The Raptus.
The Rapture Of The Church.


The rapture of the church has been known of for centuries as the "Raptus", Latin apparently, and the resurrection of departed saints, born again believers whom have passed on over the centuries up until this day. This page is an open minded study into what the Prophets, Apostles and Jesus Himself taught us through Gods Word the Bible on this soon coming prophesied event.
Isaiah 26:19. Your dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, you that dwell in dust: for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
26:20. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

From the time I first learnt of this great future event it has intrigued me, wanting to understand as much as I can about it. The why it will take place, when it will take place or should I say the order in which it will fall in future prophecies yet unfulfilled. Is it just a fable or is it truly mentioned in the Bible being the only book in which all prophecies mentioned concerning Israel and the coming of the Messiah, Jesus to that nation have come to pass which lends me to believe those yet to come will actually take place.

Gathering the many notes I seem to have collected over the past eight or so years and putting them is some form of understandable order is a job in itself. Numerous books have been written on the subject, the left behind series being just one that comes to mind not to mention the countless websites, that many a cup of coffee, an aspirin or two and a good lie down would seem the better option. This page is purely a personal look into what the Bible has to say regarding the event many have come to call "The Rapture." It like the book of Revelation seems to have become a happy hunting ground for many modern day would be prophets. Praise God for His unadulterated Word. The Bible.

I might also add here if I may that I am not a member of some crazy space ship cult or some religious we know it all dooms day style cult which you must follow or else particularly when it comes to your wallet, which seem to be a dime a dozen these days. This page speaks of a joyous event leading to eternal salvation, an eternal life with Jesus which I as a Bible believing Christian am attempting to put down in words what I feel I understand of this wonderful soon coming day plus I don't have any personal problems at the moment that the rapture would solve immediately should it take place today.

There is an old saying, heavens knows just where it came from but it goes like this; "Tomorrow never comes". I remember telling my dear old mother when she would request, tell me to see to some well overdue task like tidy up my room I would reply Ill do it tomorrow to which she would reply, "Tomorrow never comes". Something I try to keep in mind when pondering the Rapture.


If Jesus did not rise from the dead as the Bible states in these verses from 1Corinthians 15, then all who had and have fallen asleep, died in Christ, have perished and without any hope of eternal life. If Jesus had remained in the grave so would we, but praise God He did rise victorious over death. If God the Father had not resurrected Jesus from the dead, saints like the many martyrs according to one researcher some seventy million over the past two thousand years who died and are still dying in various places around the world to this very day for their faith in His name would be the greatest losers and martyrdom for Christ just one great folly. ( A commonly used statement by many but never the less one so very true. )

I know that the word "Rapture" dose not appear in our English Bibles as pointed out to me by some nor dose the word "Trinity" but as all Christians will agree the Trinity is very much the foundation of the Bible.

If you have a Latin Bible you will see it there in 1Thessalonians 4; as the "Raptus or Papio" If you have a Greek bible it is there also " harpazo", the meaning of as given in the Strongs Greek Dictionary as follows:- "To seize, catch away, up, pluck, pull, take by force, to lift up, to take up or away, to raise to sail away, weigh anchor, away with, bear up, carry, lift up, loose, put away and to remove. If you are a Messianic Jew and have a Hebrew New Testament you will also find it there as the word "nasa". Better still the Apostle Paul believed it to be a true prophecy and preached it widely so I am sold on its relevance as a very true soon to take place prophecy.

ICorinthians 15.
15:14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15:15. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
15:16. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised.
15:17. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
15:18. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
15:19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
15:20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
15:21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

Think of what happened when Christ rose from the grave? What was left behind? All the apostles found in the sepulchre was our Lord's burial clothes. John 20:5 "And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in". What's the significance of that? Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming". Christ is the "firstfruits" of the Resurrection. The first fruits. It couldn't be put in writing any plainer, Jesus not only was but had to be the first of all who would rise from the dead. The following verses explain in a little more detail, ICor 15:23. "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming". afterwards or at some future time will follow in like fashion. It's there in God's Word. What it means is that since His clothes were left behind, ours will be also, this present physical body. Those that belong to Christ at the time of His coming will be bodily translated into heaven just as Jesus was leaving behind the rags of sin for new robes of righteousness. When Jesus Christ comes to call us home at the time of the Rapture, He will come exactly as He left. How did He leave? He left bodily into the clouds.

Acts 1.
 
