The rapture of the church is an event prophesied in apocalyptic scripture. And precisely because it is a prophetic theme, even Christians are plagued by doubts about how this event, foretold for the end times, will unfold.
The rapture of the church
For the people of Jesus Christ, the theme of the rapture of the church is the blessed hope of meeting and being with the Lord forever. More, however, because it is a prophetic word and with a lot of symbology around it, it is normal for doubts to arise as to what this event announced for the end of time will be like.
But one thing is certain, and that is that the rapture of the church will occur when our Lord descends from the third heaven to come for his people. A people that he himself began to recruit in his earthly ministry and that would later spread to the ends of the world from the day of Pentecost to form the body or church of Jesus Christ.
Some key Bible verses in reference to the subject of the rapture of the church are:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV): 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Titus 2:13 (NIV): 13 while we wait for the blessed hope , the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NIV): 51 Listen to this mystery I am about to tell you : We will not all die, but we will all be changed— 52 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.
Jesus warned that he would return
Jesus while staying with his disciples on earth on several occasions assured them that he would return a second time. But what was not clear to the disciples was when it would happen, according to the Gospel of Matthew, we find:
Matthew 24:3: 3 Later Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, when the disciples came to him privately and asked, “ When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age ?”
important to be awake
Jesus responds to the doubts of the disciples on several occasions with a warning, that the important thing was not to know when. But to be permanently trained, prevented, vigilant and awake for when he returned, as an example the following verses are cited:
Matthew 24:42: Therefore, stay awake , for you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
24:44: Therefore you also must be ready , because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24:46: Blessed is the servant whom his master finds doing his duty when he returns.
24:50: The day the servant least expects it, and at the least expected hour, the master will return.
Mark 13:37: What I say to you, I say to everyone: Stay awake!
Luke 12:37: Blessed are the servants whom their lord finds awaiting their arrival. Believe me, he will adjust his clothes, he will make the servants sit down at the table, and he himself will start serving them.
In the parable of the ten young women, Jesus also warns about the importance of staying awake, because neither the hour nor the day will be known until his coming. Through the parables the Lord taught the people and his disciples.
So that they could understand the message of God and His Kingdom through comparative, symbolic, reflective, and believable stories. Discover with us the best parables of Jesus and their biblical meaning.
Jesus consoles his disciples with his coming
The physical timing of the Lord's second coming was not clear to his disciples, but they did understand that it would be an end-time event. But the Lord comforted them with the blessed hope of his return.
John 14:2-3: 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Later the prophetic message of Jesus is confirmed by two of his angels, to the disciples. As recounted in the book of the acts of the apostles in:
Acts 1:11: -Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus , who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.
What makes it clear and not only to them at that time, but also to us now, those of us who have believed the message of salvation of Christ Jesus that his return will be not only in spirit but also in physical form and forever.
The rapture of the church: The epistles speak of the second coming of Jesus
In the epistles we find several references in relation to the event known as the rapture of the Church. And just as it is clear in the gospels that between the first and second coming there will be a period of time, in them the apostles also encourage us to always be ready.
In the letters the apostles emphatically teach that the second coming of the Lord will happen without warning. So we should not keep awake, but rather keep ourselves in a continuous preparation, growing in the knowledge of God and in permanent prayer.
The apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians teaches the importance of always standing in the right way as is pleasing to God. With a clear idea of what our true identity and citizenship is.
Have enough spiritual revelation to understand that although we are in the world, we belong to the kingdom of God. Therefore, our life must manifest the culture of the kingdom of God, not only appearing to be but being of the kingdom with deeds and words.
Only in this way can we wait with vehemence, happiness and joy for the second coming of the Lord. Confident that we will be part of the rapture of the church.
Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV): 20 But our citizenship is in heaven , and we eagerly await a Savior from there , the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that brings everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
cuerpos transformed
When the rapture of the church occurs, Paul tells us that our bodies will be changed. We will not only be children of God but we will also be similar to our Lord Jesus Christ.
