LifeShape
Prayer & Discipleship
Module 4 – The Future
Block 6 – The Rapture
Gtcotr/ws110613
The
word “Rapture” is not found in the Bible. However, the concept is clearly
taught throughout the scriptures and embraced by Believers in every generation
of the Church beginning with the Apostles. Rapture is that future moment when
suddenly and without warning, Believers are gathered from the earth to make way
for the judgment of God.
The
rapture is often spoken of as a “catching away” or a “gathering together” or a
“harvest” of the souls of Believers from the earth. The fact that a future
rapture of the Church will occur is not the question which most often divides
people along doctrinal lines. Rather it is “when” or at which scriptural
juncture the rapture will take place that is in dispute.
The
intent of this Life Block is to discover the facts and leave the disputes to
those who are better given to debate those things which God has evidently
hidden in plain view. Let’s stick to the indisputable facts & future:
In
some of His last words during the last week of His earthly life, Jesus told His
disciples that He was going away but that He would come again for a very
specific reason. Jesus clearly and finitely stated what He would do and why He
would do it. This is what we will call:
Important
Point #1: The Indisputable Promise
John 14
1 Let not your heart be
troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are
many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there
you may be also.
No
one disputes the fact that Jesus went away with a purpose and is coming again
with a purpose – to gather His followers unto Himself and take them away to the
place He has prepared especially for them.
Important
Point #2: The Undeniable Expectation
The
early Church possessed an undeniable expectation that Jesus would return soon,
any day, at any time. Many imagine the reason it seemed easy for those
Believers to sell their possessions and give all the proceeds to be distributed
was because they expected the imminent return of the Lord and felt they would
soon have no need for worldly possessions.
The
Apostle Peter even spread a rumor which caused the brethren to believe Jesus
would return within the natural lifetime of the Apostle John.
John 21
21 Peter, seeing him, said to
Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
22 Jesus said to him,
"If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You
follow Me."
23 Then this saying went out
among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to
him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I come,
what is that to you?"
The
Apostle Paul clearly expected to be present and living on earth when the Lord
returned. He included himself in that number who would be caught up in the
rapture of the Church from the earth.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 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.
Important
Point #3: The Irrefutable Confirmation
Acts 1
9 Now when He had spoken
these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out
of their sight.
10 And while they looked
steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white
apparel,
11 who also said, "Men
of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who
was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him
go into heaven."
What
better confirmation can you get than angels suddenly appearing and repeating
the same words Jesus had spoken to you just a few days earlier!
Important
Point #4: The Unquestionable Explanation
How
is the rapture going to happen? We have been given the details …
1 Thessalonians 5
1 But concerning the times
and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2 For you yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in
the night.
1 Corinthians 15
51 Behold, I shew you a
mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Thessalonians 4
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.
Important
Point #5: The Venerable Interpretations
There
are so many diverse and yet well respected interpretations of scripture
concerning the timing of the rapture. Some believe in a:
·
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
o Either for all
Saints
o Or only for a select
few saints deemed worthy, holy and pure
§ The Bride verses The
Saved
·
Mid-Tribulation Rapture
o 3 ½ years after a
peace treaty is offered to Israel
o Just before the
great tribulation period
o Opening the way for
the anti-christ to be revealed
·
Pre-Wrath Rapture
o Saints will be kept
from the tribulation which shall come upon all the earth
·
Post-Tribulation Gathering
o Some believe the
gathering will be on the earth
o Others believe it
will be in heaven
I
believe Jesus is coming sooner rather than later and I hope it is tonight. As
well, I believe He is coming to get me in my lifetime. Will it be pre-trib,
mid-trib or post-trib? I don’t know! I am what many people before me have
called a pan-trib kind of guy. I believe Jesus is coming and when He does, it
will all pan out. Until then, all we can do is work and wait.
James 5
7 Therefore be patient,
brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the
precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the
early and latter rain.
8 You also be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Important
Point #6: The Unquenchable Anticipation
There is a longing for to be with Christ that
nothing else can satisfy …
Revelation 22
17 And the Spirit and the
bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let
him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
20 He which testifieth these
things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
