The Rapture
A popular topic among charismatics, the day when Jesus comes secretly and takes away all the Christians to heaven for 7 years then returns to set up His kingdom for 1,000 yrs and the lion will lay down with the lamb. But is there any scripture reference for these ideas? I believe you will see from the scriptures yes there is a concept of a rapture, one is taken and one is left, but what the Bible teaches is the opposite, in that the wicked will be taken first by the angels on that day and then the righteous will be taken second, to be judged, then taken to the new earth to be with Christ forever. Study the scriptures and come to your own conclusions but listen to what God has to say and not me nor charismatic teachings. The Word of God is always right and it is not impossible to understand, see for yourself.
Matthew 13:24-30;
Jesus explanation of Judgement Day – Parable of the Tares The weeds are taken first, then the wheat is assembled to the barn.
vs.28,29,30,40,41 – SULLEGW
– pick, collect, gather the weeds out of,
vs.30 – SUNAGW
– assemble, gather, refers to wheat, righteous
Problem – both Greek words are translated “gather”.
Matthew 13:37-43;
Jesus explanation of the Parable – Judgment Day This is not about the Church, the Bible teaches not to allow evil to remain in the Church.
Matthew 18:15-18;
we are to practice church discipline.
1 Peter 4:17
Angels come take away wicked then gather the wheat.
No separating.
Wicked are taken first.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10;
Paul’s explanation of Judgment Day.
vs.7,8 – angels in flaming fire- dealing out retribution (2 Peter 3:7) to those who do not know God and have not obey the gospel
vs.9 – eternal destruction, “away from the presence of Lord”
vs.10 – When Jesus comes to be glorified on THAT DAY.
Wicked are taken first!
Revelation 20:7-10;
John’s vision of the Judgment Day.
vs.7,8 – Satan released, deceives nations, gathers his forces.
vs.9 – Surrounds camp of the saints, fire devours them.
Wicked are taken first!
Matthew 24:35-44;
Jesus describing Judgment Day
vs.37,38 – Just like the days of Noah – No warning,
vs.39 – Did not understand until flood took wicked away.
vs.4 – Two men in a field, one is taken, one is left
PARALAMBANO – ‘taken’ by angels Baur’s Lexicon p.619
vs.41 – Two women at the mill, one is taken, one is left.
Wicked are taken first!
Luke 17:26-36;
Jesus describing Judgment Day.
vs.26,27 – Just like the days of Noah, flood destroyed wicked.
vs.28,29 – Just like the days of Lot – rained fire & brimstone.
vs.31 – On roof, don’t go in – you will realize it is happening.
vs.33 – Don’t run, stay put. But in Matthew 24:15-18 flee to the mountains (70 AD)
vs.34 – On that night – two in bed, one is taken, one is left.
vs.35 – Two women at the mill, one is taken, one is left. Shows event universal, happens day/night same time.
vs.37
– Where Lord? Revelation 20:7-10
– Where the body is – SOMA = Body = the church,
– There the eagles – AETOS = world power – Ezekiel 17:1-21
Not vultures as in NAS or NIV
NIV – tries to equate vs.37 with Matthew 24:28 to make it appear that Luke 17 is referring to destruction of Jerusalem.
Matthew 24:28 dead body – PTOMA = Mosaic system,
Matthew 27:50-51; Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 2:13-15
Eagles = world power = Roman Empire, in Jesus time
Wicked are taken first!
TWO JUDGMENT SCENES
Luke 14:14; John 5:29; Acts 24:15
1. JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED Revelation 20:11-15
The “dead” are judged, but they are already judged. Luke 16:19-31
Who needs to be judged on judgment day – only the living still on earth.
Acts 17:31; Hebrews 9:27
The dead = “spiritually dead” – collected in vs.9
The Sea = society , Daniel 7:2; Revelation 13:1; people who are alive
Dead from Hades watch the judgment,
Matthew 10:15; 11:20-24; Luke 10:12-15
Death gave up her death, in the grip of death, in a coma etc.
Once the dead are taken by the angels, judged by God, then sent to hell.
