A Study of Prophecy - The Rapture of the Church

 

The Participants in the Rapture

The Rapture of the Church is for the Church. The Church is defined in the following passages:

The Body of Christ

Jesus is the "Head" of the Body, for outward from Jesus comes all life. "Head" speaks more of being the source of life than Kingship. He is the beginning point, the first born from among the dead, meaning that resurrection life began with Him and is passed down to us. He is the source of all of creation.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

The Composition of the Body of Christ

The Body of Christ is made up of Jews and Gentiles. Now, instead of their being two groups of people, there are three. Unsaved Jews, unsaved Gentiles and a new entity, the Body of Christ, also called the "one new humanity" (Eph 2:15).

The Law prevented Gentiles from drawing near to the spiritual blessings Israel enjoyed. This law, contained in commands and ordinances, was destroyed, providing entrance to the Gentiles into the common salvation provided by the new humanity.

Eph 2:11-16 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)-- (12) remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (14) For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, (15) by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, (16) and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

A Major Purpose of the Church Age

The Church Age was brought about to allow entrance into the spiritual blessings on the part of the Gentiles through the Holy Spirit.

Act 15:14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.

Gentiles Called Out Until the "Fullness of the Gentiles" Is Reached

This calling out of the Gentiles will continue until a full number of Gentiles enter the church.

Rom 11:25-27 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, (26) and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. (27) And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."

This age has the dual purpose of bringing salvation to the Gentiles, but also making unsaved Israel jealous that the Gentiles get to share in the spiritual blessings such that many of the Jews become saved.

Rom 11:11-15 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. (12) But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! (13) I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry (14) in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. (15) For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

How We Get Into the Church

Entrance into the Church comes through spiritual baptism. Baptism means "immersion", so to be immersed in the Spirit. When we are saved, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. It is the Indwelling Spirit within us that makes us a part of the church, whether we are Jew or Gentile.

1Co 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body--whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Spirit Baptism Yet Future to Matt 16 and Acts 1

Baptism in the Spirit was not something that the Israelites enjoyed prior to Pentecost. Jesus spoke of the Church as a future entity.

Mat 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

As Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, He reminded His disciples that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. As we read in 1Co 12:13 this means that prior to this there was no baptism in the spirit and therefore there was no church.

Act 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

When Did The Church Begin?

After some period, Peter comments about how the people were receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit sure enough just as Jesus had said it would happen. This validated that the origin of the church was the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost.

Act 11:15-16 "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. (16) Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

Conclusion

So the Church then consists of people from the day of Pentecost until today. People will stop entering the church on the day of the Rapture. All of the people from the day of Pentecost until the day of the Rapture are considered the church, and the church is who enjoys the blessing of the Rapture.

Old Testament saints are not part of the church and will not be a part of the Rapture. Also excluded are those people who get saved after the Rapture occurs. As we shall see, the Rapture only includes those who are "in Christ".

Rom 12:4-5 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, (5) so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

The Events of The Rapture

There are four key passages that teach about the rapture. We will look at each.

1. The first passage speaks of a place being prepared for us, and that Jesus "will come back and take you" to be with Him. Although the passage does not speak of when or how this will happen, there is a promise that He will do so. This coming is to take us to heaven, and not somewhere on earth.
   
   Joh 14:1-3 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. (2) My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
   
   Post-Trib teaches that Jesus comes to take us to earth somewhere.
   
   

2. This next passage explains some of the details of the rapture.
   
   1Th 4:13-18 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. (14) For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (15) According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (18) Therefore encourage one another with these words.
   
   In vs. 13-15, the first thing Paul explains is that people who are "in Christ" but have died will not miss out on being raptured. In fact, it is those who are already dead that will be the first to be "caught up" to be with him, followed by those who are still alive at His coming.
   
   In vs. 16-17 Paul describes the sequence of events that make up the rapture.
   

1. "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven"

2. "With a loud command"

3. "With the voice of the archangel"

4. "with the trumpet call of God"

5. "The dead in Christ will rise first" (The resurrection)

6. "Those who are alive will be caught up" (The translation)

7. "To meet the Lord in the air"
   
   

3. This next passage speaks about the need for change in the nature of our bodies.
   
   1Co 15:50-58 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (51) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- (52) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (53) For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (54) When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." (55) "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (56) The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
   
   vs. 50 speaks of the reason why a change is needed. Our bodies are corrupted and not suitable for living in heaven or eternity. This issue began with Adam in the Garden.
   
