The Rapture

[Rev. John & Tabitha Pike]

A Study in Bible Prophecy
“A Scriptural Approach to Eschatology”

Section 1 Part 1
COCFM Bible School
“The Rapture of The Church”

The Rapture of The Church of Jesus Christ is the next great event on the horizon of time (perhaps the greatest in all of history). What a glorious event this will be! Millions of people will suddenly disappear from this earth to rise through the air, past the clouds, to meet their Lord and Saviour in the air.

“In a monument, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump: for THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and WE SHALL BE CHANGED. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to past the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:52-54)

Is it any wonder that in scripture it is called...........................

“That blessed hope” (Titus 2:13)

This mass disappearance of the saints of God is called in biblical terminology the Rapture of the Church. Although the word “rapture” does not appear in the scripture as such, the fact is clearly taught. Jesus referred to this event when He said:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3)

In other passages Jesus referred to the “raising” of the dead at the resurrection (John 6:39-54; 11:24; 12:48). The angels consoled the disciples of Jesus at His ascension by referring to the fact that.....

“THIS SAME JESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, SAHLL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11)

The Apostle Paul spoke of this event as a great “mystery”--- that is, “something previously hid but now revealed” (see 1 Corinthians 15:51) _-- and as being...
“caught up together” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

In Hebrews it is referred to as “translated” (Hebrews 11:5)

These few scriptures could be multiplied in regard to the teaching of the Rapture of the Church.

“Definition of Terms”

One of the central, biblical texts for the teaching of the Rapture is as follows:

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

The words “caught up” come from a Greek word harpazo, meaning to “carry off”, to “grasp hastily,” to “snatch up.” Our English word “rapture,” being the equivalent of the Greek harpazo, denotes “being possessed by an overwhelming emotion (such as joy, love), ecstasy, or wild excitement.” AS such, it is a most appropriate word to use in describing this glorious event. Certainly it will be a time of wild excitement and great joy when the Lord appears and we are caught up to meet Him in the air to be with Him forever. No wonder that the next verse exhorts us:

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonian s 4:18)

Now, there are two other words used in the scriptures that relate to the Rapture. The first of these two words is found in the following verse:

“now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our GATHERING together unto him” (2 Thessalonian s 2:1)

The word “coming” is translated from the Greek word parousia, which means “an arrival and presence with.” It is used in relation to Christ's arrival both for His saints at the Rapture and with His saints at the Second Coming. Here it signifies not only His coming for the saints, but also His presence with them until His revelation and manifestation to the world seven years later.

Another word found in this verse and used in conjunction with the Rapture is the word “gathering” The Greek word is episunagoge and means “a complete gathering”; that is, of all the dead in Christ and all the living in Christ from all parts of the earth out of all denominations and dispensations to meet Christ in the air. The word literally means “a gathering together upon.” By extension, it is a separation of the Godly living from the ungodly.
The second word that refers to the Rapture is found in the following verse:

“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall APPEAR, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28)

The word “appear” comes from the Greek word phaneros and means “to appear” in the sense of revealing one's true character. The same word is used later by John.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet APPEAR what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2)

Think of that! The Word tells us that at the Rapture not only does Jesus reveal to us His true nature, but at the same time our true nature is also revealed. Only those who have become...

“partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4)

.... will recognize Him. This is the “mystery” that Paul spoke of when he said:

“Behold, I shew you a mystery: WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15: 51-53)

May other scriptures relate to the fact of the Rapture and the manner in which it will take place: for example,
Luke 21:34-36
John 14: 1-3
1 Corinthians 15:23, 51-58
2 Corinthians 5:1-8
Ephesians 5:27
Philippians 3:11, 20, 21
Colossi ans 3:4
1 Thessalonian s 2:19; 3:13: 4:13-17: 5:9; 23
2 Thessalonian s 2:1, 7, 8;
James 5:7, 8
1 Peter 5:4
1 John 2:28; 3:2
In the next section we will be looking at

“Differing Viewpoints”
“Scriptural Support for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture”
“Signs of the Times”

[Rev. John & Tabitha Pike]

I believe in a Pre-Rapture. That is where the Church is going to be taken out of the world, Caught up with Jesus in the Air before the Tribulation period begins.

[Teresa]

I've heard pastors speak about pre-mid-post rapture. What is your take on this subject? T