0951. The Rapture Asserted–taught by Plain Scripture Statement

The Rapture Asserted–taught by Plain Scripture Statement

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (Joh_14:3)

We will mention, in order, four plain passages which clearly set forth the rapture of the saints.

1. The dead in Christ and the living shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. 1Th_4:14-18 : "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

"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 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:

"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."

This one Scripture should suffice to establish the rapture of saints.

It is given as a comfort message concerning those who sleep in Christ. It is given to encourage our hearts in the thought of the meeting again between the living and the dead, and of their joint meeting with Christ in the air, where they are to be forever with the Lord.

2. I will "receive you unto Myself (Joh_14:3). These words like those above, were also given in comfort. Christ was telling His disciples that He would be going away; but He assured them that He would return and take them unto Himself, that where He was, they should be also.

3. "We shall all be changed" (1Co_15:51). This was a mystery which Paul was showing concerning the resurrection of those in Christ. He spoke of their coming forth from the grave and he says that in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, they shall be changed. That this change takes place at the rapture of the saints, we are assured in various Scriptures. It is from Heaven that we look for our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will change the body of our humiliation and fashion it like unto the body of His glory (see Php_3:21).

4. "Our gathering together unto Him" (2Th_2:1). This Scripture suffices to establish the fact already thrice established–that we are to be caught up into the air unto the Lord.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR