Last week, I started a series of messages about the End Times, with Jesus’ warning message about the increase of deception in the last days.
Today I want to talk about the Rapture, and I particularly believe in my heart that we are very close to Jesus’ coming. And because of this, I have been dedicating myself, preparing myself, and seeking the Lord with all my heart!
“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. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 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. 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. 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. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Many Christians do not understand that Jesus’ coming will happen in 2 stages. One is the rapture of the church, and the other is the Return of Jesus.
Many read the Bible but cannot understand, because they mix the two events.
The first event is called The Rapture of the church.
Jesus comes in the air, and we meet Him in the air, and this meeting is only for believers. He comes to take the faithful, those who are persevering, becoming holy, and who are in a relationship of love and loyalty with the Lord.
After the Rapture of the church, there is another event that happens 7 years later. This event is the return of Jesus at the end of the great tribulation, where during the battle of Armageddon (Rev 16:16) , Jesus appears in the heavens, coming down on a white horse with His armies.
What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus?
The Rapture is invisible; Jesus does not set foot on this earth, no one sees Him, only Christians who are prepared, who have oil in their lamps, will hear the trumpet sound and will be caught up and will meet the Lord in the air.
The Second Coming of Jesus, every eye will see, all the earth, because like lightning in the sky, everyone will see it.
“For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:27
Remember that Jesus’ disciples were Jews, and in Matthew 24, in the prophetic sermon, Jesus answers their question about when would the end of the world happen and the establishment of His Kingdom be.
Jesus’ answer was directed to the Jews, that is why He does not present the rapture to the Jews, but He presents the second coming.
In the rapture, only the church goes up; in the second coming, Jesus comes down with the Church and sets foot on the Mount of Olives, and according to Zechariah 14:4, the mountain will be split in two.
The rapture happens before the great tribulation; the second coming happens after. Therefore, they are two completely different events. In the Second Coming, He comes to judge the ones that stayed behind.
There are people and theologians who believe that Christians will go through the Great Tribulation, that the great Tribulation has already started and also that the Rapture and the return of Jesus will be one and the same event.
Why do Bible scholars hold a different belief? Because of the “Replacement Theology”, which states that the Church took the place of Israel and that all promises and privileges given to Israel now belong to the Church.
We do not subscribe to this theology! The Church has never replaced Israel! When we read the prophecies, what God said to Israel is for Israel, and the Church has never taken Israel’s place.
Jesus answered the Jews and spoke about the second coming and the reign of Christ. The Apostle Paul writes to the Church and speaks about the rapture. The book of Revelation speaks of both events, the Rapture and the second coming of Jesus.
In Revelation, there are two doors that are opened in Heaven: One in chapter 4 and another in chapter 19.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Revelation 4:1
In chapter 4:1, John sees an open door in heaven and a voice like a trumpet saying: Come up here! This is the Rapture.
In Revelation 19:11, a door also opens in heaven, but then Jesus comes down with His army, which are us, the church, and He comes to judge and destroy the antichrist, the false prophet, and put an end to everything in the battle of Armageddon.
Understand: The Rapture is for the Church, the Second Coming is for the whole world.
In the Rapture, we go up; in the Second Coming, Jesus comes down with His Church to judge the earth and then to govern the world during the millennium.
After explaining this, let’s read the text 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 again:
“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. 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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
The Rapture of the Church was presented by Paul as a mystery where first the dead will rise in the blink of an eye, and then those who are alive will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
What happens right after the rapture here on earth?
I already mentioned in the first message of the series (if you haven’t watched it, please do, as we don’t have time to discuss it again), but a peace treaty will be signed with the Antichrist, and thus the great tribulation will begin.
1 Thessalonians chapter 4 talks about the rapture and chapter 5 talks about “the day of the Lord”, this is a day of vengeance which is also known as The Great Tribulation.
“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates, we do not need to write to you. For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” sudden destruction will come on them, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
We are already seeing the world talk about peace, and this peace agreement that will be signed between Israelis, Palestinians, Muslims, and Christians, bringing an “apparent” peace and harmony among nations.
This agreement will allow the construction of the third temple in Jerusalem, and the world will think: now everything is peaceful and the wars are over.
However, the Bible says: when they say peace and safety, sudden destruction will come upon them and they will not escape in any way.
“While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” sudden destruction will come on them, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3
In other words, here Apostle Paul is saying that after the Rapture comes the Great Tribulation.
The Great Tribulation is the judgment of God’s wrath upon those who rejected Him, and it is not for us, His bride, who love Him, respect Him, and live in holiness.
The great tribulation is the judgment of God’s wrath on those who rejected Him, not for us, His bride, who love Him, respect Him, and are living in holiness.
“For God did not destine us for wrath but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9
The great tribulation is also called the time of the “wrath of the Lamb”.
“They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” Revelation 6:16
The great tribulation will be a time of wrath, why? Because for 2000 years, people have not accepted the message of grace and salvation, and it will be a time for judgment to come upon all the violence and evil committed.
Revelation 14:10 says that during the great tribulation, people will drink the wine of God’s fury, and the great tribulation is called the time of God’s wrath upon sin.
However, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 says that God did not destine us for wrath but for salvation through Jesus!
God destined you for salvation and not for wrath!
“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 those who live on the earth.” Revelation 3:10
According to 1 Thessalonians 4, this means that the church will be literally snatched away. The word in Greek means to seize or carry away.
Are you eagerly waiting to be with your Lord?
Philippians 3:20 (NIV) “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
Galatians 5:5 (NIV) “For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.”
1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV) “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:25 (NIV) “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently and eagerly.”
Jesus never told us to be worried about His return, the great tribulation, persecutions, or about the rapture.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV)
Jesus told us to rejoice and be glad because a great reward awaits us. Stop being worried about the Great Tribulation, the antichrist, the mark of the beast, and the end times.
Jesus never told us to worry about the end times, or about what we would eat; He never instructed us to stockpile food. On the contrary, He taught: Do not worry about tomorrow, but be prepared for my coming.
The question for you is: Are you eagerly waiting to be taken up and meeting with Him?
Eagerly waiting means you are getting ready and anxiously waiting for the moment to arrive.
Think of a groom and a bride, eagerly waiting for their wedding day, which is soon. The groom invests all his money in the preparation, invests his time, his resources, and can’t wait to see his bride on their wedding day.
But unfortunately, some people are so connected with this world, they are worried about making money and enjoying this life, that they don’t want Jesus to return now.
Many are in love with this world and do not want His return, they feel they are not ready.
But God has something much better for you; Jesus went to prepare a place for us and He will take us all up.
I want to end with two points:
- You don’t need to fear the end times; stop being worried about the tribulation, the antichrist. Just love Him with all your heart, serve Him, invest your time in His Kingdom, and be happy because your salvation is near.
- I want you to understand this: If you are a born-again Christian but you are not filled with the Holy Spirit and not eagerly waiting for His coming, there is something wrong with your spiritual life.
You need to ask yourself: Do I know Jesus and the power of His resurrection and suffering on the Cross? Do I truly know my Lord? He will return and He will only take those who are ready.
God bless you and see you next week for the second part of this message.