Lesson 3
The Rapture
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4.13-17
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15.52
GOLDEN TEXT
* Understand the meaning of the Rapture; the relationship between the Rapture, Great Tribulation, Millennium and the great themes of the end;
* Discuss the miracles that will occur during the Rapture;
* Renew hope that the future will be better for all who know Christ as Savior.
OBJECTIVES
Among the major themes recorded in the 66 books of the Bible, the doctrine of the Rapture stands out for its importance, purpose and role it will play in the perfect plan determined by God. The prophetic scenario marks the Rapture as the first major eschatological event that will begin the countdown in its final part of the end times. In this lesson, we will understand the biblical truth about this subject essential to the Christian faith.
INTRODUCTION
FOUR MAJOR QUESTIONS
What is the meaning of Rapture?
1 - FOUR MAJOR QUESTIONS
What is the place of Rapture related to Great Tribulation?
Who will participate in the Rapture?
Rapture and Revelation means the same thing?
1.1 – What is the meaning of Rapture?
According to Paul's wise words, the Rapture is a mystery (1 Cor 15:51). When addressing this subject with the Church, the apostle makes us understand that his statements are the result of divine revelation. Rapture will be the kidnapping, the lifting, the ascension, the translation of the saved, with transformed and glorified bodies, when the trumpet of God sounds (1 Ts 4.16). It will be the great convocation of the Lord's redeemed.
The Rapture represents, above all, the return of the Lord Jesus for the second time to the world, literally fulfilling the prophecies that declare that the saved will escape the Great Tribulation - this will come with full force on Earth and its inhabitants (Luke 21:36; Rev 6 -18).
1.2 – What is the place of Rapture related to Great Tribulation?
The point of view accepted by most experts in eschatological prophecies is defended in the pre-tribulationist school. The saved, dead, who will be resurrected, and the living, saved, who will be transformed, will be raptured before the Great Tribulation, which will encompass the entire world. The main biblical evidence that supports this teaching can be accessed in the following texts: Zec 14.4; John 14.1-3; 1 Thes 1.10; 4.16-17; 5.9; Rev 4.1; 6-19.
1.3 – Who will participate in the Rapture?
All the dead, saved by Christ, will be brought up by the Lord (will be resurrected) and will be raptured. All of Jesus' faithful servants who are alive will be transformed by the power of God and will be caught up together with those who were resurrected. The wicked, in general, will not participate in this glorious event (Rev 21.8; 22.15).
1.4 – Rapture and Revelation means the same thing?
Rapture and Revelation are two distinct events that will occur seven years apart. The Rapture is equivalent to the Day of Jesus Christ, as Paul identifies (Phil 1:6). Revelation is equivalent to the Day of the Lord, considered as the Day of Wrath, of revenge (Jer 46.10; Ez 30.2; Am 5.18; Zeph 1.7, 14,15).
RAPTURE | REVELATION |
Jesus comes and stays in the air (1 Thess 4.16,17) | Jesus comes and steps on Earth (Zec 14.4) |
Jesus comes to get the saints | He comes with the saints (1 Thess 3.13; Jud 14) |
Christ receives the bride | He comes with the bride |
It's not preceded by signs, it's imminent | Signs predict the event (Mat 24.4-29) |
There will be a blessing and comfort time (1 Thess 4.18) | There will be a time of destruction and judgment (2 Thess 2.8-12) |
Believers are bound (John 14.1-3; 1 Cor 15.51-55) | Israel nation and gentile nations are bound (Mat 24.1-25,46) |
In twinkling of an eye, only saved ones will see Christ | The Lord Jesus will be seeing by everyone in the world (Mat 24.27) |
Great tribulation begins | Millennial dispensation begins |
Christ comes as the bright morning star (Rev 22.16) | Christ comes and the sun of righteousness (Mal 4.2) |
The true Church, with its members integrated and united as the Bride of Christ, made up of people of all nationalities (including Jews), will be transferred by the Lord from the earth to the heavenly mansions (1 Thess 4.13-18)
MIRACLES IN THE RAPTURE
Resurrection
2 - MIRACLES IN THE RAPTURE
Transformation
Glorification
2.1 – Resurrection
The resurrection of the dead will be one of the first miracles: this is a genuinely biblical doctrine, cited in both the Old and New Testaments. When the Lord descends from heaven in the second coming, first thing that will occur will be the resurrection of all the saved (1 Thess 4.16). Faithful believers will hear the voice of Jesus, they will rise from places where they were buried, and death will no longer have power over them (Rev 1:18).
