The Snatching up, catching up , "The Rapture"

[Glenn Robichaux]

The Rapture- The Catching Up

1 Th 4:13-18 (NKJV)

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
—Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
(4:15-18)
The "Christians who have died" (4:16), the believers who had died and are present with Christ (2Cor. 5:8) will be physically resurrected and receive their glorified bodies at the time of Christ's return (1 John 3:2). The word translated "caught up" (4:17) literally means "to seize" or "to snatch." It is from the Latin translation of this word that the term "rapture" is derived. The words "to meet"(4:17) were used of meeting a dignitary paying an official visit to one's city. The leading citizens would go out to meet the honored guest. Paul's instruction concerning the Lord's coming and believers' resurrection was to be a source of comfort and hope to the Thessalonians (4:18).
Outline on & Notes on The Rapture
The word “rapture” is derived from the Latin word rapu, which means “caught away or caught up.” This Latin word is equivalent to the Greek harazo, translated as “caught up” in (1 Th. 4:17). This event, described, here and in (1 Cor. 15), refers to the catching up of the church from the earth to meet the Lord in the air.
It involves only the faithful believers in Christ’s churches. Note: The book of Revelation 2 and 3 how many times Church is mention. Then Chapter 4 says “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this. The church is not mentioned again until much later. So where are the Church Believers -guess…(1Thess.4: 17) they were caught up after comes WRATH!
1.Just prior to the rapture, as Christ is descending from heaven for his church, the resurrection of the “dead in Christ” will occur (1Thess. 4:16). This is not the same resurrection described in (Rev.20:4) for the latter is an event occurring after Christ returns to the earth, destroys the wicked & binds Satan (Rev. 19:11-20:3). The resurrection in (Rev. 20:4) relates to the martyred of the tribulation & possibly to O.T. saints (Rev.20:6) .
2. At the same time as the dead in Christ rise, transfigured; their bodies will be clothed with immortality (1Cor. 15:51,53). This will happen in a very short time, “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor.15: 52).
3. Both the resurrected believers & the transfigured believers will be caught up together to meet Christ in the air, that is in the atmosphere between earth & heaven.
4. They will be visibly united with Christ (1Thess. 4:16-17), taken to his Father’s house in heaven see (Jn. 14:2-3) & they are united w/ loved ones who have died in Christ….(1Thess.4: 13-18).:
5. They will be removed from all distress (2Cor.5: 2,4; Php 3:2`, Rev.3: 10) from all persecution & oppression from the entire realm of sin & from death (1 Cor. 15:51-56); the rapture delivers them from “the coming wrath” (1 Th. 1:10) (1Thess5: 9) God did not appoint The Bride of Christ to WRATH- from the great tribulation!
6. The hope that our Savior will soon return to take us out of the world to “be with the Lord forever”
(1 Thess. 4:17) is The Blessed Hope! Of all the redeemed. (Titus 2:13). It is a major source of comfort for the suffering believers (1Thess. 4:17-18; 5:10) God has never promised to put the Bride of Christ in wrath!
7. Paul uses “we” in (1Thess. 4:17) he knows the Lord’s return could have happened in his own life time, & he communicates the same anticipation to the Thessalonians. The Bible insists on a continual waiting with eagerness, for The Imminent coming of Christ Jesus. Believers today must be ever so watchful for Christ to return to them Himself. (cf. Mtt.24:42;26:40; Rom.13: 11;1Cor.7:29;10:11;15:-52; Php. 4:5)
8. The portion of the professing church that fails to abstain from evil & is unfaithful to Christ will be left behind (Mt. 25:1, Lk.12: 25). They will remain as part of the apostate church (Rev. 17:1) I will write on the age of the Anti Christ soon! Subject to God’s wrath.
9. Following the rapture is the day of the Lord, the day that brings distress and wrath to the ungodly (1Thess.5-2-10); That will be followed by the 2nd. stage of Christ’s coming. When He comes to destroy the ungodly and to reign on the earth (Mt.24: 42,44).