Answering the Rapture Question
From 1 Thessalonians 4:17 we have the word, rapture from the Latin Vulgate. What we have for a debate is the timing of it. There are so many teachings on the timing that I don't think that any, even weird thought, has been left untold. However, from my studies I have found just a handful of prevalent and somewhat Scripturally based, albeit shaky hermeneutics on several, but nonetheless major in terms of the numbers of people who believe that specific rapture timing. These beliefs are as follows: pre-millenialism giving us pre-tribulation rapture, mid-tribulation rapture, post-tribulation rapture, and pre-wrath rapture, and for those who don't know there are some who hold to Augustine's amillenialism where there is no rapture or reign of Christ. I can not dicusss post-millenial as I can not see any Scriptural basis for such understanding. From the passage in 1 Thessalonians in verses 13-17, we have the primary doctrinal source of the rapture. I hope to briefly examine the Scriptures in this passage, and a few others to relate what the Scriptures say and perhaps answer a few more questions about the rapture. One thing I will do is use Scripture, and Scripture alone removing the emotions, the attachment to man's teaching to see what Paul tells us in this passage.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven... found in verse 16 is clear and taken literally shows Jesus descending from heaven. Now if we use this passage literally for the rapture, a literal event, we must take the same approach for the remainder of the context and apply it literally, so He descends from heaven to rapture the church. One main error in hermenuetics comes when one mixes together symbolism claiming a figurative application and literal from the same contextual syntax, I will try to avoid this pitfall. When we answer why He descends, that point will also clear up confusion that is found in some's contradictory timings because of the local of Yashua, from heaven, that He descends from heaven. The point is clear, Jesus comes from heaven to appear in the midst of the clouds.
The reason that Jesus descends from heaven can be found in the next verse. verse 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. Yashua comes for His bride. This is the rapture.
726 arpazw harpazo har-pad’-zo
from a derivative of 138; TDNT-1:472,80; v
AV-catch up 4, take by force 3, catch away 2, pluck 2, catch 1, pull 1; 13
1) to seize, carry off by force
2) to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly
3) to snatch out or away
This word, arpazw/harpazo is translated in the Latin Vulgate from the root word that we get rapture. So what we have here in this event is what we commonly term, the rapture. Jesus descends from heaven for the sole purpose of rapturing His bride, the church, the church to whom He is betrothed, and will consumate the marriage, and as the verse tells us, ...to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. This makes clear that He returns for the church, it isn't a secret nor is it for only part of the church else it wouldn't say so shall we ever be with the Lord. Notice that Paul states emphatically ...and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain ... all who died and were in Christ, and those who are on earth in Christ, the alive ones, all meet the Lord together in the air, this is His bride with whom He will now complete the marriage.
When we look at what is happening we must also keep in mind that Paul is responding to a question about the dead loved ones of the Thessalonians who were also in Christ, they had a right relationship through genuine repentance in Jesus Christ, but they died and are in heaven with Him. They didn't understand this as it related to the rapture. I know there are some who would teach that when we die we are in the grave, and that is only one third true. The body is in the grave returning to dust, but the soul and spirit of a man in Christ goes to be with Him. Why? Simply because the body is corrupt until it is sown and the rapture takes place in order that the new body or glorified body to house the soul and spirit is given. We will be given a tent or tabernacle for our soul and spirit that will last for eternity, some comfort very much needed to be heard by the Thessalonians.1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Now we don't know what we will be like, but we know that when He calls us forth we will be like Him, and if the same Spirit that raised Christ dwells in us, we will be raised as He was raised. Christ Jesus sowed His earthly tabernacle at His death and as the first fruits of the first resurrection rose with a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15). Just as the Godhead is triune, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, He made us in His image triune, body, soul, and spirit. Howbeit when we are raised we too sow the earthly tent and are then housed in a glorified tent as He was. Notice that the dead have sown their tents, that was when they died on earth, their bodies have long since returned to the dust from where the Lord formed man. Now the ones who are alive must sow their tents in order to be given their new house.
