http://www.blowingtheshofar.com/video/

THE RAPTURE (What, Why, Who, When & How)
This is the fifth and final article in our series on The Rapture.

HOW WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE?

For those who are quite familiar with the Biblical passages on the Rapture, or even those who know very little, you may be thinking, “What do you mean how will the Rapture take place? Doesn’t it take place “in the twinkling of an eye?” Isn’t that how the Bible portrays it, and isn’t that what we’ve always been taught? The answer is, “Yes.” And the answer is, “No.” Please, you say … not one of those yes and no answers! First, I completely agree with the yes part of the answer: It will be in the blink of an eye or even faster. But, in support of the no part of the answer, we need to examine the two main passages on the Rapture with microscopic magnification and intensity. And let’s see if we can pinpoint exactly what the twinkling of the eye refers to and what it doesn’t refer to.

While we’re at it, let’s scrutinize the prevalent view held by many Christians, including pastors, teachers and Bible scholars; who propose that the Rapture is only seen and heard by believers. That unbelievers left behind won’t see or hear anything except the shocking after effect of, “I can’t believe it … where did they go?” Several Christian movies and a couple of secular movies also have depicted this sudden disappearance of believers, who, one second were there, the next second gone. This view is one I held until a few years ago, and flows somewhat naturally and logically from the concept that the Rapture involves a sudden change, therefore, a “vanishing” of believers from the earth. So, here we go:

I Corinthians 15: 51-52. (Which is the 2nd revelation of the Rapture, chronologically … with the 1st revelation presented in I Thessalonians Chapter 4). We read the amazing description as follows: “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”

This is the second key passage where the Apostle Paul reveals another aspect of the astonishing mystery (of the Rapture), and this text explains how this spectacular event will transpire: “in the blink of an eye.” For the past several decades, every commentary, sermon, book, or article that deals with this passage–at least everything I’ve heard and read–consolidates, by default, the dynamics of this passage on the Rapture with the other main passage found in I Thessalonians Chapter 4. With a resulting conclusion that the entire scope or sequential events of the Rapture will transpire at warp speed … blink of an eye. For sure, the two passages are intricately related; but there is also a specific variance found in I Corinthians 15, that is profoundly distinct from the companion passage in I Thessalonians Chapter 4.

Second Bible Passage, I Thessalonians 4 (Which is the 1st chronological revelation of the Rapture): Let’s examine this first reference to the Rapture so we can see what it is that many students of the Bible have condensed into a microsecond period of time. Here it is: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up (harpazo) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (I Thessalonians 4: 15-17).

To Exactly What Does the Blink (Twinkling) of an Eye Refer? (Back to I Corinthians 15)
Here is where we students of the Bible (I’m including myself) overlooked or took for granted one little (impersonal) pronoun. Because we skimmed over this two-letter word, we missed or dismissed the important textual relationship of this pronoun to the antecedent that immediately precedes it And shame on me in particular, as my major in college was English/Literature! I’m sure you just thought or said something to the effect, “What in the world is he talking about?” Very reasonable question; I’ll answer it, by first defining “antecedent.” Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines antecedent as: “One that goes before … a substantive word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun …a word or group of words replaced and referred to by a substitute…”

The substitute is almost always a pronoun found immediately after the “substantive word or phrase”, which is the case in I Corinthians 15: 51-52. So let’s break it down.

First, the phrase in this passage: “…but we will all be transformed!”

Second, the pronoun, “It“, which begins the very next verse, “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye….” Can you make the connection? What specifically is “it” referencing or taking the place of in the text? You got it: It is referring to and the same thing as what Paul just said would occur which is, “…but we will all be transformed.”

Next, the Apostle Paul elaborates on “it” (meaning the actual transformation itself, which as you already know is the transfiguration of our earthly body to that of our brand new heavenly, resurrected body) by explaining how it (the transfiguration) will take place. What does he say? He says, “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye” When will it happen? “…when the last trumpet is blown.” For added emphasis and understanding, what will happen in the blink of an eye? You’re right: “It.” And again, what does it refer to? Right again: It refers exclusively to the just mentioned clause, “we will all be transformed!”

In the New American Standard translation, we read, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet….” (I Corinthians 15: 51-52). Notice, that the pronoun (it) is not found in this translation. Why? Because the connection between the action of “changed” (transformed) and the how of the change (twinkling of an eye) is inseparable, irrefutable, and exclusive. Both passages contain essentially the same composition; with the New Living Translation and other translations (such as the Jewish Bible) accurately and emphatically reinforcing the translation from Greek to English, by use of a pronoun that substitutes for the mystery of the transformation itself.

Please bear with me … I hope you see this as much more than just a boring exercise in grammar and syntax. It is exceptionally significant that we understand what is going on in this passage. Saying it another way: The only thing that will happen in a moment or blink of an eye (at the instant the last trumpet is blown) is the actual physical transfiguration of our earthly bodies. The “it” does not apply to anything else in this passage; nor can “the transformation” specifically apply to the events so majestically portrayed in I Thessalonians Chapter 4. In fact, I Thessalonians 4 doesn’t say anything about the blink of an eye transformation at all. But we’ve inadvertently extended or expanded the instantaneous change found in I Corinthians 15 to include the entire sequence of events described in I Thessalonians 4.

As alluded to, somewhere along the prophetic highway, we made a wrong turn; because we missed a little warning sign that effectively said, “Detour Ahead. Watch for Pronouns.” Meaning that we stayed on the four-lane highway with a bit of tunnel vision, thinking that everything said about or encompassing the Rapture in both of these Biblical passages would take place in the twinkling of an eye. We missed the little detour that, as we’ve just seen, would have narrowed the highway (for a short distance) down to one lane–with the blink of an eye referring only to the physical transformation of our earthly bodies. All the other component parts of the Rapture will also take place in actual time/space sequence, but this real-time is not the blink of an eye. What kind of time-frame or sequence, then, am I talking about?

The Real-Time Sequence of the Entire Rapture (Before and after the Last Trumpet is Blown):
The Apostle Paul conveys the active sequence of the Rapture in I Thessalonians Chapter 4.

First: “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel…” (I Thessalonians 4: 16a). Many scholars believe this shout could very well be the same words used by Jesus to call John to heaven where John would be given the astounding revelations of the end times. In Revelation 4:1b, Jesus commanded John, “Come up here…” Equally significant is how Jesus commanded John. In the first part of the verse we read, “Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast” (Rev. 4:1a, italics for emphasis). The similarity between this shout from Jesus (like a trumpet blast) is too strong of a parallel to consider it a mere coincidence with I Thessalonians 4.

Second: In addition to a commanding shout and the voice of the archangel, our Lord will also descend, “with the trumpet call of God.”

Third: What happens next? The dead in Christ rise, then those believers alive are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (See I Thessalonians 4:7)

With regard to the real-time lapse of what is happening, we need to interject a healthy dose of common sense to the reality of what is taking place. We all know that “common sense” is and can be one of the best ways to look at real life experiences in order to understand what they are and what they mean. A good many people swear by common sense as a superior teacher in life, even more so than formal education. What does common sense tell us in the context of these three steps of how the Rapture will occur?

It’s fairly simple: Think about it for a couple of minutes (or longer). Does it make any sense that the entire sequence of events (first, second, and third steps listed above) could happen in “the blink of an eye?” Or a companion question: Why would it happen in a microsecond? Or, how could we as believers possibly “process” and experience in real-time (not virtual time or reality) the entire progression –the Lord descending, the trumpet call of God, the dead rising first, then those alive being caught up in the air—in a tiny fraction of a second?

