The word rapture is not actually in the Bible but neither is the word Trinity, even though we know God is Three Persons.\u00a0 So where did this word come from?\u00a0 The word rapture comes from a translation of the words \u201ccaught up\u201d found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.\u00a0\u00a0 The Latin word for this is rapturo<\/em>.\u00a0 The Greek word for \u201ccaught up\u201d is harpazo<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0 Let\u2019s read the context of First Thessalonians 4:16-17, \u201cFor the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.\u00a0 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<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span> Some theologians believe this is the coming of the Lord for His saints while others believe this is the rapture that occurs just before or in the middle of the Great Tribulation.\u00a0 The wording of \u201ccaught up\u201d has the force of being kidnapped or taken by force.\u00a0 This doesn\u2019t mean it is against their will for anyone who trusts in Christ willingly wants to be with the Lord and today all believers look forward to the second coming of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n Jesus was asked by His disciples about when the end would come but Jesus rebuked them that this was none of their business (Acts 1:7).\u00a0 The important thing is that they are to be ready at all times.\u00a0 The time of Jesus\u2019 return is not known by any human and by experience, we have seen time and again many predict a date for His return only to be wrong.\u00a0 I believe it would not be good for us to know because knowing human nature, we would tend to relax and then repent at the last moment.\u00a0 And if the Bible is silent on the time of Christ\u2019s return, then we too must be silent in trying to guess when it will be.\u00a0 World events do<\/em> seem to indicate that it might be close but we can not even try to guess nor is it wise to do so.\u00a0 We must not be like the virgins who ran out of oil in their lamps when the Lord returned and as such, had no time to fill their lamps again (Matt 25).\u00a0 The oil may be representative of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 For those who are the children of God they already have the Holy Spirit living within them and their lamps are full.\u00a0 For those who have not yet trusted in Christ<\/a>, their lamps are empty and they will face the wrath of God at His return.\u00a0 The door of the kingdom will be shut in their faces.<\/p>\n Jesus gives us some clues as to when the end comes in the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew 24.\u00a0 There will be many claiming to be Christ (v. 4), there will be widespread war (v 5), famines and earthquakes will abound (v 7), there will be increasing persecution and martyrdom (v 9), there will be a great falling away (v 10), an increase of false prophets (v 11), cold-heartedness will grow (v 12), and the gospel will be effectively preached to the whole world in general (v 14).\u00a0 These signs are happening even today and increasing on a daily basis.\u00a0 It is not as important to know when He returns as it is to know that He will return.\u00a0 It is foolish to set dates or guess for only God knows this day and hour and it apparently will come when people least expect it (Matt 24:44), \u201cTherefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Matt 24:42) and so we must \u201cBe always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Luke 21:36) Not everyone believes in the rapture<\/a> and that\u2019s okay.\u00a0 It is not an essential doctrine that determines whether a person is saved or not.\u00a0 Jesus could come at any time and we should be ready now and not concerned with when or if the rapture occurs.\u00a0 Jesus told us to \u201ckeep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Matt 25:13). He did not tell us to just relax and wait for the rapture.\u00a0 Now is the time of salvation for tomorrow may be too late (2 Cor 6:2).\u00a0 Some day I pray you will hear these words: \u201cWell done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.\u00a0 Come and share your master\u2019s happiness<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Matt 25:21)!\u00a0 If you have not repented, confessed your sins, and put your trust in Christ, then these words will be the ones that will be terrifyingly coming off of Christ\u2019s lips to you: \u201cDepart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (Matt 25:41).\u00a0 I pray it is the former that you hear.\u00a0 Trust in Him today\u2026while it is still today.<\/p>\n Sources: photo credit: Nick-K (Nikos Koutoulas)<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a>\u00a0 The Holy Bible, New International Version<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What does the Bible say about the rapture?\u00a0 Are there signs that it could be near?\u00a0 What Scriptures give us insight about the rapture? The Word Rapture The word rapture is not actually in the Bible but neither is the word Trinity, even though we know God is Three Persons.\u00a0 So where did this word […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1485,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[19,17,18,16],"class_list":["post-59","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-answers","tag-bible","tag-end-times","tag-jesus-coming-again","tag-rapture"],"yoast_head":"\nPaul\u2019s Context of 1 Thessalonians 4<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/348\/2013\/04\/medium_4771132618.jpg\" "\\"medium_4771132618\\"")
<\/a>The context of Paul\u2019s writing in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 is that some in Thessalonica were worried that those who had already died would miss the return of Christ.\u00a0 They somehow thought that since they had already died, they would not be saved at Christ\u2019s return.\u00a0 Paul reassured them saying that, \u201cI do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.\u00a0For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus<\/em>\u201d (1 Thess 4:13-14)<\/span>. That is when he said that \u201cthe dead in Christ will rise first<\/em>\u201d but \u201cwe 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<\/em>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 Paul is not so much stressing a rapture here as much as he is trying to comfort those who have had family and friends already die in the faith.\u00a0 He was trying to comfort them with the fact that they would be with the Lord and \u201cshall always be<\/em>\u201d<\/span> with Him.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nHow Near the End?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nConclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Article by Pastor Jack Wellman<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Jack Wellman is Senior Writer at What Christians Want to Know<\/a>\u00a0whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer\u2019s daily walk with God and the Bible.<\/p>\n