Introduction: The Rapture
By The Whyman
The Rapture is an event that will take place sometime in the near future. Jesus will come in the air, catch up the Church from the earth, and then return to heaven with the Church.
The Apostle Paul gave a clear description of the rapture event in his letters to the Thessalonians and Corinthians.
"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 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thess. 4:16 - 18).
"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 Cor. 15:51 - 53).
The timing of the rapture is not known. However, from the Word of God and from sound reasoning -- something Jesus used quite frequently -- the reality of the pre-tribulation rapture can be proven (please read article in this link).
The word "rapture" comes from the phrase "caught up" in verse 17. The phrase is translated from the Greek word harpazo, which means "to carry off," "snatch up," or "grasp hastily." The translation from harpazo to "rapture" involved two steps: first, harpazo became the Latin word raptus; second, raptus became the English word "rapture."
Therefore, despite the claims of the ignorant, the doctrine of "the rapture" is indeed biblical.
Footnote:
Introductory material adapted from Todd Strandberg.
Prophetic Signs of the Imminency of the Rapture and Jesus' Second Coming
In Matthew 24, Christ Jesus gives His disciples a number of signs (harbingers) to watch for that shall herald His glorious reappearing. As well, Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel have given us other signs that are also harbingers of Messiah's Second Coming.
Our article shall deal with six of these harbingers:
The Rebirth of Israel
The Rebuilding of the Jewish Temple
The Rise in Antisemitism
Increase in Knowledge
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Prophetic Signs of the Imminency of the Rapture and Jesus' Second Coming
In Matthew 24, Christ Jesus gives His disciples a number of signs (harbingers) to watch for that shall herald His glorious reappearing. As well, Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel have given us other signs that are also harbingers of Messiah's Second Coming.
Our article shall deal with six of these harbingers:
The Rebuilding of the Jewish Temple
The Rise in Antisemitism
False Prophets and Religious Globalism on the Ascent
Economic and Political Globalism on the Ascent
We have also previously posted on these endtimes' signs elsewhere on this blog:
Moral and Cultural Decline
Wars and Rumors of Wars
Natural Disasters
Pestilences
Or go here if you would prefer to read the entire article in a single post.