There is no evidence, whatsoever, in these two passages that the Lord will set aside time, or otherwise stop the clock. In fact, wouldn’t the Lord want us to absorb (take it all in) the majesty and wonder of the whole thing in real-time? If the sequence of I Thessalonians is over in the twinkling of an eye, then why would the Lord even bother to explain the amazing order or arrangement as described in Chapter 4?

Of course, the Lord could do all this in a split second, if he wanted to. But why would he inexplicably reduce such an astonishing and majestic event to a microsecond and, thereby, deprive us of the awesome splendor of his glory and the ensuing sensory, spiritual, mental, and emotional real-life, real-time experience? (If the Lord does temporarily change the hands of time, I actually hope that it might be in slow-motion!) Wouldn’t you agree: It makes much more sense that these events–from the moment Christ descends from heaven to the instant our bodies are transfigured and everything in between–would transpire in actual time, i.e. at least a few minutes? Yet, the prevailing consensus in the Church is that all these things are over in an instant. But, if you prefer more evidence or rationale than just common sense, we have that, too!

Biblical Precedents & Jewish Tradition:

Here, we need to focus on the trumpet call, which is (not just coincidentally) mentioned in both of these Rapture passages. I Thessalonians tells us that the third and last part of Messiah’s descent from heaven comprises, “the trumpet call of God.” Now we need to return to I Corinthians 15, specifically verse 52: “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of any eye, when the last trumpet is blown … For when the trumpet sounds….” Now the Apostle Paul is telling us when “it” will happen. It—referring to the instant transformation of our earthly body–will happen, “when the last trumpet is blown.”

I placed “last trumpet” in bold letters and italics to make a reflective emphasis on and a vital examination of trumpet call(s). Why is the trumpet call in I Corinthians 15 classified as the “last” trumpet call? Why the modifier, “last?” Why not just the trumpet call as we find in I Thessalonians Chapter 4. What might “last” suggest to you? You’ve probably already thought about it. The adjective qualifier last wouldn’t be used unless it was just that, the last trumpet call. With a clear inference that there must be other trumpet calls preceding and leading to the final one. Once again, there would be no purpose whatsoever for Scripture to tell us that the transfiguration of our bodies would take place at the last (final) call, if there was only one trumpet blast. Thus, in I Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul is giving us more details on the trumpet blast first mentioned in I Thessalonians 4.

Why, then, are there two or more, or a series of trumpet calls? The answer is found primarily in the Old Testament, but also in modern-day Israel. *Note: A thorough treatise on the method and significance of the use of the trumpet and/or shofar in Jewish history would take far too much space than a blog article allows. Thus, I must condense this into a few sentences. If you like, do some research on the ancient and modern use of the Shofar in Israel.

Also, to quickly emphasize that the last trumpet call referenced in I Corinthians 15 can’t possibly be the final trumpet call of all time; thus giving possible meaning that it is the last and, therefore, only trumpet call to herald the Rapture. Reason: There are many more trumpet calls during the Great Tribulation (after the Rapture occurs) as found throughout the Book of Revelation.

Purpose of Trumpets and the Shofar:

The shofar (normally made from the horns of a ram), but also trumpets crafted from beaten silver were an integral part of Israel’s customs and heritage. In fact, trumpet blasts were a requirement by God during the Feast of Trumpets, one of the seven festivals given by God to the Jewish people, still celebrated to this day (See Leviticus 23: 23-25). Several blasts of the shofar announced other festivals, and the shofar also was used to warn the Jews of an impending attack by their enemies. And, let’s not forget the mighty shofar blasts that accompanied God’s Ten Commandments proclaimed at Mt. Sinai!

The blowing of trumpets in the book of Revelation will announce spectacular happenings, including seven of God’s judgments. Trumpets have also been used throughout Gentile history, especially during battle. Can you imagine the Calvary coming to the rescue in a Western movie without first blowing a trumpet! And they will play a huge role in the last days of this age. If you ever have the privilege of traveling to Israel, you will hear the sound of shofars throughout the year, especially during Rosh Hashanah (New Year Feast of Trumpets). Israel and the shofar are inseparable, as are trumpets and the Rapture, followed by the tribulation trumpets.

Here’s where we’re going with this: Normally, the blowing of the shofar wasn’t a simple quick, one-time burst of sound. Rather, it entailed a series of blasts lasting several minutes, with each part of the series different from the others, and sometimes each component part repeated again. That is still true today in Israel or wherever the shofar or a trumpet is sounded for Biblical reasons. Are you getting the connection to the last trumpet of the Rapture? “Last” overwhelmingly implies that there are other blasts that precede the final trumpet call. And, references to the shofar/trumpet in Scripture are very consistent, in terms of the how and why they are used. There’s every reason to believe that the trumpet call(s) of the Rapture will be the same: that is, a series of blasts. Especially when Paul stipulates that the instant change of our bodies from corruptible to incorruptible is directly connected to the “last” trumpet.

At the top of this blog article, you’ll find a link to videos that accurately depict the (four-part) blowing of the Shofar. The second (lower) video in particular could very well simulate the Rapture sounds; albeit, the Trumpet calls at the Rapture will be infinitely more powerful and extensive (world-wide).

Who Will Hear the Trumpet Calls?

Nowhere in Scripture do we find that only God’s people heard trumpet calls or the blasts from a shofar. All within earshot, including their enemies, heard the shofar sound. In the Bible, we also see events in which God’s prophets and sometimes the people saw and heard angels or the pre-incarnate Christ, but so did unbelievers. Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel. Those three were thrown into the hotter-than-hot furnace, but how many men did Nebuchadnezzar see when he peered into the furnace? That’s right: Four. And the fourth was none other than the pre-incarnate Messiah.

Was it only Saul who heard the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus? No, his accomplices also heard the sound of the voice that spoke to Saul. They didn’t actually see Jesus, but then neither did Saul; he only saw the blinding light that caused him three days of blindness. My point and premise: I’m wondering how we ever arrived at the notion that those left behind at the Rapture won’t hear the trumpet calls, and not see perhaps a flash of light or afterglow or radiance or some tangible evidence at the precise spot where a believer miraculously changed in front of them when the final trumpet call was sounded. Why would God close the ears or the eyes of the unsaved? Seeing and hearing is often times believing.

With the Biblical precedents and parallels to support the premise that the entire world will hear the trumpets and, conversely, the lack of reference in Scripture to say otherwise, why wouldn’t God want the world to see and hear the Rapture? I’m convinced that many will immediately fall down on their knees and call upon the name of the Lord to save them. This applies not only to the trumpets, but also to the Lord’s shout and the voice of the archangel. Why wouldn’t they be heard the world over?

The Shout Heard Around the World:

Most know about, “the shot heard around the world,” that started the American Revolutionary War. At the Rapture, it will be the “shout heard around the world.” The shout of Christ, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God will shake the world like it’s never been shaken before. It will give a whole new meaning to “shock and awe.” And, the entire sequence of events involving Jesus descent from heaven, loud shout, voice of the archangel, trumpet call(s) of God that lead to the last blast of the trumpet, will take several minutes. This literal lapse of time needed for a literal series of visual and audio events to occur will NOT take place in a blink of the eye. Only the grand finale of it all will happen in the twinkling of an eye. Which is, as you know by now, the supernatural transformation of our earthly body.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more inclined I am to propose that those left behind may even witness our newly resurrected (the dead) and transformed (the living) bodies ascend to heaven. Why not? Isn’t that part of the whole sequence? We’ve mistakenly (meaning without any direct support or evidence from Scripture), assumed that the microsecond change of our bodies’ means that those bodies instantly vanish or disappear from sight. Since the blink of an eye phenomenon relates only to the actual transfiguration itself, why do we also equate that with a split second disappearance?

