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| The Rapture! |
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THE RAPTURE
B – Basic, I – Instruction, B – Before, L- Leaving, E - Earth
John 14:1-3
| John 14:1 | ¶ | Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. | | John 14:2 | | 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. | | John 14:3 | | 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. |
What is Bible prophecy? Christians believe that a Bible prophecy is a God-given revelation of the future. God gave His prophets, including Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah, Daniel, Joel, John the Apostle, and others prophecies of the future. He did this to prepare people for the future, and to show that He is the one true God and that He is all-powerful.
A prophecy is not a prediction of the future - it is a promise about the future. God gave promises to His prophets. He told them, for example, that the Jews would be forced out of Israel, scattered worldwide, persecuted worldwide, and that they would eventually return to Israel. These promises have been fulfilled and are being fulfilled. There are different kinds of prophecies. Some prophecies are about a Messiah, which means "anointed one" or "chosen one." These are called "Messianic" prophecies. Messianic prophecies have to do with Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophecies. There also are "end time" prophecies. These prophecies refer to a time of war, famine and pestilence, after which a Messiah will reign over the world with justice and righteousness. Christians believe that this Messiah is also Jesus, who will return in the future. The Bible contains hundreds of prophecies. Some were fulfilled more than 3000 years ago. Others have been fulfilled since then. And, by our count, more than 50 have found fulfillment or partial fulfillment during the past 200 years.
How important is Bible Prophecy?
Revelation 19:10 |
| And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. |
Prophecy is very important. Everything we learn about Jesus is Prophetic. 
"What is The Rapture?" - the Meaning of the word ‘Rapture.’ Why do we use the word 'Rapture' when it is not in the Bible?
The word ‘Rapture’ is not in the English Bible. (But, that does not mean it is not in the Bible). Remember, there are more Bibles than just the English Language Bible. The word 'Rapture' is a word that comes from the Latin language. The word ‘Rapture’, that we refer to is in the Latin Bible (St. Jerome’s Latin Vulgate). It has the same meaning as the word in the English Bible………’to be caught up’……..(harpozo). So, when you hear Christians using the word 'Rapture', they may be using a different word than the English translation 'harpazo', but it means the same thing. 1. Rapture - Latin - To catch up or snatch away. 2. Harpazo - Greek - English - To be caught up or to catch up.
In the Websters dictionary, the word ‘rapture’ looks like this: Main Entry: 1rap·ture
Pronunciation: 'rap-ch&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin raptus
1 : an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion
2 a : a state or experience of being carried away by overwhelming emotion b : a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things.
Verb………rapture……..raptus 1. to catch away or snatch away.
The word ‘Rapture’ that you might hear Christians talk about is not a ‘noun………denoting ecstasy, delight or passion.
The word ‘Rapture’ that we will be referring to is a ‘verb’……..denoting action……….something that is taking place.
The word ‘Rapture’, that we refer to is in the Latin Bible (St. Jerome’s Latin Vulgate). It has the same meaning as the word in the English Bible………’to be caught up’……..(harpozo).
In the Rapture, God will remove all Christians from the Earth, to protect them. This is called "The Rapture." The term comes from the Latin verb raptare, and the Greek word harpizo, both meaning "to be caught up" or "to be snatched up." Jesus will "snatch us" out of harm's way. Jesus could come back at any time RAPTURE ALERT! Jesus is Coming soon!
 WHEN IS JESUS COMING BACK? Matthew 24:42 |
| Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. |
The word ‘hour’ denotes a fixed time or the season. Even though God knows the time of the Rapture, we cannot get a fixed time as to when Jesus is coming back. God knows the time, but we do not; and He has chosen not to reveal the specific time of the Rapture to us.
Matthew 24:43 |
| But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. |
This lets us know how important it is for us to be watching…….and watching means to be in a constant state of alertness or awarness. Matthew 24:44 |
| Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. |
Philippians 4:5 |
| Let your moderation (way of life) be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. |
Hebrews 9:28 |
| So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. |
There will be scoffers (unbelievers) in the last day who don’t believe that Jesus is coming back. Here is what the Bible says about them:
2Peter 3:3 |
| Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, | 2Peter 3:4 |
| And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation. |
Be Patient! I’m Coming! There are People who question the coming of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:34-39: Matthew 24:34 |
| Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. | Matthew 24:35 |
| Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. | Matthew 24:36 | ¶ | But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. | Matthew 24:37 |
| But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. | Matthew 24:38 |
| For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, | Matthew 24:39 |
| And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. |
God is the only one who knows the day when His son is coming back.
1John 2:28 | ¶ | And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. |
This verse tells us that we are to abide (to remain, to be kept in place) in Him so we won’t be ashamed when He comes.
1John 3:2 |
| Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. | 1John 3:3 |
| And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
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1Corinthians 15:51 |
| Behold, I shew you a mystery (something not obvious to the understanding); We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed (transformed), | 1Corinthians 15:52 |
| In a moment (Greek word ‘atomos’), in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. | 1Corinthians 15:53 |
| For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal (given to death) [must] put on immortality (everlasting). | 1Corinthians 15:54 |
| So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
The series of events that take place when Jesus comes back:
1Thessalonians 4:13 | ¶ | But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. | 1Thessalonians 4:14 |
| For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. | 1Thessalonians 4:15 |
| 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. | 1Thessalonians 4:16 |
| For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout (a command), with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: | 1Thessalonians 4:17 |
| 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.<</ |
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| To add a comment to "The Rapture!" |
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| January 02, 2009 |
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Amen! Praise God this is encouring to know someday soon
will be home |
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