The Rapture Of The Church

The Rapture of the Church

1 Thessalonians 4:13-4:18

13But 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. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For 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. 16For 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: 17Then 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. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Rapture of the Church will be the most startling event to happen in all of human history. Millions will disappear in "the twinkling of an eye." Great confusion and bewilderment will occupy the minds of those left behind.

Many explanations for the disappearance of those missing will be presented.

While unimaginable chaos is under way here on earth, you and I will experience

Such shouting & and rejoicing like never before seen as we realize that we have glorified bodies and we’re free of all aches & pains, no more glasses, no more hearing aids, no more false teeth, no more pace makers, no more blindness, no more cripple people, no more strife, no more living in fear of the terrorist, no more having to look behind us in case some crook might knock us in the head or shoot us in the back, there be no crooks there to worry about.

And then we’ll appear before the Lord at the "judgment seat of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:10 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad). This will be a judgment of rewards based on the believer’s works. It will be a time of great joy for many as they hear the Savior’s "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:41).

For some it will be a time of shame and regret (1 John 2:2828And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

It will be no ones fault but our own if we don’t receive a full reward.

2nd john 8- 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Let me say that Rev, 2-3 tells us of the church age and how things will be during the duration the church is on the earth up to it’s catching away.

And then in chapter 4:the very 1st words we read are “after this” implying after the church age has run it’s coarse and then in rev. 5: we have a seen in heaven as we’re in the LORDS presents as all the angelic host and saints are worshipping & praising Him.

Chapters 6-19 discloses the seven year tribulation.

And we’ll not find the church mentioned in these chapters because the church is not on earth during the tribulation period.

The Church is not mentioned again until we come to Revelation 19:7, where we see the Church preparing for the "marriage of the Lamb" and her return to earth.

The rapture will be a glorious time of reunion with our loved ones, who have gone before us,

Paul described the Lord’s coming as the "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;).

At the Rapture the Lord will descend bodily in the air for his saints, both for the dead and for the living (1 Thess. 4:16-17 16For 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: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:).

Think of this way; -we might be standing at the grave site of our loved one, when all of a sudden the trumpet sounds and we hear the cry, “come up hither” in the twinkling of an eye before we have time to realize what’s taking place, our loved ones body that’s there in the grave is suddenly head high to us and then we’ll both be changed at the same time, we’ll both be in our glorified bodies as we find ourselves in the presents of the LORD who made it all possible.