Paul's description of the resurrection of saved believers, dead in Christ, is very rich. Paul analyzes the details, procedures, appropriate time and all implications regarding this resurrection, eliminating doubts and questions related to this essentially relevant matter (1 Cor 15.42-55).
2.2 - Transformation
In theological circles, a miracle is understood as the suspension of natural laws, that is, the cessation of natural-human power for the action of supernatural-divine power. The second great miracle during the Rapture process will be the extraordinary transformation of the saved, resurrected believers and the saved believers who are alive.
This miracle will obey the following order: (1) the saved who sleep with Christ, that is, whose bodies are dead, will receive living spiritual bodies; (2) then, saved, living believers with carnal bodies will receive spiritual bodies. The miraculous process works to change from corruptibility to incorruptibility. From mortality to immortality.
How will the process of body glorification of those saved in Christ take place? Observe the stages mentioned in Bible: salvation (Rm 8.24); adoption (Rm 8.23); justification (Rm 8.30); sanctification (2 Cor 7.1); redemption (Rm 8.23); liberation (Rm 8.21) and glorification (Rm 8.17).
2.3 - Glorification
After the resurrection of those saved in Christ, the transformation of the two groups - those who were resurrected and the living saved by the Lord -, the miracle of glorification will take place. It is worth highlighting, in this topic, the fact that, to enjoy eternity with God, the body made up of flesh and blood will be glorified as a spiritual body, as the carnal body - the earthly man - is related to the physical world (limited to time and space), while the spiritual body - the heavenly man - is related to eternity (1 Cor 15.47,49).
ADDITIONAL FACTS
Figures, types and symbols
3 - ADDITIONAL FACTS
Listen, I tell you a mystery
3.1 - Figures, types and symbols
The biblical characters that recreate the Rapture scenario are: Enoch, translated, taken by God (Gen 5.21-24); Noah and his family, before the flood (Gn 7.7); Lot, removed from Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19.12-23); Elijah, on the banks of the Jordan River (2 Kings 2.6-11); the Lord Jesus, in Jerusalem (Acts 1.9-11); Philip, when coming out of the water (Acts 8.39,40); Paul, to the third heaven (2 Cor 12.1-4); John, on the island of Patmos (Rev 1.9,10); the Two Witnesses, in the Tribulation (Rev 11.11,12); and the male child (Revelation 12:1-5).
3.2 - Listen, I tell you a mystery
This Pauline address (1 Cor 15.51a) alludes to a part of those raptured who will go to heaven, without going through physical death. This teaching was a revelation that the Lord gave to Paul to be shared in the churches as doctrine: there will be a generation, made up of faithful believers, who will be transformed, glorified and prepared for the Rapture, which will happen in a fraction of seconds. Those saved in Christ will not be struck by the sting of physical death.
When everything that God determined for the day of the rapture happens, the whole world will witness the veracity of the Word, and everyone will know that the Lord's promises are faithful and true (Joshua 21:45; 2 Cor 1:20). Those who believe and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives (Acts 16:31); those who keep divine commandments in obedience (1 Tim 6:14); those who are part of the true Church (Eph 5:27); those who live in holiness (1 Thess 5.23); and those who hope for salvation will rise to meet the Lord in the air and go to heaven (1 Thess. 4:16). Let us be the people of the Rapture!
CONCLUSION
GOD BLESS YOU!
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