The Rapture And The Return

The next great event on God's prophetic timetable is the rapture of the church. The Rapture is that future event when Jesus Christ will descend from heaven to resurrect the bodies of departed believers and transform the bodes of living believers into his glorious presence in an instant and then escort us to heaven to live with Him forever. The rapture is truly the BLESSED HOPE of the church.

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: 1 Thes. 4:14-17 - 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. [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.

Whenever one mentions the Rapture, the skeptics and scoffers always point out that the word "rapture," never occurs in the Bible. While this is true the CONCEPT of the Rapture is clearly and ever present in the writings of the apostles when dealing with events concerning the last of the last days of the church age. The words, "caught up," in 1 Thes. 4:17 translate from a Greek word that means "to snatch, the seize suddenly, or to transport from one place to another." It is also used of rescuing someone from a threatening danger.

Jude 1:23
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Acts 23:10
And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

The translation of this Greek word is "rapturo," which is where we get the English word "rapture," to describe this future event of being caught up to meet Jesus Christ in the clouds. There are three main passages on the rapture in the New Covenant:

John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] 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.

1 Cor. 15:51-55
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1 Thes. 4:13-18
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. [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.

Simply put there are seven main points in the passage in 1 Thessalonians that give us tremendous foundational support that the doctrine of the Rapture is a legitimate New Testament teaching that does NOT need to be neglected or pushed aside as it has been in these modern times.

First, we have the REALIZATION.

1 Thes. 4:13-14
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.

At the outset Paul makes it clear that he wants us to understand the rapture and NOT BE IGNORANT of its validity! Notice the words "I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU TO BE IGNORANT," which is used five other times in scripture. The other fives times the Holy Spirit stresses He does not want to be ignorant of vital truth is:

1. God's faithfulness in trouble (2 Cor. 1:8-10)
2. Gospel responsibility (Romans 1:11-18)
3. Spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12)
4. God's purpose for Israel (Romans 11:25-32)
5. The resurrection and future life (1 Thes. 4:13-18)
6. God's judgments on backsliders (1 Cor. 10:1-13)

The teaching of the rapture of the church is part of six new revelations the Holy Spirit gave the Apostle Paul that were not given to the prophets before the advent of Christ including the following:

1. All who die in Jesus will be brought back from heaven to be given resurrected bodies (1 Thes. 4:14; John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:20-23,35-58; Phil. 3:21).
2. The living in Christ at this time will not die but be changed (1 Thes. 4:15-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; Phil. 3:21).
3. This is the coming of the Lord in the air, not His coming to the earth (1 Thes. 4:15-17; §2 Thes. 2:7, note; §Rev. 4:1, note).
4. The Lord Himself, not some other one, shall descend from heaven to translate the saints (1 Thes. 4:16; John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:23,51-58; Phil. 3:21).
5. The dead in Christ shall rise first before the living are changed (1 Thes. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:23,51-58; Phil. 3:21; John 5:28-29).
6. The church and all in Christ from Abel to this time will be changed from mortality to immortality in body in a moment and will be caught up (raptured) with the dead in Christ to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:17; John 14:1-3; Luke 21:36; 1 Cor. 15:23,51-58; Phil. 3:21; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; Col. 3:4; §2 Thes. 2:7, note; Ephes. 5:27).

In addition to the rapture being part of new revelations under the New Covenant, it is a one of many Christian "hopes," in Scripture:

1. Salvation (Romans 8:20-25; Romans 15:4,13; 1 Thes. 5:8; 2 Thes. 2:16; 1 Peter 1)
2. Righteousness (Galatians 5:5)
3. God's calling (Ephes. 1:18; Ephes. 4:4)
4. Eternal inheritance (Col. 1:5; Ephes. 1:11-18; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 1:4)
5. God's glory (Romans 5:1-5; Col. 1:27)
6. Resurrection (Acts 23:6; Acts 24:15; 1 Thes. 4:13; Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:3)
7. Eternal life (1 Cor. 13:13; 1 Cor. 15:19; Ephes. 2:12; Col. 1:23; Titus 1:2; Titus 3:7; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 6:11,18,19; Hebrews 7:19; 1 Peter 1:3-13)
8. Converts safe in heaven (1 Thes. 2:19)

The Lord wants us to know the truth so we can have HOPE in these last days which are going to become more and more perilous as we near the rapture of the Church. Part of this hope involves the state of our believing loved ones who have passed away who will not miss out on this glorious event and in fact be on the "front row" sort of speak when the rapture takes place. As the scripture says, "the DEAD IN CHRIST," shall rise FIRST!" When Jesus comes, He will bring the perfected spirits of departed believers with him. This truth can bring us comfort and hope and soften our grieving when loved ones pass away. When believers pass away, it is not good-bye but more like "good-night."

