What Is “the Rapture” in the Bible?
by Karen S. Roberts
You won’t find the word term “the Rapture” in the Bible. So is there such a thing? I’ll explain where that term came from in a few moments.
So What Is the Rapture?
“The Rapture” is what many Christians call the event predicted in the Bible when Jesus will instantly gather together His true followers from the earth. There are several references to this in the Bible.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:14 – 17, we read a description of what will happen on that glorious day when Jesus comes to take His Bride to heaven. It describes how He will bring the souls of His followers who have already died with Him. Their bodies will be resurrected and joined with their souls. Then Jesus’ followers who are alive will instantly be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This will all happen in a moment, signaled by a shout and trumpet blast from an archangel.
Greek and Latin Words for the Rapture
Some people argue that since the word Rapture is never used in English translations of the Bible, it must not be real. We should be reminded that the word Trinity is not in the Bible either, but the evidences for the Trinity in the Bible are very plain. We must look at Biblical evidence for the event rather than worry about what it is called.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 says this: 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.
The words “caught up” are a translation of the Greek word harpazo. This word means to snatch out or away.
When this word was translated into Latin (the Vulgate translation in 1592), it was the Latin word rapturo. This word implies being carried away. (See Bible.org for an explanation at https://bible.org/question/where-did-term-8216rapture%E2%80%99-come)
As you can see, this Latin word is similar to the English word Rapture, which has become the nickname for this event described in the Bible.
In the Twinkling of an Eye
Another place where we read about this mysterious event is in I Corinthians 15:51-52.
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.
This affirms that not all believers in Jesus will die, but some will be instantly changed. How fast is “a twinkling of an eye?” Some say it’s like a blink. Others say it will be faster than that. In any case, it will be quick. Some people refer to Jesus’ statement in Revelation 22:12 that He is coming quickly. This word “quickly” can also be translated “suddenly.” The “suddenly” of the Rapture will be in an unexpected instant.
It will happen so fast, that it will appear to those not caught up to be with the Lord that Christians have instantly disappeared. That will be very scary. The chaos that results could be the event that thrusts the world into a one world government, with the antichrist eventually taking charge.
What Will the Change Be?
1 John 3:2 shows us what will happen when we see Jesus.
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
As 1 Corinthians says, it is a mystery, and this verse implies that we won’t fully understand until it happens. But we do know that when we see Jesus, we will become like Him. That suggests to me that we will have brand new bodies, just like He did when he resurrected from the dead. They will be perfect bodies that will never be weak, sick, or tired.
We Are Directed to “Watch”
So what are we to do while we wait for the Rapture? In 1 Thessalonians we are told to watch and be sober. We should be aware of the signs that Jesus talked about as preliminary build-ups to His coming. If we are watching and being sober, it means that we are following after Jesus, allowing Him to work in us, and anticipating His coming. In fact, we should be welcoming the Rapture.
What About Those Who Are Not Taken in the Rapture?
It will be tough for those who are left behind, for the world will be rushing toward an outpouring of God’s wrath due to the sin on the earth. The book of Revelation describes the horrors that will come on the earth. At some point the antichrist will rise to power and will kill Christ followers.
I believe that there are many who have heard the gospel of Jesus and have heard about the Rapture, but have never made a decision to follow Jesus. When they are left behind, some of them will repent and receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Many of them will die in disasters or as martyrs before Jesus returns again to defeat His enemies and establish His Kingdom on the earth.
How to Make Sure You Will Be Caught Up to be With the Lord
To be taken up in the Rapture, you must be walking with Jesus. You must receive Him as your Lord and Savior and allow Him to change you into the person He wants you to be. You must be His follower and not just a Christian in name only.
If you are not sure how to do this, see our web page, How to Know God.
