THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH!

ἁρπάζω harpázō

The Greek word, "harpazo," appears seventeen times in New Testament.  Rather than me define the word, I believe we should each study how it is translated in the King James Version, and define it as we understand its usage.  

THESE ARE THE VERSES IN WHICH HARPAZO IS USED:

Matthew 11:12 - And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

Matthew 13:19 - When any one hears the Word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart.  This is he who received seed by the way side.

John 6:15 - When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone.

John 10:12, 27-29 - But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeing the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees:  and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. - - - My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:  and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, Who gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand.

Acts 8:39 - And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more:  and he went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 23:10 - And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 - I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell:  God knows; such an one (was) caught up to the third heaven.  And I knew such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell:  God knows; how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

1 Thessalonians 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:  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.

Jude 1:23 - And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Revelation 12:1-5 - And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:  and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:  and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it (He) was born.  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron:  and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.

THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH:

This Greek word has been the basis for the Christian teaching on the "Rapture of the Church," as it is presented in 1 Thessalonians Chapter Four above.  The word "rapture" is used, because it seems to convey a meaning of someone being overcome by something:  a song, a quote, a piece of art, etc.; in other words, something that happens to one; one becomes "enraptured."  The Latin word "rapiemur" means "to be caught up; to be snatched away, to be taken."

THE RAPTURE IS THE NEXT EVENT ON GOD'S CALENDAR!

THE LORD IS COMING TO REMOVE HIS CHURCH BEFORE HIS WRATH IS POURED OUT IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE TRIBULATION (JN. 14:1-3; 1 COR. 15:50-54; 1 THES. 4:13-18).  TRUE BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST WILL BE REMOVED;  HOPEFULLY, EVERYONE READING THIS WILL BE INCLUDED!  MARANATHA!