The Rapture

by Brian Farrell⁽²³⁷⁾ Red Star

http://www.ph16.com

What is the Rapture and its significance to the world? What happens to the church at the Rapture? Why is it critical that the church presently understand this biblical doctrine? Does our understanding of the Rapture affect our relationship with the Lord and each other?

In researching the Rapture, there are many great resources available. At the end of this article I have listed a few additional resources for study on this great doctrine of the Bible. In the present article, I want to stay focused on answering the questions stated at the outset...

The following is an excerpt from my paper entitled The Rapture.

This part of the paper attempts to answer question three of four. At the end of this excerpt there is a link to the full paper, which has a few additional resources, one of which being Bart Bartholomew's article here on World Wide Bible Studies.

III. Why is it Critical that the Church Understand the Doctrine of the Rapture?

Now that we’ve seen what happens to us, where we’ll be and some of what we’ll be doing in Heaven after the Rapture, we need to reflect carefully on what all of this means for us as children of God now in this life before the Rapture. Why is it so crucial for the church to understand fully this great doctrine? The answer may seem a bit simple and yet for many, surprising.

Our Mind is to be Set on Things Above

A Christian who is maturing daily in a close and personal relationship with Jesus should begin to find themselves naturally living their entire life, every moment, in the immediate expectancy of His imminent return, which is initiated by this ecstatic event that has come to be known as the Rapture. Not only do we need to know this event thoroughly, we should be living for its outcome and in joyful anticipation of its transcendent climax. The Rapture transports us to the moment of our glorification in Jesus Christ, into His presence forever. Moreover, the Rapture declares the soon coming of God’s Kingdom on the earth, and its King, Jesus, reigning in justice and righteousness. If you are not living to be glorified in Christ and for the establishment of God’s Kingdom, than what are you living for? Prayerfully consider that the New Testament believers were living for Jesus’ return, as abundantly reflected in the writings of the apostles and the words of the Lord.

So think clearly and exercise self-control and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (for the Church, that is the Rapture) ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:13-16).”

… looking for and hastening ( speudo, “to desire earnestly” –Thayer’s Lexicon) the coming of the day of God (2 Pet. 3:12a)…

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:7-8).

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming (1 John 2:28).

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:2-3).

And through Paul, the Holy Spirit says again,

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (we are living lives looking for Jesus, and looking for His glorious appearing) , (Jesus) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you (Titus 2:11-15).

And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come ( the wrath to come is God’s judgment of the world in the Great Tribulation and the final “Great White Throne” judgment of the unbelieving dead, both yet future to the church age) (1 Thess. 1:6-10).

… eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:7b)…

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Phil. 3:20-21).

So, how are we Christians to live in this present age? We are to live our lives looking to Jesus moment by moment as He “purifies for Himself His own special people” and we should be looking for Jesus at the Rapture of the church, waiting, eagerly waiting for Him to come from Heaven because He brings our blessed hope, our glorification in Him! We are to be resting our hope fully upon Jesus and the grace that is to be brought to us at His revelation, earnestly desiring this day! The grace to be brought to us at His revelation is our glorification, our eternal life in Him and the measureless blessing of our God’s lovingkindness. Forgiveness is the removal of sin once counted against us, but grace is both God’s undeserved kindness toward us in His blessing and power for His church today and His unending and unknowable blessings that He will pour out on us for all eternity!

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:2-4).

Why do we live our lives with our minds set on Jesus and looking for His return at any time? Because “when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” The closer we are getting to Jesus, the more we groan to be clothed in our new bodies and to be one with Him in glory.

Our Blessed and Living Hope

Let’s look now at Jesus’ own comments on our blessed hope. Most Christians know that Jesus promised His church that He would come again for her one day, but sadly, some still do not know that He was referring to what we now know is the Rapture, the day of the church’s great calling away from this temporary, fading life and out of this fallen, dying world.

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 (the Rapture takes us to Heaven, where we “appear with Him in glory”, Col. 3:4). And where I go you know, and the way you know (John 14:2-6).

With this very statement in mind, among others, Peter said, “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5).”

Our eternal life, in and through and with Jesus, is our living hope (Paul called it our blessed hope). We have been born again to it by our God and Father who has, according to His abundant mercy, begotten us again to a hope that is alive. Our hope of glory is Christ, who is alive through His resurrection from the dead. Because He is alive, we too are alive to God by faith in Him. And our Father has a place for each of us in His house that Jesus is preparing for each of us that are His, an imperishable and undefiled inheritance that will never fade away. Jesus is coming again to receive us to Himself, that where He is, we may be also, a place reserved in Heaven for each of us. We know where He has gone and we know the way, and we are kept by the power of God through faith for this salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Someone may ask, “How can I know the way?”

