THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15For 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.
16For 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:
17Then 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.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming again, personally and soon!    Heb. 9:26 and 28. But how is He coming, and when, and for whom?

 In approaching this study it is necessary to point out that the scriptures teach that the second coming of Christ will take place, for want of a better way of stating the truth, in two stages.

 All the prophecies of the Old Testament tell us of His coming in power as the Son of man to reign and to rule.

But there are two important passages in the New   Testament which tell us that before our blessed Lord  returns to the earth, Zech. 14:4, as Son of man, Matt. 24:27 and 30, for Israel's deliverance, Zech. 14:3, publicly, Rev. 1:7, and to take vengeance on His enemies, 2 Thess. 1:7-8. 

Before He comes like this, He will come into the air to gather to Himself all His saints, 1 Thess. 4:16-17. His coming in power and glory will be ushered in by signs, Matt. 24,

but His coming into the air for His Church could happen at any moment.

This is called "the rapture of the Church", because when He thus comes He will "catch away" all His people and take them to be with Himself. 

The two important passages which reveal this truth are:

 (1) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. see above

Notice the significant words in 1 Thess. 4:15, "for this we say unto you by the word of the Lord..." That is, Paul was speaking, Or writing, what the Lord had expressly revealed to him. 

This was not simply Paul's idea, note this!

 

(2) 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.  51Behold, 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Notice also the significant word in 1 Cor. 15:51,  "Behold, I show you a mystery. . .". A "mystery" in the New Testament always refers to truth which 

was unrevealed in the Old Dispensation.  

 A "mystery" is something only known to the initiated. The truth of the rapture was promised by the Lord Jesus,

 (John 14:3, ³"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. ")

  but it was only fully revealed and explained by, or through, the apostle Paul.

    All the teaching of 1 Cor. 15:51-53 is included in 1 Thess. 4:13-18; let us therefore confine ourselves to a study of this latter passage, and let us ask: 

What exactly will take place when Jesus comes to rapture His people into His presence?

 1.   His Coming will be Personal.

 1 Thess. 4:16: "the Lord Himself..."; not another Jesus, but "this same Jesus", Acts 1:11, ¹¹Which 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.

 the unchanging One, Heb. 13:8. ⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 Jesus Himself is coming!  : o

 Divine intervention has always been sudden and stupendous, compare the Flood, the Exodus and Pentecost.

The  ascension of our Lord was dramatic, Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51 and Acts 1:9, and His descent will also be dramatic.

 3.   When He descends, "the dead in Christ shall rise first".

1 Thess. 4:16; not all the dead, but all the dead "in Christ", that is, all believers. This will be "the first   resurrection". All who were saved before Christ came to die,

and all who have been saved since and who have died, will rise from the dead in their glorified bodies. Until He comes their bodies "sleep", 1 Thess. 4:13-15 and 

1 Cor. 15: 51,  ⁵¹Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

 but when He comes, their spirits, which are with Christ,will be reunited with their glorified body.

2 Cor. 5:8; ⁸We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

  Eph. 3:15 ¹⁵Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

 and Phil. 1:23, ²³For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

  will be clothed with bodies which are incorruptible,

 1 Cor. 15:52. ⁵²In 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.

4.   Every living Believer will be changed and caught up. 

1 Thess. 4:17. This is what 1 Cor. 15:51 means, "we shall not all sleep"; some Christians will never die, for they will be alive on the earth when the Lord comes 

and will be clothed upon with immortality, 1 Cor. 15:53, ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

 and in place of their earthly body they will  receive their new heavenly body, 1 Cor. 15:35-49,

and this will take place "in the twinkling of an eye!" Every true believer will suddenly be raptured into the  presence of the Lord.

 The millions of Christians who are alive when He comes will suddenly disappear; as Enoch disappeared, Heb. 11:5; as Elijah disappeared,   2 Kings 2: 11; 

and as Jesus Himself disappeared, Acts 1:9.

 

5.   Then will follow a time of glorious reunion for the Saints of God.

 1 Thess. 4:17, "together with them". What a gathering that will be! To be "together" implies recognition of our loved ones and of all the saints of God.

 

6.   Above all, we shall meet the Lord Himself, "to meet the Lord in the air".

 1 Thess. 4:17. What a meeting! To meet the Lord, our own beloved Saviour!

 

7.   "So shall we ever be with the Lord".

 1 Thess. 4:17. This is the goal at the end of the road, Psa. 23:6, compare Psa. 16:11 and John 17:24.

 What comfort there is in this blessed hope, 1 Thess. 4:18;

 Titus 2:13!  ¹³Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

  After our Lord has returned and  gathered His saints to Himself, He will come in power and great glory to reign upon the earth, 

Luke 1:32-33.  ³¹And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

³²He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: