The word
"rapture" does not appear in the king James version of the
bible. However, it is a word that symbolizes such biblical terms as the
translation,
caught up, our gathering
together unto him, and some other terms which are used in
god’s word. The words, "translate" or "translation"
mean to carry away, remove,
transport, change sides,
transferal; thus,
translation
or rapture.
It is a term used to describe the removal
from the earth of all living people that have received Jesus Christ as
their personal savior. The scriptures show us that in the twinkling of
an eye, all over the earth, all people whom
Jesus "knows" will be removed from the earth to be with him. It
will be as in the days of Noah, when all those that trusted in god were
removed before the flood came. The raptured
people will never know death (or sleep). In the twinkling of an
eye, they will be changed and will be with Jesus in a new incorruptible
body.
“Brothers, we do not want
you to be ignorant about those whose fall asleep, or to grieve like the
rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose
again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have
fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we
who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will
certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself
will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the
Archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will
rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other
with these words”. 1st Thes 4 v 13-18
We are in the latter day
generation (or period of time) that will see the rapture, the
tribulation, and the return of Jesus to this earth with power and great
glory.
Have there ever been a rapture before?
The answer is yes. it is written, and
Enoch walked with god: and he was not; for god took him-Gen 5:24. it is
also written, by faith Enoch was translated
that he should not see death-Heb 11:5. The bible also tells us in 2 King
2:1-12, how Elijah was translated.
We also see john in the spirit on the lord’s day-ref rev 4:1. Jesus
was taken up-ref act 1:9
Why then does there seem to be confusion
among some people on this subject? The answer is clear. God is not the
author of confusion-1 Cor 14:33. Satan is the author of confusion.
Some
people hold the incorrect position that the rapture will take place in
the midst of the tribulation.
Some hold the misguided position that the rapture will come at the
end of the tribulation. Others hold
the mistaken position that the rapture will come
after the tribulation, and there are
others who hold yet a different position. There are
some misguided people who
do not believe
there will be a rapture. They do not
believe that Jesus will actually return as the king of kings and
the lord of lords, as the scriptures clearly point out.
They do not believe
there will be a period called the
tribulation. Others believe that Jesus returned about 1800 years
ago, and still others about 100 years ago.
When
there is confusion on a major bible subject, such as the
rapture,
which is clearly and unmistakably stated in the bible,
something is
wrong.
A person that believes the rapture will come during or after the
tribulation, also may not "even begin" to understand what the
tribulation will really be like.
There has never been in the history of the earth a time, either before
the flood or after, that will be as bad
as what is soon to come.
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