THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH!

THE PROMISE OF THE RAPTURE OF BELIEVERS!

Acts 1:1-3, 9-11 -  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus*, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost* had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen:  to whom also He showed Himself alive after His Passion* by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God - - - And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.

[Notes:  "Theophilus" - a man whose name means "Friend of God" (θεός theós) and (φίλος phílos).  "Ghost" is from the same Greek word which is translated "Spirit" about 200 times (πνεῦμα pneûma).  "Passion" is from the Greek word (πάσχω páschō), which means "suffering."]

John 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled:  you believe in God, believe also in Me.  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.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there* you may be also*.

[Note:  Believers will be taken "there"; the place where Jesus in now!]

THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE OF THE RAPTURE!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent* those who are asleep*.  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:  then we who 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.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

[Notes:  "Prevent" is from the Greek (φθάνω phthánō), which means "to neither precede or prevent" something.  "Asleep" is from the Greek (κοιμάω koimáō), meaning "to have died." Jesus ascended up into a cloud (Acts 1:9); here, believers will be "caught up" in the clouds:  the Greek (ἁρπάζω harpázō), means to be "taken up."  We get the term "Rapture" from the Latin version which is translated "rapiemur."  Why?  I have no idea!]  

THE TIMING OF THE RAPTURE!

Revelation 4:1-2 - 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 show you things which must be hereafter.*  And immediately I was in the spirit:  and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

[Note:  In Chapter One of the Book of Revelation, John is told that he was to write the things he had seen before, the things he currently saw, and the things which are future (v. 19).  Chapter 1:1-18 are the things he had already seen at the time of this command.  Chapters 2:1 - 3:22 are the things which encompassed the Church Age, the period in which John lived.  Chapters 4:1 - 22:6 describe what will occur following the Church Age.  Chapter 4:1 is an abrupt change:  not only is it the beginning of that which was of the future, but also John's location; he is taken up into heaven.  John, a representative of the Church Age, ascends into heaven, a picture of the Rapture of the Church!   It precedes the description of the Tribulation, a time of the pouring out of God's wrath (Ch. 6 - 19), Christ's Second Coming to Earth (Ch. 19), His 1000 year Millennial Kingdom with the Judgment to follow (Ch. 20), and the beginning of eternity (Ch. 21)!]

THOSE WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN JESUS, WILL BE REMOVED BEFORE 

THE WRATH OF GOD IS POURED OUT UPON THOSE WHO REJECTED HIM!  

IF YOU HAVE NOT ACCEPTED JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, 

TODAY MAY BE YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY!  DO NOT PUT IT OFF!