In Loving Memory
April 29, 1947 - September 5, 2020
Update: On Saturday, September 5th, 2020, the founder, administrator, and head moderator of this forum, Valerie S., went Home to be with the Lord. Her obituary can be found on https://memorials.demarcofuneralhomes.com/valerie-skrzyniak/4321619/index.php.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself will 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.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing .
"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"
Rapture: The Body of Christ Caught Up in the
Clouds
Shawn Brasseaux - arcministries@gmail.com
[29 January 2007]
2010 Update
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and
our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13 KJV).
Is the rapture a fallacy of religious tradition, or is it a Scriptural fact? The
word “rapture” never appears in the Bible, but the term “rapturia” (from which
“rapture” is derived) is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in a Latin copy of God’s
Word: “rapturia” is Latin for “caught up.” The concept of the rapture is clearly
found in the Scriptures—the rapture is indeed a legitimate Christian doctrine.
Ironically, some professing Christians reject the rapture by claiming it is
nothing more than a “theory.” How sad!
The rapture is a very important doctrine because the only Bible author
who speaks and writes of it is the Apostle Paul. Why is the rapture only found
in Paul’s epistles? What is the rapture? Why must it happen? Can we determine
when it will happen? Who is affected by the rapture? These are questions we
want to answer using God’s Word.
In order to understand the rapture, we must first understand the basics
of right division (dispensation Bible study). Most of Christendom is totally
ignorant (unlearned) in regards to proper Bible study. In 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV,
we see God’s instructions as to how to study His Word: “Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.”
If we were to lay out the entire Bible on a timeline, it would be divided
into different dispensations (that is, time periods). God dealt with mankind in
specific ways using different methods and giving varying instructions to diverse
groups of people. When the Bible is “rightly divided,” it becomes apparently
clear what God has written to US, and what He has written to SOMEONE ELSE.
If we refuse to rightly divide the Scriptures, this will do nothing but confuse us!
In the Old Testament, the LORD primarily dealt with His covenant
people, the nation Israel. They were to be God’s vessel in the earth—through
Israel and her promise of a King and a kingdom, God would bless the whole
world (Genesis 12:1-3). When Israel’s King finally appeared in the Four Gospels
(Jesus Christ), Israel rejected Him in unbelief and crucified Him on Calvary. In
the early Acts period, God the Father gave Israel ample time to repent and
accept Jesus as their Messiah and King, who had recently arisen from the dead
(Acts 2:36-38).
The program through which God dealt with Israel was the prophetic
program. In Acts 2:31, we see the definition of the prophetic program: “…[that]
which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world
began.” Throughout the Old Testament, the LORD gave many prophecies
regarding Israel, her King, and her kingdom. These prophecies were being
fulfilled between the period of the Old Testament and the early Acts period.
When Israel refused to repent (change their mind) of Calvary in the early Acts
period, God did something He never told anyone about in the Old Testament.
There would be a break in prophecy, a temporal suspension of the prophetic
program.
With Israel’s King now a royal exile in heaven, her kingdom would be
postponed, and God would bless the whole world apart from converted Israel
and her kingdom. The Old Testament made no mention of this.
In Acts chapter 9, God saves one religious Jewish zealot named Saul of
Tarsus. Saul is leading Israel’s rebellion against Jesus and His twelve apostles,
but rather than God killing him, God saves the man! Saul of Tarsus will become
the Apostle Paul, and God will turn to the whole world (not just Israel) through
the ministry of Paul.
According to the Bible, the dispensation of grace was entrusted to the
Apostle Paul. We read in Ephesians 3:1-2, “1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner
of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the
grace of God which is given me to you-ward:” The Dispensation of Grace (our
present-day) is a time period in which God is blessing the whole world, not just
Israel. Today, anyone and everyone has a chance to receive salvation through
the bloodshed of Jesus Christ. We are not blessed through Israel; we are
blessed through Calvary today! A person is saved today by becoming a member
of the Church the Body of Christ, not by being blessed through Israel.
Today, we live in the mystery program (as opposed to Israel’s prophetic
program of the Old Testament). In Romans 16:25-26a, Paul writes: “25 Now to
him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of
Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret
since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest,…” Contrast that with what
we read earlier in Acts 3:21.
