Sermon Central
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Rapture When?
Contributed by Mike Salman on Sep 20, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon describes the Rapture and when it is to take effect.
WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?
The word comes from 1 Thessolonians 4:17 from the word Caught Up:
1Thessolonians 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.
The Word Caught Up Is - har-pad’-zo
From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications):
The Rapture is the time when the Lord comes and removes all believers living and dead from the EARTH to be with Him forever!
Many churches believe that the Rapture will occur before the great tribulation and it will take place before the 1st Seal is opened in the Book of Revelation. They believe that before the 1st seal is opened the Lord will descend from heaven and take his church. This is an incorrect teaching and not a theology that coincides with the Bible, the WORD OF GOD. A church or person who teaches this has not looked into the scriptures and rightly divided the Word of God.
We believe that the Rapture is going to be after the Tribulation. This is what is taught in the Bible. Let us look at why we teach this:
Any person who studies The Book Of Revelations will know that the Tribulation is made up of
7 Seals, 7 vials, & 7 Trumpets. It does not take a teacher to find that out. Just by reading the Bible you will see this. The tribulation begins at the first seal and ends at the 7th Trumpet. Here is what the Bible Says concerning the Trumpets.
Rev 8:1-2 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. (2) And I saw the seven angels which stood before God;
and to them were given seven trumpets.
The angel opened the 7th Seal and there was 7 angels with 7 trumpets. The 7 angels whom will blow the 7 trumpets are not going to blow the 1st trumpet until the 7th seal is opened.
This fact is important in order to understand when the Rapture will take effect.
Now that we know when the trumpets are going to be blown let us look at the following verses:
1 Thessolonians 4:16-17
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.
These verse tell us that the Lord shall come from heaven with a shout the voice of the Archangel and with the Trumpet of God. When this happens those who died as a believer in Jesus Christ will be raised from the dead. Those who believe in Jesus Christ and are remaining on the earth when this happens will also be CAUGHT UP or Raptured into the Air to be with the Lord.
The Bible says that when Jesus comes back it with be with the TRUMPET of God. Again the Trumpet happens after the 7 seals. After the tribulation has occurred.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (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.
In this Text we see the same thing. The Bible says that we shall not all sleep which means die, but we all will be changed. This is what will happen when we are taken into heaven our bodies will change to spiritual bodies. He also says this will happen quickly and at the LAST TRUMPET. Again we talk about a trumpet and at the LAST TRUMPET, which signifies there is other trumpets blown. There is 6 trumpets blown and at the last trumpet we are Raptured into heaven.
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.
This says that when the 7th Trumpet is blown the Kingdom of the World has become the Kingdom of our God. It is over. The END. That Christ shall reign forever and ever.
Here is other scripture that supports that the Rapture will not occur until after the Tribulation.
