Your Future (Part 1 - The Rapture)

What is the Rapture and how is it different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? What will happen after the Rapture and how close are we? Are you ready for the Rapture? Is the Beast alive today? Who is the Beast? Who is the False Prophet? Is America mentioned in the book of Revelation? In the next few articles, as the Lord wills, I will be examining these issues and looking at them from the Bible.

First question: What is the Rapture and how is it different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? The term “Rapture” is never found in Scriptures. This is also true with the words, “Trinity” and “Bible” as well as the terms, “Microwave” or “Electricity”. The concept of the Rapture is found and described both by what the Bible says and by what the Bible does not say. The word “Rapture” is the English version of a Greek word meaning to be “caught up” or to be “snatched away.”

The Rapture of the church is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “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: 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.” Notice the emphasis here given to meeting the Lord in the air and meeting the others in the clouds.

Contrast this passage with one that describes Jesus’ Second Coming found in Revelation 19:11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” And in verse 15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Here there is no meeting in the air, only war on earth.

In the Rapture, Jesus comes to gather and in the Second Coming, Jesus comes to make war. As you read these passages you see two entirely different events. Another evidence is found in what is missing. Study the book of Revelation and you will find the term “church” used often in the first three chapters. From chapter 4 to the end, the church is not mentioned again. It is not an error in the text, it is because the church no longer exists on the earth. It has been removed prior to the plagues of Revelation.

Additional evidence is found in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Notice what verses 6 through 8 say: “And now you know what holds back, for him to be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming,”

Look again at the order of the events. First there is a person “he,” holding back the power of the beast from taking full power. The Beast is not permitted to take his full position as World Ruler until the restraining power, the Holy Spirit, is removed. Since Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), the Holy Spirit can not be removed without the Christians also being removed. Again notice how this event differs from the Second Coming of Christ when a war breaks out and a battle is fought.

It is clear in Scripture that no man knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return. However, we are encouraged to study the events happening around us and discern the times. Listen to what Jesus said, “And learn the parable of the fig-tree: when her branch is still tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, at the doors.” We can not know the day of the Lord’s return, but we can know the season and know when it is near.

When you look at the signs of future events you must remember you are looking at distant future and not near future. There are no events that need to happen prior to the Rapture. The Rapture can happen today or tomorrow because there is nothing preventing the Lord’s return. Signs we can look for are the preparation of the Earth for the rule of the Beast.

For example, Revelation 13:16-17 says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” From this passage we can look for a one world economy, a mandatory identification, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.

You have to remember, the Rapture will happen before these technologies and events are fully developed because they are used after the Rapture by the Beast for his reign. The closer these events come to unifying the world, it makes the Rapture even nearer. In the next article we will explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses and why the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Until next time, keep studying the Bible.