How close are we? Part III

This is a continuation of the End Days Series. In this installment we will look at the most controversial subject surrounding the End Times period. It's mainly controversial because even within the Christian community there are opposing views as to how and when it will occur. There is however a consensus that it WILL occur..at some point. I'm talking about The Rapture. This is the moment in which Jesus Christ returns for His TRUE church and removes them from the world "in the blink of an eye". Before we get into this though we need to present the facts.

Fact 1: The word Rapture does not appear anywhere in Scripture.

Fact 2: The Bible states emphatically that this will be a supernatural event that will involve the transformation of the participants.

Fact 3: There is no timeline given for when this will actually happen.

Ok, so let's take these one at a time and dissect them.

The word Rapture does not appear anywhere in Scripture.

Regardless of what translation you use of The Bible you will be hard pressed to find the word Rapture. That's because it isn't in there. Now you are probably asking yourself "If it's not mentioned then how can we believe in it?". That is explained by taking a look at where the word came from. The Greek word used in The Bible to explain this event is "harpazo". Harpazo means to be "caught up" or "snatched away". This is the word used by the Apostle Paul when he describes the event itself:

I Thessalonians 4:16-17 states the following:

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.

Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. (NLT)

He uses that word to describe what action will be taking place during this event we call The Rapture. The word "rapture" however comes from the Latin word raptus which means the same thing. It makes sense that the English word rapture would then be used since we live in an English driven world rather than the Greek. However, they mean the same thing.

Fact 2: The Bible states emphatically that this will be a supernatural event that will involve the transformation of the participants.

As you can see this in NOT the Second Coming because Jesus does not actually come back to Earth. Instead he calls His people to Him and they are removed from Earth.

Now you may be asking yourself how it would be possible for all of these people to just float up into the air and totally disregard the laws of physics? Well frankly, it's not. There won't be millions of bodies shooting through the sky to go meet the Lord because they would burn up at some point once they entered the atmosphere. Instead these believers are "transformed" into spirit beings which can travel with no restrictions through time and space. The Bible describes this this way:

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 states:

But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed.

It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die.

For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die.

As you can see The Bible take great pains to make sure that the reader understands that something supernatural is going to happen to these bodies. Also, one thing you should know about Scripture is if there are words that are repeated it's because they are very important. Basically, God through His Word, is stressing to us that this is a very important detail.

So, what you have is people that will be supernaturally transformed into spirit beings and removed so quickly that other than those experiencing it no one will know it happened!!

Fact 3: There is no timeline given for when this will actually happen.

Now you would think that if something like this was going to happen surely The Bible would want us to know when. Interestingly enough though it remains strangely silent. Even Jesus Himself proclaims that he does not know when it will happen.

In Matthew 24:36 He states:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."

And again He states in verse 42:

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

Even though He makes it apparent that we cannot know WHEN this will happen He does tell us that it will be unexpected and catch many off guard.

In verses 43 and 44 He states:

But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Clearly this is a warning. One thing that must be noted here is that presently there are NO outstanding prophetic signs that must be fulfilled before this event can take place. It could literally happen at any time and will...soon.

Now just take a moment to think about what this event would do to this world when it happens.

How many cars will be without a driver?

How many planes will be without a pilot?

How many surgeons will vanish while in surgery?

And the list goes on. This will have an immediate and devastating impact on the whole world since it will not be limited to just one country or continent.

Millions will vanish with no explanation and those left behind will bear the brunt of the chaos that will follow. It will not be a great day to say the least and will set the stage for a new world leader. Someone who can emerge from the shadows and bring order to the chaos. Someone who will have an answer for what just happened or at least a plausible explanation that the world will believe. The Bible has a great deal to say about this world leader which we will explore in the final blog of this series. Enter: The Antichrist. Coming soon...