THE RAPTURE

Two words that Christians use,Rapture and trinity,are not found in the Bible but are words which describe very real things.The "Rapture" to Christians, means the taking out of the Church before the tribulation period.In other words,Jesus Christ shall come to the atmosphere above the earth,a trumpet will sound,and Christians shall be caught up to meet him in the air.We find the evidence for this in verses in Corinthians and Thessalonians. 1 Cor ch 15 vs 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,notice the comma as the thought continues in verse 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. Notice here that the dead in Christ rise first,the living Christians second but both happen "in the twinkling of an eye". I don't think we have a measurement for time that short. Now,moving on into 1Thessalonians and starting in verse 13 and going through verse 17. (1Th 4:13) 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. (1Th 4:14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1Th 4:15) 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. (1Th 4:16) 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: (1Th 4:17) 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.

These things were a mystery to the Old Testament prophets and were hidden until the Apostle Paul came on the scene.This mystery was revealed to Paul and through him,to us.

Many of us now believe that the taking out of the worlds Christians will cause a major economic upheaval and that will bring about the rise of the Antichrist.

How do we know that Christians do not go through the Tribulation Period? The first is a common sense reason;no husband willingly lets his bride go through any kind of tribulation and we Christians are to be the bride of Christ. Second,the Tribulation is for the Jews,to bring them to a knowledge of Jesus as their Messiah. Another reason is scriptural.The church is mentioned nineteen times in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation and then is not mentioned at all in those chapters dealing with the Tribulation.

We always have a few people claiming that there is no "rapture",only one general resurrection.By way of clearing that up consider the following:the Bible presents a day we can't know and a day we can know. Matthew 25:13 says Jesus will return at an unknown time, while Revelation 12:6 says the Jews will have to wait 1,260 days for the Lord to return. The 1,260 days begins when the Antichrist stands in the Temple and declares himself to be God Matt. 24:15-21, 2 Thess. 2:4 This event will take place at the mid-point of the seven year TribulationDan 9:27. The Antichrist has authority to rule for 42 months, which is 1,260 days(the known day)Rev. 13:4 and will be destroyed by Jesus at His second coming Rev. 19:20, 2 Thess. 2:8 .The unknown day and the known day happen at different times, meaning they are two separate events.