The Rapture of the Church

The Rapture

by Laura Thomas

The word Rapture is defined as the catching up of believers. The word came into use from the Latin rapio used to translate the Greek term harpagesometha. It relates to being caught up into the clouds, and Christ Himself will be the Caller. The rapture itself is an actual event in which will take believers, resurrect them to new bodies and put them in Heaven. This event happens in a split second and protects the believer currently alive during the event from death itself. Those alive during the event will not ever experience death in the physical nature. Because of this hope, many look forward to His return during their own lifetime. Once the believer is raptured into the air, he/she will remain with Christ and return with Him during the Millennial Kingdom.

The Revelation of an actual Rapture to occur is stressed in two parts of the New Testament, first being in 1 Corinthians and along side in the book of Thessalonians. In the letter written by Paul to the Thessalonians, every chapter makes a mention of the Rapture. Most important, Paul gives passages to show crucial evidence in regard to a real Rapture of the church, not just a symbolic viewpoint. In comparing research on the Rapture one will find throughout the Old Testament and the Synoptic Gospels much is revealed concerning the Second Coming of Christ, yet nothing has been mentioned of a Rapture. Up to this point the Rapture had been a mystery to all and was not revealed until the night before Christ's death. After Christ explained that he would return to take his Church out of the world, the Apostles were puzzled. The Apostles at that point had not understood a Second Coming and could hardly comprehend what Christ was revealing to them. Nowhere in the doctrine is the Rapture actually linked to the Second Coming when Christ will set up his kingdom. Because of this, the Second Advent and the Rapture are defined as two different events.

Unlike passages that deal with Christ's Second Coming and trace the tremendous world-shaking events that will take place in the years preceding it, The Rapture of the church is always presented as the next event and, such, one that is not dependent on immediate preceding events. The order of events can be seen in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians. The Rapture is always spoken of as a wonderful truth in which Christians can look forward to. They will be "caught up together to meet the Lord in the air"(1 Thes 4:17) by Christ Himself. The Participates of this Rapture will be the dead in Christ and His Church. Those dead in Christ refer to the ones who have already passed away leaving their bodies in the grave since the church age began; this doesn't include anyone who died before the church age was established. They will resurrect with their bodies and then all those living believers, known as the church, will Rapture upward to meet the Lord and will be with Him forever. It is looked at in truth since it was from the Lord's own words spoken and He said He would take us onto Himself.

If one can believe in the supernatural event of Christ's dying and rising from the grave, surely they also can and will believe in a future Rapture. This would show a person's faith in the Lord's return for them. Believers hold truth to an actual Rapture separate from the Setting up of Christ's Millennial Kingdom, yet there are several views of when the Rapture will take place. It is within the premillennial view that the teachings of the Rapture find major emphasis.

The first view, known as the Premillennial view, sees the Rapture occurring immediately preceding the Tribulation. Believers of the pre-tribulation Rapture is to expect Christ to come for His Church at any given time without warning. This puts the entire church in heaven during the great period of judgment to the earth, and spares her from the wrath of God. With faith of escaping all of the seals, bowls, and judgments spoken of in Revelation it is no wonder this view finds the most emphasis on the Rapture.

Post, Mid, and Partial views of the Rapture, do not place the church in Heaven during the tribulation.

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) gave the greatest initial impetuous to the systematizing of pretribulationism. It was Darby himself who saw a distinct difference in the Church and Gods program for Israel. He applied the Rapture for the church to be taken out before the Tribulation in order for God to deal specially with Israel. Others have followed Darby's teachings such as Scoffield, Leon Woods, Dwight Pentecost and Dr.Ryrie all which have also contributed books on the Rapture subject.

The Pre and the Post are the two views argued most, and they're argued based on the meanings of the words themselves as they are defined for the most part. To start with for example, a letter written to the church of Philadelphia in the first century stated the believer will be kept from that hour. Pretrib sees this as kept "Out of" the hour of the Tribulation where as Posttribs see it as "I will Guard" you from the hour. Among other words used such as ek, as it is supported in a number of verses. In one direction it is supported in just as many to represent another direction. Pretribulationists see Ek as having nothing to do with the Rapture, whereas Post's do. This is found with many of the different writing styles and authorship's within the Bible and therefore can support both views. One of the main arguments the Pretribulationists use for a pre Rapture before the tribulation is found in the book of Revelation. In the first three chapters the word church is used 19 times, and then is not mentioned again while Paul pictures the events of the seven year time period known as the Tribulation. The word church only returns to the scene after the tribulation period concludes.