1:9. And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
1:10. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel.
1:11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

In other words, He went bodily in a glorified physical body, He will return in exactly the same fashion He left. How did He leave? After spending three days in the grave, He rose and stood on the earth in His new glorified body. In Luke 24:39, He told the apostles present to, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have". In verse 41-43, He asked, "And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And He took it, and did eat before them."

Christs resurrected body, a body that could be seen, a body that could be touched, a body that could partake of food, a body that could seemingly appear and disappear, a body that would never know suffering or sorrow again. It's a picture of what we will be like at the time of the Rapture. How quickly will it happen? "Behold, I show you a mystery," the Bible tells us in I Cor. 15:51-54. "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." When this event takes place what indeed shall we be like?

1John 3.
3:1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.
3:2.Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
3:3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

The rapture will also be very much a personal event between the individual believer and Jesus Himself as personal as the time we first accepted Him as our Lord and risen Saviour, as personal as the time we now spend with Him in prayer. The complete church will be taken at the time, not one Christian, not one member of the body shall be left behind. The beautiful part of the personal aspect is that we all individually will see Him face to face as He truly is and we shall not only be with Him but be like Him. John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

A time of great joy not only for the individual believer but also for the Lord Himself as He comes for His own special people, those He gave His life for, those who now wait for Him. His joy will be in the gathering all the church to Himself out of this world of trouble, suffering and pain, the greatest demonstration of His love, an outpouring of His boundless mercy toward His own, to be taken up into His eternal perfect rest. Some tasks in scripture have been and are delegated to the angels, some have been delegated to man but the rapture is matter of such great personal pleasure so precious, so important is the rapture to the Lord that He and He alone will carry out this task.To think there is no verse of prophecy that has not been fulfilled and no other verse of prophecy to be fulfilled before this wonderful day, it could very well take place before you finish reading this page. "In the twinkling of an eye."

Revelation 22.
22:16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
22:17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Trying to imagine being part of this glorious event is beyond the boundaries of the human mind. We shall be changed to the very likeness of Jesus. Quoting King David, Psalms 17:15: "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." In Phil. 3:21, the apostle Paul states that God will change our sinful bodies, not leave them behind but change them that they may be fashioned "like unto His glorious body." If this event is to take place has something like it ever taken place before noted in scripture?

The answer to that is 'Yes', I do believe that the Bible shows us at lest three examples other than Jesus Himself. Enoch in Gen. 5:24. Elijah in II Kings 2:11. Both Enoch and Elijah though where more translated in their physical bodies unchanged into heaven as there is no indication given in scripture that they were changed or received glorified bodies when taken. I feel the true reason they were translated rather than ruptured from the earth is the fact that Jesus had to be and was the firstfruit to be resurrected and ruptured. No one person could enter heaven in this fashion before the King Himself. Why were they taken in this fashion, apart from both being very godly men I feel the book of Revelation holds the answer to this question. Rev. 11:3-4. " And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." Prophesied in Zech. 4:2-3, Mal. 4:5, indirectly in Matt. 17:11. Heb. 9:27. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." They will have to die like all of us but at Gods appointed time. Rev. 11.

Revelation 11.
11:7. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
11:8.And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
11:9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
11:10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
 
11:11. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
11:12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

The two witnesses have been described in the many commentaries I have browsed through as being things such as the church, two apostles, people yet to be disclosed through to the old and new testaments but these verses in Revelation would tend to make it very clear they are indeed two men, two prophets. Looking at Enoch and Elijah they were definitely two men, two prophets, two very Godly men. Gen. 5:24. "And Enoch walked with God; and he was not; for God took him." Heb. 11:5. "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." No others seem to be more qualified for the job than these two. They were both taken physically unchanged alive into heaven, neither has yet died, both were prophets, being in heaven the time they have they would have stood before the God of the earth.

Some feel the two witness to be Moses and Elijah, although Moses has died, he could be one of the witness dying a second time giving Lazarus whom Jesus rose from the dead as an example; John 11:43-44. Lazarus would have died a second time as would the widows son whom Jesus rose from the dead. Only time will tell just who they are.

Another short diversion, the apostle Jude speaking on the last days and the coming judgment also mentions Enoch as prophesying like Zechariah after him of the Lord returning with all the saints at His second advent. Just where and when Enoch prophesied this would appear to be lost in time but it was obviously known of in Jude's day. Jude 1:14. "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints." This verse adds a little weight to Enoch like Elijah as being a prophet, he was divinely inspired at some time long past to prophesy on this coming day and also gives some insight as to the sequence of coming events, for the saints to be returning with the Lord they must have previously joined Him. Now where was I?

