THE RAPTURE

RAPTURE : Webster defines it as : A carrying away or being carried away in body or spirit.

While this word "RAPTURE" does not appear in the original manuscripts, it does describe a very real happening. The word
is Latin in its origin. There are two distinct events that make up the second coming of Jesus Christ. The first event is at the
close of the Church Age, from 30 A.D. to just before the start of the great tribulation, Christ will appear in the clouds and
take the Church out to be with him.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-18 (read entire text) 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The second event occurs at the end of the great tribulation, at the battle of Armageddon. Christ will appear on a white
horse with all his saints with him, he proceeds to destroy the armies of the beast. I believe that these two events actually
comprise the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19 : 11-21 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his
head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a
vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him
upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he
should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and
wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the
midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of
kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and
the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and
their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast
was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had
received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning
with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out
of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

For Christians this is a very great event . People just disappear.

And what do these people all have in common? The Holy Spirit!

With out the Holy Spirit in the world, evil will become much worse.
If the Holy Spirit lives within the believers and the believers are RAPTURED out, where will the Holy Spirit be?
Gone with us!

I’d like to make a point here, have you ever wondered why the anti-Christ comes to power. Just how can this beast control
so many people and nations. Well, without God’s Church in the world and especially without the Holy Spirit, Satan is in
control.

As Christians, this is what we look forward to: The RAPTURE! I understand not wanting to leave loved ones but if we are in
Christ Jesus, life is really just beginning. We will live with our Lord, we have eternal bodies that never feel pain or age.

Everything about heaven is pure joy, that’s why this event was named "RAPTURE."

Is there someone that has passed away, that was very close to you? If that person was a Christian, you will be with them
forever. That is what I think Paul was trying to say to the church at Thessalonica.

Turn to 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18.

Our text lists five events that will occur at the RAPTURE.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even
as others which have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him.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.

EVENT 1 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
EVENT 2 with the voice of the archangel,
EVENT 3 and with the trump of God: and
EVENT 4 the dead in Christ shall rise first:
EVENT 5 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.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE!

There are many views concerning the timing of the RAPTURE in Revelation to the timing of the Tribulation . Pre –
Tribulation is one of several ideas , this idea simply says that Christ takes away his church before the great Tribulation
occurs. This view I believe is the most accurate. Let me share with you a few proofs .

I. God promised to deliver us from the Tribulation.

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which
shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

II. The church is to be delivered from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us
from the wrath to come.

III. Christians are not appointed to wrath.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Since I believe that scripture proves the church will be RAPTURED up before the Tribulation, you may wonder, "How long
before the Tribulation?" The answer is, "No one knows." Because the RAPTURE is not what begins the
Tribulation. Although many believe that the RAPTURE will start the Tribulation, it is actually, the signing of the covenant
between the Antichrist and Israel.

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the
sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the
consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

If you will take note, the terms used in these chapters which deal with the Tribulation are Jewish terms. For instance,
there will be temple worship.

The RAPTURE will happen suddenly, unexpectedly and will catch most Christians totally by surprise.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the
truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

CONCLUSION:

How will Jesus find you ?

II Peter 3:11-18 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on
fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look
for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such
things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the
longsuffering of our Lord issalvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath
written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own
destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the
error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Let us always be ready for the Lord’s return.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall
come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more
out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which
cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.13 He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches.