Originally published in "The Answer for Today," issue 7, published by The Word For Today, Costa Mesa, CA.

Death to the Christian is so different than to the non-Christian that it's incorrect even to use the same term. For the Christian death is really a transition.

Paul said:

Php 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Php 1:22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

Php 1:23* I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

2Co 5:2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

Speaking to the Thessalonians concerning their loved ones who had already died in Christ, Paul said:

1Th 4:13* Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

1Th 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

1Th 4:15* According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

1Th 4:16* 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.

1Th 4:17 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 for ever.

1Th 4:18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Some people would ridicule the idea or concept of the Rapture of the Church. They declare that the word "rapture" isn't even found in the Bible. It all depends on which Bible you're reading.

The phrase "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is the Greek word harpazo, which actually means "to be snatched away violently." The Latin equivalent of harpazo is the verb rapio, "to take away by force".

What is meant by RAPTURE?

The Rapture refers to that event where Jesus Christ snatches His Church out of this world. It shall happen suddenly without any notice. The Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ are completely different. At the Rapture, Jesus is coming for His saints.

In #1Corinthians 15:51-52 Paul said," Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--" [metamorphosis - a change of body], " in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye ..." You won't even realize it's happened until it's all over. Suddenly, you're in the presence of the Lord with all the Church!

We the Church will be changed. Paul wrote to the Philippians, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

#Philippians 3:20-21

During the metamorphosis Paul wrote to Corinth, "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality."

#1Corinthians 15:53

At the Second Coming we will return with Jesus Christ. #Jude 14 | tells us, "..."See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones (or saints)."

When will the Rapture take place?

Jesus said, "Mt 24:36 "No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.," and for us to presume to declare some date or some hour would be an unscriptural presumption. If we say we know the hour, we're boasting of knowledge superior to Christ's when He was upon the earth.

Although we do not know the exact time of the Rapture, in Thessalonians 5:4 Paul said, 1* ¶ Now, brothers, 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", destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. " The Bible is saying that the Rapture shouldn't come to you as a surprise.

Why should "that day" not overtake us as a thief?

God has given to us the warnings that would precede the coming of Jesus Christ. One of the greatest signs to the world today is the reestablishment of the nation Israel. For years Bible scholars had looked forward to the regathering of the nation Israel based on many Scriptures (including #Matthew 24:32 |)

32* ¶ "Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.

34* I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Applying expositional constancy (fig tree or figs in parables symbolize the nation Israel). Never in history had a nation been born out of the past, but a miracle has taken place and a nation has been reborn. God has reestablished Israel among the family of nations on the earth. God has fulfilled His promise even as He said would.

#Psalm 102:16| declares, "When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory." Because the Lord is building up Zion, the orthodox Jew today is looking for his Messiah. We are too! We're looking forward to this fulfillment of God's promise - the coming again of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when its branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh... even know that it [My coming] is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.".

#Matthew 24:32-34

What "generation"?

Not the generation Christ was talking to, because they've passed - but the generation that saw the fig tree budding forth. The coming of Jesus Christ is "even at the doors." The rebirth of Israel should be a sign to every child of God!

Jesus said throughout the rest of Matthew 24, "watch... be ye also ready." That was the constant warning to the Church: watch and be ready. In #Luke 21:28 | when Jesus was speaking of these same things, using again the parable of the fig tree, He said, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh."

Will the Rapture precede the Great Tribulation?

There are arguments and Scriptures that people can present for pre-, mid-, and post-Tribulation theories. My personal opinion is that Jesus will come before the Great Tribulation to rapture His Church. I don't believe that the Church will go through the Great Tribulation period.

In #1Thessalonians 5:9 | Paul wrote, "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul said the same in #Romans 5:9 | - we've not been appointed unto wrath. Jesus in the whole context of the Tribulation, said, "Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man".

#Luke 21:36

My prayer is that I will be accounted worthy to escape all of these things that are going to come to pass upon the earth.

The Lord divided the Book of Revelation into three sections: [1] "Write the things which thou hast seen," [2] "and the things which are," [3] "and the things which shall be after these things [ meta tauta ]."