At the end of their ministry of three and a half years close to the end of this age during the great tribulation in which they witness of Jesus and repentance to a then very ungodly world they are killed by the agents of the antichrist, their dead bodies are left lying in a street of the city Jerusalem for all to see where our Lord was crucified. Rev. 11:7-9. Interestingly for three and a half days after which they will be resurrected and ruptured or caught up to heaven. Rev. 11:11-12. Exactly in the same way Jesus was. Acts 1:9.

There is a possible third example of a resurrection and rupture that can be found in Matthew 27.

Matthew 27.
27:51. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.
27:52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.
 
27:53. And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
27:54. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

I have had a number of discussions with fellow Christian on just what actually took place in verses 52 - 53, and as you can expect the explanations where as different as the people themselves, as are the commentaries written by Bible scholars who dare to put their thoughts down in writing on such potentially controversial  verses. Some viewed it as just another raising from the dead as Jesus did on a number of occasions, others were not sure. What do I think? "Its Coffee time again!"

If I understand anything concerning the entire subject it could be summed up in this short statement of truth "Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming." So what did happen after His resurrection that is mentioned in these verses? "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose." I personally feel this was a resurrection of all the old testament saints, "hagios" physically pure, morally blameless, religious, righteous or holy also saints. Some of those who arose could have been in the grave from the time Jerusalem was little more than a settlement of tents on a hillside, in other words they could had died centuries before this day, the day of Christs resurrection. This event would have also taken place in other parts of the nation of Israel on that day, I believe that all the old testament saints possibly back as far as Abraham and Job, to those who were followers of Jesus during His ministry and the righteous in Gods sight under the Law and earlier, from centuries before would have been resurrected.  

Jesus, the firstfruits from the dead was also the firstfruits of those who would enter heaven, no one could have entered heaven spirit, soul or glorified body before Jesus made the way open for the righteous to do so. The saints mentioned in these verses who arose went into city of Jerusalem and were seen by many of the inhaditants there at the time. The centurion, possibly the one in charge of Jesus execution and who had his soldiers grading the grave witnessed this extraordinary event was moved to proclaim Jesus as being truly the Son of God. I personally do not think, and again I repeat "think", the inhaditants of the city saw a bunch of bones walking around the streets that day, they must have been as Jesus was. "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have". Luke 24:39.

If the spirits and souls of these dead saints did not go to heaven when they died, where did they go? I believe Jesus gives the answer to that questian in Luke 16 and Luke 23.

Luke 23.
23:39. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
23:40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
23:41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
23:42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
 
23:43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.
Luke 16.
16:19. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.
16:20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores.
16:21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
16:22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried.
16:23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
16:24. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
16:25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
These verses from Luke 16 when discussing them with other Christians I have had comments such as, "they are just another example of the many parables Jesus used to describe a spiritual truth." I tend to disagree with this particular story as being a parable as Jesus said in verse 19, "There was a certain rich man" and verse 20, "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus." Jesus who knew no sin could not have lied to explain a truth in that He said "There was", meaning that both these people actually existed. One now in Hell or Hades, the other at that particular time in a place called Abraham's Bosom or as Jesus called it in Luke 23:43, "Paradise."  

If the "Paradise" and or "Abraham's Bosom" Jesus spoke of are both one and the same place and not heaven then just where was it. Luke 16:23 states that the rich man in hell lifted up his eyes and saw Lazarus in Abraham's bosom " afar off" at a distance, they could see one another, they could talk to one another, verses 24-25, Paradise and Hades obviously must have been in close proximity for this to be possible. Is there any other scriptures to support this theory? Yes again I believe there is, they are found in Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4.
4:8. Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
4:9. Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
4:10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.

"He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens." While Jesus body was in the grave The Christ Spirit, Jesus Himself, The Word that was with God in the beginning, first descended into the lower parts of the earth Eph 4:9. Some have said that this is purely referring to the grave but graves are on the surface of the earth in some cultures on poles above the surface. He that descended first into the lower parts of the earth is the same He, The Christ Spirit, Jesus that ascended above all the heavens. For what prepose or reason did He have for entering the lower parts of the earth?

