What is the Rapture? Where does it fit? Is it real?
Modern churches today are diverting in course from historical church movement. Historically the fact an event called the Rapture exists was never in question. Historically the question was where in the time line of events it would take place. This today is still the predominant argument, yet movements have been made to deny the existence of a Rapture event.
Arguments such as the word rapture not being in the Bible are used as a premise for it being a non event. This is done blatantly despite the fact that the word Trinity cannot be found in the Bible, nor is the word Bible in the Bible. Yet the word rapture does exist. No matter what language one reads the Bible in the text was translated from either Hebrew, Greek, or Latin.
The Latin word is Rapturo which is where we derive the word Rapture. The Greek uses the word Harpazo and this word is where the English words “caught up” were derived from. The definition of Harpazo means to take or snatch away as if by force. It is used to depict that the event will be sudden, instant and unexpected. These words give greater insight into the Rapture event due to the meaning behind them when compared to any other translation of any language. It is here where we find Rapture within the Bible.
Is there any evidence of Harpazo within Scripture? Absolutely yes. Enoch and Elijah are two very clear examples and then also Philip when he was taken by God to the eunuch as a witness. There is no doubt that within Scripture that the Rapture is a doctrinal event that has historical evidence and is a part of future prophecy for an event that will come. With this we must come to know not just what the event is, but also who it is for and why it takes place.
Who is the rapture for?
From this point on Scripture will be used to define itself. The doctrine of the rapture when viewed within context interlocks supporting itself without need of human interpretation. Its purpose and place in the time line becomes self evident. In fact for those who hold alternate views in order to defend those views hurdles will have to be jumped, loops of logic created, and twisting turns needed to arrive at any other conclusion. God never intended for this truth to be as obscure as some have made it to be. Nevertheless the debate will continue long after this.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Those that believe in a pre tribulation rapture have been accused of being “escapists”. Jesus Himself used the word escape. The question is why? Why would there be a pre tribulation rapture? Revelation 3:10 speaks specifically to a church which has accepted Christ and kept the word of His patience and these people are kept from the hour of temptation which is the tribulation. Jesus Himself states that those who believe in Him will be counted worthy of escaping.
There are those who believe that the Church must go through either the whole tribulation, or a part of it. There are many reasons for why they believe this despite Scripture giving us the definitive answer. Yet some believe that the Church must in some way be purified before reaching heaven. This purification has already taken place on the cross at Calvary by Christ Himself.
First an understanding must be had that no works can be good enough for anyone to obtain salvation. In other words, there is nothing any individual can do to be purified. There is no other purification process within Scripture that is required by any individual nor the Church other than what Christ did for us when he sacrificed Himself for our sins. Therefore any attempt at requiring the Church to go through the tribulation as part of a purification process does not stand up to Biblical doctrine. Is there other evidence to the Church not partaking within the tribulation?
Protecting His bride
Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
The Scripture within Isaiah 26:20-21 is beautiful when one understands how its written. The words used are as if to describe a husband taking his bride to hide her and protect her. In other words, Jesus will not require His bride to be bloodied and beaten before taking her as His. Nor would any groom require or desire this for his bride to be. This simple understanding within how it is written and its context is for us to realize that just as we would protect the one we love before marriage so will Christ protect His Church.
In verse 21 we see the reason behind the protection. God’s wrath is poured out upon the “inhabitants of the earth”. This punishment and wrath is due to the iniquity of those within the earth and the rejection of Christ. This is the period of the tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
For the believer, His Church, we are not appointed to wrath. Titus 2:13 tells us that the appearing of Jesus to remove His Church is a blessed hope. Furthermore in going back to Luke 21:36 we are told to watch. If one is watching then one is waiting for the immanent event to take place. Paul in his day was watching for Christ to bring the Church home. Paul was not waiting on the tribulation. He firmly believed in the immanent return of Jesus even in his time. He lived Luke 21:36.
