Rapture!!
Revelation 4:1
Message #10
Christians have been looking for the Rapture since the letters of the New Testament were being written. From that time until today, Christians have seen the Rapture as imminent. The way the Rapture is described in the Bible is clearly meant to keep us always watching and always ready. To keep us always with one ear open for that final trumpet call and to keep our eyes always set on that moment the Lord Jesus “catches up” all Believers from this earth. The Rapture has been imminent for some time, but that just means it is even more imminent now!!
As Believers, this subject must impact our daily lives, and if you have not yet put your faith in Jesus as your Savior, then I genuinely pray you would before this event actually takes place.
Prophetically nothing has to happen between this moment and the Rapture. There is no prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before that trumpet calls us home to be with Jesus. And there are incredible signs – certainly more signs than I’ve ever seen in my forty-four years of following Jesus that the Rapture must be more imminent than ever.
Look at the world. And next week, we are going to go into the timing of the Rapture and how close it might be and what the signs are, and some of the other stuff. I will tell you there is stuff happening in the world, especially in the middle east right now, that ties into some stuff in Ezekiel 38, and – I mean, it’s getting real! The Rapture is more imminent than ever!
But let me give you the disclaimer right up front. Some people have other views on when the Rapture will occur (meaning the timing). But since the timing of the Rapture is not a salvation issue and since when we see these people in Heaven, we won’t have our sin nature any longer, I’m assuming you won’t be saying to them, “I told you so. Na na na na na!”
All I can do today is share with you what we see clearly in scripture, okay?
Before we get going, let’s deal with two things:
1). The word Rapture and
2). The timeline of the Rapture versus the Second Coming
The word “rapture” is not found in the original languages of the Bible because the Bible was not written in English!! The Greek word is HARPAZO which means “to be caught up.” In the Latin Bible, the word was RAPTURO, which means “to be caught up.” And from the Latin word RAPTURO we get the English word RAPTURE, which means “to be caught up.” So, don’t let people give you a hard time by saying, “The word Rapture isn’t even in the Bible….” You can say, “Oh, excuse me. I mean HARPAZO in the Greek, which means the same thing as our English word Rapture.”
Next, it’s important we don’t confuse the Rapture with the Second Coming. The way we see the scripture, the Rapture (the catching up) clearly occurs before the seven-year Tribulation. And at the end of the seven-year Tribulation is the Second Coming when we will return to earth with Jesus (in Revelation Chapter 19).
The Rapture is a stealth event. Jesus comes just close enough to meet us in the clouds, and he catches us up to be with him. At the Second Coming (in Chapter 19), the Bible says, “every eye will SEE him.” That’s when we return to the earth with Jesus, AS Jesus conquers the Beast and the Anti-Christ and sets up his 1,000-year reign on the earth (with us) in a time called the Millennium. So, the Rapture and the Second Coming are two separate events at two separate times. Everybody with me?
Okay, let’s move to the simplest possible outline of the Book of Revelation, and we will see a very clear separation between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. This simple outline of Revelation was given to us by Jesus.
Jesus told this to John in Revelation 1, verse 19.
Revelation 1:19 (NLT)
19 “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.
These are the two major divisions in the Book of Revelation
1). The things that are now happening
2). The things that will happen (after this)
The things that are now happening is
Revelation Chapter 1 – Who Jesus Christ is today
Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 – The Story of the Church on Earth
Then the things that will happen
is basically everything from Chapter 4 through the end of the book.
In Chapter 3, we finished looking at the seven churches that outlined the periods of Church history, and then in Revelation 4, verse 1, we abruptly go from Jesus addressing the Church on earth to suddenly we’re in Heaven, and suddenly we’re seeing things in Heaven and from the perspective of being in Heaven.
And from Chapter 4 on, the Church on earth is not addressed again in Revelation until we return with Jesus in Revelation Chapter 19. The Church, the ECCLESIA, meaning all those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, is not addressed on earth again from Chapter 4 until we return with Jesus in Revelation 19.
