What Happens at the RAPTURE?
The Primary Passage that deals with the Rapture of the Church is found in I Thess. chapters 4 and 5. For us to GET READY for the RAPTURE, we need to examine these verses very closely… In these Scriptures, God says THREE THINGS: (1) What will happen at the Rapture (2) What the believers’ attitude should be concerning the Rapture. And (3) The SEQUENCE or ORDER of the RAPTURE: [a] What happens at the Rapture; [b] What happens in heaven following the Rapture; [c] What happens on earth following the Rapture.
TEXT: I Thess. 4:13 – 5:13
FIRST: What will happen at the Rapture:
I. Do NOT BE IGNORANT (4:13)
The word “ignorant” here implies a lack of knowledge as well as having the opportunity to KNOW and simply IGNORING the truth that is available. Many in the church have NEGLECTED TRUTH about the end‑time. Some have chosen to remain ignorant. God wants YOU to KNOW what will happen at the RAPTURE and He has PROVIDED the WORD of GOD to reveal this truth.
(1) Do not be Ignorant concerning those who have DIED in CHRIST. If you KNOW the TRUTH you will not be carried away with sorrow and lingering grief as “those who have no hope”… those who are not Born Again. (v. 14)
(2) Do not be ignorant about the RESURRECTION of the SAVED DEAD, It is as SURE as the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus.. Do you Believe that Jesus was RAISED from the DEAD? Then be just as sure that the Dead in Christ shall RISE FIRST.. “We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord (the Rapture) shall not prevent (precede or be raised. resurrected before) them which are asleep…” (v. 16).
(3) Do not be ignorant regarding those who are ALIVE and REMAIN until the Coming of the Lord… For we shall all be CHANGED.. “Behold, 1 show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep. (die), but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump or the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed…” I Cor 15:51. (v. 17)
(4) Do not be ignorant concerning HOW the RAPTURE will HAPPEN…
………………….. 1. Jesus HIMSELF will descend from Heaven
………………….. 2. He will SHOUT a COMMAND: Perhaps it will be the same command He gave to Lazarus
………………….. 3. The Archangel will lift his voice in agreement
………………….. 4. The Trumpet will Sound
………………….. 5. The Saved Dead will be Resurrected… First. The lost will remain in the grave until the Second Resurrection.
………………….. 6. All Living Believers will be Caught Up with the Resurrected Saved
………………….. 7. All will rise to meet Jesus in the Clouds… in the air
II. What happens in Heaven after the Rapture:
(1) The Judgment Seat of Christ:
The Believer’s works on earth will be judged and rewarded accordingly.
Rom. 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
2Cor: 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that ever one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
(2) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
Only those who have been Born Again are invited to participate.
Rev. 19:6 And 1 heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Rev. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev. 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev. 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
III. What Happens on earth after the Rapture: The Tribulation
Matt. 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. .
(1) Revelation Chanters 6 ‑18 The Time of Tribulation (7 years).
The 7 Seal Judgments (Rev 6‑8)
The 7 Trumpet Judgments (Rev 8‑13)
The 7 Vial Judgments (Rev 15‑18)
(2) The rule of the antichrist: Revelation Chapter 13
Rev. 13:1 And 1 stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Rev. 13:2 And the beast which 1 saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Rev. 13:3 And 1 saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev. 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev. 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev. 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev. 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him; whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev. 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev. 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Rev. 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev. 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev. 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev. 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev., 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev. 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev. 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Rev. 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
(3) The Battle of Armageddon
Rev. 14:14 And 1 looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev. 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of, the earth is ripe.
Rev. 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Rev. 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Rev. 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Rev. 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev. 14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (184 miles).
(4) satan bound one thousand years
The earth will be free from the curse of sin and all evil will be eliminated.
Rev. 20:1 And 1 saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev. 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev. 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed, a little season.
(5) The Millennium
Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
In Scripture it is called:
The Thousand Year Reign of Christ
The Dispensation of the Fullness of times
The Day of the Lord
The Age that is to come
The Kingdom of Christ and of God
The Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of Heaven
The Regeneration
The times of the Restitution of all things
The consolation of Israel
The redemption of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of His Dear Son
Satan will be bound
The Kingdom will be literal and on earth
It will ha a Theocratic Government
The Apostles will rule over each Tribe of Israel
All saints will have a part in ruling as Kings and Priests.
The world capital will be Jerusalem
The Kingdom will be world‑wide
There will be no desolate places on earth
Israel will be given all the original Promised Land
The Holy Spirit will be poured out on all flesh
There will be universal knowledge of the Lord
No sicknesses… divine healing for all
Universal Peace… all nations
Universal prosperity
Human life will be prolonged indefinitely
Light from all planets will be increased
Animal natures will be changed as before the fall
Love and righteousness will prevail
Fruitful seasons will exist all year
Deserts will blossom again as a rose
All rebellion will be put down
(6) satan loosed for a “little season.”
Rev. 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
The millennium will end in one more brief period of rebellion, then the final destruction of all rebels will take place, leaving the saints (natural and resurrected) in charge of the eternal perfect earth.
(7) satan doomed to the Lake of Fire forever
Rev. 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
(8) The Second Resurrection (of the unsaved dead and the Great White Throne Judgment:
Rev. 20:11 And 1 saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev. 20:12 And 1 saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev. 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev. 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(9) The Renovation of Heaven and Earth:
2Pet. 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pet. 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pet. 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pet. 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
(10) The Ages to Come: The Eternal Perfect State: HEAVEN
Revelation 21 ‑ 22
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