I Thessalonians 4 tells us that we will be “caught up” in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Why would caught up necessarily equate to an instant vanishing? Remember how Jesus ascended to heaven as described in Acts 1: 9-11? All who were with him saw him rising into heaven, until they could no longer see him. One of the two angels who showed up even said, “Why are you standing here staring into heaven?” There was no vanishing going on. Picture watching a hot-air balloon ascending. Why wouldn’t our meeting Jesus in the clouds be just like His ascension to heaven? Our transformed bodies will be like his … why not our rising to meet him be similar or identical?

SUMMARY:

Thus, I believe that common sense, reinforced heavily by Biblical precedents and even more so by accurate examination of the Rapture passages (that we’ve done in this article) lead to a very convincing conclusion: The entire episode of the Rapture from start to finish will take several minutes. This will allow time for such things as: pulling cars over to the side of the road; awaking in the middle of the night from a deep sleep; turning off the T.V or loud music; stop the yelling at someone; hugging your un-believing spouse or friend good-bye; the short, but most intense praise and worship ever experienced by Christians on this earth; and, hopefully, a few minutes for some foxhole conversions all over the world.

Do you see what difference it would make and how it could enhance and expand our view of and increase even more our enthusiasm for the Rapture, if the order of events in the Rapture took place over several minutes? It would be far more than just a “poof” one second here, next second gone type of experience. Next to the triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ, it will be the greatest celebration of joy ever experienced by believers in Christ. And in real-time and space no less; no special effects, no suspension of time, no virtual reality … just the real thing. None of which (except for the transfiguration of our bodies) can or will take place in the twinkling of an eye.

This is the way the Lord intended it to be, and this is the way that the Bible passages on the Rapture tell us it will be. I believe the evidence—as summarized in this article—conclusively demonstrates that the blink of an eye relates only to the miraculous transfiguration of our mortal bodies. Whereas, the progression of events that culminate in this instantaneous change will take several minutes of actual time.

In closing, let’s put the proverbial icing on the cake by reading Isaiah 18:3 from the New American Standard: “All you inhabitants of the world and dwellers on earth, as soon as a standard is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and as soon as the trumpet (shofar) is blown, you will hear it.” This is one of many end-times prophecies found in Isaiah. Did you catch the first word of this verse?

Things to Ponder:

– Given the length of time to sound the series of trumpet calls, plus the time it will take for the other aspects of the Rapture to take place, would you care to make a guess as to how long it might take? To do so, you might want to break down all of the sequential parts of the Rapture. My own thought is that God could very well utilize the number 7 (as he does so often in the book of Revelation and other books of the Bible). I’m thinking the whole process could take seven minutes, with, perhaps, three or four minutes needed for the trumpet calls.
– Can you imagine the exclamations from the lips of those about to be transformed? Such as, “Lord you’re here!” Or, “I’m going home!” Or, “It’s actually happening!” What other shouts of joy (or sorrow from the left behind) can you think of?
– Can you think of some other things that people might do during the few minutes span of the Rapture?

The Rapture (What, Why, When, Who & How)

WHO WILL BE TAKEN IN THE RAPTURE?

Or, we could also ask the question, “Who will not be taken?” To begin with, let’s do ask that question. First, we can state the obvious: not everyone on earth will be taken. Why? Because there would be no reason for the Rapture if everyone on earth was included. If every man and woman had accepted God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, there would be no reason for God to pour out his wrath on a depraved world; thus, no point in “snatching” away believers to transfigure them, transport them, and protect them from the most apocalyptic disaster the world has even seen or will see again.

So, then, who will be left behind. Scripture is abundantly clear on this matter, as several passages in Revelation tell us. I will quote just one verse that yields a descriptive term for those who (by a choice they have already made) will remain on the earth. “And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world…” (Revelation 13:14, italics for emphasis). The “he” of this verse is the false prophet, and the “first beast” is the Antichrist. In the New Living Translation, the phrase, “all the people who belong to this world” is used several times in Revelation, and refers to those alive on the earth after the Rapture. They are the ones who deliberately (knowing full well what they are doing) take the mark of the Beast, which clearly seals their fate. Once that mark is taken, there is no turning back, no second guessing, no second chance (See Revelation 14: 9-11).

Unlike ambiguous conditions which currently exist on the earth, there will be no fence-riding or gray areas or indecisiveness concerning the choices to be made during the Tribulation period. And, there will be precious little time for procrastination. Either you follow and worship the Beast, or you die from starvation or execution. Either you see through the deception and lies of the Antichrist and (at the risk of intense deprivation, persecution, and death) turn to Messiah Jesus; or you forfeit everlasting life in Heaven and spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.

That’s why the Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Which means, don’t put it off. If death doesn’t claim unbelievers before the Rapture, then Antichrist will (lay claim to them) after the Rapture. The chances of a person turning to Christ after the Rapture are not good. The chances of taking the mark of the beast are quite good … who wants to be deprived of buying and selling, of home and property, of rights and freedom? Who wants to be hunted down and put to death? (See Revelation 13: 13-18). Which is why so many will literally sell their soul to Satan (through total allegiance to the Antichrist); meaning they will choose temporary safety and security over everlasting life. What a disastrous decision that will be. We have the same choice now, but without anything approaching the incredible pressure to choose “anti” Christ over the true Christ, during the Tribulation. Even now, what a tragic thing it is to die without believing and receiving Messiah Jesus as personal Savior.

They “belong” to the world because they love the things of the world and don’t want to part with pleasure, prosperity, prestige, power, or pride. Despite all the irrefutable evidence, not the least of which is the historically documented fact that Jesus arose from the dead, they refuse to believe that Jesus is the only way to God, the only source of salvation, the only means of everlasting life in heaven. “For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Chris Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5). During the Great Tribulation, the unbelievers will recognize and acknowledge that the majority of the apocalyptic catastrophes come from God and his Messiah, Jesus Christ. Yet (incomprehensible as it may seem), they will still refuse to repent … which means to change their minds, reject the lies foisted on them by the Antichrist and his false prophet, and accept Christ as their Savior, as the true Messiah (See Revelation 9: 20-21).

A Shocking Example of Those Who Belong to the World, Then and Now

I recently read an article on Prophecy News Watch in which (former) Archbishop of the South African Anglican Church, Desmond Tutu, said something to the effect that he would rather go to hell than live in heaven and worship a “homophobic God.” Does he have any clue what he’s really thinking or the implications of what he said? Be careful what you wish for! His reference to homophobic was in the context of LGBT equality rights; and, by implication, any other political or social issue in today’s politically correct world, that everyone is expected to be unequivocally tolerant about, such as all religions are equal to the Christian faith in finding a path to God. And his brash statement was transparently void of any Biblical truth regarding the subject that generated his comment, or his (lack of) understanding of our Great God and his attributes.

The last time I studied the attributes of God in the Bible (such as holy, love, omnipotent, omniscient, among many others) I didn’t see anywhere the attribute of “homophobia.” However, HE IS and speaks absolute Truth. Among many other eternal realities found in the Bible, God’s truth also deals with the issue of LGBT lifestyles. But, of course, if someone doesn’t happen to accept God’s truth or randomly picks and chooses what they believe, then all that person need do is to claim that Christians and even God, himself, are homophobic, and that makes it true. Then everyone is supposed to agree, because that’s what you do when you’re impartial and politically correct. But when they do that, aren’t they siding with what Mr. Tutu claims as truth, meaning that God must be homophobic if he doesn’t condone homosexuality? So they’ve taken the side of what they think is true, and when they take sides aren’t they being intolerant of those on the other side … those who claim that God’s truth IS truth?