God does still have witnesses on earth, and there will be those who are saved during the Tribulation, but the Church (as a whole) is not addressed on the earth at all during the Tribulation. And don’t you think if the Church was on earth during that terrible time that Jesus would have something to say to us? But we believe the Church is not addressed on earth is because the Church is in Heaven.
So, are you ready to jump from “the things that are now happening” to “the things that will happen” after this?
Revelation 4:1 (NLT)
1 Then . . . (This Word is from the GREEK - met-ah tow-tah)
The ESV says here After this, which is the more literal translation of met-ah tow-tah, and so we are about to be “caught up” to Heaven with the Apostle John.
Revelation 4:1(a) (NLT)
1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven . . .
The “door of Heaven” is only referenced twice in Revelation. Once here to let the Believers in, and once in Revelation 19 to let the Believers out to return with Jesus at the Second Coming.
All of the simplest interpretations of Revelation put the Church in Heaven right here at Revelation 4:1, and that is going to be very important as we continue.
And then the next part of verse 1.
Revelation 4:1(b) (NLT)
1 . . . and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast . . .
The Voice John is referring to is the voice he first heard back in Revelation 1:10.
Revelation 1:10 (NLT)
10 It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast.
That was the voice of Jesus Christ.
This is the same voice that called John up to Heaven
This is the same voice that will call us up in the Rapture
Don’t turn there yet, but . . .
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NLT)
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God . . .
That is how the Rapture is announced (in 1 Thessalonians 4)
and that is how John is “caught up” into Heaven
So, John is being “caught up” to Heaven just like we will be “caught up” in the Rapture.
Continuing in verse 1.
Revelation 4:1(c) (NLT)
1 . . . The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” (Second use in this verse of this key phrase met-ah-tow-tah [after this])
So, Chapter 3 was the end of the things that are now happening (the Church age), and then abruptly in Revelation 4, verse 1, we are in the things that will happen after this (meaning after the Church age).
If we look at Revelation 4, verse 1, and say, “After what?” then we have to say after the first three chapters. And remember, from a prophetic perspective, chapters 2-3, the seven letters to the seven churches, they prophetically represent seven time periods in the Church age. And so, we dealt with that last week with Laodicea and said this is the last church, the last letter, and this is the church of the Last Days. Well, what happens when the last time period of the Church Age is over? Revelation 4 verse 1 happens! That’s what happens – read the next verse, and we are snatched up to Heaven at the end of the Church Age.
So, let’s see how that will happen to us. Turn over to 1 Thessalonians. Most scholars believe 1 Thessalonians was only the second letter Paul wrote after Galatians. And so, in his second earliest letter, the main theme of 1 Thessalonians is the Rapture and Second Coming of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (NLT)
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
We will be “caught up” HARPAZO in Greek – RAPTURO in Latin (Raptured!) The Lord HIMSELF descends from Heaven – but notice, he doesn’t actually come all the way to earth. Verse 17 says clearly – we will meet the Lord in the air.
First, those who died having put their faith in Jesus Christ, they will rise in their resurrection bodies – first.
Then, we who are alive will be caught up (Raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Then we will be with the Lord forever!
And then Paul closes with verse 18.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 (NLT)
18 So encourage each other with these words.
And these are some strong words of encouragement.
Don’t be deceived into thinking our best encouragement is that God will make this temporal life better.
Don’t be deceived into thinking that Jesus Christ died for our sins to give us “our best life now.”
God’s real encouragement is that at any moment, we’re going to be caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds and our loved ones who have died knowing Christ are going to meet us in the clouds with the Lord, and then we will always be with the Lord together!! That is some serious God-sized encouragement.
So, here is the process of the Rapture.
The Lord comes down from Heaven with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Believers who have died in Christ will get their Resurrection bodies. Then we will be caught up with them in the clouds to be with the Lord forever.