If already today we enjoy the identity of being children of God by accepting Christ as our only and sufficient Savior. And with this identity we experience blessings from heaven here on earth for our lives and families.
How much greater glory will be that moment when the rapture of the church occurs. Being not only transformed in the spirit but also in the body and being able to see the Lord as he is.
1 John 3:2 (NIV): Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him , for we shall see him as he is.
In that glorious moment the saints of his church realized the true greatness of his power and glory. Hallelujah!
Rather be in joy and gladness
With as many words of promise and blessing as the apostles show us in their epistles. As believers we should await the rapture more than with expectation, with happiness and joy, because if we still doubt, the epistles reaffirm the following:
Philippians 4:5 (NIV): Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Hebrews 10:37 (NIV): 37 For in just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.
James 5:8-9 (NIV): 8 So you also must be patient and stand firm until the Lord’s coming, because it is near . 9 And do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Revelation 22:10 (NIV): He also said to me, “Do not keep secret the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time for its fulfillment is near.
One way to maintain joy and happiness in our lives is by worshipping the Lord. Learn with us: What is worship according to the Bible , and how is it done? Because, although many of us worship and praise God, many have not taken the time to study praise and worship according to the Holy Scriptures.
The rapture or the snatching away of the church of Jesus Christ
In the communities of the people of Jesus Christ, doubts arise as to whether the rapture or rapture of the church means the same as the second coming of Jesus. And it is that there are diverse interpretations that are given to biblical passages.
As to how the events of the end times will occur, as well as what will happen first and what will happen next. Especially the order between the rapture, the second coming and the great tribulation.
The scriptures refer to the second coming of the Lord as the time when he will judge the world and everyone will know about it.
Matthew 24:27: For as the lightning that comes from the east is seen even in the west, so will the coming of the Son of man be.
As we have seen in all the verses cited so far, Jesus will come a second time, as king and judge for his own. With his people he will establish his kingdom forever.
In the ancient scriptures, prophets like Daniel announced this indestructible and eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. As can be seen in:
Daniel 7:13-14: 13 -In that night vision, I saw one with a human appearance coming with the clouds of heaven . He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence, 14 and was given authority, power, and glory , so that all peoples, nations, and languages would worship him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Furthermore, Jesus teaches the disciples that at his second coming he will establish judgment. Noting the need to be permanently awake, as it is written in
Matthew 24:40-41: 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left . 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
God only knows how it will happen
So only the Creator of all things, our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ know how everything will happen. And for our part, we can only wait confidently living always in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, letting ourselves be guided by him.
Only in this way can we live in accordance with the will of God and with the joy that the day will come when we will be raptured by the Lord. To live together with him in his kingdom and forever.
In the same way we must, out of love for our neighbor, wish that many also be caught up together with us. In relation to this, what better way to do it than through the preaching of the gospel.
Come with us and learn the proper way to preach the gospel : Why should we do it? And why preaching the gospel is the task of every believer.
Watch the video of the differences between the rapture and the second coming:
The great tribulation and the rapture of the church
The great tribulation is a series of events that will happen in the end times or end times. According to the Bible these will be times of great anguish, conflicts, difficult moments such as the world has never seen or experienced, in the book of the apocalypse it can be seen that the great tribulation will occur in three stages:
First stage : It begins when the seven seals in heaven are opened and will end with the rapture of the church of Jesus Christ. At this point, the Bible says the harlot will be thrown from the back of the beast.
Second stage : Seven trumpets will sound in the sky. In this stage, Satan will wage war against those who were not part of the Rapture and who, having repented, wish to serve God. At the end of this period, the second harvest for Jesus Christ will take place.
We can see how great is the love of God that even in the last times gives people new opportunities to repent and turn their hearts to Him. So ignoring the grace of God when He is giving it, is characteristic of a foolish and proud heart.
Being able to get rid of suffering the great tribulation, just by accepting salvation by believing in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Glory to his name!
2 Corinthians 6:2 : For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation!