Finally, Mr. Tutu apparently has no concept about hell either, which Jesus repeatedly described as … well, as a place you don’t want to be. And, from all people–an Archbishop. But that’s another thing the Bible says about the last days: good will be called evil, and evil will be considered good. When all is said and done, what can be so wrong in agreeing with our Creator, the true and living God?

THOSE TAKEN AT THE RAPTURE:

This is equally easy to comprehend. All those who have been “born again” (a term first used by Jesus, himself in John 3:3), will be taken. Jesus then explains to Nicodemus what born again means, i.e. a spiritual rebirth that is every bit as real and permanent as our biological birth. A born-again believer in Christ is absolutely guaranteed eternal life the minute he/she accepts Christ as personal Savior. You can no more be spiritually unborn, than you can be physically unborn. Heaven is a place where God dwells, a place promised to all true Christians when they die or when Christ takes them in the Rapture. Eternal life is a state of being, irrevocably given to us by God as a free gift the very second we place our trust in the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Once you breathe your first breath of life, you are a real person on this earth. According to Scripture, you actually became a human being the moment you were conceived. Likewise, once you are born from above (spiritually), your spirit is instantly made alive. Before that, the Bible tells us that our spirit was “dead,” meaning unable to relate to God in any way, shape, or form. Think about it: Dead things can’t do anything. Then at the Rapture, our very bodies (whether dead or still alive) will be transfigured to enable us to live forever.

The minute we are redeemed, our citizenship in Heaven begins. Our real home now and then is Heaven. For the present, we’re living in a temporary shelter. But it’s just a matter of time before we move to our new address. We already have a passport … stamped, and sealed by God. On each passport is a picture of Jesus, just above these words: “Crucified, buried, and risen!” And our transportation is prearranged by Christ, himself … a catching up in the clouds to be with our Lord forever more! How good is that!

WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?

This may be the most difficult part of the Rapture to talk about, as there are many parents, even some Christian parents, who prefer not to think about the Rapture, let alone talk about it. It’s too unsettling, too uncertain, too interruptive … just too everything. And, unfortunately, many pastors/teachers in the Church consistently avoid preaching or teaching on end times prophecy. It’s disconcerting, bewildering, maybe even unnerving.

*Note: Here I need to be completely compassionate and sensitive to these thoughts and views about the end times. Meaning to relate to those (parents) who, when it comes to their children– especially those past the age of innocence–are apprehensive about not only the Rapture, but the entire scenario of the last days of this age.

Normally those Christian parents, who prefer not to think about these things, don’t like the idea of a happy home being suddenly disrupted (by anything). And, at face value, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just that sometimes we forget God’s promises in the Bible such as found in Ephesians 3:20, New American Standard Bible: “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

Notice, that the Apostle Paul says, ask OR think. There are some things we don’t need to ask for, such as eternal life, or the Holy Spirit, or a resurrected body. These and many other things are promised and/or freely given to us at the moment of our spiritual rebirth in Christ. On the contrary, we only need to think about these things. But whether we ask or think (or both), guess what Ephesians 3:20 promises: We can multiply exponentially what the Lord will do for us and give to us. That’s what “exceeding” and “abundant” clearly convey. When applied to the Rapture and everlasting life it means that our home and relationships (for example, with our children) in heaven will be exceedingly abundant above even the best of times we have on this earth, more than we can possibly imagine. The New Living Translation of the Bible says, “infinitely more than we might ask or think.” So, it’s okay mom and dad and kids. We will instantly realize beyond all doubt that, “We’ve never had it so good.”

Current Consensus

The prevailing thought among many Christians, including Bible scholars, pastors, and teachers is that ALL children who are still at the age of innocence–those who do not yet have the capacity either in their heart or mind to understand and, therefore, choose (accept) the free gift of salvation offered by God–will be taken in the Rapture alongside of older children and adults who have already made a decision to accept Christ as their personal Savior. The fact of the matter is that on this side of eternity, we do not know for sure; on the other hand I believe there are significant precedents in Scripture that give us cause/reason to take a second look at the children. These precedents do not support the premise that ALL children will be taken when the Rapture occurs.

In my first book, a novel entitled, O Israel, this topic is addressed, through one of the main characters, Avram Levitt. You’ll find it in the final three pages of the novel, which is the 7th world-wide email sent by Avram to those alive during the Tribulation. If you haven’t read O Israel, and would like a copy, let me know by email or on the blog site, and I will see that you get a copy.

My Premise & the Precedents:

First, a little more explanation as to the predominant view among most Christians that all innocent children will be taken in the Rapture, despite Biblical evidence to the contrary. The main reason (for some, the only reason) can best be summarized as a deduction, based mostly on sentiment; one, however, that at face value, is also logical and appealing. It’s one that any Christian, including me, would want to see happen; as we would not want innocent children exposed to the horrific things that will take place during the Great Tribulation. We would hope that they would be spared from the wrath of God’s judgments, and, of course, from the evil that will be prevalent throughout the earth, compliments of Satan and his man of lawlessness.

But, there is actually a positive or up-side to certain children of unbelievers being left behind. You might ask: “How could there be any good from leaving children behind at the Rapture?” The answer lies in I Corinthians Chapter 7, especially verse 14. We’ll get to that passage, shortly. For now, let’s examine the two Biblical events that establish a principle or pattern; with each event strongly suggesting a similar or even an identical correlation to the Rapture.

(A) The Great Flood: Here, I’d like to quote my O Israel character Avram Levitt’s analysis of God’s monumental historical judgment in the context of all children living on the earth at that time; and as placed in the context of the Rapture which had already taken place when Avram wrote this and other emails. Avram postulates, “Scripture is clear as to the purpose of this calamity: to deal with the irreversible wickedness and depravity of man. But this judgment also gave mankind another chance to acknowledge and serve his Creator. Noah and his family were spared to repopulate the earth. What is the relevance of this example to the question of the children? The significance is that the children were not spared.” (Italics in this article for emphasis).

(B) Sodom & Gomorrah: As with Noah and his family, only Lot (with the exception of his wife, who disobeyed the angel’s command not to look back) and his family were spared from the complete destruction of these two cities (five cities all told) and obliteration of all the inhabitants. Because God knows the end from the beginning, he knew the wickedness of these cities was inevitable, perpetual, and irreversible … including the innocent children who would grow up to be as or even more wicked than their parents. Same thing with Noah’s flood.

So, I would ask the question: “If God did not spare the children from the Great Flood or from the utter destruction of Sodom, is there any reason why children of “those who belong to the world” wouldn’t or couldn’t or shouldn’t be left behind at the Rapture and, thereby, go through all or part of the Tribulation. Incidentally, only God knows whether a child has passed the age of innocence and reached the point of accountability. Some say the age of 7, some say 8, others say 12 or 13. For example, in Jewish culture a boy or girl becomes a man or woman at the age of 13, after their Bar Mitzvah or Bat (for girls) Mitzvah.

Why do I suggest that only some of the children (age of innocence) will be left behind at the Rapture. Answer: I Corinthians 7: 14. “For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.” The Greek word translated “holiness” in English does not mean perfection. Rather, like the Old Testament Hebrew word, it means “set aside for a specific purpose.”

What is the Apostle Paul saying in this passage? He’s telling us that when a wife, or a husband, or (by implication and by the same principle) when a child is saved, there’s a strong probability that one or more other members of that family will also come to Christ. The “holiness” is the influence transferred from the Christian family member to unbelieving members. And, to continue the principle, both Lot and Noah’s children were taken out of harm’s way before the floodwaters covered the earth and before the fire/brimstone destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So, too, will the innocent children of those believers caught up in the Rapture be taken with their parent or parents. But the children of the unsaved, those who are left behind, will remain. Yet, I’m convinced that God will use these children to help influence, if not persuade parents (if they have any love or concern for their children) to turn to Christ, rather than to give allegiance to the Antichrist.