And I promise, the more you know about where this world is headed and the more you know about being in the presence of Jesus, the more you will know this is the Greatest possible encouragement that God can ever give us.
One more key Rapture passage for today. Turn over to 1 Corinthians Chapter 15. For some reason, some people have thought that 1 Corinthians 15, verse 51 is a prophecy primarily for church nursery workers. This is from the ESV.
1 Corinthians 15:51 (ESV)
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
But the NLT helps clear us this misunderstanding.
1 Corinthians 15:51 (NLT)
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
The context here is the Rapture – the catching up – of those who have made Jesus Christ their Lord.
We will not all die (meaning death in this life), but we will all be transformed!
And then in verse 52…
1 Corinthians 15:52 (NLT)
52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever (in their glorified bodies). And we who are living will also be transformed (into our glorified bodies).
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, with the trumpet call of God, Believers who have died will get their resurrection bodies, and we will be transformed in our resurrection bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:53 (NLT)
53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
This is the moment of ultimate victory for every Believer. This is the moment that death is swallowed up in victory. This is the victory that robs death of even any sting.
But…this ultimate eternal victory is not universal. It is not received by your works or by how good of a person you are.
1 Corinthians 15:57 (NLT)
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible is very clear. God gives us victory over sin and death through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
So, IF you have put your faith in Jesus as the Lord of your life today, then this guaranteed victory over death is absolutely yours. And if you haven’t put your faith in Jesus yet, today is the right day to do that.
The final question is, how should the Rapture impact our lives?!! For the Believer, the question is, are our hearts set on our Heavenly home? And are we living as if Jesus could “catch us up” to our Heavenly home at any minute? OR are our hearts so set on this life and this world that God is going to have a hard time tearing us away from this world?
Guys, don’t be fooled by this world. If you belong to Jesus Christ today, Philippians 3:20 says, Our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we should be eagerly waiting for our Savior. We should always be living in the Rapture position.
Please, don’t reject the free gift of salvation and eternal life available to you today through faith in Jesus Christ. Acknowledge that you are a sinner. Receive the forgiveness of your sins that Jesus died to offer you and make him Lord of your life. And make sure you will be ready when the Lord comes to call us home in the Rapture.
You can begin that eternal, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ today, right now.
As Believers, this subject must impact our daily lives, and if you have not yet put your faith in Jesus as your Savior, then I genuinely pray you would before this event actually takes place.
Prophetically nothing has to happen between this moment and the Rapture. There is no prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before that trumpet calls us home to be with Jesus. And there are incredible signs – certainly more signs than I’ve ever seen in my forty-four years of following Jesus that the Rapture must be more imminent than ever.
Look at the world. And next week, we are going to go into the timing of the Rapture and how close it might be and what the signs are, and some of the other stuff. I will tell you there is stuff happening in the world, especially in the middle east right now, that ties into some stuff in Ezekiel 38, and – I mean, it’s getting real! The Rapture is more imminent than ever!
But let me give you the disclaimer right up front. Some people have other views on when the Rapture will occur (meaning the timing). But since the timing of the Rapture is not a salvation issue and since when we see these people in Heaven, we won’t have our sin nature any longer, I’m assuming you won’t be saying to them, “I told you so. Na na na na na!”
All I can do today is share with you what we see clearly in scripture, okay?
Before we get going, let’s deal with two things:
1). The word Rapture and
2). The timeline of the Rapture versus the Second Coming
The word “rapture” is not found in the original languages of the Bible because the Bible was not written in English!! The Greek word is HARPAZO which means “to be caught up.” In the Latin Bible, the word was RAPTURO, which means “to be caught up.” And from the Latin word RAPTURO we get the English word RAPTURE, which means “to be caught up.” So, don’t let people give you a hard time by saying, “The word Rapture isn’t even in the Bible….” You can say, “Oh, excuse me. I mean HARPAZO in the Greek, which means the same thing as our English word Rapture.”
