As world events move relentlessly towards God’s planned conclusion, our hearts turn ever closer to the “Rapture”, when the dead in Christ shall rise first then those whom are alive and remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds. [1 Thess 5:16 & 17]. The Bible indicates that this event will happen before the Tribulation, that is to say, God’s judgement that is to come upon the world, and with the revealing of the Beast of Revelation and then God’s judgement of mankind. Paul goes into a bit more detail in 2 Thessalonians, the Bible says “And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”[2 Thess 2:6-8 NKJV].
Who is the restrainer? There have been various interpretations as to whom the restrainer might be. The generally accepted meaning being the work of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of believers in the Church. If this is the case the Church will have been removed before the Beast is revealed. It does not mean that the Beast or Antichrist will not be in existence but will not be revealed to mankind until after all the believers have met the Lord in the air and been taken home. Many sincere Bible students of Scripture also believe in other timing of Christ’s return either in mid-Tribulation, or when Christ returns for the final battle. However several other factors indicate A Pre-Tribulation return, for example there is little mentioned of the Church from chapter 6 of Revelation until the final return of Christ in Revelation [Chapter 19] and in Revelation Chapter 14 the Lord appoints 144000 Jews and two Jewish witnesses to do the job of taking the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world, not the Church as that has already departed. The Bible also refers to those who are alive at the Rapture meeting the Lord in the clouds. [1 Thess 4:17] If the Lord returns to the Earth to defeat the armies of the Beast he will hardly do it while He is gathering His Bride, the Church, together. So the two events must be separated.
There are many who believe that although the churches of Revelation are real churches, they also indicate periods of time in the history of the universal Church. This follows through to this day and age where the church of Philadelphia is described. This Church represents, much of what the Christian Church is like in the present day. However there is also a belief that we are on the verge of entering the era of the Laodicean church where error and apathy will make the church fail in its purpose. In the letter to the Philadelphian church it says: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. [Rev 3:10 NKJV]. Indicating that it will be during this churches time period that the Lord will come back for His Church.
Christ spoke about His coming to take His loved ones home. In the Gospel of John we read:“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. “And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. [John 14:1-6 NKJV].
In Jesus’ day, as there are in this day and age, many who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Jesus was very clear about a resurrection for believers, after Jesus raised Lazarus to life when he had died, Jesus said to Martha “, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” [John 11:25KJV]. Very clear and very plain to understand. Both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus are important, The Cross was as a perfect and sinless man paying for the sins of the world when He did not need to die as He had committed no sin. The Resurrection of Jesus proved that not only had Jesus conquered death but He had released us from the condemnation of the sentence of death to which all men were guilty. As Paul writes: But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. [1 Cor 15:20-23 NKJV].
So as we see the day approaching what manner of people should we be. The question is before you, are you ready for His coming? Jesus did not tell us when He was coming back, only that He would, and it would probably be at a time we least expect it. It will be, we are told, in a twinkling of an eye. Paul in 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 gives quite a detailed picture of the Rapture; it is written in 1Co 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed- 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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. “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. [1 Cor 15:51-58 NKJV].
Brian D. Papworth