The Rapture

By Clifton Angel     If you are reading this, you missed the rapturing that Joshua Mhlakela predicted to happen last week. “Rapture” comes from the Latin rapio meaning “to be carried away.” The word can have the meaning of “a feeling of intense pleasure or joy,” indicating an extremely heightened emotion. This is still connected to the original meaning, as one who is “singing the rapturous chorus” may be “carried away” in emotion. Is there a rapture found in Scripture? If so, does it agree with the modern world’s teaching called “the rapture”?     Paul wrote, “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” (1 Thess 4:17). For “caught up,” the Latin Bible has the root rapio, from which we get our English word “rapture.” In this sense, there will be a rapturing of the Lord’s people.     However, the context of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (cf. 1 Cor 15:51–54) connected with the sum of Scripture concerning Jesus’ Kingdom and His Coming, directly contradicts “the rapture” of denominational doctrine. Many teach this rapturing is a secret—yet predicted—event, in which Jesus will invisibly and quietly carry away His faithful, and leave behind the lost. To them, this is not the end. Rather, there will be a period of tribulation, then Jesus will return to the earth with His raptured saints to set up His earthy kingdom in Jerusalem, save Israel, and grant another opportunity for the lost to be saved (Note: there is variation in the content and timeline of the events they teach).     First, the Bible teaches Jesus’ kingdom has already been established and it is not an earthly kingdom (cf. Isa 2:2–3; Dan 2:31–45; Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:1–47; Dan 7:13–14; Matt 4:17; Matt 16:18–19; Mark 9:1; Acts 1:6–10; John 18:36; Col 1:13; Rev 1:9; 1 Cor 15:24). Jesus’ kingdom is His church, and if we are not in His kingdom before He returns, we will never be in it. Second, the Bible teaches that Jesus’ final return cannot be predicted (cf. Matt 24:35–36; 1 Thess 5:1–11; 2 Pet 3:9–10). Also, there is no indication that Jesus will ever set foot on earth again. Finally, the Bible teaches that the Lord’s rapturing is not a secret, nor silent event. Rather, “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” (1 Thess 4:16–17).     The truth is that no one on earth, and not even the angels in heaven, knows the time of the Lord’s return. He may return tonight; He may not return for another 2,000 years. The importance is that we be ready at all times. Are you ready?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/