   Gen 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; (17) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."
   
   Gen 3:17-19 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat from it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. (18) It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. (19) By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
   
   It is sin that has caused corruption in our physical bodies. All mankind suffers from this.
   
   Rom 5:12-14 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned-- (13) To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. (14) Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
   
   Vs. 51-53 describe the change that will occur. We will be "changed", in the "twinkling of an eye", or a sudden flash of recognition. Both the dead and alive will be given bodies that are imperishable and immortal.
   
   Vs. 52 speaks of this occurring at "the last trumpet sound". Non-PreTrib believers attempt to tie this trumpet to the seventh trumpet of Rev 11:15. It is worth noting however, that when Paul wrote the letter to the Corinthians, the Revelation had not yet been written. The Corinthians would not have had any knowledge of Revelation's seventh trumpet. The "last trumpet would be tied to the trumpet blasts of the Feast of Trumpets. (See FOTM page 147) This passage does not speak to the timing of the Rapture, only that it will fulfill the Feast of Trumpets. This trumpet blast is the same as that of 1Th 4:16.
   

4. This passage speaks of the actual change that will occur in our bodies.
   
   1Co 15:35-49 But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" (36) How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. (37) When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. (38) But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. (39) Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. (40) There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. (41) The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. (42) So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; (43) it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; (44) it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (45) So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. (46) The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. (47) The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. (48) As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. (49) And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
   
   There are six points made regarding the resurrection bodies in this passage:
   

1. "it will be imperishable" or incorruptible.

2. "it is raised in glory" or a glorified body

3. "it is raised in power" I.E. resurrection power

4. "it is raised a spiritual body"

5. "it is a heavenly body"

6. "it is an immortal body"
   

We can also deduce from the text regarding Jesus own resurrection body what our might be like as well, however, it can be difficult to determine if these things are due to His resurrection or His deity.

1. His voice was recognizable (Joh 20:16).

2. His physical features were recognizable, even if not immediately (Joh 20:26-29, Joh 21:7).

3. His body was of flesh and bone, able to be handled. (Joh 20:17, Joh 20:27).

4. He was able to disappear (Luk 24:31) and go through walls (Joh 20:19).

5. He was able to eat food (Luk 24:41-43).

This transformation / resurrection represents the final victory over death.

The Timing of The Rapture

There are several views of when the Rapture will occur in relation to the Tribulation period.

Some claim the Rapture will occur at the end of the Tribulation, some in the middle and some before the Tribulation. Others believe that the Rapture occurs before the wrath of God is poured out, and see Rev 6:17 as the dividing point.

This study will show the evidence for the “Pre” Tribulational view of the Rapture. If you determine that the Pre-Trib view of the Rapture is what scripture teaches, you should be aware that this subject is strongly debated, and you could get a lot of grief for holding this view from those holding other views should you decide to share it.

The Day of the Lord

The "Day of the Lord" in scripture references a time when God is directly and divinely working in the world, particularly with regards to the Tribulation. Understanding what the "Day of the Lord" means will help in understanding how the disciples viewed the relationship between the Rapture and the Tribulation.

Isa 13:6-9 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. (7) Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear. (8) Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. (9) See, the day of the LORD is coming --a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger-- to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

Jer 30:4-8 These are the words the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah: (5) "This is what the LORD says: "'Cries of fear are heard-- terror, not peace. (6) Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly pale? (7) How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it. (8) "'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them.

Eze 7:19 "'They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin.

Eze 30:3 For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near-- a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

Joel 1:15 Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

Joel 2:1-2 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand-- (2) a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come.

Joel 2:11 The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?

Joel 3:14-16 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (15) The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. (16) The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Amos 5:18-20 Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light. (19) It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. (20) Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light-- pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

Zep 1:14-15 The great day of the LORD is near-- near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the LORD is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. (15) That day will be a day of wrath-- a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness--

Zep 2:1-3 Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation, (2) before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the LORD's fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the LORD's wrath comes upon you. (3) Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.

