Revelation 8 begins the most intense and destructive written text describing God’s effort to restore Israel to repentance and salvation through Jesus the Messiah and prepare the world for His 2nd coming. As destructive as the language and descriptions in chapter 6 are with the first six seals being broken, the breaking of the seventh seal starts many more judgments. The interlude in chapter 7 causes us to have to consider, what happens to the church?
Therefore, we must discuss The Rapture.
Merriam-Webster defines rapture. 1 : an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion. 2a : a state or experience of being carried away by overwhelming emotion. 2b : a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things.
The Rapture of the church is the event in which God removes all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgement to be poured out on the earth during this tribulation period.
A few facts to consider:
- The church is discussed in Revelation chapters 1-3, but not again until 22.
- Christ tells the church of Philadelphia in Rev 3:10 that they will be kept from “the hour of trial”.
- No O.T. passage on the Tribulation mentions the church.
- No N.T. passage on the Tribulation mentions the church.
- The godly remnant of the church in the Tribulation is pictured as Israelites.
If this happens, when will it happen? This is the subject of much debate. There are people who believe it happens before the Tribulation, pretribulation, others who believe it happens in the middle, midtribulation, and others who believe it happens at the end simultaneously with the 2nd Coming of Christ, posttribulation.
Most Protestants believe in pretribulation and it is because of Paul’s writing in 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians.
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. – 1 Corinthians 15:22-24
51 Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” – 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
Everyone will form their own conclusions regarding these texts. It is somewhat unnerving that there is no mention in Revelation specifically about this event, although some ties can be made to the times when there are so many in heaven worshipping that John can’t perceive the number. Their appearance might be a tie to such an event as The Rapture. The Spirit will reveal to each as they are able to interpret and receive. If there is a rapture, I can only hope it is before the tribulation. It is not easy to read of such destruction and know you or your children might have to try to survive in it.
Richard Feynman of the California Institute of Technology said this about quantum mechanics, “I think it is safe to say that no one understands quantum mechanics … In fact, it is often stated that of all the theories proposed in this century, the silliest is quantum theory. Some say that the only thing that quantum theory has going for it, in fact, is that it is unquestionably correct.”
This can sum up my writing regarding The Rapture as well.
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