#Revelation 1:19

John, in obedience to the commandment, wrote in chapter 1 the vision of Christ that he saw on then island of Patmos. In Chapters 2 and 3 he wrote of the Church and the message of Jesus to the seven churches. Let's look at two of these messages where Jesus made reference to His coming again.

1. The church of Thyatira had introduced the worship of idols within the church. Jesus said, "I have this against thee because thou sufferest that woman, Jezebel... to seduce my servants to commit fornication... I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds".

#Revelation 2:20-22

The unrepentant church of Thyatira, which had gone into spiritual "fornication" (idolatry and saint-worship), was to be cast into the Great Tribulation unless, the Lord said, she repented.

2. To the church of Philadelphia in #Revelation 3:10| Jesus said, "Because you have kept word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation Which is coming to try them who dwell upon the earth." The rapture can happen at any moment - and it's exciting to realize that as a Christian you may never finish reading this article!

After the close of the messages to the churches, Revelation 4:1 | begins and ends with the Greek phrase meta tauta. "After these things," John said, "behold a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was a trumpet saying unto me, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be after these things [meta tauta]."

After what "things"?

Jesus spoke of Church things in chapters 2 and 3. These must be the things that will take place after the Church is taken out of the earth. I believe that 4:1 of the Book of Revelation is the place of the Rapture of the Church. That "voice" in heaven and "trumpet" are the same as in

#1Thessalonians 4:16

With the trump of God and the archangel saying, "Come up hither," we the Church will be gathered together with the Lord in the heavens.

What happens after Revelation 4:1?

John describes the heavenly scene in chapter 4. In chapter 5 he saw the scroll with seven seals in the right hand of Him who is sitting upon the throne. An angel proclaimed with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll, and to loose its seals?" John began to sob convulsively, because no one in heaven or earth nor under the earth was found worthy to even look upon the scroll.

#Revelation 5:2-4

Then one of the elders said, "Weep not, behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seen seals." John turned and saw Jesus as a Lamb that had been slain, "and He came forth and He took the scroll out of the right hand of Him Who sat upon the throne."Immediately, they brought forth the "vials full of odors which are the prayers of saints. And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open its seals; for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and people, and tongue, and nation; and made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign [with Him] upon the earth"

#Revelation 5:5-10

Notice the song that is being sung.

Who can sing that song?

It's not the song of Israel and the covenant relationship with God. People from all families of the earth, not just one family of Abraham, are singing. It's a people who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Only the Church can sing that song.

In Revelation 5:11 after Jesus takes the scroll, John said that innumerable multitudes, "ten thousand times ten thousands" worship the Lamb, declaring His worthiness to receive the honor, and the authority, and the glory. In Revelation 6, Jesus proceeds to loose the seals of the scrolls. With the very first seal there comes forth the white horse rider, going "forth conquering, and to conquer." This, I believe, is the entrance of the Antichrist, because he's followed by wars, death, famine, and desolation. Certainly, the Second Coming of Christ isn't going to be followed by such events, but by the glorious establishment of the Kingdom.

Now, where's the Church?

Before the Tribulation ever begins, the Church is in heaven singing and praising the Lord for His worthiness to take the scroll and loose the seals. The Tribulation doesn't start until the seven seals begin to be broken.

Then why all the confusion concerning the pre-Trib, mid-Trib, and post-Trib Rapture?

In 13:7 of the Book of Revelation #Rev 13:7 | reference is made to the beast making "war with the saints," and he is given power "to overcome them" during the middle of the Tribulation period. Jesus in #Matthew 24:29-31 | said about His Second Coming, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days... they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Then shall He "gather together His elect from the four winds." By defining "the saints" and "His elect" as being the Church, you would have the Church in the Tribulation period. I believe "His elect" is a reference to the nation Israel, if you read it in context.

Christ said, "Pray that your flight be not in winter, or on the sabbath day" when fleeing out of Jerusalem.

