The Rapture of the Church

The Rapture is an event where a person is taken up to heaven, physically or bodily, by the Lord, having given a glorified body where the person will not be subject to death. The word "rapture" does not exist in the Bible, but the theology does, similar to the word "trinity" not existing in the Bible, but the theology of God being triune does exist. The Bible says:

"Then 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" - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

The words "caught up" in the above verse, is the Greek word "harpazo", which is the word used to describe the rapture in the Bible. The first rapture ever to occur in the Bible is seen in Genesis 5:24, where it says:

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” - Genesis 5:24

The words “and he was not” means, he was not subject to death, or he did not see death as the Lord took Enoch away bodily. Genesis 5:22 says “And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters”. When Enoch had a son named Methuselah, there was a revelation which Enoch had which made him to walk with the Lord. Remember, the law (Ten Commandments) was not given during this time, as it was only given during the time of Moses. This means, Enoch was not under the law, but under Grace. Methuselah was none other than the grandfather of Noah. Another event of the rapture documented in the Bible is in 2 Kings 2:11, where it says:

“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” - 2 Kings 2:11

Elijah is seen once again at the time of our Lord Jesus during the transfiguration:

“And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.” - Matthew 17:2-3

The rapture was a mystery which was revealed to Apostle Paul which he describes to the Church of Corinth:

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” - 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

"The Rapture" is mentioned as the "blessed hope" in the Bible in Titus 2:13, which every believer who has been born again in the Spirit is waiting for. The posture of a Christian who has been saved (born again in the Spirit) is not waiting for the antichrist, but looking forward to meet our Lord Jesus Christ during the rapture of the church. The rapture is when our Lord Jesus comes to take His bride, the church. The Bible says:

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” - Philippians 3:20-21

When our Lord Jesus comes back, He comes as "Savior" to all the believers in Christ, but as "Judge" to the rest of the world. There is no judgement for a believer in Jesus because, God the Father judged us on the Cross of Jesus. God pronounced us righteous in Christ when He raised His Son Jesus, back to life. Even if there was a sin of ours, which our Lord Jesus took upon Himself, which God the Father had not forgiven, He would not have raised Jesus back to life. Today Jesus is alive, and He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. The moment we start believing in the Gospel as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, we get sealed by Holy Spirit, and we are grafted into the "Body of Christ", where we are no longer subject to judgement, thereby passing from death to life. The Bible says:

“Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” - Romans 4:23-25

Romans 4:23-25 clarifies that our Lord Jesus was raised back to life as a sign of our justification. In John 5:24, Jesus clarifies that whoever believes in Him has passed from death to life.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” - John 5:24

Today the place of us believers in Christ, who have been sealed by Holy Spirit is that we are seated along with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we are the "righteousness of God through Christ". We have access to all His blessings because God the Father has accepted, and is pleased, with His Son's one time and eternal sacrifice. If God has to judge us believers once again, it is like Him saying that the Blood of His Son was not good enough. He will not judge us twice because the Blood of Jesus is eternal which takes away our sins (past, present, and future) permanently. Remember, when our Lord Jesus died on the cross, our sins were future. Today we have access to the throne of God where we can boldly come before Him as the righteousness of God through Christ and call Him Abba Father.

If we do not come under judgement then what do we get from the Lord? Apostle Paul answers this question in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 mentioning the rewards we get in heaven. He also clarifies that we would never lose our salvation, as once we are grafted into the Body of Christ, the church, our salvation is eternal.

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The Lord is delaying the rapture of the church because He wants to get as many people saved as possible. The Lord is not slow, He is a gracious God, who wants to have heaven with us. Once the rapture happens, it will be followed by the 7 years of tribulation on earth. But the church would not be in the tribulation, because the church gets raptured and will be with Christ. In the "parable of the ten virgins" mentioned in Matthew 25, the ten virgins with the lamps are not the brides, but rather they are the bridesmaids. Then where is the bride? The bride has already been raptured. This is the very reason, the Lord is delaying the rapture of the church so that many people can be saved.