The Rapture Cont.(1) Just prior to the rapture, as Christ is descending from heaven for His church, the resurrection of the dead in Christ will occur (1 Thes 4:16). This is not the same resurrection described in Rev 20:4, for the latter is an event occurring after Christ returns to earth, destroys the wicked and binds Satan (Rev 19:11-20:3). The resurrection in Rev 20:4 relates to the martyred dead of the tribulation and possibly to OT saints (see Rev 20:6).<\/p>\n
(2) At the same time as the dead in Christ rise, living believers will be transfigured. Their bodies will be clothed with immortality (1 Cor 15:51,53). This will happen in a very short time, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor 15:52).<\/p>\n
(3) Both the resurrected believers and the transfigured believers will be caught up together to meet Christ in the air, i.e., in the atmosphere between earth and heaven.<\/p>\n
(4) They will be visibly united with Christ (1 Thes 4:16-17), taken to His Fathers House in heaven (see John 14:2-3) and united with loved ones who have died in Christ (1 Thes 4:13-18).<\/p>\n
(5) They will be removed from all distress (2 Cor 5:2,4; Phil 3:21), from all persecution and oppression (see Rev 3:10), from the entire realm of sin and from death (1 Cor 15:51-56); Christ thereby delivers them from the wrath to come (see 1 Thes 1:10; 5:9), i.e., from the great tribulation.<\/p>\n
(6) The hope that our Saviour will soon return to take us out of the world to ever be with the Lord (1 Thes 4:17) is the blessed hope of the redeemed (Tit 2:13) and a major source of comfort for suffering believers (1 Thes 4:17-18; 5:10).<\/p>\n
(7) Paul uses we in 1 Thes 4:17 because he knows the Lords return could have happened in his own lifetime, and he communicates this same anticipation to the Thessalonians. The Bible insists on a continual waiting with eagerness for the return of our Lord. Believers today must be ever watchful and hopeful for Christs return to take them to Himself (cf. Rom 13:11; 1 Cor 7:29; 10:11; 15:51-52; Phil 4:5).<\/p>\n
(8) According to this view of the rapture, professing Christians who do not have a saving relationship with Christ will be left behind (see Mat 25:1; Luke 12:45), will be left with a false system of religion (see Rev 17:1), and be subject to Gods wrath.<\/p>\n
(9) Following the rapture is the day of the Lord, a time that brings distress and wrath to the ungodly (1 Thes 5:2-10). That will be followed by the second stage of Christs coming when He comes to destroy the ungodly and to reign on earth (see Mat 24:42,44).<\/p>\n
The Events Of The Rapture 1 Cor 15:51, 52; 1 Thes 4:16, 17 Christ will return visibly, with a loud command<\/p>\n
There will be an unmistakable cry from an angel<\/p>\n
There will be a trumpet fanfare such as has never been heard<\/p>\n
Believers in Christ who are dead will rise from their graves<\/p>\n
Believers who are alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet Christ<\/p>\n
While Christians have often disagreed about what events will lead up to the return of Christ, there has been less disagreement about what will happen once Christ does return.<\/p>\n
The Timing Of The Rapture: Different Views <\/p>\n
RAPTURE Gods taking the church out of the world instantaneously. The Latin term rapio, which means to snatch away or carry off, is the source of the English word. <\/p>\n
Email:mercyolumide2004@yahoo.co.uk http:\/\/www.thebiblicalwomanhood.com<\/a> Mobile: +234 803 344 6614; +234 808 123 7987<\/p>\n <\/p>\n See the original post: <\/p>\n The last days of history - Part 13Sunday Magazine - Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Rapture Cont.(1) Just prior to the rapture, as Christ is descending from heaven for His church, the resurrection of the dead in Christ will occur (1 Thes 4:16). Continue reading