The Rapture

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

There are many teachings out there regarding the rapture, the second coming of Christ and the tribulation period, and along with these teachings can come confusion and fear.

In this section, we would like to explain to you very simply, what the scripture says about the rapture and the second coming of Christ.  Understand that the rapture is where God removes all believers from the earth to make way for His judgment.

To begin, the terms rapture and second coming are two different things entirely. While the word rapture does not appear in scripture, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this event will take place. This is the verse commonly used regarding the rapture:

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.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.

Before I understood the rapture and the second coming, I heard many versions. Some suggesting that we would be raptured before, during or at the end of the tribulation period.

My spirit told me otherwise. From reading the Bible and knowing what it says about God, scripture told me this:

• We have a God that saved Noah and his family from the flood
• We have a God that heard Abraham to save Lot and his family from the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah
• We have a God that sent His one and only son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.

Hearing that we would supposedly go through the tribulation period did not match up with what I know about God. This is not God’s character.

Jesus is coming back for his bride. We also need to understand that the Bible is based upon an old covenant, and a new covenant.  We are under the new covenant, and are in grace. The law no longer applies. The Bible is written to the Church or toIsrael, these are separate entities. As born again believers in Christ, Israel does not apply to us.  We are the bride of Christ, we are not Israel.

The verses we read in Luke 21 are written for Israel, not the Bride of Christ. These verses speak about the tribulation period, after the rapture has taken place.

So why the tribulation period? Becausethe Lord’s desire is for all to reside in heaven. This is God’s way of justice and mercy.

To sum this up-

• Believers in Christ will be raptured
• The tribulation period does not apply to believers in Christ
• The tribulation period is speaking to Israel, it is the last chance to turn to Him.