If someone says the word "Rapture" is not in the Bible, respond to them by asking, "Is the concept of Rapture in the Bible?"  If they tell you "No", they are lying to you.  

Harpazo

This area of focus is going to be on Rapture. I assumed that all believers believed in the Rapture, but I was wrong. There are people who believe there is a rapture before tribulation, people that believe there is a rapture during tribulation, people that believe there is a rapture after tribulation, and there are some believers that do not believe there is a rapture at all. How can everybody get all these different ideas from one book that has the same message across it? People confuse the resurrection of tribulation saints with rapture. This is not the same thing. I am going to show you through logic, scripture, and truth that the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the correct belief. Stick with me.

 

What does rapture mean? The concept of Rapture begins with Paul’s letter to Thessalonica- “caught up” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The New Testament was written in Greek. The Greek word for “caught up” is “harpazo”. “Harpazo” means to “seize”, “carry off by force”, or “snatch away”. The Latin Vulgate of this word is “rapiemur”, which comes from the verb “rapio”, which means to “catch up” or “take away”. “Rapture” entered English from Middle French, tracing back through Medieval Latin “raptura” (seizure) to the Latin “raptus” (a carrying off, abduction) from the verb “rapere” (to seize). Simply put, the word “Rapture” is not in the Bible because it is written in Greek, so it says “harpazo”. If it were a Latin Bible it would say “Rapiemur” or “Rapturo”. The word “Bible” is not in the Bible either, but that does not mean it doesn’t exist. The words "problem" and "solution" were not in there either.  Do you believe that there were no problems or solutions in the Bible?  You could not possibly think that if you actually read it. 

 

The word “harpazo” is used when describing when the Spirit “caught Phillip away” near Gaza and placed him in Cesaria. Acts 8:39 says, “Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.” The word “harpazo” is also used when Paul was called up to the third heaven. 

 

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 says, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” 

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 

 

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 says, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” It says, “for the trumpet shall sound”. Every time people see “trumpet” they relate it to the seven trumpets from Revelation. The trumpet in this verse is referring to the trumpet of God. This is the trumpet we read about in Revelation 4:1. It says, “the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me”. This trumpet is not the 7th judgment trumpet in Revelation that is sounded by the angel, but the trumpet of God. Stay with me. I am going to connect everything by the end.

 

Now that I have went over the concept of the rapture from the New Testament, I want to show you that this concept is also mentioned in the Old Testament. Now remember the Old Testament is written in Hebrew, so clearly they would not use harpazo like the Greek New Testament but the concept is all in there. 

 

The Old Testament speaks of Enoch (Genesis 5:24): Enoch walked with God and was taken, representing a believer escaping death. Genesis 5:24 says, “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” 

 

In 2 Kings 2:11, Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, a direct, literal, bodily taking away. 2 Kings 2:11 says, “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 

 

Daniel 12:1-2 describes the resurrection and the deliverance of the “wise” or “many” from a time of unparalleled distress, which is used as a precursor to the Rapture of the Church (current believers). It says, “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.” 

 

Isaiah 26:19-20 is often cited as a reference to the resurrection of the dead and the hiding of God’s people during a time of wrath. Isaiah 26:20 says, “Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past.” 

 

Zephaniah 2:3 is a call to “seek the Lord” so that they might be “hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger,” indicating protection before judgment. It says, “Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.”

 

In the Story of Ruth scholars view the story of Ruth (a Gentile bride) being taken by Boaz (a kinsman redeemer) before the judgment of the Day of the Lord as a prophetic pattern. Ruth 3:13 & 3:18: “Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day”. This is interpreted as the bride (church) waiting for the Bridegroom (Jesus) to complete the redemption process. In Ruth 3:1 & 3:9: Ruth seeks “rest” (security/marriage) in Boaz’s home, mirroring the Rapture as the church finding safety with Christ before judgment. Ruth 4:13 says, “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife...”. This is seen as the culmination of the rapture, where the church is united with Christ. 

 

Also, remember Noah? Noah was “removed” before God casted judgment on the earth. What about Lot? He was removed before God casted judgment on Sodom. We see a pattern here. God removes us before He casts judgment. These examples show the concept of rapture. If someone tells you that the concept of the rapture is not in the Bible, they are lying to you. We see all throughout the Bible that God removes believers before casting judgment. We are not appointed to face the wrath of God. 

The Wrath of God

We need to understand that believers are not going to face the Wrath of God. To prove this point, I am going to provide you with a few scriptures to help remind you that you are guarded and defended in your faith in Jesus. Be confident and know what believing in Him means for you.

 

Romans 1:8 NKJV: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

 

Romans 5:9 NKJV: “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

 

1 Thessalonians 1:10 NKJV: “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

 

1 Thessalonians 5:9 NKJV: “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

 

Nahum 1:2 NKJV: “God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;”

 

When you read the Bible it should only reassure you that you will not face the wrath of God. This leads us to ask the question: Is the Tribulation the Wrath of God?

 

First, In Revelation chapter 5, we see Jesus (only Him) being worshiped. Only He can open the scroll. This scroll holds the first 7 judgments on earth. It is God dealing with sin. Before the seals are even complete, the Bible clearly tells us what is happening. 