2. JUDGEMENT OF THE RIGHTEOUS
The dead in Christ, those who have fallen asleep, are in Paradise, in heaven
Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; 12:2-4;
Philippians 1:23; Ephesians 4:8
Hebrews 12:22-24; Revelation 14:13; 20:6
These shall return with the Lord, shall rise first,
1 Thessalonians 4:14,16; 3:13; 1 Corinthians 15:52
Rise – ANASTASIS – to institute or install someone in a function, Hebrews 7:11,15
Those to be judged – the Christians that are alive on judgment day, The “wheat gathered to the barn” for judgment.
Matthew 13:30, 2 Thessalonians 2:1
Important – in dealing with the wicked, the angels take them first then gather the righteous.
In dealing with the righteous, Christ rewards the righteous first, then casts away the unrighteous.
Matthew 13:47,48 drag net assembles fish, the good put in containers first.
Matthew 24:45-51 rewards the good and faithful slave first.
Matthew 25:1-13 rewards the wise virgins first, foolish ran off – Luke 17:31-33
Matthew 25:14-30 rewards the men who used their talents wisely first.
Matthew 25:31-46 rewards the sheep first
vs.32 “gathered” assembled the nations = Christians Revelation 21:24,26; 22:2
vs.33 then Christ does the separating, not the angels.
vs.34 now Christ rewards the sheep first
vs.40 Criteria – not number of communions, attendance, etc. Did you love “these brothers of mine?” Matthew 12:48-50; John 13:34
vs.41-46 condemns the goats – for they did nothing for brethren. See Matthew 7:21-23; John 13:34
3. DELIVERANCE OF THE RIGHTEOUS 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
vs.13 – those fallen asleep – euphemism for death – John 11:11-15
vs.14 – God will bring with Jesus the saints, 1 Thessalonians 3:13
vs.15 – remain = PERILEIPOMAI = to be left behind, after wicked taken away first.
vs.16 – 1 Corinthians 15:52 is fulfilled – now judgment of righteous happens
vs.17 – then we who remain, left behind after judgment of righteous
Shall be caught up to be the Lord forever – Revelation 21:1-4
Is the word “RAPTURE” found in God’s Word?
Rapture – comes from the Latin word – RAPIO:
To seize/carry off by force, To snatch, tear, pluck, drag, ravish,
With the idea of swiftness predominating.
RAPIO – comes from the Greek word – ARPADZO:
1. Snatch, take away – Matthew 11:12; Acts 23:10; Jude 23
2. Steal, carry off – Matthew 13:19; John 10:12,28,29
3. Take away with no resistance offered – Acts 8:39; 2 Corinthians 12:2,4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 12:5
Rapture according to Webster’s English Dictionary:
1. The act of seizing and carrying off with force.
2. The act of carrying or being carried along.
3. The carrying of a person to heaven.
4. Christ raising up His true church to a realm above the earth.
5. A state of being carried out of oneself, spiritual ecstacy.
6. A spasm of fit of emotion.
Does “RISE” mean to come up out of the graves only?
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – ANASTASIS
1. To rise, 1 Thessalonians 4:16??
2. To raise up one who is lying down. Acts 9:41
3. To awaken one who is sleeping. Acts 12;7
4. To institute or install someone in a function, Hebrews 7:11,15
5. To rise up in anger, Mark 3:26; Acts 5:17
6. To mark the beginning of an action, Mark 7:14
What does “REMAIN” mean?
1 Thessalonians 4:15,17 – PERILEIPOMAI –
1. To remain.
2. To be left behind of persons. This word is only found these two times in the New Testament
I conclude from all these scriptures that an event is coming when people alive on the earth will be taken up by the angels, call it what you will, judgement day or rapture. The angels will take away the wicked first, as the texts plainly teach and then gather the church, those alive, to judge them based on their faith, hope and love, Matthew 25:1ff Christians are not judged based on sin Hebrews 9:27; It is not sin that condemns us, we sin every day 1 John 1:6-9; but is our relationship to Christ alive or dead? Are we still in the body, still married or did we walk away? Do we have faith (a prayer life), do we have hope (are we obedient) do we have love, (reach out and help the brethren)? Examine yourself all the time, in light of His Word. 2 Corinthians 13:5; Look forward to hearing your comments and questions.