp outside the city and send in a messenger to alert the Senate and the people that the legions had returned. When that news arrived, the people began to prepare to receive the conquering heroes. When everything was ready, a trumpet was sounded. With that, the citizens of the city went out to where the army was camped and joined the soldiers in marching into the city. The idea was that they had participated in the triumph of their conquering army.

And so, Brethren, here in God's Word, this is exactly the language that the Apostle Paul used. He was saying that when Jesus returns, in conquering power, believers, both dead and alive, will be caught up in the air to meet Him, not to stay up there, but to join His return in triumph, to participate in His exaltation.

Paul’s teaching was to comfort the Thessalonians, who were saddened that their dead loved ones were apparently going to miss the triumphal return of Christ, the great conclusion to the ministry of Jesus at the end of time. Paul assured them that the dead in Christ will not miss His return at all. In fact, they will be there first. The dead will rise first, and then those who are still alive when He returns, will be caught up together with this whole assembly to come to the earth again in triumph.

Brethren, be ready and be ever listening for the last trump, the "trump of God" to sound because when that day comes, Jesus will come and we will all be changed and ready for the "age to come," namely eternity. Amen.