Jesus says to one and all the same, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14).”

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:6-9).

In light of our daily, personal relationship with the Lord, how critical is it for the church to understand and live in anticipation of this, the greatest of all moments?

© Brian Farrell

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http://ph16.com/ts_the_rapture.html

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Article submitted Monday, March 07, 2011 & read 295 times.

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» left by Bart⁽²³⁾ (1 year 63 days ago.)

Hello Brian, what a great article. You really know how to make the rubber hit the road, so-to-speak. It is one thing to define and explain a doctrine, but a whole another thing to make skillful application, which you have done really well. Everyday I look with anticipation for Jesus to come and take us home (Rapture), and now even more so after reading your article. Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings!

» left by Brian Farrell⁽²³⁷⁾ (1 year 63 days ago.)

Thank you, Bart. I hope it is complimentary to your article. I really enjoyed yours and got a lot out of it. Obviously, we have a similar hermeneutic which leads us to a very similar view on the Rapture. The more I look for this event, the changing out of our old nature into His image, the more excited I am to be used of the Lord and the more driven by the Spirit to be holy, set apart to Him. Lord bless and thank you again for your contributions here. You are a blessing and I look forward to more of your articles.

» left by Teresa^(1,663) (1 year 63 days ago.)

Hi Brian! Well done. These passages are encouraging and at the same time challenging. What will we be found doing when He returns? Or when we breathe our last? How many have gone to be with our Lord before this day, waiting for His return? May we who claim the name of Christ be found sober and serving our Lord at all times. Thank you for sharing. Now I need to read the complete article. Blessings to you! Teresa

» left by Brian Farrell⁽²³⁷⁾ (1 year 63 days ago.)

Thank you, Teresa. Blessings to you! I am one of those that believes that the Rapture will include the whole church, not just those that are esspecially holy or close to Him. But, what I have discovered by the leading of the Lord is that by looking to that momentous day of our glorification, His goodness and grace overwhelm me when I consider all that He has done for me and how unworthy I am to receive any of it. That sense of gratitude and wonderment leads me to yearn for His coming and to be found by Him at that time holy and set apart to Him. I know I will fall short at His coming, no matter how close I am to Him or how changed, but that leads me to cast my crown at His feet and cry for eternity, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty." "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."

How sweet He is!

» left by Marijo Phelps⁽¹⁷⁹⁾ (1 year 54 days ago.)

Good article! Time is so short and we need to be carefully walking in the Master's footsteps. Many, many need to know His yet and we are here to be His arms extended and His hands reached out - walking in purity, power and His love! AMEN

» left by Brian Farrell⁽²³⁷⁾ (1 year 53 days ago.)

Empower and change us Lord. We want to be used by you to the fullest! Thanks for the words, Marijo.

» left by Anonymous (47 days 2 hours ago.)

First of all, I want to thank GOD for this moment & pooprtunity & for the air that I breath that HE blows! Second, for You Susan, for GOD putting you in my path to send this info. to my e-mail (which I don't know how you got it, but don't care). Prior to this info. I have heard of the Daniel fast (but not tried it, but I will, the beginning of 2012) thru Jentezen Franklin's book. Now I have fasted partial days, full days several times before w/out eating or drinking anything, but still have not felt like I have been doing the fasting correctly.. But with the info. I just read thru your ebook you sent me, from the testimonies I've read thru this blog & from the little info. that I read from Pastor Jentezen book, this all has really opened my eyes & perspective on how to fast & I want to engage in this Journey now more than ever & ever! I am a 2 1/2 yr. old born again Christian & GOD has done some great great things in my life, but I want MORE, more of HIM, HIS Kingdom, righteousness, & relationship. I have found myself going after HIM more & more especially these last few weeks & now with this great tool of the Daniel fast I will use it every year & ocassionally. Ironically for the last few weeks I have been eating healthier (lots of vegeatables, friuts, etc.) & exercising more frequently than ever before, so I guess I could say that GOD has been preparing for this fast & to confirm, you send me this info.! WOW! GOD is soooo awesome! My question(s) is/are: Can you drink as much water as you want, or is there a limit? Can you include in one fasting several reasons/request/petitions/neccesaties/needs, etc.? I'm at work 8 hrs. a day & sometimes it makes it hard to get some quiet time, if you will , can you just do it when you get a chance? May GOD continue to; bless you indeed, enlarge your territory, lay HIS hand upon you & deliver you from the evil one so that you do not endure any pain ( 1 Chronicles 4:10 )THANK U & GBY & YOURS!

We appreciate your comments!

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