Zec 14:1-2 A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. (2) I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.

Mala 4:5 "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.

So we can see that the "Day of the Lord" is nothing to look forward to. It is a time of vengeance and destruction. The Old Testament view of the prophets will help inform how the New Testament disciples understood the "Day of the Lord".

1Th 5:1-3 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, (2) for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (3) While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

2Th 2:1-2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, (2) not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us--whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter--asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

The Day of the Lord Contrasted with His Coming

The "Day of the Lord" is associated with His second coming. We read in Rev 19:11-21 that the Lord will "strike down the nations", that He "treads the winepress of the future the wrath". There is a gathering of the birds of the air to "eat the flesh of kings, generals and the mighty"... and "the flesh of all people".

Rev 19:11-21 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. (12) His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. (13) He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. (14) The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. (16) On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (17) And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, (18) so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small." (19) Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. (20) But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (21) The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Paul and Peter in the above passages clearly identified the "Day of the Lord" with destruction, and not something to be looking forward to. Joel and Malachi both say it is a day that no one can endure.

Joel 2:11 The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?

Mala 3:2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap.

And yet, we are told in other passages to look for the coming of the Lord with great anticipation.

2Ti 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Tit 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. (12) It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (13) while we wait for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, (14) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

1Jn 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

Luk 21:34-36 "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. (35) For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. (36) Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (Compare with Mal 3:2 and Joel 2:11 that ask "who can stand").

It is already clear from the passages presented that the Rapture and the Day of the Lord are two separate events. Scripture teaches those on the earth that no one can stand on the Day of the Lord, and it also teaches that there is a glorious appearing of Christ to look forward to. These are two difference events happening at two different times.

Let's continue with some more examples showing the differences in these times.

A Day or Hour No One Knows vs. 1290 Days

In Matt 24 and 25, it is made clear that no one knows when Jesus is coming back.

Read Mat 24:36-51. See Mat 24:36, Mat 24:42, Mat 24:44, Mat 24:50.

Yet, Daniel pinpoints a time for Christ's return.

Dan 12:10-11 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. (11) "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

The answer here is that Matthew is talking about the Rapture, and Daniel is talking about the second coming. These are two different events, at two different times.

A Day of Darkness vs. A Day of Light

Amos 5:20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light-- pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

Tit 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

No Mention of Church in Rev 6-19

There are no biblical passages speaking of the Tribulation that also speak of the Church. The Tribulation is detailed in chapters 6-19 of the Revelation, but completely excludes any mention of the church.

Revelation does speak of believers in the Tribulation, but that does not mean that they are part of the Church. These are believers that were saved during their time in the Tribulation time period.

Rev 7:13-14 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" (14) I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The Rapture and Standing before the Son of Man

The Tribulation is referred to as a "trap" (Luk 21:34). If one is on the earth, there is no escaping the onset and judgments of the Tribulation.

In order to escape, one must "stand before the Son of Man" (Luk 21:36). The implication here is that when we stand before the Son of Man, it will not be on the earth. All who are on the earth will be judged in the Tribulation, so to avoid this judgment, we have to be off-earth somewhere. Joh 14:1-3 and 1Th 4:13-18 indicate that Jesus is coming to take us to where He is.

Luk 21:34-36 "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. (35) For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. (36) Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

1Th 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

To Experience Wrath or Not

We are kept from the coming wrath. This can't be wrath due to sin, since there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). Jesus did away with this wrath when we were forgiven for our sin. This is talking about the Tribulation period that affects all the unbelievers left after the Rapture.

1Th 1:9-10 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (10) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Wicked Cannot Escape the Day of the Lord

Those who are on earth will experience the sudden arrival of the Day of the Lord. They will not be able to escape it any more than a woman in labor can escape the pain of childbirth.

1Th 5:1-10 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, (2) for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (3) While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Those that are saved do not belong to the night or darkness, we are children of the day and light. We will not be taken by surprise by this day's arrival.

(4) But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. (5) You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

As a result of knowing the above, that we are not children of the night appointed to wrath, how should we behave then?