The Apostle Paul writes that we are not living in Israel’s program because
Israel’s program was suspended 2000 years ago. In order for the remaining
prophecies to be fulfilled (such as Israel’s kingdom being brought in), our
present-day Dispensation of Grace must be concluded. The purpose of the
rapture is to ensure the mystery program stops, enabling the prophetic program
to resume.
The Old Testament never speaks of the rapture; Jesus never spoke of the
rapture in His earthly ministry recorded in Matthew through John. The books
of Hebrews through Revelation do not mention the rapture either. To study the
rapture, we must rely on Paul’s epistles.
Paul makes at least eight references to the rapture, the special coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ to take the Church the Body of Christ from earth. We find
references to the rapture in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Corinthians 1:7-8;
Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1
Thessalonians 5:9, 23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; and Titus 2:13. The two primary
passages are found in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4, and we will look
at those momentarily.
Let us see what Philippians 3:20-21 KJV says: “For our conversation is
in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21
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.” This is one reference to the rapture. At the rapture, we as
members of the Church the Body of Christ will receive our glorified bodies
spoken of in Romans 8:23, 2 Corinthians 5:1-4, and Ephesians 4:30!
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Paul speaks of the rapture as “the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,” As to the exact
day, hour, or year, we cannot predict the time of the rapture. We do know that
the rapture will precede (come before) the seven years of Tribulation. To confirm
this, we will look at two verses.
“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even
Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Indeed, it is a PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE!
We never set dates, but the Lord does tell us to “watch and be sober,”
and to be anxiously awaiting His arrival at any moment (1 Thessalonians 5:6).
Even the Apostle Paul was looking and watching for the “”blessed hope,” which
would be at least 2000 years from the time he wrote! That thought should
compel us to continue in the Christian ambassadorship!!
Let us now look at 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 KJV:
“51 Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall 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 shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written [Isaiah 25:8], Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
continued below:
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord.”
Verse 51 says that the rapture is a “secret” (“mystery”) because prior to the
revelation God gave Paul, the rapture was unknown. Not every member of the
Church the Body of Christ will die physically—“we shall not all sleep [die
physically], but shall all be changed.” That word “changed” indicates a
“transformation.” At the moment of the rapture (which will happen in less than
one second!), all members of the Church the Body of Christ (whether living or
deceased) will be instantly changed from this sinful physical body to a brand
new body. According to Philippians 3:20-21, our news bodies will be just like
the Lord Jesus’ resurrected body. This trump spoken of here has no relation to
the seven trumpets of the Tribulation. Let us turn now to 1 Thessalonians 4 for
additional information about the rapture.
Here is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV:
“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which
are asleep.
16 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:
17 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Here we see some details that were not given in 1 Corinthians 15. For
instance, we see that the “dead in Christ” will rise from the grave and get their
glorified bodies, and then we believers in Christ who are living will receive our
glorified bodies. So, when Jesus Christ returns at the rapture, He will not
return to earth—He will only return “in the clouds.” The Lord will not stand on
earth at the rapture. In this split second of time, God (Jesus Christ) brings the
deceased Christians’ souls back to earth, and gives them new bodies. In the
next instant, we are given new bodies, and then all members of the Church the
Body of Christ are “caught up” (raptured) together in the clouds, “to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Wow! These words do
contain comfort.
We know that Christ Jesus will descend from Heaven, bringing with Him
the souls of the deceased members of the Body of Christ. The Lord Jesus will
wait in the clouds, never setting foot on the Earth (which He will do seven years
later, at His Second Coming). The Lord will resurrect those Body of Christ
believers who are “asleep in Christ,” or those Christians who have died these
past 2000 years. He will reunite their souls and spirits with their resurrected,
glorified bodies that will be fit for eternal glory. Once the dead in Christ are
gathered in the air, the living members of the Body of Christ will
instantaneously receive glorified bodies. Imagine this illustration: tiny metal
shavings (the Christians) scattered onto a surface (Earth) being drawn up to a
giant magnet (Jesus Christ). What a rapturous event!
As the rapture is occurring, no one will really know because it is so
quick. If you are a believer in Christ, you will not have time to realize what is
going on because you will be instantaneously transformed into immortality! Not
even the lost world will know of the rapture occurring!