Summary:

Either view (all children taken or only those belonging to at least one saved parent are taken) is ultimately a matter of some speculation. When, however, it comes to “spiritual” speculation, the speculating is much more viable if it has some foundational evidence in the Bible to back up the supposition. The premise that I’ve presented has Biblical support through two very strong precedents … Noah’s children and Lot’s children were spared. Conversely, the children of the Great Flood and of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction were not spared. Both establish a remarkable parallel to what probably will take place at the Rapture, concerning not only the adult believers and non-believers, but also the children.

Next week we will take a close look at the How of the Rapture, which is the fifth and final articles in this series. It includes shouts, trumpets, a speed of light transformation, and such things. And it will present a stunning alternative to the commonly accepted view of how the Rapture takes place. Don’t miss it!

Things to Ponder:
– Do you think it will be easier, harder, or about the same for someone to believe in and follow Christ during the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation (which is the time that Antichrist is given great power and authority throughout the earth), than it is now, before the Rapture?
– Can you think of any other Biblical event or events in which the children of the ungodly were not spared?
– Early in the article, I indicate that those who remain on the earth after the Rapture, will remain by choice. How can it be their decision when God is supernaturally orchestrating the Rapture?

Rapture (What, Why, When, Who & How)

WHEN Will the Rapture Take Place?

Do you know? I certainly don’t know when Christ will descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. No one knows. Except to know that it will take place exactly when God determines, at the time God has appointed … not sooner, not later. But it will happen, just as sure as the fact that Christ came to earth the first time, through Mary’s miraculous conception.

Frankly, any attempt to predict an exact date for the Rapture is an irresponsible exercise in futility, as all prior prognostications have been pathetically inaccurate. But, someone’s bound to get these end-of-the world predictions right sooner or later; so why not keep on trying to set dates? Because Jesus, himself, said so: “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return” (Matthew 25:13). This was the third time in the space of just a few verses that the Lord told his disciples: neither they nor anyone could possibly determine the hour and day of the Rapture. Which is why all previous specific date/time predictions have failed miserably. Example: What happened last December 21 (2012)? Answer: Absolutely nothing! So, you can throw your Mayan calendar away. It doesn’t work!

For the past two hundred years or so, several self-deluded individuals or religious leaders have set their own date for “the end of the world.” Sadly, some of these misguided soothsayers generated a pretty good size following; many of these followers sold all their possessions, and literally stood on rocks or roof tops scanning the skies. After failing once, at least two of these “prophets” actually had the audacity to revise their predictions, citing some technical miscalculations, then setting another date … only to be wrong again. I won’t mention their names, as I’m sure they or their descendants have experienced enough embarrassment as it is. Moreover, based on what Jesus said, I can virtually guarantee that the Lord would never return on a day that has been “prophetically selected” for his return.

But, there is an aspect of when the Rapture will occur that we can know … a component part that the Bible clearly explains by means of placing this magnificent event in real-time sequence, meaning in proximity to other global events or developments. That is to say: We can know the signs (of the times) that signal the “beginning of the end.” In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus presents some specific markers relevant to the timing of his return, and these signs correlate with and connect to the Rapture; with the Rapture then ushering in the “Day of the Lord” (the Great Tribulation followed by the Thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth).

Thus, our task is to watch ongoing developments around the world (especially in the Middle East); and wait with confident expectancy, all the while sharpening our eye of prophecy.

Jesus referred to one of these indicators as perhaps the most significant accomplishment just before the end of this age will come. “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached through-out the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). State of the art transportation and technology have literally made this possible in our life time. Since the first century when Christ commissioned his followers to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth, and particularly in the last hundred years or so, nearly every nation, language, ethnic group, and culture has heard God’s message of salvation one way or another, i.e. missionaries, radio, television, internet, distribution of the Bible in many languages, evangelical crusades (Billy Graham comes to mind), and person-to-person sharing of the Gospel.

Let’s examine one other major event and one correlating condition that the Bible places in very close time proximity to the Rapture.

THE PHYSICAL REBIRTH OF ISRAEL

Event: Our generation has witnessed the return of the Jews from the four corners of the earth to their God-given land, after nearly two thousand years in exile. Long ago, several prophets in hundreds of Old Testament passages prophetically announced this spectacular achievement, one that no other nation on earth has ever accomplished—Israel’s complete destruction, then restoration, then reappearance once again as a sovereign nation with a literal revival of their ancient language, Hebrew. Once again, blog space/time doesn’t allow citation of even a handful of these prophecies; thus, I will select only two:

“Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’” (Ezekiel 37: 12-14). And then Amos 9: 14-15: “I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again … I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God.”

Before the turn of the 20th century, most of Israel, especially modern-day Tel Aviv, resembled a wasteland–void of agriculture, absent new construction of office buildings and homes, and with only a sparse population of Jews and Arabs. Then an amazing series of events unfolded (good and bad) beginning with the Balfour declaration of 1917 near the end of WWI, followed by an influx of tens of thousands of Jews to Palestine, which is what Israel was called at that time. Then World War II erupted because Hitler wanted to accomplish two evil objectives: (1) complete conquest and domination of Europe; (2) total annihilation of Jews in all countries that Germany had conquered and wanted to conquer. It was a sinister plan that the Nazis euphemistically labeled, “The Final Solution,” which since has been called, The Holocaust.

*Foot Note: “Final Solution” was designed to be an inoffensive (even noble) sounding phrase that would deceitfully deflect the Nazi’s real, but warped, objective of solving the world’s problems by means of exterminating the entire Jewish race. The idea of Jewish genocide wasn’t new to Hitler; however, he took it to a diabolical level never seen before. And, as some of you have seen and heard: This same “idea” has been bluntly and publicly announced (recently) by Iran’s former president, as well as some leaders in the Arab world, i.e. “we will wipe Israel from the face of the map.”

But then something miraculous occurred: God turned the incomprehensible horror of The Holocaust into a fulfillment of prophecy and the hope and dream of every Jew the world over … “next year in Jerusalem.” God brought the Jewish people back to Israel.

The Jews had said: “Never again.” Never again must something like this happen … the cold-blooded murder of six million Jews by government and military officials who had acted on the orders of one man. It was absolutely imperative that the Jews possess their own land, and be governed by their own people; otherwise, they would continue to be at the mercy of the nations to which they had been exiled long ago.

And, only three years after the war ended in Europe, the United Nations recognized Israel as a sovereign state on May 14, 1948. In one day the nation of Israel was born! Which is exactly what the prophet Isaiah predicted nearly 2,700 years earlier. “Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment … ‘Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it? asks the Lord. No, I would never keep this nation from being born, says your God’” (Isaiah 66: 8-9).

After May 14, 1948, the immigration gates were flung open. Tens of thousands of Jews returned to Israel, despite intense opposition from Arab countries and even from a WWII ally, England.

A Personal Pilgrimage to Israel

In March, 2006, my sister, Marge, and I traveled through much of Israel (not with a tour group, but in a rental car, no less!). My primary purpose for traveling to the Holy Land was to do research on my first book, a novel, O Israel … the end is the beginning for those left behind.

