1513. The Rapture Proved by Typical Scenes

The Rapture Proved by Typical Scenes

"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death" (Heb_11:5).

We desire to present six characters of the Bible whose revelation, to us, seems typical of the Revelation which awaits the saints.

These things were not written in the Word of God for pastime, they had a significance and a message which we would do well to weigh.

1. The Rapture of Enoch

"He was not found because God took him," or translated him.

After Enoch's sudden disappearance, the people of his day made search for him, but their search, however, was futile; he was not found.

The people may never have known why Enoch was not found, but we know, because the mystery of the revelation has been placed in our keeping, we know "God translated him."

The translation of Enoch, the man who prophesied so faithfully and so truly of the Lord's Coming (see Jdg_1:14), stands before us as a type of the translation of saints.

2. The Rapture of Elijah

"And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more" (2Ki_2:11-12).

The Lord chose Elijah to type the Rapture of the saints, and who could have been more aptly chosen?

Elijah will be very intimately connected with the Lord's Return. Elijah is to be one of the Lord's two witnesses, before "the great and dreadful day of the Lord" (Mal_4:5).

In the Book of Revelation is the record of Elijah's second rapture. He, with the other witness, shall be slain, and their bodies shall lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three days, then, the Spirit of life from God will enter into them, and they will stand upon their feet. Concerning this, we read these striking words:

"And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them" (Rev_11:12).

The first rapture of Elijah stands before us therefore as a picture of the resurrection of living saints, Elijah's prophesied second rapture makes us think of the rapture of dead saints.

3. The Rapture of Christ

"And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight" (Act_1:9).

This rapture of Christ is certainly typical of the rapture of those who are in Christ. He told the disciples that He would come in like manner as they had seen Him go. The promise had reference particularly to the Revelation, but if it was typical of the way He should return, His rapture is also typical of the way we shall go. We too shall be taken up into Heaven in a cloud.

4. The Rapture of Philip

"The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more" (Act_8:39).

Philip was not raptured to Heaven, but the fact that he was caught away, and was later found at Azotus, is proof sufficient that our Lord Jesus will be able to catch away His own and receive them unto Himself.

5. The Rapture of Paul

"Such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) how that he was caught up into Paradise" (2Co_12:3-4).

The rapture of Paul is a mystery, but a fact.

The rapture of saints is a mystery. We read very plainly, "I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment," etc.

The rapture of saints however mysterious, will, some day, be an accomplished fact. As Paul was raptured, and heard unspeakable words, and beheld an unspeakable glory, so will the saints be with Christ where He is, hear His voice, and behold His glory.

6. The Rapture of John

"The first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter" (Rev_4:1-2).

John caught up through Heaven's open door, was a picture of the rapture of saints.

In Revelation 19, another vision of Heaven opened, is found, only this time, Christ and His saints are coming down.

Who could more fittingly set forth the Rapture, than John? The report was current that he should never die; although Christ merely said: "If I will that he tarry till I come."

One thing we know, John was caught up in the Spirit through the open door of Heaven, and the saints also shall, one day, enter through that same open door.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR