Year of Prophecy: 51 AD (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Year of Fulfillment: Still in the future

Time until fulfillment: >1971 years (not yet fulfilled)

We have been talking about prophecies which have already been fulfilled. Yet, there are several important prophecies which have not yet been fulfilled. One of them is known as the Rapture. Let’s explore it here.

The name “Rapture” comes from the Greek word harpadzo (found in 1Th 4:17) which means “to seize or carry off.” Paul is referring to the translation of the church from earth to heaven. I prefer to call this “The Receiving” because it is tied to the traditional view of a Jewish wedding. The details have already been provided in previous post. Yet, it shows the bridegroom comes to receive his bride unexpectedly; yet she is expected to be found ready. She then goes back with her husband to his father’s house where he has prepared a place for them to live. Doesn’t that sound very similar to these verses in 1 Thessalonians? It is also similar to what Christ told his disciples before he was taken and crucified (Jn 14:1-3). To me, the phrase “The Receiving” sounds more personal and intimate.

From the time of Pentecost in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit was given to each individual believer in Christ until the present day, the Church Age has existed. The initial Christians were Jewish, and it was not until the Jerusalem church started undergoing persecution (Ac 8:1-3) that the Jewish Christians (true Jews or Jewish proselytes) were scattered throughout the known world and continued to talk to others about Christ (Ac 8:4), which eventually led to Gentiles becoming Christians (Ac 10:23-48). God using Paul to become an Apostle to the Gentiles (Ac 9:15). As the Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot) represented, the Church (i.e., the believers in Christ) is composed of all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile (Ro 1:16). As a whole, more Gentiles became Christians than did Jews; however, Paul taught that this was by God’s design. This would be true until the “full number of the Gentiles has come in” (Ro 11:25). However, God has not turned His back on the Jews (Ro 11:26). The Rapture, or The Receiving, is the event which will end the Church Age. It occurs somewhat before the Tribulation Period (this is the start of the future prophecy of the Feasts of Israel ). At the time of God’s choosing, those Christians who are dead will rise in an incorruptible body, and those alive will be changed instantaneously into an incorruptible body (1Co 15:51) and will meet Christ in the air to be with Him forever (1Th 4:13-18).

As we have seen earlier, almost all of the prophecies that deal with Israel as a nation have had a timetable given to them, if people were diligent enough to understand them. However, although the rapture is prophesied (1Co 15:51-53; 1Th 4:13-18), its timing is unknown and there is no scripture that gives a timetable for it. Some believe there is reference to this event in Old Testament scripture in poetic terms (SS 2:8-14); however, Paul called the rapture a “mystery” (1Co 15:51). Therefore, it was not a recognized Old Testament teaching. The apostles and the early Church taught the imminency of Christ’s return (e.g. Pp 3:20, 4:5; 1Th 1:10; Tt 2:13; Ja 5:7-9; 1 Jn 2:28; Rv 22:20), implying things may occur before the imminent event, but there is nothing that must occur before it happens.

As stated above, the bride was expected to be ready at all times. Are you ready for your bridegroom? What if he came today? Would you be smiling and ready to receive him or miss him because you weren’t looking for him?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens