How many Snatching away are there
Introduction: Our question is a long one “In the entire bible how many “raptures”, “snatching away”, “ascending in the Clouds” events happened or are yet to happen, and who did (does) it involve? So we will see this answer tonight hopefully. First understand the term “Rapture” is not found in the Bible, and thus since it isn’t many say there won’t be a Rapture.
Core: Of course they say this because they don’t hold certain doctrines that teach it. The Bible makes it clear there will be a point where the church is caught up and meets the Lord in the Air. We see this in 1st Thessalonians 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. 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. 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. Do see the rapture in verse 17 we will be caught up together in the clouds. The word "rapture" itself, however, is a perfectly good English word. The English "rapture" is can be seen as similar or even derived from the Latin word for "snatch [away]" (rapere) which was used in the Latin Vulgate translation of the New Testament.
Body
I. Let’s do a word study first
A. Looking at the Greek word Harpazo
1. It means to seize, carry off by force
2. To seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly
3. To snatch out or away
4. Rapture from Dictionary.com says this- the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence.
B. I believe that would fit the word Harpazo
1. We are carried off of the earth into Heaven
2. First into the atmosphere
3. Second into the third heaven to be with Christ forever more.
4. Christ second coming seen in Revelation 19 makes no inference of the church age believer meeting Christ in the air.
5. In fact Christ comes to earth and brings with Him
6. An army clothed in white raiment clean and white.
C. The question we have does not at all concern this word itself
1. Only whether this "snatching away" (or "rapture") of which Paul speaks is before or after the time of Jacob’s trouble, the Tribulation is what is debated in Theological realms today.
2. But our question is not when it occurs but if it has occurred in the past
3. If so how many times and who is involved
4. Will there be yet a future one or more.
D. The answer to that is what we are seeking
1. We need to study through scripture of course to find the answer
2. Many can see the answer in scripture and yet still debate whether there will or won’t be a worldwide church Rapture
3. Or debate when it will occur
4. Even going as far as saying He has already come and we are in the Kingdom
II. But let’s get to the First part of the question how many events like this are seen in the bible
A. We know there has been one ascension
1. That is not debatable
2. Acts 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.
3. You see Jesus was taken up into Heaven
4. He ascended on High Ephesians 4: 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
5. We see 2nd Corinthians 12: 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
6. You see the term caught in verse 4 of 2nd Corinthians 12 up that is the Greek word Harpazo
7. So we see Paul says he was caught up
B. So we see here Christ Ascended into Heaven
1. Do we count that as one?
2. The question before us did say ascended
3. So this is one occurrence where an Ascension occurred.
4. But the Greek word for ascend and caught up is different so they are different events in scripture
III. Let’s look to the Old Testament and see if we find any such events
A. That means we start in the beginning book Genesis
1. Look at chapter 5 verse 21-24
2. Genesis 5:24 says Enoch walked with God and was not for God took him.
3. Notice the word took in this verse
4. The Hebrew word laqach (law-kakh) means:
a. To take
b. Get
c. Fetch
d. Lay hold of
e. Seize
f. Receive
g. Acquire
h. Buy
i. Bring
j. Marry
k. Take a wife
l. Snatch-there is our word
m. Take away
5. So here we have a person raptured
6. This is the first, Enoch the seventh from Adam
7. Look at Hebrews 11:5 which starts by saying “By Faith Enoch was translated…”
8. The Greek word for Translate is not Harpazo, this word means to transfer
9. So Enoch was transferred from earth
10. Which I believe would fit the from Dictionary.com definition which says: “the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence”
B. We see in Enoch the 1st person who was snatched away
1. Which is a part of the answer to our question
2. Seven generations from Adam we have a Rapture occur
3. Event 1 in the bible of the snatching away of a person.
4. So far we have this occurrence as well as Christ Ascension and Paul saying he was carried into the third heaven.
IV. Let’s now skip ahead to 2 Kings 2:1-18 and look to Elijah
A. Verse 1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
1. Notice here again God would take up Elijah
2. Awlah is the Hebrew word here and means to go up
3. We see verse 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
4. Elijah went up in a whirlwind
B. Elijah is taken up into Heaven we are told
1. So here is the second person taken up that did not see death
2. Enoch first the seventh from Adam
3. Now the greatest Prophet the Jews ever knew
4. Is taken up into Heaven
C. We have seen now:
1. Enoch who did not see death because he was taken
2. Elijah who was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind
3. Jesus who saw death but defeated it
4. He came up out of the grave and ascended upon High
5. We have Paul who says whether in the body or out
6. He ascended into the Third heaven and saw things He couldn’t write about
7. That would be 4 so far
8. We looked at 1st Thessalonians 4 which is yet future
V. So let’s look closer at that one
A. Along with 1st Thessalonians 4 remember we carried you to Revelation 4 verse 1 in Lesson 12 of our Study of Revelation
1. REV.4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2. Here we see John taken up into the third Heaven.
3. Not physically though he is seeing it in a vision
4. Let’s look at what is called the rapture that others say Rapture is not mentioned in scripture, so the snatching away as the Greek calls it in 1Thessalonians 4:16-17
5. 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.
6. Notice the similarities of Revelation 4 and 1st Thessalonians 4
B. Is John representing the Church here, does He see in a vision the church being called to heaven or was he too translated?
1. He hears a voice
2. Described as sounding like a trumpet
3. Thessalonians says the voice and the trump of God is heard
4. John hears a voice as if a Trumpet, that represents those who are alive and remain
5. Look at 1 Corinthians 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
6. John saw the open door in Heaven in which the Believer will then pass through
C. Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
1. Notice again the similarity of verse 2 with 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15:52
2. Then we will be with the Lord forever
3. We have a new body 1Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality
4. We will be changed from our corruptible body that sees death to a body that is incorruptible and immortal
5. Paul started in 1 Corinthians 15:51 with these words Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
6. We won’t all see death, some believers will be alive when the Lord returns but those who are alive and remain will be quickly changed, John was in the Spirit as He entered into heaven.
7. It happened to Enoch and Elijah
8. It will happen just as Paul tells us.
D. Is that it or is there yet another?
1. Look at Revelation 21 verse 1 tells us And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2. What happened to those who were living during Christ reign upon the earth
3. Those born during that time
4. Look at verse 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
5. God is coming here to dwell but were the Millennial saints raptured into new Jerusalem and given immortal bodies
6. It would seem so in order that the earth could be renovated by fire as Peter says it will be as we see 2 Peter 3: 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
7. The 1st and second heaven will be burned up
8. All the things we see will be dissolved
9. We are not told what happens to the Righteous between the end of Chapter 20 to the beginning of chapter 21 in the book of Revelation
10. It would seem that yet another transfer takes place for the Millennial Saints into the New Jerusalem
11. Then yet the final Transfer of the New Jerusalem to the New Heaven and New Earth
12. We see the Believers, the servants of God in the New Jerusalem and what we will be doing in Revelation 22:3 & 4 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Conclusion: So if we count a transfer from earth to heaven of the millennial saints and then the final Transfer into the new Heaven and New Earth in New Jerusalem we have seven. Seven is the number of spiritual completion all things are spiritually complete when we are living in New Jerusalem. If we count up to the Snatching away of the Church we have 5 which is the number of grace. Either way God is seen in the Transfer, Snatching away, Rapture whatever term is used in this we have 5 or 7 that are seen in scripture so God’s Grace is at work in all of it. Hopefully this answers the question before us.