Why has the rapture not happened yet? Until the “fulness of the Gentiles
be come in,” (the last person is placed into the Body of Christ), the rapture must
be postponed (Romans 11:25). God is holding back the Tribulation until the
Dispensation of Grace is complete (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). After the rapture,
the antichrist will be revealed. As for right now, there are still lost people who
need to get saved in this the Dispensation of Grace, and God is patiently
waiting for them to make their decision to enter the Body of Christ by placing
their faith in the Gospel of Grace of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: “how that Christ died
for our sins, according to the Scriptures, [His blood was shed] and that He was
buried, and that He was raised again the third day, according to the
Scriptures.”
Once the Church the Body of Christ is complete, away it goes to be with
the Lord Jesus Christ in glory.... I am so thankful to know that I will be one of
the precious few who will be raptured, before the time of seven years of
Tribulation when God’s wrath will be poured out on this shameful society. I feel
sorry for those who will be left behind, but, they chose to reject the salvation in
Christ, and they are “without excuse.”
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV).
SUPPLEMENT: THE RAPTURE IS NOT THE SECOND COMING!
We read earlier about 2 Timothy 2:15 and about “rightly dividing the
word of truth.” Because much of Christendom fails or refuses to study the Bible
using dispensational Bible study, people often confuse the rapture with the
Second Coming of Christ. Or, they reject the rapture completely. How sad.
Dispensational Bible study makes it absolutely clear that the Church the
Body of Christ is separate from the nation Israel. Obviously, Jesus Christ will
come for the Church which is His Body prior to the Tribulation, and THEN
Christ will return at His Second Coming after the Tribulation for the nation
Israel. The rapture CANNOT be found and is NOT found in the Four Gospels—
Matthew 24:36-44, John 14:1-4, and Revelation 4:1 are NOT the rapture!!
rapture can only be found in Paul’s epistles because the rapture is STRICTLY a
Pauline revelation.
The “catching away” of the Church, the Body of Christ is described in two
Pauline passages, though the Apostle makes other brief references to it
throughout his epistles. We really do not know when the rapture will happen,
but we know that it will be prior to the seven-year Tribulation. The prophetic
program of Israel cannot mix with the Body of Christ in the Dispensation of
Grace. The rapture ensures that MYSTERY program does not mix with Israel’s
PROPHETIC program.
We can be absolutely sure that it is a PRE-TRIBULATION rapture. God
has no reason to judge or pour out His wrath on His Church the Body of Christ.
We have been spared from wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). We as members of the
Church the Body of Christ are not looking for the Second Coming of Christ; we
are looking for the rapture. The Second Coming will not happen until after the
Tribulation, and the Body of Christ will not be on the earth at the Second
Coming.
At the Second Coming of Christ (see Zechariah 14:1-4), Jesus Christ
stands on the Mount of Olives; this is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Acts 1:6-
11. Angels will accompany Christ at His Second Coming (Matthew 25:31). At
the time of the rapture, Christ will not stand on the earth, but will rather wait
for the believers in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17)! Also, there is at least a
seven-year period between the Rapture and the Second Coming.
I am glad that I am one of the fortunate few who will one day be caught
up in the clouds....
Maranatha, “Our Lord Cometh"
http://www.ambassador4christ.net/brasseaux/pdf2/Rapture.pdf
This is an excellent study and I totally agree with the author!
How wonderful to know that at any moment now we will be experiencing, what we have just read in this thread!
God Bless You One and All!
So looking forward to the Rapture and meeting Jesus in the air first and foremost, and each and everyone of you!
Look up our redemption is about to be completed with a new body, Thanks be to God! It is near even at the very door!
Maranatha!
Valerie
Is Everybody Ready, we're almost there!!!
Can you sense a bit of excitement in my written word! LOL!!!
After doing the study on "Is The number 3 a clue to the time or day of the Rapture?" I'm more sure than ever that our departure with Jesus is at hand! In the study you'll see that both the Bible & Torah, testify to the Lord's coming at hand.
Take the time to read the thread there are some very exciting things I was able to research, which confirmed the fact, we are on the edge of eternity, and are about to be removed from this planet anytime now!
"Is The number 3 a clue to the time or day of the Rapture?"
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3138553015&frmid=389&msgid=1174481&cmd=show
Maranatha!
Valerie
VERY WELL DONE!!!
ALL PRAISE TO JESUS FOR THIS STUDY!!
HE IS COMING!