Possibly to carry out a number of tasks firstly to preach, "kerusso" to herald, a divine truth, to proclaim, to the spirits, "pneuma" in prison, 1Pet 3:19. Pneuma according to the Strongs Greek dictionary is "superhuman, an angel, a demon etc. When the Bible uses the word spirit or spirits by itself it in all cases it is referring to the angels, when referring to man the term spirit of man is always used. Taking that these spirits or angels where in prison it can only refer to the fallen angels, the angels that sinned, Genesis 6:2 and were cast into hell, "Tartaros", the lowest hell. 2Pet 2:4. Which with Hades and the Pit will along with their inhabitants will be cast into the Lake Of Fire, the final hell.

1Peter 3.
3:19. By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
2Peter 2.
2:4. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Apart from preaching to the fallen angels which Jude also mentions in verse 6, "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." This is an entirely different subject that I don't want to go into on this page other than to say, I feel He went to let them know or to proclaim to them their plan or satan's to prevent Him coming failed.

What was His mission concerning the saints in paradise? Ephesians 4:8, "Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." This passage possibly holds the answer. He went into "Paradise or Abraham's Bosom" and gathered all the spirits and souls of the departed saints of the old testament to Himself reunited them with their now glorified physical bodies, allowed them to be seen for a short time by the people of the day in and around Jerusalem then lead them or caught them away to heaven. They, even though their habitation was described as paradise where still held captive by satan being under the earth and could not be freed until Jesus the firstfruit opened the way to heaven and led them home where they now wait for us, all the new testament saints, the church.

The above is of course only an assumption on my part which I strongly feel is actually what may have taken place in the noted scriptures which now leads me back to our age, the Church age which like the ages before it will also have an end, but a glorious end.

1Thessalonians 4.
4:13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
4:14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
4:15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
4:16. For 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.
4:17. 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.
4:18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1Thessalonians 4:13-18, would have be the better known and most used writings of the apostle Paul by all who look into the rapture. I suppose because they are so clear in describing what will take place on that day, Jesus will descend into the atmosphere of the earth accompanied with numerous angles including Gabriel the archangel. Our God Himself, the Father, our heavenly Father will also be involved on this day for ~ "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." 4:14, He will bring with Him from heaven every spirit and soul of all departed saints from the first members of the early church to this day of glory to be reunited with their now glorified resurrected bodies.

The believers who are alive at the time will also be taken but not as we now are, Paul states that we must be changed, that this physical body we now have must be changed into His likeness. In his letters and teachings to both the churches in Corinth and Thessalonica Paul teaches the same lesson concerning the living at the time, that while we are in these bodies of flesh and blood we can not inherit or enter the Kingdom of God, heaven. This mortal body must be changed to an immortal body, this corruptible body must be changed to an incorruptible one. 1Cor 15:53-54. How will this take place? Ill let the reader answer that one. All we are told is that it will be changed and in the twinkling of an eye, in a split second. 1Cor 15:51-52.

ICorinthians 15.
15:50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
15:51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.
15:52. 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.
15:53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
15:54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

There are a number of other verse which strongly support the resurrection, rapture and bodily change of all believers when read in context with verses that precede and follow them. While others may not be so clear as to which event they are referring to, the appearing of our Lord in the clouds at the time of the catching away or His second advent seven years later. He along with all the hosts of heaven, the angels and glorified saints from all ages return in victorious glory and power to this earth to conquer and reign over all the nations for the next thousand years. Some of which are listed below they may at first not seem as clear as ICor 15 and 1Thess 4 are, but as you read on the picture unfolds becoming clearer and clearer.

Romans 8:19 is one that would lend itself to the second advent. The NKJV put it like this "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." The revealing of the sons of God. John 1:12 'But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." The Greek word "huios and teknon" were translated as sons, huios in Romans 8:19 and teknon in John 1. Both words having very similar meanings huios, kinship, child, foal, son and teknon a child, daughter, son.

In reading on it starts getting interesting in verse 23 of Romans 8. As creation waits for our appearance as the glorified sons of God, we also wait for the redemption of our bodies, the final act of redemption afforded us by Jesus on the cross. All creation in our little corner of the universe which is in turmoil at present is looking forward to the day all believers, the church appears with Him changed being as He is to correct the mess creation is now in. This could only take place at the second advent after the rapture.

1Cor 1:7, Phil 3:20-21, 1Thess I:10, 1Thess 5:23, 1Tim 6:14, Tit 2:13, 1John 3:2 all these verses could only be referring to one event, the resurrection and rapture as all state in their own way looking forward to the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The only appearing of Jesus that concerns the present church as it did in the days of the apostles is the rapture or now in their case the resurrection to eternal life. Phil 3:21 states He shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, 1Thess I:10 adds that at His appearing He will deliver us from the wrath to come, the Tribulation period. I am becoming totally persuaded that the Rapture of the church is a written scriptural fact. 1John 3:3 adds that, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." We purify ourselves in believing and looking forward to this day. What a comfort.