Next, it’s important we don’t confuse the Rapture with the Second Coming. The way we see the scripture, the Rapture (the catching up) clearly occurs before the seven-year Tribulation. And at the end of the seven-year Tribulation is the Second Coming when we will return to earth with Jesus (in Revelation Chapter 19).
The Rapture is a stealth event. Jesus comes just close enough to meet us in the clouds, and he catches us up to be with him. At the Second Coming (in Chapter 19), the Bible says, “every eye will SEE him.” That’s when we return to the earth with Jesus, AS Jesus conquers the Beast and the Anti-Christ and sets up his 1,000-year reign on the earth (with us) in a time called the Millennium. So, the Rapture and the Second Coming are two separate events at two separate times. Everybody with me?
Okay, let’s move to the simplest possible outline of the Book of Revelation, and we will see a very clear separation between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. This simple outline of Revelation was given to us by Jesus.
Jesus told this to John in Revelation 1, verse 19.
Revelation 1:19 (NLT)
19 “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.
These are the two major divisions in the Book of Revelation
1). The things that are now happening
2). The things that will happen (after this)
The things that are now happening is
Revelation Chapter 1 – Who Jesus Christ is today
Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 – The Story of the Church on Earth
Then the things that will happen
is basically everything from Chapter 4 through the end of the book.
In Chapter 3, we finished looking at the seven churches that outlined the periods of Church history, and then in Revelation 4, verse 1, we abruptly go from Jesus addressing the Church on earth to suddenly we’re in Heaven, and suddenly we’re seeing things in Heaven and from the perspective of being in Heaven.
And from Chapter 4 on, the Church on earth is not addressed again in Revelation until we return with Jesus in Revelation Chapter 19. The Church, the ECCLESIA, meaning all those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, is not addressed on earth again from Chapter 4 until we return with Jesus in Revelation 19.
God does still have witnesses on earth, and there will be those who are saved during the Tribulation, but the Church (as a whole) is not addressed on the earth at all during the Tribulation. And don’t you think if the Church was on earth during that terrible time that Jesus would have something to say to us? But we believe the Church is not addressed on earth is because the Church is in Heaven.
So, are you ready to jump from “the things that are now happening” to “the things that will happen” after this?
Revelation 4:1 (NLT)
1 Then . . . (This Word is from the GREEK - met-ah tow-tah)
The ESV says here After this, which is the more literal translation of met-ah tow-tah, and so we are about to be “caught up” to Heaven with the Apostle John.
Revelation 4:1(a) (NLT)
1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven . . .
The “door of Heaven” is only referenced twice in Revelation. Once here to let the Believers in, and once in Revelation 19 to let the Believers out to return with Jesus at the Second Coming.
All of the simplest interpretations of Revelation put the Church in Heaven right here at Revelation 4:1, and that is going to be very important as we continue.
And then the next part of verse 1.
Revelation 4:1(b) (NLT)
1 . . . and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast . . .
The Voice John is referring to is the voice he first heard back in Revelation 1:10.
Revelation 1:10 (NLT)
10 It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast.
That was the voice of Jesus Christ.
This is the same voice that called John up to Heaven
This is the same voice that will call us up in the Rapture
Don’t turn there yet, but . . .
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NLT)
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God . . .
That is how the Rapture is announced (in 1 Thessalonians 4)
and that is how John is “caught up” into Heaven
So, John is being “caught up” to Heaven just like we will be “caught up” in the Rapture.
Continuing in verse 1.
Revelation 4:1(c) (NLT)
1 . . . The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” (Second use in this verse of this key phrase met-ah-tow-tah [after this])
So, Chapter 3 was the end of the things that are now happening (the Church age), and then abruptly in Revelation 4, verse 1, we are in the things that will happen after this (meaning after the Church age).
