WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?

The terminology and concept for the rapture comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.  In verse sixteen Paul explains how Jesus will come back; and then in verse seventeen, he explains what happens to the people waiting for him. 

“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 with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess 4:16-17).

“Caught up,” translated from Greek into Latin is “rapturo.”  The Greek word for caught up, άρπαγησόμεθα (arpagesometha) has a range of meanings: seize, grab, snatch up,  pick up, but is often translated as, “caught up.” 

The literal translation of this verse is, “Then we the living remaining together with them shall be seized in clouds to a meeting of the Lord in the air; and so always with the Lord we shall be.”

“Seized” means to take hold of suddenly and eagerly.  In this verse it would mean that the angels suddenly and eagerly take hold of people and lift and transport them in the air.

THE GATHERING

It would be more accurate to call the rapture, “The Gathering.”

In another letter to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote, “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him …”(2 Thess 2:1).  The word “gathered” is έπισυναγωγης  (episoonagoges) and means “gathering together” or “assembling together.”

Speaking of the rapture, Jesus said, “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matt 24:31).

Note: The angels are not gathering the dead in Christ, because it is not necessary.  In their resurrected bodies, these saints know what to do and where to go.   The angels are only gathering the living believers.  The living believers must be changed in order to participate in the return of Jesus: They must put off the corruptible and put on the incorruptible.  They must put off the clothing of the world and put on the fine, pure white linen of righteousness.  As the believer’s bodies are changed, the angels transport them to Jesus.  All of this happens in the twinkling of an eye.

THE ELECT

The elect are in two groups: 

1.  The Dead (Christians and martyrs who have died).

2.  The Living (Christians and the 144,000 sealed Jews).

The Christians and martyrs who died in the past

From the time of Jesus’ resurrection until the rapture, the believers who died during that time period will be resurrected.  “(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.)  This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection…” (Rev 20:5, the parentheses are John’s).

In 1 Thessalonians Paul again speaks of this early resurrection: “According to the Lord’s own 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” (1 Thess 4:15).

The Living Christians

Speaking of the end times, Jesus said living people would be taken, “That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left” (Matt 24:40-41).

Paul gives a little more detail.  “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Cor 15:51-52).

The 144,000 Jews

John wrote, “He called out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: ‘Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of God.’  Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel’ ” (Rev 7:3-4).  He goes on to name the twelve tribes from which each group of 12,000 people will come from.  Given this, I would assume that these people are of Jewish descent, probably full-blooded.  This does not mean they are all living in Israel - Israelites.  They are probably scattered all over the world. 

There are no women in this group.  “These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure…” (Rev 14:4a).

How will the 144,000 Jews be sealed? 

Like Christians the 144,000 Jews can only be sealed by the Holy Spirit.  They must confess that Jesus Christ of the New Testament is their Lord, Savior and Messiah.  I believe the 144,000 will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus as their Messiah through the testimony of the Two Witnesses and the witnessing of Christians during the Tribulation. 

The Two Witnesses are Jews like themselves, preaching in Jerusalem with power, authority and miracles.  The Two Witnesses have authority to loose plagues on the earth.  They will warn people to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved.   And when the four angels of Revelation 6:2-7 and 9:13 pour out their plagues, all of God’s sealed people will not be harmed.

GOD’S SEAL

God’s seal protects people the way the lamb’s blood protected the Israelites in Egypt - what has been remembered and celebrated as Passover.  “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.  No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt” (Ex 12:13).

In the book of Exodus the Israelites were not harmed, because the plagues were specifically for the Egyptian people.  One plague covered the whole country and would affect everyone, unless they did something different.  The death plague passed over and did not harm Israelites in houses with the lamb’s blood on the sides and top of the doorframe. 

Today, God’s seal on his people is the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus became the sacrificial lamb.  “…but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish, or defect” (1 Peter 1:19).  The people who believe in Jesus are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Paul told believers they already have God’s seal.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22, “He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

Ephesians 1:13, “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession - to the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”