Romans 8.
8:19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
 
8:23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
ICorinthians 1.
1:7. So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3.
3:20. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
3:21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.
1Thessalonians 1.
 
1:10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1Thessalonians 5.
5:23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Timothy 6.
 6:14. That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Titus 2.
2:13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
1John 3.
3:2.Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

Just when will this glorious event take place or what is its position in prophecies yet unfulfilled?

This area of prophecy is probably the most discussed today, the most misunderstood in Christian circles, the rapture and His return. Is it pre tribulation? Mid tribulation? Post tribulation? Will it actually take place? Etc. From the scriptures I have look into the rapture is a very real coming event, a soon coming event. The time of its taking place as in day and hour of course no one but Jesus and the Father know but Jesus did give us what may be called seasons to look for concerning its timing.

What are the seasons Jesus told us to look or watch for? He like the prophets of old gave us many indications in scripture of what we may expect to see take place toward the end of this present age. Jesus Himself who I am concentrating on at this point indicated on a number of occasions what was planed for church toward the end of this age and of the age to come. Starting with the apostle Thomas, as good a spot in the Bible as any when He asked Jesus in response to the statement Jesus had just made, "Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" John 14:5.

John 14.
14:1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.
14:2. 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.
14:3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
14:4. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

The apostles may not have known at the time just where Jesus was going or in what manner He was going but some forty days after the cross and His resurrection they would defiantly know the way and where He was going. Acts I:9-11. "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight."  John 13 also has an interesting verses worth a mention here.

John 13.
13:34. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
13:35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
13:36. Simon Peter said unto Him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
13:37. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

Just from these few verses a picture begins to unfold, the way Jesus left this earth is the way He will return to "receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." He left in the clouds and will return for the Church in the clouds which echoes Paul's teaching, 1Thess 4:17. "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."

There are many passages in which Jesus speaks of the conditions leading up to and during the last days and His return. The better known being the entire chapter of Matthew 24, many of the verses in this chapter I find used by some web sites as supporting evidence of the rapture. In actual fact none of the verses in this chapter have anything to do with the church, Jesus was answering questions and giving warnings on what to expect during this coming period, questions put to Him by Jews. Jesus ministry before the cross was to the lost sheep of Israel and not the Gentiles, or the none Jew. The Jews He knew would reject Him and as a result would not go with Him in the future rapture, they would have to face the tribulation period, the time of Jacobs trouble, Jer 30:7, Daniela's seventh week, Dan 9:24-25. It is during seven year period many if not all the Jews will finally recognise Jesus as the true Messiah, then He will truly be their Sheppard and they His people.

One example of verses used are Matt 24:39-41, Vs 40 "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left." Their use is in some sort of warning by the writers of the sites and some books that some Christians will be taken and some will be left at the time of the rapture. These verses actually refer to the flight of the remnant of the Jewish nation from Jerusalem, Israel during the tribulation fleeing from the army of the antichrist. Rev 12:14-17, Vs 14 "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Protected by Jesus from the antichrists determined attempts to destroy them during the final period of the tribulation, the great tribulation, a period of three and a half years.

Revelation 12.
12:1.  And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
12:2. And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
12:3. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
12:4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
 
12:5. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.
2:6. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
12:7. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
12:8. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
12:9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
12:10. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
2:11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12:12. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
2:13. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
 
12:14. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
 
12:15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
2:16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
12:17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The following verse from Mathew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 also confirm that it is the nation of Israel Jesus is speaking of in these chapters and not the Church as Matthew 24:20 would tend to indicate, "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:" The only people that would affected by a Sabbath day scenario during this period are the Jews and again not the Church. Jesus states those who are in Judah at this particular time should flee, be taken or left not those who are in the US, UK or Australia etc but Judah, namely Israel as it is today but centrally Jerusalem.

Mathew 24.
24:16. Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
24:20. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day.

Mark 13.
13:14. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, let him that readeth understand, then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Luke 21.
21:21. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

I seem to be wondering off the subject here again but I feel these verses needed to be added, the book of Revelation being the very symbolically written book that it is has attracted many would be and knowledgeable investigators alike into its pages. This chapter again symbolic written refers to the nation of Israel, The woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars is of course Jacob called Israel, the moon under her feet Jacobs wife, the twelve stars being the twelve tribes.

