What is the Rapture of the Church?

The Rapture of the Church is a biblical doctrine that holds that before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, His faithful followers will be taken from the earth to a higher place. In this sense, before Christ returns to the earth again, His faithful followers will be “raised up” or “caught up.” References to this in the Bible are found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 .

1. Are you from the hospital?

• The rapture refers to Jesus Christ taking His church (believers) from the earth to a place He has prepared .
• Those who believe in this event will suddenly be changed and will meet Jesus in heaven .
• The rapture includes only believers , meaning that all church members who believe in Christ will be taken to heaven in a miraculous event before Jesus returns.

2. References to the Rapture in the Bible

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 : “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet him in the clouds.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 : “Behold, I tell 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 immortal, and we which are alive and remain shall be changed.”

3. The Doctrine of the Rapture of the Church

The doctrine of the Rapture of the Church is believed by many Christian theologians. According to it, the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation , a time of global crisis and great suffering. After the Tribulation , Jesus will return and will perform the final judgment of the world.

According to many Christian beliefs, the event of the Rapture marks the beginning of the end of the world. In this event, believers will be saved and delivered , and the unbelievers remaining on earth will face severe trials and suffering.

4. The difference between the rapture and the second coming of Jesus

• There is a difference between the rapture and the second coming of Jesus .
• At the Rapture Christ will take only believers to heaven, while at the Second Coming Christ will come to earth to judge and defeat enemies .
• The Rapture is a foretaste of suffering and distress on earth , while the Second Coming is a complete defeat and the establishment of a new heaven and earth.

5. Statements of Christian theologians

• Martin Luther : “The Rapture is an important hope for those who persevere in faith, who live in anticipation of the return of Christ.”
• Billy Graham : “The rapture is a divine event that will make believers in Christ safe and happy, and it will prove that God’s words are fulfilled.”
• Charles Spurgeon : “The rapture is the proof of God’s prophecy, and through it the souls of Christ’s believers will be saved.”
• Ravi Zechariah : “Belief in the event of the Rapture is a great event that reveals the power of our faith, and it inspires us to live in the reality and truth of Jesus.”

6. Rapture and spiritual life

• The concept of the rapture inspires believers in Christ to believe in purity and perfection and in God’s promises .
• To strengthen this faith, Christians must follow God’s commands and guidance in their lives.

conclusion

The Rapture of the Church is an important biblical doctrine according to which Jesus Christ will take believers from earth to heaven. According to the Bible, this event will usher in the last days of the world, and it will provide protection and salvation for believers in Christ . In the clouds of the Rapture, the church will be caught up to enjoy eternal life with Jesus.

The word “Rapture” is not written anywhere in the Bible. 

The word is derived from a Latin word meaning “to carry, to move from one place to another, or to take something away from someone”. The concept of the “rapture” or rapture of the church is clearly taught in the Word.

The rapture of the church is the event in which God will “catch up” all believers from the earth to prepare the way for God to pour out His righteous judgment on the earth during the tribulation period.

The Rapture is originally described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. God will resurrect all dead believers and give them glorified bodies and take them from the earth along with those believers who are alive, who will also be given glorified bodies at that time. “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with the thunder of the scepter, with the voice of the archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and those who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in heaven, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The rapture will be immediate in nature, and at that time we will all receive glorified bodies. “Knowing this, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for as he is, so shall we see him” (1 John 3:2). The rapture is different from the second coming. At the Rapture, the Lord will come to meet us “in the clouds” “in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). During the Second Coming, the Lord will come to earth on the Mount of Olives, resulting in a great earthquake following the defeat of God’s enemies (Zechariah 14:3-4).

The doctrine of the rapture was not taught in the Old Testament, which is why Paul calls it a “mystery” that is now not revealed: “Behold, I tell 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 sound of the trumpet.” For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible. And we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

The rapture is the glorious event we should look forward to. We will finally be free from sin. We will be in God’s presence forever. There has been much debate over the meaning and occasion of the Rapture. This is not God’s intention. Rather, the rapture is a principle of consolation in full hope; God wants us to “encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).