We can tell you with first-hand, up close and personal affirmation: Israel has changed! She is beautiful: We saw an abundance of flowers, vineyards, trees, gardens, fields, buildings, and highways. She is self-governed: We took pictures of the Knesset, and drove by city halls, and the Supreme Court of Israel. She is strong: we watched IDF soldiers, both men and woman, as they protected the city streets and patrolled the countryside to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and foreign tourists, and as a sign of force and peace throughout the land. She is free: We traveled uninhibited, having to stop at only one checkpoint, and we watched children playing at their schools and in the streets. She is populated: Recently the Jewish population reached 6 million, a tremendously significant and symbolic number to the Jews (6 million were murdered in Nazi Germany during WW II). She is diverse: We witnessed a variety of culture, race, religion, and education that can only be found in very large countries like the USA.

We visited Nazareth where Jesus grew up as a boy. We stood by the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked on the water and commanded the raging storm to hush. We ascended the Mount of Olives from where our Lord returned to heaven forty days after his resurrection, which is also the place he will first step foot when he returns to earth. We ate and shopped in the corridors of Old Jerusalem where Jesus lovingly taught and compassionately healed so many people. We trekked up the steep pathway to Har (which means mountain) Megiddo and peered into the valley below, where Jesus will triumphantly defeat the Antichrist and his armies at the last battle of Armageddon. We strolled through the Garden where Jesus spent his last night before he was falsely arrested, illegally tried, unjustly condemned, then unmercifully nailed to a cross. We entered the tomb where he was buried. There is a sign posted in the tomb that reads: “He is not here, he is risen.” I cried when I saw that sign. They were tears of joy. And I will unashamed say along with all those who have personally placed their trust and eternal destiny in Jesus Christ, “Hallelujah, Our redeemer lives!” Soon, very soon, he will return in great power and glory. Are you ready?

THE FINAL GENERATION:

Condition: A second prominent feature of when the Rapture will take place is mentioned by Jesus, himself. Listen to his words. “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” (Matthew 24: 32-34).

What are “these things” referenced by Jesus when he made this astonishing prediction on the Mount of Olives. They are a riveting list of events that will precede his glorious appearing. Read for yourself in Matthew 24 and 25. The majority of Biblical scholars identify the representative fig tree as the nation of Israel … based on several Scriptural passages that symbolically equate Israel with a fig tree. Jesus is essentially telling us: Once these things begin to happen–like knowing that summer is right around the corner when the fig tree (Israel) begins to bud–then his return is very, very close.

When did Israel begin to bud, then blossom, then bear fruit? You’re right: first in 1917 after the Jews were permitted to possess most of what today is modern Israel. Again, when Israel became a nation in 1948. And, yet again, when they finally took back Jerusalem, the Holy City of the Holy Land, in the Six-Day War of 1967. The Bible tells us that Jerusalem is loved by God more than any other city in the world; and Scripture is clear that Jerusalem, the ancient capital of Israel and home of King David, will be The City from where Messiah Jesus will establish his rule and reign over the nations of the earth.

In the Bible, we find two basic definitions or time periods of a “generation.” They are 70 years and 100 years. You do the math. You could select the monumental historical milestone of 1917, when England declared Palestine a two-region territory, with joint occupation/possession by the Jews and Arabs. Sadly the Arabs refused, but the Jews began to return in increasing numbers, and cultivated the land. And you can select 1947/1948 which is when the United Nations voted in favor of Israel becoming a nation (November, 1947); followed a few months later by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion’s stunning declaration that Israel was now a sovereign state. Israel had been reborn from the fires of Nazi death camps and from the floods of exiled dispersion. None other than the US President, Harry Truman, was the first to recognize Israel’s right to enter the world’s family of nations.

There are other factors to consider, but these major events could very well mark the beginning of the last generation … a 100-year generation from 1917, and a 70-year generation from 1947. These two events are hugely significant milestones to Israel’s history and to Biblical prophecy. Am I saying that the Lord will return in 2017 (by doing the math)? No, I am not. But I have studied other passages of Scripture, not the least of which is the somewhat mysterious 7-times over sequence as found in the book of Leviticus. One conclusion is that the years 2017 through 2019 could very well fit all Biblical passages dealing with the short time-frame of Christ’s return. No way will I or should anyone specify the day or hour, but the Lord encourages us to recognize the seasons and signs surrounding his second coming. The fact remains: He could return at any moment!

*Note: Following the series of articles on Out of the Abyss (which begins 8-31), we’ll spend a few weeks on two incredible passages of Scripture that refer to actual periods of time in which Messiah’s first and second advent are predicted. The first (the Biblical prediction of the actual date of Christ’s first coming) was discovered by Sir Robert Anderson, as detailed in his book, The Coming Prince. The second: The end of the Jewish exile and domination by the Gentile nations, the rebirth of Israel as a nation, and, therefore, the generational period of time when Christ would return, can be identified in a relatively obscure passage in Leviticus Chapter 26, that provides an astonishing “time-frame” of the second coming. For emphasis, let me repeat: A time-frame, not a specific date or time. But, I’m convinced that this time-frame IS our generation.

Blog along with me and we’ll see just how it works.

Please join me next week. We’ll take a look at the Who of the Rapture.

Things to Ponder:
– What is meant by the term, “Imminent return of Christ”  and, what does it mean to you?

– Each time that Jesus said that we can’t know (the time), he specifically referred to the day and hour. Do you think “day/hour” was more or less a generic way of saying that no one can know even approximately when he will return. Or, in the context of the Lord’s detailed response to his disciples’ question found in Matthew 24:3 (“What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”), do you think Jesus wants us to at least know the (short time) window of his return.

– When the Rapture occurs, do you think most of those left behind will know what has happened? Or will they come up with several different reasons (trying to explain it away) why millions of people are gone?

Rapture! (What, Why, When, Who, & How)

“Why in the world did this happen?” laments the woman who just lost her job of twenty years, and has no clue what to do next. “Why her, why not me?” exclaims the husband, moments after his wife disappears in the early morning hours from their bed; later confirmed by media sources the world over that hundreds of millions were taken from the earth. My guess is that most people prefer to know why things happen, although I suppose there are exceptions to that rule. Meaning that some would say, “I’m ready to go. As long as the Rapture is true and will take place, that’s good enough for me … I don’t need to know any more details than that.”

Even if you’re not that concerned about the reasons that Christ will return for his own, I’m thinking that if someone asked you (anyone who was genuinely and sincerely interested), wouldn’t you want to, at least, explain the basics. Why? Because the Rapture IS the resurrection of deceased believers from the dead; AND, the rapture is the transportation of all believers to heaven. The Rapture signals the FINISH LINE of our race here on earth, but the STARTING LINE of eternity in heaven for those who have been redeemed by the death and resurrection of our Messiah. That is why Jesus is referred to as Alpha & Omega–beginning and end, first and last, author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Careful study of Scripture shows us two primary purposes for the Rapture … why this stunning event must and will take place.

TO BE LIKE CHRIST

In order for us to live forever, we must have the same incorruptible, indestructible, resurrected body that Jesus had (still has and will have forever more) when he arose from the dead. His triumphant resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, and has been historically documented, based on hundreds of eye-witnesses. It is the heartbeat of Christianity, which is a term that, surprisingly enough, I prefer not to use; as Christianity sounds like a religion, alongside of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other world religions, including some “Christian” cults that have corrupted the true Gospel of Christ. But, I suppose that we must give our faith a name, a label, an identity; in order to distinguish it from non-Christian world views. But oh, what a distinction! Christ, our ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King has risen from the dead. He has risen indeed! There is an empty tomb in Jerusalem to prove that. All other prophets or so-called holy men of other religions are still in their graves. Personally, I choose to stake my eternal destiny on the One who arose from the dead!

