The Reality Of The Rapture Series

The Reality of the Rapture

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

Today, we have come to the most recognized passage in 1st Thessalonians, and one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture. It is a passage that is often read at funerals because of the comfort it affords to the families who have lost loved ones in Christ.

This passage is dealing with the rapture of the church. This is a subject that has been debated for centuries. There is a great discussion concerning the timing of the rapture. The views are varied as to when the Lord will actually come for the church. Some see no difference in the rapture and Second Coming. As with many of you, I believe the rapture will take place just prior to the Great Tribulation.

Others contend that we have no biblical basis for such a thing since the word rapture is not found in Scripture. To the fact that “rapture” is not found in the Bible, I will agree, but it is there nonetheless. We see the phrase caught up in V.17. The word rapture translates the Latin word “rapto or raptus” and comes from the Greek word “harpazo.” The phrase translated caught up literally means “to seize; to claim for one’s self; to snatch out or away.” While we don’t have the word rapture recorded in Scripture, clearly the doctrine and teaching are there.

The rapture of the church is a foundational doctrine of the Christian faith. Through our faith in Christ we have the hope of a future resurrection of the dead where all believers will be caught away to meet the Lord in the air and enter into His glorious presence with new, glorified bodies. Had Christ not risen, and if we had no hope of life beyond the grave, our faith would be no better or different than the false religions of the world. That hope sets us apart from all others.

As we continue our study in 1st Thessalonians, I want to consider the principles surrounding this miraculous event as we think on: The Reality of the Rapture.

I. A Stirring Reminder (13-15) – As Paul continues to exhort the church in Thessalonica, he is aware of their confusion regarding the coming of the Lord and the future of all believers. Dealing with their confusion, Paul offers words of wisdom. First, he offers:

A. Words of Comfort (13) – Many in that day were earnestly looking for the Lord’s return. They lived each day in full anticipation of His coming. Many of them believed they would be taken up in the rapture. (That ought to stand as a challenge for us as well!)

While those who were living looked for the Lord’s coming, they were sorrowful over loved ones who had died in Christ. Many there feared those who had already gone by way of the grave would somehow miss out on the coming of the Lord. They felt as if the Christians’ hope was buried with those believers in the grave.

While Paul understood their sorrow, their grief over death, he reminds them that even though they sorrow, they do not sorrow as others who have no hope. Their loved one may have died prior to the Lord’s coming, but hope was not lost. Just as Christ rose from the dead, they too would rise as He comes and calls for the church.

We live in a time where many are searching for a means of comfort and stability. The believer has a hope beyond this world. When our loved ones die in Christ, hope is not gone. The hope and assurance of their resurrection in Christ is real and certain.

B. Words of Confidence (14-15) – The apostle goes on to further assure them of the confidence they have in Christ. If they believe Christ had risen from the dead, V.14, and surely, they did, then they ought to believe that those who slept, or had died in Christ, would too rise from the dead. 1 Cor.15:20 – But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

He continues to assure their confidence in V.15. Those who had died in Christ were not left without hope. They would not be left in the ground and forsaken at the rapture. Those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. This is an interesting thought. The word prevent means “to come before, to precede.” To the comfort of the church, Paul declared that the living at the rapture will not take precedence over the dead in Christ or gain advantage over them. Those who have died in Christ will in no way be inferior to the living at His coming! All those who have been born again will be included! 1 Cor. 15:19 – If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 1 Cor.2:9 – But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.