THE RAPTURE

1 Thes.4:15-17 – For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

It seems like every revival season sparks an interest in topics associated with the last days. When Parris and I first came to Christ it seems like talk about the return of Christ and the Rapture were everywhere. As a matter of fact Parris and I were married two weeks after our conversion and had apparently already been totally indoctrinated. How do I know that? The wedding song that was played at our wedding rather than the traditional wedding march was

“I WISH THEY HAD ALL BEEN READY” by Larry Norman. Everyone seemed to place a real importance about your position on the return of Christ. In those a days clear distinctions were made by your belief in a pre-tribulation rapture, a mid-tribulation rapture, or a post tribulation rapture. Here are some thoughts from the Fire Bible on the Rapture of the church.

“Christ’s warning that his followers must always be ready relates to his return from heaven to take his church out of the world during the rapture. This means that it applies to us today. Jesus clearly states that his coming for his followers living before the tribulation will be at an unexpected time and without warning” because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” In fact, Jesus says that he will return at a time when they “do not expect him”. This clearly points to an element of surprise, amazement and unexpectedness, even for his faithful followers in the church. This is sometimes referred to as the first stage of Christ’s second coming (the second stage being his expected return to earth following the tribulation period).”

For those that may not know, the rapture is an instantaneous taking away of believers at the return of Christ. As Paul said, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” Christ will come. “The dead in Christ will rise first, and we which are alive and remain will be caught up with them in the air.” In that instant the resurrection of the dead and the glorification of our mortal bodies will happen. I hope you are ready, that day is drawing near.