Without jumping ahead, let's recount the points. This is the rapture. Jesus descends from heaven. He raptures His bride, the church. The dead in Christ go first, then the ones who remain and are alive in Christ go next. For those alive in Christ, it is a force that catches them away, the rapture or arpazw. This is an answer to the concerns of the Thessalonians and their loved ones in Christ. Will they see their loved ones, family and friends who have died in Christ, a concern that Paul answers.
Paul uses a technical Greek term in this passage that sheds more light on the subject of the rapture. So let's see what I am talking about. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. I don't want to go in any depth because of the other article related to this subject, The Parousia. Pay particular attention to this detail because it is vital to see, Paul is telling the Thessalonians that the Parousia of the Lord comes BEFORE the rapture takes place. The Parousia is in the midst of the sky, other passages tell us angels are with Him, and still others tell us of the signs, a trumpet, a shout, the dead rise first, then those who are alive.
When looking at verse 15, Paul also states the inspiration of his answer, he tells them that this is the word of the Lord. ...by the word of the Lord..., this dictates that Paul's reference to the Parousia is from the Lord, he has inside information about the rapture and the Parousia. While telling them of the inspiration he goes on the make a profound statement that many doctrines about the rapture omit or do away with ...that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
The alive in Christ do not precede the dead in Christ. The alive in Christ do not, they do not prevent those who are dead in Christ. Let's look at the Greek word, prevent.
5348 fqanw phthano fthan’-o
apparently a primary verb; TDNT-9:88,1258; v
AV-come 4, already attain 1, attain 1, prevent 1; 7
1) to come before, precede, anticipate
2) to come to, arrive at
3) to reach, attain to
Paul details clearly that the dead in Christ are first in this event, the Parousia, the alive in Christ no way precede or attain to the rapture before the dead in Christ. Since this is the rapture, and since the dead in Christ go first preceding those who are alive in Christ, then it simple from this passage to see that the first resurrection happens before the rapture, but please don't get upset at your pastor, he is merely following what he has been taught and not reading the passage. The twinkling of an eye is the time frame that separates the resurrection and the rapture because we both get that glorified body together. Once we understand this, much confusion disappears. Of course, the prideful, the dogmatic, the arrogant, the ones solely convinced their position is correct will reject the Scriptures, but they do so in error, and as they teach error they will be accountable to the Lord.
Now look at the next verse again, which is where we get our determination that we are discussing the rapture. Verse 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. Please pay particualr attention to the wording, the rapture happens after the dead in Christ. Look again! Then we which are alive...
1899 epeita epeita ep’-i-tah
from 1909 and 1534; ; adv
AV-then 9, after that 4, afterward(s) 3; 16
1) thereupon, thereafter, then, afterwards
The Greek epeita makes clear the timing again. The dead receive first, then those who are alive are next. Think about this, since the dead in Christ are given glorfied bodies, and this is the Ist resurrection, and since the Ist resurrection happens only one time, how can there be taught the rapture occurs more than once? How can there be teaching that the rapture happens in stages? How can there be taught that the rapture is secret when clearly Revelation 20 is no secret? Think about what you believe and see what Scripture says, if Scripture says otherwise, then perhaps you should change what you believe so that it agrees with Scripture.
The final details that we will discuss is what Yashua says about His Parousia. Mark 13:23-27 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. ¶ But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. His Parousia is after the tribulation, His angels gather those in heaven and on earth after the tribulation. The common misconception is the elect, who are they and for some bad teaching, they must be the Jew. Okay, let's think for a minute. The Lord descends and calls forth His bride to wed, and there is ONE bride, and one calling for His bride, and all who love the Lord are a part of the bride to be ever with Him, then the Jew who loves the Lord Yashua is a part of the bride and is called when He calls for His bride, and since this is what some teach that the Jew is the elect, then to whom does the Lord wed Himself? Does He have a schism bride and several weddings taking place? If that were true, then what Scripture supports such woeful teaching? The answer is there is none, the Lord marries one bride calling for her after the tribulation, the dead first then those who are alive.