Whether from Scripture reaching from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the very words of Christ, and the way in which Paul lived his life, there is overwhelming evidence of the rapture being a pre tribulation event. Yet this does not explain the why behind it, or its purpose other than to protect the bride of Christ as we have already been sanctified by His blood. There is more.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
In the time line of events there is only one moment where the Church is presented before God. To understand this further we can look into the Jewish culture and customs. The very way that marriage practices were conducted in ancient times were a picture of this very event. In Biblical times the groom would propose to a woman. The woman, unlike other cultures of the time, could accept or reject the marriage proposal. These marriages were not traditionally arranged.
If the proposal were accepted then they were betrothed. At this point it is more than having marriage plans. They were considered to be married but not yet together. The groom would go to his fathers house to add onto the family home. When completed the father of the groom would then decide the appropriate time for the groom to go take his wife. At that time a wedding procession would take place and the wife would be brought home. Consider the words of Christ.
John 14:2 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. 3 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.
Jesus not only references the Church as His bride within Scripture but also is living out the realization of it in a real way. He left to prepare a place for His bride. He then said that He would come again. Scripture states that no man knows the day or hour of this event. Jesus said only His Father who is in heaven. On that day, Jesus will receive His bride unto Himself and present her to His Father. This purpose is for our union to Christ, and as stated in 1 Thess 3:13 and Jude 1:24 that we may be blameless before the Father.
The fact is that the rapture is not a mere escape from the tribulation upon the earth. Rather it is the completion and consummation of Christ’s promises to the Church. At this moment within which we live before the event of the rapture taking place, we are saved if we put our faith in Christ. This is only a partial fulfillment of His promise to us. At the moment of the rapture, not only is our soul saved but we are given a new glorified body and presented to the Father. This completes His promise to His bride, our total sanctification in Christ.
Evidence of who and when
If what I have presented is accurate then would there not be evidence of it in the book of Revelation? Some have claimed that the Church is not present in heaven or others claim that it is at the 6th seal where the Church enters heaven. Yet there are defining points which these people miss. For starters, only the Church is dressed in fine linen. Fine linen being as wedding garments. The saints found at the point of the 6th seal are dressed in white robes which will also be worn by the Old Testament saints.
This can further be identified in Revelation 19 when the Church returns with Christ back to the earth riding white horses for the final battle at Meggido. There we are described as being in fine linen. The Church cannot be both. Revelation 19 definitively clarifies who those are in fine linen as being the bride of Christ. Therefore we cannot be those in white robes. If we come from heaven with Christ back to the earth, then when did the Church enter into heaven?
Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Take note of Revelation 4:1 “a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither”. What exactly is John witnessing? This event is more than John simply being called into heaven to see a vision. Compare with this Scripture from 1 Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
John has witnessed the rapture event in Revelation 4. The voice he heard was as a trumpet, just as 1 Thess 4:16 states that the Lord shall descend with a shout and with the trump of God. John was told to “come up hither”. The Church does not appear within Revelation until chapter 19 for we are in heaven with Christ. It is not until Jesus is ready to appear in the 2nd Coming for the final battle at Meggido against the antichrist that the Church is seen again.
At the 6th seal those who are dressed in white robes are those who have come to know Christ within the tribulation. They are the tribulation saints which have died for Christ. Within the tribulation 144 thousand Jews will be called to be a witness for Christ. Twelve thousand from each tribe will be called for this purpose. The Church is unique from other saints of history, and the future, and is why we are dressed differently from other saints.
There are other purposes for the Rapture. Some of these purposes will be brought up at other times of writing. One such as why the Holy Spirit steps aside during the tribulation. The Holy Spirit is called the “restrainer”, in other words with the Church being present within the world certain end time events cannot yet unfold. It is only until the restrainer steps aside, after the Church is removed, that these events can unfold.
While these other purposes are important within their role, it is not the total core purpose of the event. The purpose is and will always be the fulfillment of God’s promise to the Church. It is the completion of our sanctification and union with Jesus as we are presented before the Father. When understood Scripturally one can see how there is no need for the Church to partake within any part of the tribulation. If the Church were required to partake within the tribulation it begins to break foundational doctrine pertaining to our salvation as if Christ is not enough. It becomes a faith plus works system rather than salvation by grace through faith.