 

In Revelation 6:16-17 it says, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (The first 6 judgment seals) Why would people say such things? They are saying these things because of what they will be seeing with their own eyes. They see everything that has happened and the devastation from it, and they are saying the wrath of God has come. The Bible tells you before the seals are even finished that the wrath of God is being poured out. 

 

Then in Revelation 15:1 it says, “I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.” It does not say the wrath of God of begins. It says the wrath of God is complete. It is saying it has been in process and when the seven last plagues conclude that will mean the wrath of God is complete. To say that this period of time is not the wrath of God makes no sense because it is literally described as the wrath of God. 

 

Then in Revelation 16 it says, “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.’” The Bible makes it clear that The Tribulation is the wrath of God. It is God returning His attention to Israel and this wicked, evil, unrepentant world. He is dealing with sin. 

 

In Matthew 24 it tells us that this time will be the most horrifying things we have ever witnessed or can even think of in our minds, in our nightmares. We have never seen anything close to what is coming. Matthew 24:21 says, “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now. And never to be equaled again.” People will say, “but the disciples died for their faith.” Yes, but they did not suffer the wrath of God Almighty.  BELIEVERS ARE NOT APPOINTED TO SUFFER THE WRATH OF GOD. 

White Linen Versus White Robes

Revelation 19:11-16 says, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” This is when Jesus returns. When He returns He is with people clothed in fine white linen, NOT white robes.

 

Before Jesus returns there is the Marriage of the Lamb supper. This includes the believers that are raptured, a.k.a. the Bride of Christ Saints, a.k.a. the Church. This takes place in heaven. Follow the white linen and white robes. Stick with me.

 

This is important because of what Revelation 19:7-9 says. It says, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

 

This is talking about the Bride of Christ. This is talking about the church. This takes place before Christ returns. How can the Bride of Christ (Believers) be in heaven with Christ and on earth? They won’t be. They return with Jesus on white horses wearing fine white linen. Note that the verses also say “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” The Bride of Christ is in heaven. They were “called” there for the marriage supper. The Bride of Christ is the church-the believers that are raptured. He also blesses the tribulation saints with a different blessing. This is how you know that the Tribulation Saints and the Bride of Christ Saints are not the same. This is where many people get confused. They see Saints when Bride of Christ is mentioned, and they see Saints when describing the ones who convert during tribulation, and naturally people assume they are the same. They are not.

 

The above verse, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” is for the Bride of Christ (The Church/Believers). The Tribulation Saints (not the Church) have a separate blessing. Revelation 14:12-13 says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” This blessing is for those who are not raptured, but come to faith during Tribulation.

 

The following verses in Revelation 7:14-17 describe the Saints from tribulation. Again these Saints are not the Bride of Christ Saints. These are the ones who come to faith during Tribulation. Revelation 7:14-17 says, “And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ “So he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” This is talking about the Tribulation Saints. They come out of Tribulation as believers. Look what they are wearing. They are wearing robes that were made white in the blood of the Lamb. They are NOT wearing white linen. This is how you know when it mentions white robes it is NOT referring to the Bride of Christ.

 

Now to recap, the Bride of Christ (the church) is said to be in Heaven with Christ for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This means that the believers are in heaven with Jesus at this time. This is before Jesus’ Second Coming. This is before any other Saints have come because they do not know they are Saints yet. At this point the only Saints we know for sure is the Bride of Christ (the church/believers). This also includes those who died believing in Christ before Tribulation. We know this because 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” Those who died believing in Jesus Christ and those alive when it happens will be raptured. They are the Bride of Christ. They are the Church. They are the ones who already had faith before everything started.

 

We will not know who the Tribulation Saints are until tribulation is over, which is when Christ returns. They repent, they get saved, and because of that they have to die for their faith.

 

Jesus Second Coming is at the end of the Great Tribulation:(The second three and a half years). I have showed you that when Christ returns He will be with a multitude of people on white horses, clothed in fine white linen. If these people are with Him when He returns it means they came from the same place. They are riding to earth following Christ. The confusion between the different types of Saints causes major confusion with the timing of the rapture. Clean linen versus white robes.

Two Resurrections during End Times

There are two different resurrections during end times. One resurrection is for believers and has two parts, and one resurrection is for unbelievers a.k.a. the wicked. The first resurrection has two parts (Raptured and Trib Saints). Those who are raptured will get their eternal body right then, when Tribulation begins. The second part of the first resurrection comes later after tribulation. Those who died in Jesus name during tribulation will be raised and given their eternal bodies. This will happen right before the Millennial Reign. Both groups of resurrected believers will reign with Jesus Christ for 1000 years. After the Millennial Reign is when the second resurrection happens for the unbelievers.

 

Revelation 20:4 says, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” The wicked and the unbelievers will not get their physical eternal bodies until after the 1000 year Millennial Reign. Whether we go to heaven or hell we all will eventually get a new eternal body.

 

Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” This can be looked at as the resurrection of believers. Jesus looks at resurrections by type and not by timing. We think of it as timing, but we are wrong. Remember it is not about you, it is about Him. He separates the resurrections in two groups: believers and unbelievers, not when they happen.

