For many, remembering the rapture event is an ongoing reality. That, of course, is a good thing. However, for many Christians this imminent event is not something on the “front burner” of their lives because life’s stresses and complexities are consuming them. They may believe in the event (but some don’t), but it is not part of “real life.” But the Scriptures do regularly admonish us not to grow indifferent concerning prophetic events. Jesus said, “You too be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect” (Luke 12:40). And again, He said, “Be on guard that your hearts may not be weighted down…and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap…but keep alert at all times…” (Luke 21:34, 36). James noted that in living a godly life, one must remember that “the coming of the Lord is at hand…the Judge is standing right at the door” (Jam. 5:8-9). Peter adds: “beloved since you look for these things (prophetic events), be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless…” (2 Pet. 3:14). Paul praised the new believers at Thessalonica for their perspective of “waiting for His Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:9). Some things to “remember” concerning the rapture event.
The Rapture Event and the Second Coming of Christ Are Different Events. At the Rapture believers from the church age (those who are “in Christ”) are taken off of the earth and meet Jesus Christ in the air. Jesus does not return to the earth itself but rather takes these believers back to the “Father’s house” (John 14). At the Second Coming, Jesus returns back to the earth itself and there is no mid-air stop. Life is the emphasis at the Rapture, while judgment is the emphasis of the Second Coming. The Rapture is when resurrection bodies are given, whether the believer has previously died or was still alive at the Rapture (1 Cor. 15:51-53). The Rapture is a life-giving event. However, at the Second Coming the emphasis is not on life but on judgment. Matthew 25:31 is abundantly clear about the sequence of events: that at the Second Coming, Jesus will return with power, and it is then that He sits upon His throne to rule and judge (Psalm 2; Zechariah 14).
At the Rapture, Jesus will take His bride (the Church) back to heaven where two very important events occur (Rev. 19:7-9). These events are (1) the Judgment Seat of Christ (where the bride receives her beautiful garments which are given because of her righteous deeds), and (2) the marriage of the Lamb where Jesus and His bride are forever united. Clearly the church is in heaven, and these two meaningful events cannot be sandwiched into an instantaneous moment in time when the church meets Christ in the air and immediately returns to the earth (the untenable position of Post-tribulationalism). After those two events, the Church is then seen returning to the earth with the Lord Jesus at His Second Coming and, in some way, participating in the final battle on earth (Rev. 19:14).
The Purpose of the Rapture is to Bring Jesus and His Bride Together. At the Rapture, for the very first time, the entire Church will be together in one place. Not since the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) has the entire Church been together. With the Church completely there, the marriage can then take place. This is a significant event that is very important to Jesus and one that He looks forward to. The Rapture is about us seeing and being with the Lord Jesus. It is not primarily about escaping the trials and troubles of this life. Too often when believers speak about the Rapture, they seem to emphasize escaping their problems and difficulties. “Oh, that Jesus would come and I could get rid of this disease, or the terrible pain of my broken relationships, or the pressures of debt and finances, etc.” To some extent, that is understandable. After all, who likes pain and stress? But shouldn’t the real focus be on seeing Jesus Himself. Paul spoke of believers “loving His appearing”: (2 Tim. 4:8) and that ought to be the main reason for us anticipating the Rapture. Shouldn’t it? No bridegroom would like his bride to simply come to the marriage so that she could avoid her problems elsewhere.
There Are No “Signs” for the Rapture. In spite of the many teachings that have appeared in recent days about the “final signs before the Rapture”, there are no signs that indicate when the Rapture will occur. Granted, the “great sign” prophetically is the fact that national Israel has returned back to the Land promised to Abraham. Their return was necessary for many prophecies to eventually be fulfilled. The nation of Israel was to return back to their Land in unbelief and then God would bring them back to Himself in the Tribulation. That first physical return has taken place.
What is given today as “signs” are, in many cases, events that take place during the Tribulation period, which takes place after the Rapture. For example, many earthquakes, famines and wars that are taking place in our world today are used as “signs.” But they are not signs of the Rapture. The earth has always experienced those things. But it must be kept in mind that when they take place in the Tribulation period they are extraordinary in their magnitude and location. They will be uniquely intense. The earthquakes will be so great that “every island and every mountain will be moved out of their place (Rev. 6:14; 16:18). In other words, these are not earthquakes that take place on the usual fault lines, but they actually move the crust of the entire earth. None of that has taken place today. And the unique magnitude of events would apply to famines, diseases and warfare. There will be an unprecedented display in all these areas, so much so that earth dwellers will acknowledge that these are the judgments of God. But they are not Rapture signs.
The Rapture is a Unique Event Involving Just the Church. The Church and national Israel are distinct in God’s dealings. God made an eternal, unconditional covenant with the nation of Israel but with no other people. The Rapture ends God’s dealings with the Church on the earth, and the Second Coming will wrap up His dealings with Israel.
The Rapture event will involve all believers, living and dead, from the beginning of the Church in Acts 2 until the Rapture event itself. Doing some calculations (the number of believers in the world today and the number saved through 19 centuries of time), that could involve 1 1⁄2 billion believers meeting Jesus in the air. But why will we meet him “in the air”? Possibly because this is part of Satan’s domain (Eph. 2:2) and Christ is making it abundantly clear that Satan has no jurisdiction over these 1½ billion believers. Perhaps, like the resurrection of Jesus, a public proclamation was made to all creation, including the forces of evil, that Christ was the victor (see Col. 2:15 and 1 Pet. 3:18-20). And, if in fact, millions of holy angels will be part of the Rapture, what an event that will be. It will not be a minor secret, silent moment, but rather an awesome display and declaration of Christ’s authority. So we should heed the exhortation of Jesus: “Be dressed and in readiness…blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when He comes.” (Luke 12:37)