Most of the Pre-tribulation arguments hold support for the basis held by mid-tribulationist. Mid-tribulationist believe the Rapture will come at mid week of the tribulation period immediately after the two witness's are raised and the last trumpet of the seven trumpets in Revelation is blown. Here, the church remains on the earth for the first portion half, but escapes the last half of God's wrath that is intensified. The difference between Pre and Mid views is based on the timing and the sufferings of the church. Mid-tribulationists' strongly feel the church must be trialed and tested before entering heaven to be with our Lord and then reigning in the Millennial Kingdom. Believers of the mid view feel the tribulation is when the true test will occur for the church and only after such test can they be true in their faith.

Posttribulationists hold the church to remain on the earth throughout the entire tribulation seven year period. They feel during the wrath of the world system the church will be protected from divine wrath although it will experience the tribulation. With this view, the church Raptures and Christ immediately returns with his Bride at the second advent leaving no time lapse between. A problem with the posttribualationist view of the Rapture and the second coming of Christ to be simultaneously is in dealing with the martyred dead of the tribulation. This view claims the martyred dead would not require a special resurrection (Rev 20:4-6), which will likely occur several days after the Second Coming. In the history of eschatology, posttribulationist have split and found major division among themselves. Mostly because many of their beliefs are not borne out by scripture, but rather their own interpretations.

Before World War II, most posttribulations argued that the Rapture was not an actual and literal prophecy. Many held the belief that the tribulation was simply an allegoria presentation of the sufferings of the saints in all ages. It was believed not to be literally fulfilled therefore neither would the Rapture literally be fulfilled. With the availability of the atomic bomb and the sudden realization of the possibilities of mankind coming to an actual end, many began to view its literalness more strongly. Many adopted a more realistic view, but they still argue the church enduring the Tribulation period but with ease. This view does not offer any time available between events and therefore doesn't allow Christ time with His Bride once Rapture to Him. The Post as well as Amillenialist regard the coming of Christ as a single event to be followed by a general resurrection and judgment and most conclude there will be no distinct Rapture.

There is still even another view becoming looked at today. It is known as The Partial Rapture. This direction claims there will be numerous Raptures, one before the tribulation begins and then several during. The main Rapture will be all those prepared and looking for Christ at his first appearance. Then several times during the seven year period Christ will call for more of his bride to join him in the heavens. As each period is marked with a new Judgment, a Rapture occurs to take those now ready to be received. This view originally was founded from the ten virgins and the lampstands parable, claiming only those watching were ready and called. Partial Viewers claim that when He calls, only some will be ready, watching and awake. For all believers not on guard, expecting Him at any given moment, therefore they will be left behind. This argument gets lost when Christ states he will come for all, meaning everyone and it doesn't state any future return visits to call. His final call to complete the Bride will be immediately preceding the final war of Armageddon and his return at the second Advent, yet one final Rapture will occur preceding eternity. The Partial view also creates a problem with the Bride because Christ will only marry His bride in Parts. One other important argument here is that Partialists believe the Rapture is a reward for Godly living, unlike what scripture claims. Scripture states crowns are given as rewards for Godly living.

As the end of the twentieth century approaches, many believers are feeling the time is coming near, especially for the Second Advent. Many books have being written even giving dates for when the Rapture will occur. One important thing to remember is that no one knows when it will happen, they just need to always be looking forward for it. Believers look towards the heavens with hopes of the Imminent event to happen soon.

The wonderful hope of the Rapture is a source of loving encouragement Christians have when they put their trust in the Lord. Loving and looking forward to His appearance to take them onto Himself is something each should long for continuously.

More of interest:

About Laura as an Author

About Laura as a Christian

• What do the Seven Churches in Revelations Stand For?
• The Millennium Defined
• What is the Rapture?
• The Study of the Church in Outlined Form
• The Lord's Supper

About Laura As a Breeder