Today’s post is a second in a three part series addressing the three issues (Tribulation, Rapture, and Millennium) I did not have time to cover in our message series called “blockbuster ENDINGS”. You may want to read yesterday’s post first which will provide some background for this post as we look at the Rapture.
For those with none to little church background, the rapture is an event where followers of Jesus who are still alive on Earth are “caught up” in the air to meet Christ. Depending on your overall view of when the 2nd Coming of Christ is will influence what you think about the rapture.
“The term rapture comes from the Latin word for the Greek term translated ‘caught up’. ” (Theology You Can Count On – Dr. Tony Evans) In my research (by far not exhaustive) I believe the actual word “rapture” is not in the New Testament. The belief for the rapture comes primarily from several passages: 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 24:39-41, and John 14:2-3. 1st Thessalonians 4:17 is the primary verse: “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
OK, here’s where it get’s tricky. Most all branches of the Christian faith believe that at some point those still alive on the planet when Jesus returns will meet Him. The part that is in question and is debated is “when” it will happen and “where” Christ-followers will go?
Both the “when” and “where” question will be determined by what you believe about the 2nd Coming of Christ and His 1,000 year reign called The Millennium (will discuss this tomorrow). Do you believe Christ returns before His Millennium reign? If so, you as a group of people have 3 different views of when & where.
- First view: Pre-tribulation – Christ will gather His followers to Himself and take us to Heaven where we will avoid the whole tribulation period.
- Second view: Mid-tribulation – Christ will gather His followers to Himself and take us to Heaven and we will avoid the 2nd half of the tribulation.
- Third view: Post-tribulation – Christ will gather His followers to Himself and bring us to Earth after the tribulation has ended.
If you believe that Jesus’ 1,000 year reign is before His 2nd coming then your view typically would be: That Christ followers will meet Jesus in route to His return and come back to Earth.
If you believe that Christ Millennial reign is symbolic for the time from His death on the cross until His return your view typically would be: That Christ followers will meet Jesus in route to His return and come back to Earth.
My thoughts and observations: My goal in this blog is not to sway you to believe what I do but to help you understand the different positions that Godly men and women have had over the centuries. I used to hold to a very “American” and 19th century evangelical view of the rapture, but my view has changed over the years. Like any other person I’m not fond of pain and would love to avoid “the tribulation” in any form. However, in my journey with Jesus I’ve discovered that knowing “what’s” going to happen and “when” isn’t the most important thing. While talking about “end-times” can be interesting and intellectually stimulating it can distract me from the real purpose of knowing I’m going to meet Jesus whenever He returns. That purpose of knowing we will meet Christ when He returns is two-fold. One, will you/I be prepared? And two, in the middle of the harsh realities of life Christ promises to return and that you/I will get to be with him should inspires us and help us endure.
So no matter what you believe about the rapture, the real question is, “Does His promise of being together help you/I to follow Him better and to love Him more?”
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