The man child the woman, Israel, gives birth to in Vs 5 is none other than Jesus Himself who will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Satan is cast to the earth during this final period of this age and doesn't appear to happy about the whole situation, not having access to his corner of the heavenly realm, the second heaven. He uses his agent the antichrist and his army to attempt to finally kill off what is left of the Jews who are forced to flee into Jordan, who also have now accepted Jesus as the true Messiah through the 144,000 Jewish evangelists of Rev 7, Rev 14:2-5. These Jewish evangelists evangelise that part of the world and maybe beyond during their short ministry in a way the church was unable to achieve over the past two thousand years. God Himself intervenes and destroys the army of the antichrist through an earthquake which swallows them up Vs 15-17. A tribulation period resurrection and rapture also takes place distinctly separate from the previous church rapture as a result of their soul winning preaching, Rev 7:9-17, Rev 14:2-3. I feel though it will be more a resurrection as any who receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour during this period will lose their heads going by Revelation 6:9.

Of interest I might add here that Enoch was taken from this earth before the world wide flood destroyed the earth that was and all on it whereas Noah was rescued but remained here going through the flood safe inside the arch. A possible prophetic picture would appear to be painted here in these bible facts, Enoch as a shadow or a representation of the church today and Noah a representation of the Jewish Nation, Israel. The picture I see painted in life and walk of these two Godly men is that as Enoch was taken before the flood so the church will be taken before the tribulation and the revealing of the man of sin, Noah on the other hand would appear as a representation of Israel who will remain here during the tribulation the remanent of which are forced to flee to the wilderness namely Petra in Jordan. Revelation. 12:14. "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."

Also at this point I thought I would just throw this one extra truth in, the people of Israel, the Jews today as with the past generations back to the Patriarchs are Gods chosen people to whom He gave the land of Israel. No other nation on the face of this earth will ever destroy, conquer or change Gods will in this area. Attempting to do so will bring destruction on any nation or peoples planing to do so. Romans 11:19-24. When you become a Christian you in fact become an adopted Jew, one of Gods elect. Romans 8:15-17.

Romans 8.
8:15. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father.
8:16. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
8:17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, so that we may be also glorified together.
 
Romans 11.
11:19. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
11:20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
11:21. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee.
11:22. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
11:23. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
11:24. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

Genises 37.
37:9. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
37:10. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
37:11. And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
37:12. And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.
37:13. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

The above verse from Genies are one of Joseph prophetic dreams in which as a young boy he sees his father, mother and brothers bow down before him. "Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." The sun, Jacob called Israel, the Moon his mother and stars his brothers which some years later they did in Egypt. Joseph dose not say his in his dream that he saw his father, mother and brothers will bow down to him but the sun, moon and stars. It is Jacod who interprets the dream to mean he himself as the sun his wife the moon and Joseph brothers as the stars, he being the twelfth star in Rev 12:1. Now I hopefully can get back to the theme of this page.

Though Matthew 24, Mark 13 as with Luke 17and Luke 21 and have prophecies that may not directly concern the church there are indications of the timing of future events as stated above, plus principals of both God and those that would certainly apply to our Christian walk.

Continuing at this point with Bible supported principles of God. God will not judge the righteous with the wicked, a fact Abraham was well aware of when he prayed for Lot Gen 18:23-25, Gen 19:29. The angels sent to destroy that city of Sodom could do nothing till Lot was out, Gen.19:22. Abraham knew Gods heart that it is pure love.

1John 4.
4:7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God.

Lot like Noah before him was rescued before judgment fell, in Noahs time the entire world the people of which had become plain evil, not unlike the condition we are beginning to see every day in the ways of this present worldly system. Taking these as two examples, the only two of this truth it is not out of line to feel assured that the Church will also be rescued or as Paul puts it in 1Thess 4:17 "Caught up together with them in the clouds", before judgment falls or the tribulation period takes place, a time that Revelation and Jesus describes in detail in Matt 24 and the other Gospels, a very unpleasant period indeed.

1Thessalonians 1.
1:10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Isaiah 24.
24:4. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
24:5. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
24:6. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Genesis. 18.
18:23. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
18:24. Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
18:25. That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Genesis. 19.
 
19:22. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
19:29. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Another Godly principal that can be taken as fact from these scriptures that would apply to the Christian walk as to the Jews being that we should always pray, that we may be found worthy to escape the horrors to come. Luke 21:36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. In Jesus own words John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but