I remember sitting at the bed of my dear mom in May 2005 watching the last few moments of her life as she lay dying of cancer. My heart broke into a million pieces when she drew out her last breath as any one who has lost their mother can understand. As I held her hand though I knew that despite how tough and hurtful her loss was on this earth that one day by the help and grace of God we would meet her again. She had us put on her graveside "We will meet again," and those words echo in my heart as I write these words to you right now. My dear Aunt Florence passed in 2002 and she too is in heaven. My dad's mother and father, as well as my mom's mother are waiting on the other side. My brother John has two babies who died at birth awaiting him when the trump sounds. That is why the rapture is such a blessed HOPE and a reality that we need to proclaim with everything in us in these last hours before Jesus comes!

There IS hope for the child of God who has died. The Psalmist says "precious," is the death of the saints in the sight of God. The word "precious," means "costly," meaning that this world loses LIGHT when a saint dies. So many have gone before us and paved the path that is getting more and more diluted today. It behooves us as those who know the truth to make sure this path stays CLEAR and that the TRUTH of the Word of God is proclaimed without favor so their LOSS is not in vain.

Ps 116:15 - Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.

Secondly, the rapture is a "revelation," that was given to the Apostle Paul alone by the Holy Ghost.

1 Thes. 4:15a
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,...

Paul wanted the reader to know and know without question that what he was writing concerning the rapture of the church was "by the WORD OF THE LORD," meaning this did not come from Paul's own intellect or emotion. What Paul recorded was divinely revealed from the Lord. If it's from the Lord that means we in the modern church need to heed what the Lord is saying to us in His word! The modern church, especially in the Pentecostal and Charismatic world, has lost its fear of God and because we have lost our fear of God we no longer tremble at what the Lord says. Losing our fear of God causes our hearts to harden and reject truth that can set us free.

The Psalmist says a condition of wicked men is there is "no fear of God in their eyes." Isaiah cries to God and asks why Israel strayed from His ways and hardened their hearts "from YOUR fear."

Ps 36:1-2
1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, when he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.

Isa 63:17 - O LORD, why have You made us stray from Your ways, and hardened our heart from Your fear? Return for Your servants' sake, the tribes of Your inheritance.

Thirdly, the rapture speaks of a RETURN of Jesus for the church.

1 Thes. 4:15-16b ...that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [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:

At the Rapture of the church the Lord himself with come again "in the clouds," acccompanied by three things: a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God. This commanding shout is the last of threee great cries or commands of the Savior (Hitchcock):

1. The Cry from the Cemetery when Lazarus was raised (John 11:43-44)

2. The Cry from the Cross when the dead came back to life (Matthew 27:50-53)

3. The Cry from the Clouds when the dead are raised at his coming.

Notice that at each of these CRIES the dead are resurrected!

Fourthly, the rapture involves a resurrection!

1 Thes. 4:16c - ....the dead in Christ shall rise first:

When Christ comes down from heaven, the first thing that will happen is that the bodies of deceased believers will be raised or ressurected and reunited witih their perfected spirits, which will have returned with the Lord. These resurrected bodies will be GLORIFIED, INCORRUPTIBLE, bodies fit for the heavenly realm!

Philip. 3:20-21
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

2 Cor. 5:1-5
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [3] If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. [4] For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. [5] Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

1 Cor. 15:35-56
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? [36] Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: [37] And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: [38] But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. [39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. [40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. [41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. [42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. [45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. [46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Fifthly, the rapture will involve a REMOVAL.

1 Thes. 4:17
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.

When the dead have been raised, living believers will immediately be transformed into the presence of the calling Christ without ever tasting physical death. As 1 Corinthians 15:51 says, "not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed." The King James Version translates this verse, "we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." This verse often appears on the door of church nurseries. It's certainly true of many children in the nursery, but, thanks be to God, it will be true of MILLIONS of God's children when Jesus returns from heaven. Millions of believers will never face the sting of death but will be REMOVED, raptured, directly into the presence of the Lord in the clouds. This translation will take place in the amount of time it takes to blink one's eye.

1 Cor. 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Sixthly, there will be reunion in the air unlike any in human history! The dead in Christ and the living saints will all be raptured together and will meet the Lord in the air. What a glorious reunion as all the saints of this age meet the dear Saviour.

Seventh, the rapture involves a reassurance and hope to all those who "look" for the coming of the Lord! The hope of the rapture brings comfort and hope to all of God's people when a believing loved one or friend goes home to be with the Lord. These words have certainly have read at thousands of funerals throughout the centuries and have brought the comfort, hope, and encouragement of the Lord to broken, bereaved hearts. I know for this writer this blessed hope brings me to tears just thinking of seeing my dear mom again and whoever else we love that may go on before me should the Lord tarry. As I get older the idea I myself could taste death before the Lord comes has become more real with each passing day. I hope I'm taken at the trump but if it's by the grave I can assure the reader this - I plan to be part of this great event called the rapture of the church. I am listening every single day for the sound of the trump of God when the DEAD IN CHRIST shall rise first, then we which are ALIVE and remain shall be "caught UP" together with them to be with the Lord forever and forever.