(6) So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. (7) For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. (8) But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. (9) For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (10) He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

Kept From the Hour of Trial

We are not just kept safe, we are kept from the Tribulation. If it means that we are kept "safe", then something is going horribly amiss, because billions will be killed during the Tribulation, and that doesn't sound like being kept safe.

Rev 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

The Lord Comes, The Angels Gather

The Lord comes for the saints in the Rapture Himself, and meets them in the air. The Lord sends His angels for those that remain faithful till the end of the Tribulation. The meeting of people by the Lord Himself, and another by His angels shows two different events.

1Th 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Mat 24:29-31 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' (30) "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. (31) And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

This passage from Exodus shows that there is a significant difference between being gathered by the Lord and being gathered by His angels. The Israelites were despondent that angels would be leading them rather than the Lord Himself.

Exo 33:1-6 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' (2) I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. (3) Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way." (4) When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. (5) For the LORD had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.'" (6) So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

Meeting in the Air or On the Earth

When Jesus returns for the Rapture, He will meet His church "in the air". When He returns at the End of the Tribulation, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.

This passage shows that during the Rapture, the church will meet Jesus in the air:

1Th 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

These passages shows God's "holy ones" or "saints" coming to earth with Jesus when he returns. His return will be "on the Mount of Olives" on earth. This clearly indicates that the second coming of Jesus takes place over an extended period of time, with his "saints" or "holy ones" first being caught up to meet Him in the air, and second returning to earth with Jesus.

Zec 14:4-5 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. (5) You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

1Th 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

There is some question regarding the identity of the "saints" or "holy ones". These passages show that the individuals spoken of are indeed "God's holy people", believers and not just angels.

Rev 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 19:8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)

Rev 17:14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

Every Eye Seeing His Return

When Jesus comes for the church, the church will be changed in an instant. When He returns at the end of the Tribulation, He will come in the clouds, and every eye will see Him. This also indicates to different events because it would be difficult for every eye to see the church changed in an instant.

Rev 1:7 "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen.

1Co 15:50-52 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (51) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- (52) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

The 10 Virgins

The context of the 10 Virgins is the Rapture. This parable is a continuation of the previous passage and builds the urgency of watching and being ready for the Lord's return.

The background for the parable is the Jewish wedding. When a marriage is to be consummated, the bridegroom would go to the home of the bride and get her and bring her to his fathers house. As he approached his fathers home, he would be met by the procession of virgins would would then conduct the bride and groom for the marriage ceremony, followed by the marriage feast.

When Jesus returns for the church, He will bring her back to the father's house (Joh_14:1-3) the "virgins" will be responsible to watch for his return, and when He comes with the Bride, light the lamps.

The wise virgins in this parable are believers, who were watching and waiting for His return. The unwise virgins represent those that are unbelievers, having no oil.

Read Mat 24:36-51 and Mat 25:1-13.

Imminence

Imminence means that there is nothing that needs to happen prophetically between now and the event of Christ's return for us. It could happen at any moment. From a scriptural point of view, the following passages will show the expectation and understanding of the disciples that Christ could return at any moment. If they understood from scripture or what Jesus had taught them that the Tribulation, or some part of it needed to happen first before Jesus came, then they would not have acted as if He could come at any moment. They would have been waiting for the Tribulation, or some other event to occur first.

For example, if the disciples understood that Jesus would come in the middle of the 7 years of the Day of the Lord, then the Rapture would always be 3 1/2 years in the future.

In this passage, it appears that Peter connected Jesus' saying "If I want Him to remain alive until I return", with the thought that he was not going to die. A rumor started to that effect. That people were buying into this shows that they did not believe there was anything that needed to happen scripturally before the return of Christ.

Joh 21:20-23 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") (21) When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" (22) Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." (23) Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"

In Rom 13:11-12, we see that "salvation is nearer now than when we first believed". Salvation in this context cannot be our born again salvation experience, since all hearing this were saved, but rather an eschatological salvation, a salvation in the future, being saved from the Tribulation. We must awaken from our sleep and be ready.

Rom 13:11-12 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (12) The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

James also shows the imminence of Christ's return when He is referred to as "standing at the door". We are to "be patient" like a farmer waiting for crops to bring their yield.

Jas 5:7-9 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (8) You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. (9) Don't grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

The Bible as a whole ends with an appeal to patience.

Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.