 

John 5:29 says, “and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” This verse here tells us that there are two resurrections. The first resurrection has two parts and the second resurrection will be for the unbelievers and evil doers. All of the wicked that died in sin, denying Jesus Christ, will be resurrected together during the second resurrection.

Jewish Wedding Tradition

In order to understand the concept of rapture (harpazo/caught up) you need to understand the way life was when Jesus walked the earth. Many things Jesus says concerning the Bride of Christ is related to Jewish wedding tradition. If we are the Bride of Christ, that means that He is the Bridegroom. In

 

Ephesians 5:31 it says, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Then verse 32 says, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

 

In Jesus’ time weddings were nothing like what we see today. In Jesus time the groom would make a covenant with the bride. It was an actual contract between the bride and the groom and they would drink a glass of wine to seal and make that contract official. Then he would pay the bridal price for her. Sound familiar? Matthew 26:27-28 says, “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

 

After the covenant was made, they drank the wine, the price for the bride had been paid, the groom would stand up and give a speech to his bride, letting her know that he had to go to his father’s house to make a place for her to come and stay. He had to leave and get his father’s house ready for the new bride to move in and live there. Does this ring a bell? John 14:2-3 says, “In My Father’s house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 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 honeymoon suite would need to be stocked for seven days for the honeymoon. It had to be done right for the groom to get approval for it from his father.

 

The bridegroom could not go and get his bride and take her back until his father said it was time. If people were to ask, “when is the wedding”, the groom would typically not know, but his father would know. Matthew 24:36 says, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” While the bride waited for the bridegroom to come and get her, she was expected to set herself apart, so everyone knew that she was spoken for. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” She was expected to be ready for when the bridegroom came back to get her. Luke 12:35 says, “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;”

 

When it was time for the bridegroom to go and get his bride, the party would shout as they got closer to the bride’s house, where she was waiting. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” It is almost like an abduction. They would come and “take” the bride away to her new home. Once the bride got back to the father’s house (her new home) the bride and the bridegroom would enter the bridal chamber alone for seven days to consummate the marriage. Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” After that seven days they would come out of the bridal chamber and they see the bride with her veil off and they would celebrate at the marriage supper.

 

Our bridegroom (Jesus Christ) is about to come get His bride (believers who will be raptured). He will leave his Father’s house, where He has been preparing a place for us, to come snatch us away (harpazo) and meet Him in the air, and we will go and be in heaven with Him during tribulation. After that, when it is time for Christ to return to earth (second coming), we will be following Christ back to earth on white horses, wearing fine white linen, and we will be seen as His wife.

Darby Did Not Invent the Rapture

We are set apart as believers in Jesus Christ. We do not endure the wrath of God. People have the nerve to say Darby invented the rapture. Funny story is I started believing in Jesus before I even knew or understood the Bible. Once I started believing I began studying and learning. When I read Scripture I pray for discernment. After I read, I pray to make sure that I have understanding. Once I read Revelation, Daniel, and 1 Thessalonians it just clicked for me. I really do not understand how anyone can interpret it differently. Once you study it and connect all of the dots, it just seems so obvious.

 

There is a man named Darby. I know very little about him. I have never known him, studied him or heard his theories. One day when I told someone my rapture view their response was, “You have been indoctrinated with the Darby lie.” When they told me this I looked up, “Who is Darby?” Apparently he explained the theory of rapture in the 1800’s. I had no idea who Darby was.

 

People keep saying all over the place that Darby invented the rapture. They will say that no one ever spoke of the rapture until Darby made it up. This is a lie. There are many people that spoke of the theory of rapture. Darby was not the first. As a matter of fact, Saint Ephraem, from around the 4^th century spoke about rapture theory. (The 4^th century is before the 1800’s, meaning Darby was not the first to talk about rapture.) In the 4^th century Saint Ephraem wrote, “For all the Saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord, lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins.”  I am not sure if people forgot how dates work, but the 4th century came before the 1800's, and that is a fact.

The Enemy

The enemy is the one that plants these thoughts and these doubts in our minds. Demons are even preparing for the rapture to take place. As soon as we go up and can no longer be seen and the restrainer (Holy Spirit) is removed, the most horrifying things anyone has ever seen will unleash. The demonic kingdom is preparing for our removal. Post-tribulation rapture would make no sense. You must understand that.  When Jesus says, "Blessed are those who believe without seeing", what do you think He meant?  Your faith means something major.  Do not let Satan take this truth away from you.  Believers; the Body of Christ; the Bride of Christ; The Church; Us, the believers, will not be here during tribulation.  This is the reason that God uses the 144000 (12000 virgin Jews from each of the 12 tribes) and the two witnesses.

 

This world is ran by Satan currently. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” The enemy is constantly scheming, lying, and deceiving. He plants his little seeds and does everything he can to pull you away from God. He does everything he can to make you confused about who Jesus Christ is. He hates you and he hates me. He does not want to be cast into the Lake of Fire by himself. He wants to drag as many people with him that he can. His goal is to hurt God while he is destroying you.