The Rapture Vs. The Return

The New Testament CLEARLY teaches that Christ is going to return FOR His church to escort her to His Father's House but it also asserts that He will come WITH His saints when He descends from heaven to judge His enemies and establish His glorious thousand-year kingdom on earth from Jerusalem.

Zech. 14:4-5
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. [5] And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

Matthew 24:27-31
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [28] For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. [29] Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

John 14:3
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.

These two phases - the rapture and the return - are separated by a seven year period that most Bible scholars call the Great Tribulation period. These differences are easily harmonized successfully by the pre-Tribulationist view, while other views of the timing of the Rapture are unable to accommodate the different views. The translation of the church is an event that is an event quite different in character and time from the return of the Lord to establish His kingdom, and confirms the conclusion that the translation takes place before the tribulation. (WALVOORD)

Both events mention clouds symbolizing a heavenly role, but other differences demonstrate that these are two distinct events. At the Rapture, the Lord comes "FOR" the saints; at the Second Coming the Lord comes WITH His saints.

1 Thes. 3:13
To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

At the Rapture of the Church the Lord comes only for believers, but His return to the earth will impact ALL people - unbeliever and believer alike.

The rapture of the church is a translation/resurrection event; the Second Coming is not. At the Rapture, the Lord takes believers from earth to heaven, to the Father's house; at the Second Coming believers return from heaven to the earth.

John 14:3
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.

Matthew 24:30
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The Rapture is an imminent event which will have very few "signs" attending it and from which, from the human perspective, could occur at any moment. By contrast, the Second Coming will be preceded by many signs and has many things that must take place for it to be fulfilled. The same event cannot logically be both signless and yet portended by numerous signs. This is flatly contradictory. The best harmonization of these two different events supports a pre-Tribulation Rapture, while the many events taking place during the Tribulation are best understood as signs leading up to the Second Coming.

Jesus is coming FOR the saints neighbor and He is coming SOON! There is NOTHING and I mean NOTHING left to be fulfilled for the rapture of the church to take place. The Bible promises that God's people are exempt from the coming wrath of the Tribulation period. The nature of the entire Tribulation period is one of pounding judgment against a rebellious world. The judgment of God begins with the first seal and continues all the way until the Second Coming. The say that God confines his wrath to the very end of the Tribulation as the "pre-wrath" view maintains, one must overlook the fact that the Lamb opens ALL the seal judgments which are just as much the wrath of God against sinful humanity at the beginning of the Tribulation as the trumpet and bowl judgments at the end. The very nature of the entire Tribulation period demands that Christ's bride be exempt from this time of trouble.

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

The rescue of Lot and his family from Sodom, the taking of Enoch to heaven before the Flood and the story of Noah's Ark show us that God does not destroy the righteous along with the wicked when He pours out His judgment. In Revelation 3:10-11, the Lord's promise of deliverance from the Tribulation period is very specific:

Rev. 3:10-11
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.

The Lord clearly says He will keep those who "keep the word of His patience," from the very HOUR of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, that will try them that dwell upon the earth. After the Lord states this He declares, "Behold I Come QUICKLY!" and HOLD FAST to that which you have that no man take your crown! Neighbor that is what the SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH!

Rev. 3:12-13
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.

For those who believe in a Pre-Tribulation rapture there is a position and proclamation that says "His coming is IMMINENT!" For those who believe in a mid-tribulation rapture, the Rapture must be at least 3 1/2 years away; for pre-wrath rapture folks, it must be at least five and half years away; for post Tribulationists, it is at least seven years down the road. For those who deny there even is a rapture they have no sense of anything bad being imminent but proclaim the world is going to get better and better and all this end time warning stuff is just fable and fairy tale. ONLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE IMMINENT PRE-TRIBULATION VIEW OF THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH CAN SAY 'JESUS CHRIST MAY COME TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Neighbor, hear this writer. Jesus is COMING and He can come TODAY. He warned us about having an attitude in one's heart that says "my Lord 'delays' His coming!"

Luke 12:45-46
45 "But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

The church of this modern day is proclaiming just that - "the Lord is delaying His coming!" The term "begins to beat the male and female servants," speaks of discord, strife and division of which the modern church is rife with because we have no common purpose of winning souls for Christ and bringing in the harvest prior to the Trump of God at the rapture of the Church. In addition to this spirit of division the church world is "drunk" with the spirit of entertainment, idolatry and self-help humanism. When we stop preaching the soon return of Christ, these things always take place.

In closing let this writer state it again - get ready for the rapture. Make sure you've made your reservations for the meeting in the air. Make sure there is plenty of oil in your lamp, all trimmed and burning, waiting, watching for the bridegroom to cry, "GO YE OUT TO MEET HIM." Neighbor, it's getting late. There is a difference between the rapture and the return. The rapture is the next great event on God's prophetic calendar.

I pray you're looking for the hastening of the coming of the Lord! I pray you're hearing the Spirit and the Bride say "even so come quickly, Lord Jesus."