The reason that Christianity is not a religion is because it doesn’t fit at all with the basic thread or common denominator of all world religions, i.e. what mankind must do (normally a sufficient number of good works or elevation of oneself to a higher plateau of morality or spirituality) to gain salvation from or favor with whatever god that a particular religion promotes or spiritual level that is required (like Nirvana).

Conversely, the Christian faith/belief is that Christ did for us what we could not possibly do for ourselves: pay with his death on the cross the penalty for your sins and my sins; thereby, restoring a relationship to God, which is the very reason that God created us in the first place … to relate to him and He to us. A spiritual fellowship and intimacy that exceeds all other relationships known to man. To be allowed access to the very presence of God anytime, anywhere, which otherwise is impossible unless and until God has covered us with the righteousness of his Son, and pardoned us (forever) from all the wrong things we have done.

God is absolute Love, with unconditional love for you and me beyond human understanding; but he is equally holy. A Holy God cannot tolerate the presence or existence of unforgiven sin, either now or for all eternity. And sin cannot be forgiven unless we believe who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Why? Because Christ paid for our sins on the Cross. And this sacrifice was fully accepted by God as a substitutionary payment (the highest price ever paid … the blood and life of God’s Son) that legally purchased a pardon for the penalty of our sins. So, it’s a done deal! All we need do is to believe, and say, “Yes, I agree!” It’s that amazing, and yet that simple. Thus, it’s not a matter of religious requirements or duties or memberships; rather it’s a relationship with the true and living God and His Messiah.

If Jesus had not arisen from the dead, there would be no credibility to his or the Bible’s claims that redemption comes exclusively by God’s grace (unmerited favor). But Christ did arise, so all the Biblical truth and promises about salvation in Christ are true, such as Romans 3:24-25, “Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood…” In other words, Jesus didn’t die for no reason! (Double negative for emphasis)

Another Spectacular Passage on the Rapture:

In the previous article (What is the Rapture) we looked at the fascinating and perhaps most well-known Bible verses about the Rapture, found in I Thessalonians Chapter 4. Today, let’s examine another pivotal passage found in I Corinthians 15. If you feel really ambitious, I encourage you to read I Corinthians 15: 35-58. Or, even better, the entire chapter! This text gives us a remarkable description of the different types of “bodies” that exist in the universe. Perhaps the most absorbing is the Apostle Paul’s introductory use of the term, “spiritual bodies.” Think about it: Aren’t these two words mutually exclusive? How can there be any such thing as a “spiritual body.” Our earthly bodies are flesh and bone; they house our soul and spirit, which are anything but physical. Has anyone ever seen the spirit of another human being? Have you ever seen your own soul?

But for Paul, through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual body is a perfectly “natural” fact that will one day be physically experienced by all who have been raptured … not virtual, computer-generated, or cybernetic reality, but actual reality. Just how real is the new resurrected body? Jesus, himself, showed us how awesomely real it is: After he arose from the dead, he walked, he talked, he ate with his disciples, and he could be touched! How real is that?

Listen to what Paul says, “It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised in glory … They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies” (I Corinthians 15: 42-44). Then later in this same text, “What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man” (verses 46-49). To be sure, this phenomenon can only be accomplished through a supernatural change, but then our God specializes in the supernatural. As the Bible says, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). If Christ can rise from the dead, he certainly can and will transform our earthly bodies into a heavenly body (think body, not just spirit) like his.

I see this spectacular change taking place in the same light (pun intended) of what happened to Jesus during his transfiguration on the mountain, when Elijah and Moses appeared with him (Matthew 17: 1-7). In fact, I believe the term transfiguration is the best way to describe what will take place at the Rapture. Why transfiguration? Webster’s Dictionary defines transfiguration as, “a change in form or appearance….” That is exactly what Paul is telling us in I Corinthians 15; that is, we will be glorified just as Christ was glorified. Glory means or conveys the idea of the sheer essence of someone or something, including the expression of that essence.

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (I John 3: 2-3). The “friends” that John addresses are believers in Christ, which qualifies them to be God’s children. So, then: We may not know all the details, but we do know it’s going to happen and why it’s going to happen. We need to be, and are going to be like our Savior. In fact, we must be like him and possess the same kind of body; otherwise, there’s no way we can live forever.

To live on this earth requires a special kind of body that God so wonderfully, uniquely, and masterfully created: one that can breathe life-giving air; drink life-sustaining water; eat life-growing food; feel life-producing pleasure and life-warning pain; see and hear life-enabling sights and sounds; produce life-perpetuating children; and know life-changing truths. However, the bodies we currently possess are not in any way, shape, or form adequate enough to live forever in the new earth and the new heavens that the book of Revelation so majestically portrays.

But not to worry; God has promised and will give us a brand new “heavenly body.” One that far surpasses the limitations of our earthly space suit. One immune to pain, sorrow, suffering, sin, disease and most of all, death itself. (See Revelation 21:4). One that can “leap tall buildings with a single bound and is faster than a speeding bullet!” Okay, a little facetious here; but isn’t that the underlying idea of Superman? Christ is the only “Super Man” who ever lived, and he will give us a heavenly body like his, to enable us to do extraordinary things, above and beyond our wildest expectations. I, for one, want to fly! And I’m not talking about jumbo jets.

I don’t know about you, but for me, I can’t think of anything more super than to worship, undefiled, my Lord and my God with the host of Heaven … forever. And to serve Him when, where, and how he wants me to during the Millennium and for all eternity. All the while resting like never before from all the hard work, terrible trials and tragedies, and ever-present grief that seems to grab us, even during the “good-times” on this earth. Great is our God, and greatly to be praised!!

TO SPARE BELIEVERS FROM THE GREAT TRIBULATION

We touched on this in the first blog article (What is the Rapture): The second reason (why) for the Rapture relates to God’s merciful rescue of believers, so we won’t have to experience that “Great and terrible Day of the Lord.” There are dozens of Biblical references to the Day of the Lord, which primarily includes and defines the tribulation period. For example, the prophet Zephaniah describes this horrific time as follows: “For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them. All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy” (Zephaniah 3:8). If you want to see first-hand just how horrendous (but nevertheless necessary and just) God’s judgments will be, then read about the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls in the book of Revelation. Compared to the Great Tribulation, Pharaoh and Egypt never had it so good.

Time/space in a blog does not permit reference to several Biblical passages that clearly demonstrate a pre-Tribulation rapture of the true Church, to spare those who have placed their personal trust and hope in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus, I will cite only one passage, which, not coincidentally, is also found in I Thessalonians, our main text from last week. In fact, this verse is a continuation of the Chapter 4 monumental disclosure of the catching away of believers. “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us” (I Thessalonians 5:9). By virtue of this verse’s proximity to the Rapture verses in Chapter 4, it clearly puts it in the context of the soon-to-follow Great Tribulation; with both direct and indirect affirmation that believers will be spared from God’s final dispensing of justice on the wickedness of a world gone mad.

Thus, when Christians use the term, “saved,” we are not only referring to being saved from the justly deserved penalty of our sins which is eternal separation from God; but also for the generation alive at the time of the Rapture being “saved” or rescued from the unimaginable deceit, violence, death, and horror perpetrated by the Antichrist, followed rapidly by God’s justice directed to a very depraved, and rebellious world.

It will be the second, and final, time in history that God will effectively say, “Enough is enough.” After thousands of years in which God has exercised great patience, it will be time for God to finally pour out his wrath on a corrupt world that has twisted the truth of the Gospel, has blatantly rejected Jesus as Savior and Messiah, has thumbed their noses at their Creator–the true and living God–and has yielded all their loyalty and worship to the Antichrist. But thanks be to the love, grace, and mercy of God, he has chosen to spare the bride of Christ (believers) from this dreadful apocalypse, so shockingly devastating that approximately ½ of the world’s population will perish.

