Sometimes you hear preachers talk about what they call the rapture of the Church. What does it mean, and what is it all about?
The word ’rapture’ is not actually in the Biblical languages. It is from the latin. It refers to what is actually better described as the catching up of the Church, or the snatching away. What does this mean, then?
The Greek word is harpazo, translated in the following scripture as being ’caught up,’ and it refers to a coming time when Jesus will return in sky to take the Body of Christ out of the earth.
I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
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 by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Notice that we will be ’caught up together’ to ‘meet the Lord in the air.’ This is what many in the Church call the rapture.
Meet together in the air
The dead in Christ will rise first. They will come out of their graves, be they in sea, land, ashes or dust, and will put on incorruptible bodies to meet Him in the air. Then we who remain in the earth will rise with them. What a fascinating scene this will be.
The Lord will not, at this time, touch the earth. He will meet us in the air. This will be a phenomenal event, but only those who believe that Jesus died and rose again, and who have received Him as Lord and Saviour will be included in this momentus event.
Many ministers prefer to use the Biblical translation, the catching up, to describe this happening, but the word rapture is often used, hence this explanation.
The Greek word expresses a very violent act of snatching away. It is sudden and energising, with accompanying changes in our very nature that we’ll describe in subsequent episodes.
However you describe it, it is a powerful expression of God’s amazing ability. When will it take place? No one knows, which is why it is best to be ready for it to take place at any moment. Don’t wait. Be saved.