#Matthew 24:16-20

How many in the Church expect to be in Jerusalem fleeing when the Antichrist sets up his image within the temple? How many of you would be praying, "O God, don't let it be on the sabbath day"? The Church doesn't keep the sabbath day; that's God's covenant relationship with Israel. The fact is that Israel is "His elect." He's going to gather them back into their land for the Kingdom Age at His return.

As Paul said in #Roman's 11:25-26 |, "...that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob."

"The saints" of #Revelation 13:7 | are also the same. They are God's nation Israel which He as now established again in a priority basis upon the earth during this last seven-year Tribulation period.

The mistake and the confusion regarding the Church's place in the last times arise out of a misunderstanding of God's full prophecies concerning the nation Israel. Israel will be going through the Great Tribulation. This will be the time of Jacob's troubles spoken of in Scripture.

#Jeremiah 30:7

This will be the time when, as even Jesus said, "You will not see the Me henceforth, until you shall say, Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.

#Matthew 23:29

After the Great Tribulation period Israel will be saying, " O, blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Jesus shall return again with His Church at the Second Coming of Christ.

Zechariah the prophet said, "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in your hands? Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends".

#Zechariah 13:6

Thus, the glorious first recognition of Jesus as Israel's Messiah when He comes the second time with the Church to establish His reign upon the Earth.

In the light of the fact that the Lord might come even today, what should I do as a Christian?

First, let me tell you what you shouldn't do. Don't quit your job, sell your house, or see how much money you can borrow figuring you won't have to pay it back. Jesus said, "Occupy until I come".

#Luke 19:13

He intends for us to go right on in our work.

Jesus said, "Watch".

#Matthew 24:42

You should be watching. In Hebrews it says, "And unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time".

#Hebrews 9:28

You should be ready. Jesus said, "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man cometh".

#Matthew 24:44

Amos cried out, "Prepare to meet thy God"

#Amos 4:12

You need to prepare. That preparation is in giving your heart and life to Jesus Christ, receiving His forgiveness and the blotting out of your sins and transgressions. And then wait. James said, "Be patient therefore, brethren, to the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman is waiting... be also patient, establish your hearts".

#James 5:7-8

#2Peter 3:3-4 | tells us that in the last days there would be scoffers that would come and say, "Where's the promise of His coming? But "God is not slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness; but He is faithful to us".

#2Peter 3:9

The question at this point is, "Are you ready?"

Consider the Lord proclaiming today, "This is the end for the Church! You have finished your witness. Come home!" Would you be gathered with the Church to meet the Lord in the air, or would you be down here scratching your head wondering what's going on?

How much better to go with the Church than to be left behind to face the Tribulation and all the horror coming upon the earth. Why make it tough for yourself when the Lord wants to make it easy on you? Why not just open your heart and life to Jesus Christ now? Why not just receive Him as your Lord and Savior and, as He said, be ready. What do you need to be ready? Jesus Christ dwelling in your heart and in your life.

What about those who miss?

At times there may be a hesitancy in our hearts concerning the coming of Jesus Christ because of what will happen to our unsaved family members when He returns.

Once we've been caught up. Many of our loved ones, who have been hassled by our witness and upset with our testimony, will realize they've actually missed the opportunity of being raptured with the Church. As a result, they'll become dead serious with God and will choose to be martyred during the Great Tribulation period by refusing to take the mark of the beast. They will choose death in preference to the mark and, thus, will be saved.

#Revelation 20:4

In #Revelation 7:9-14 |, John saw in heaven "a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds... clothed with white robes," singing of salvation. The elder said to John, "These are they which came up out of the great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." In #Revelation 6:9 | under the fifth seal, these souls martyred during the Tribulation period are waiting for their opportunity to enter the heavenly scene. They are told to wait a little longer until the total number be slain as they were slain.

Being a Tribulation saint is a hard way to come. As Jesus said, "For them will be great tribulation," such as the world never has seen before or ever will see again.

#Matthew 24:21

Why wait? Why slough off your chances of being in the glorious excitement of being with the Lord when He catches up the Church? God Bless you!

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