If we look at Revelation 4, verse 1, and say, “After what?” then we have to say after the first three chapters. And remember, from a prophetic perspective, chapters 2-3, the seven letters to the seven churches, they prophetically represent seven time periods in the Church age. And so, we dealt with that last week with Laodicea and said this is the last church, the last letter, and this is the church of the Last Days. Well, what happens when the last time period of the Church Age is over? Revelation 4 verse 1 happens! That’s what happens – read the next verse, and we are snatched up to Heaven at the end of the Church Age.
So, let’s see how that will happen to us. Turn over to 1 Thessalonians. Most scholars believe 1 Thessalonians was only the second letter Paul wrote after Galatians. And so, in his second earliest letter, the main theme of 1 Thessalonians is the Rapture and Second Coming of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (NLT)
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
We will be “caught up” HARPAZO in Greek – RAPTURO in Latin (Raptured!) The Lord HIMSELF descends from Heaven – but notice, he doesn’t actually come all the way to earth. Verse 17 says clearly – we will meet the Lord in the air.
First, those who died having put their faith in Jesus Christ, they will rise in their resurrection bodies – first.
Then, we who are alive will be caught up (Raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Then we will be with the Lord forever!
And then Paul closes with verse 18.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 (NLT)
18 So encourage each other with these words.
And these are some strong words of encouragement.
Don’t be deceived into thinking our best encouragement is that God will make this temporal life better.
Don’t be deceived into thinking that Jesus Christ died for our sins to give us “our best life now.”
God’s real encouragement is that at any moment, we’re going to be caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds and our loved ones who have died knowing Christ are going to meet us in the clouds with the Lord, and then we will always be with the Lord together!! That is some serious God-sized encouragement.
So, here is the process of the Rapture.
The Lord comes down from Heaven with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Believers who have died in Christ will get their Resurrection bodies. Then we will be caught up with them in the clouds to be with the Lord forever.
And I promise, the more you know about where this world is headed and the more you know about being in the presence of Jesus, the more you will know this is the Greatest possible encouragement that God can ever give us.
One more key Rapture passage for today. Turn over to 1 Corinthians Chapter 15. For some reason, some people have thought that 1 Corinthians 15, verse 51 is a prophecy primarily for church nursery workers. This is from the ESV.
1 Corinthians 15:51 (ESV)
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
But the NLT helps clear us this misunderstanding.
1 Corinthians 15:51 (NLT)
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
The context here is the Rapture – the catching up – of those who have made Jesus Christ their Lord.
We will not all die (meaning death in this life), but we will all be transformed!
And then in verse 52…
1 Corinthians 15:52 (NLT)
52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever (in their glorified bodies). And we who are living will also be transformed (into our glorified bodies).
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, with the trumpet call of God, Believers who have died will get their resurrection bodies, and we will be transformed in our resurrection bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:53 (NLT)
53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
This is the moment of ultimate victory for every Believer. This is the moment that death is swallowed up in victory. This is the victory that robs death of even any sting.
But…this ultimate eternal victory is not universal. It is not received by your works or by how good of a person you are.
1 Corinthians 15:57 (NLT)
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible is very clear. God gives us victory over sin and death through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
So, IF you have put your faith in Jesus as the Lord of your life today, then this guaranteed victory over death is absolutely yours. And if you haven’t put your faith in Jesus yet, today is the right day to do that.
The final question is, how should the Rapture impact our lives?!! For the Believer, the question is, are our hearts set on our Heavenly home? And are we living as if Jesus could “catch us up” to our Heavenly home at any minute? OR are our hearts so set on this life and this world that God is going to have a hard time tearing us away from this world?
Guys, don’t be fooled by this world. If you belong to Jesus Christ today, Philippians 3:20 says, Our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we should be eagerly waiting for our Savior. We should always be living in the Rapture position.
Please, don’t reject the free gift of salvation and eternal life available to you today through faith in Jesus Christ. Acknowledge that you are a sinner. Receive the forgiveness of your sins that Jesus died to offer you and make him Lord of your life. And make sure you will be ready when the Lord comes to call us home in the Rapture.
You can begin that eternal, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ today, right now.