Next week we’ll look at When the Rapture (will take place).

Things to Ponder:
– What are some things that we won’t need in Heaven? Electricians and all things electrical come to mind. Why? The Bible tells us that the glory of God will illuminate everything, literally. In fact, we won’t even need the sun or moon. (Revelation 21:23).
– Can you think of other, secondary reasons WHY the Rapture will occur? Examples found directly in Scripture or through logical reasoning.
– Would you rather be taken in the Rapture or remain behind on the earth? Before you say, “That’s a silly (even stupid) question,” keep in mind that even after some of God’s Tribulation judgments, many people on earth will still refuse to “repent” (which means to change their minds about the whole thing, and realize that the only escape is to call on the name of the Lord for salvation). There are those who just don’t want to give up what they consider too valuable on this earth … pleasure, power, pride, profit, prestige, and popularity (See Revelation 9:20-21).

RAPTURE! (What, Why, When, Who & How)
WHAT is the Rapture?
On a scale of 1-10, where do you think your knowledge of the Rapture falls? With 1 representing virtually no knowledge, except maybe hearing the word once or twice. Or some might select 10, meaning they know, or think they know, everything there is to know about this mysterious, but spectacular event that could happen any day, even while you’re reading this article! Wherever you fall on the scale, by the time we finish the five articles on the Rapture, I’m hoping that your number will increase exponentially … the lower the number, the more room for moving up the ladder. So, let’s start moving!

Where in the Bible do we find the term, Rapture? We don’t, so you can stop searching for the word in Scripture (seriously, I would encourage all followers of this blog to, whenever possible, read the blog articles with a Bible by your side). Are you surprised that such a Biblically oriented word, one that has been heard or spoken by many Christians and non-Christians alike, isn’t even in the Bible?

Well, you don’t need to be so flabbergasted (is there any sillier word in the English language than flabbergasted!) because the term, Rapture, is derived from a Latin word, raptus (to carry off or away), and the Bible was not written in Latin. Rather, the original language of the Old Testament is Hebrew and the original New Testament was written in Greek. Although the English word itself is not found in the pages of Scripture, the concept and truth of it certainly is. In fact the Apostle Paul attributes this amazing disclosure as coming from the Lord Jesus, himself, as found in I Thessalonians 4:15, “We tell you this directly from the Lord…”

The Greek word translated “caught up” found in the following passage is harpazo, which literally means to seize or snatch away (quickly). “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words” (I Thessalonians 4: 16-18, italics to emphasize the Greek word, harpazo).

Yet the English word “Rapture” is entirely appropriate as a one-word description of the remarkable prophetic proclamations found in I Thessalonians 4 and I Corinthians 15. Remember, the word Rapture is not a direct translation of the Greek word, although it is a very close transliteration of the Latin word; rather it is a substitute or alternative or expanded way to describe emotionally or spiritually what is taking place. One of the definitions for rapture found in Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary is, “a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things,” and a companion definition is, “an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion.”

Thus, we have a captivating combination of the original Latin and Greek words, which is accurately rendered “caught up” in most English translations of the Bible. These words convey the dynamics of the actual time/space sequence involved in this literal transfiguration of the Christian’s physical body, with the spiritual joy, emotional bliss, and mental delight in what is taking place. Those who have accepted Christ as their personal Savior (both the dead and the living), will experience the highest degree of spiritual and physical euphoria possible, as we will be instantly changed and then transported to heaven, there to be with our Lord and King forever. As the sayings go, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” And, “What a way to go!”

Two Separate Events:
Time/space in this blog or even in the following four weekly articles on the Rapture, does not permit an in-depth study concerning three different views of when (not date/time; rather in proximity to the Great Tribulation) the Rapture will occur, i.e. Pre-tribulation, Mid-tribulation, or Post-tribulation Rapture of believers. Plus, numerous books and articles have been written about these three interpretations. By far, the heaviest weight and proper application of Biblical passages support a Pre-Tribulation catching up of believers (which is my position); but it’s not theological suicide nor total irresponsibility to hold onto the other two opinions.

We do, however, need to understand that there are two distinct events that comprise what is commonly called, “The Second Coming of Christ,” or, “The Day of the Lord.” And, to know with utmost certainty that His Second Advent (arrival) is every bit as certain as his First Appearance on the earth. The Bible is full of forecasts for both advents. Because the dozens of Old Testament prophecies about his birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection came to pass in the first century, we can be just as sure that the hundreds of predictions (both Old and New Testament) of Messiah’s return will come to pass … hopefully, in the very near future!

The Bible contains meticulous details of people, places, dates and events. Moreover, secular historical records as well as archeological discoveries demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that what the God of the Bible (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) says he will do, he does. What he says will happen … happens. This is no less true for the Rapture (Part I or the first phase of the Second Coming) and the actual Glorious Appearing of Christ on the earth itself (Part II of the Second Coming). Many, including some Christians, confuse or combine these two specific, but separate events.

Scripture presents some dynamic details, sequence, and results of the Rapture contrasted to many other Biblical passages that describe Messiah’s majestic physical return to the earth; thus, affirming that there are two events. A generalized sketch of these verses is accurately summarized by Bible teachers/scholars as follows: In the Rapture, Jesus will come (in the clouds/air) for his followers. In his physical return to earth at the end of the Great Tribulation, Jesus will actually return with the believers. I will refer to only one of these passages to help us grasp the significance that there are two distinct occurrences (separated by several years of actual time) that constitute the “Second Coming of Jesus Christ.”

A Fascinating Illustration by Jesus, Himself:
“That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left” (Luke 17: 34-35). There are no better words or means to relay exactly what will transpire at the Rapture than these words from Jesus. The Lord’s explanation of this glorious event is in marked contrast to his physical return to the Mount of Olives when he majestically steps foot again on the earth, as explicitly described in many Old and New Testament passages.

Again, to repeat for emphasis: Both events will be totally amazing, but they are, and will remain, separate … one from the other. At the bodily return of Christ, no one is “taken” from the earth; rather, the Bible announces that Jesus will return to rescue Israel from annihilation, to complete the destruction of the nations/armies aligned against Christ, including capture of the Antichrist, and to prevent what would otherwise result in an apocalyptic extinction of the human race (see Matthew 24:22); then to establish his Kingdom of righteousness, justice and peace on the earth.

Taken or Left Behind:
In these two examples from Jesus, the one (those) taken in the Rapture is a precise parallel to what happened at Noah’s flood and when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. That is, respectively, Noah and Lot and their families were taken out of harm’s way before God unleashed his judgment on those left behind. Also, as Enoch was taken directly to heaven (without dying) prior to the Great Flood; so it will be with believers alive at the Rapture. They will be removed from the earth, as Scripture is clear that true Christians are not destined to go through the Great Tribulation … the final outpouring of God’s wrath on the earth.

The actual illustrations that Jesus used are very intriguing. For instance, he says, “That night two people….” Then the following scene is that of two woman working at a mill. This strongly implies that the Rapture will, indeed, be a world-wide event. Why? Many people will be taken at night, while others will be taken during the day–on the other side of the world, while they’re at work!

In the next article posted on 8-3-13, we’ll take a look at the WHY of the Rapture.

Things to Ponder:
– Is there anything else in Jesus’ examples found in Luke 17 (or Matthew 24:40-41) that might trigger a comment or question?
– Do you see the difference (two events) between the Rapture and the descent of Christ to the earth at the end of the Tribulation? If so, or not so, why?
– What do you think about the Rapture and/or what does it mean to you?