The Rapture (Part 1) THIS STUDY WILL BE ABOUT THE RAPTURE, the rapture at the end of the Church Age has been the focus of Christians since Christ said to his disciples at the last supper, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3).
Fulfillment of this promise will consummate Christ’s spectacular 33½ years of mortality, during which he nurtured a little flock that would gather together a church for his name. Everyone knows the church will be raptured some day and, though it seems bizarre, a few will be caught up alive
The early church members are all dead, but certain ones will resurrect to be among the very first to meet him in the air, together with their "fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were" (Rev 6:11). Note that the number caught up will ONLY include those killed; jusr as it says about the early church, except for 2000 alive.
Then "we" which are alive and remain shall be caught up (raptured), as Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. "Whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him" (1 Thess 5:10). But before the rapture, there must be an ingathering and subsequent judgment. However, the rapture is the focal point among these end-of-the-age events.
Studying the rapture and surrounding events reveals special relationships of man with God. Mature men and women who are included in the first resurrection are the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb, redeemed from among men (ref. Rev 14:4).
Those to be raptured are a qualified, very special number and are the very elect of God. God is busy working on the steps that precede the rapture. We will learn more about these steps in our discussion. One step to learn is that the special elect of God will "seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from everyone of us" (Acts 17:27)
Knowing these things are coming soon, leaves many unanswered questions: (1) If we are among those caught up, what happens to those before and after us?
(2) How many resurrections are there and when? (3) What group will be caught up, and how many are there? (4) What is that city we seek? (5) What’s the minimum requirement for a resurrection?
(6) What’s the order of events? (7) What is this about Christ reigning over the earth with his bride? (8) What’s there to know about the new earth? (9) How can I not be confused on these matters? Answers to these and similar questions will be answered, when the time is appropriate.
Many books have been written on the subject of the rapture, yet it remains poorly understood and quite mysterious to most Bible readers. Once the apostolic message was lost in the intense darkness of the Dark Ages, speculation took center stage---and still abounds---insomuch that not one version of the rapture which I have read fits the Scriptures, and most lack sound logic.
Bible scholars, at best, see events preceding and beyond the rapture with a dim light. Indeed, this also includes the rapture itself, which is clouded by myths. I will try to realign inaccuracies sufficient to gain a better understanding.
Topics which follow are key concepts associated with the rapture. If we understand these topics, the subject of the rapture will be more meaningful, and we’ll possess knowledge that many others seek. The apostle Paul was given details of the rapture, which he taught to his followers. If they needed to know, don’t we also? Not "know" with obscurity of the past, rather know with God-given clarity.
Too many people still follow Dark Age teaching, not being familiar with what the Bible says. Christians put almost everyone in heaven, instantly, when they die, but the Bible says we go as a group---at his coming---called the rapture. Can it be that we don’t understand what the early church taught?
We should know what they were taught because the Lord himself taught them. When he was given a look into heaven, what did Stephen, the martyr, see? "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). He only saw two: God and His Son.
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