Sermon Central
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Does The Bible Teach On The Rapture?
Contributed by Pastor Michael Salman on Jul 26, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: There is so many teachings on the Rapture. So many people believe it and so many teachers and preachers preach it but what does the bible say about a rapture?
Does the bible teach that there is a Rapture?
There are churches and so many that teach on this doctrine called the Rapture. The purpose of the doctrrie of the Rapture is based on the premise that God will not allow His beleivers to enter a time of tribulation and judgement on the earth. That prior to the great tribulation the Lord shall Rapture the believers and take them to heaven. The most famous of all texts used to prove the Rapture is found in 1 Thessolonians 4:16-18 which reads the following:
1Thessolonians 4:16-18
(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:
(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.
(18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Is this scripture really evidence of the Rapture? If we examine this scripture a little closer you will find a few key words and phrases that truly indicate what this event is.
1) The Lord Himself Shall Descend.
2) With a voice of the Arch-Angel.
3) With the Trumpet of God.
4) The Dead in Christ shall Rise First.
5) Then we who are Alive and Remain shall be Caught up to be with the Lord.
Now let us look at other scripture that pertains to the resurrection. It is important to note that the event of the Resurrection as all agree occurs at the end of the tribulation where the Rapture is before the tribulation.
(51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
(52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Now after reading this we come up with these key phrases:
1) We will not all sleep (WHICH MEANS DIE) but we will all be changed.
2) In a twinkling of an eye, at the Last Trumpet.
3) The dead shall be raised.
In this text we can see such similiar factors found in 1 Thessolonians 4:16-18
1) When this event occurs there will be both Dead and Alive Christians who are resurrected.
2) There is a Trumpet, now this indicates not just any trumpet but at the LAST TRUMPET.
Some argue that this event is different than the Thessolonian Event. So before we come to a conclusion let us look at other scripture indicating the resurrection.
(15) And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
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(18) And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Now let us look at some of the factors in this scripture:
1) The Seventh Angel Sounded this is the Seventh Trumpet (The LAST TRUMPET)
2) The Saints are resurrected for Reward and the Sinners are Judged.
It is plain that these scriptures have so many similiarites as those found in 1 Thessolonians when it pertains to the when the Saints are resurrected. So lets take a look at other scripture.
(29) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
(30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(31) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
There is no greater evidence found in scripture than that found in the words of Jesus on the Resurrection.
1) Immedeitly After the Tribulation.
2) The Lord himself Descends on a cloud.
3) With the angels.
4) Sound of a great trumpet.
5) Then he shall gather the elect.
The words of Jesus in Matthew 24 and the words spoken by Paul in 1 Thessolonians on an event are identical. Except for the fact that Jesus states this will happen at the End of teh Tribluation and preachers and other teachers say it will happen at the beginning of the tribulation. So who do you believe???
