“Then we who are alive and remain will be 1CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:17)
1harpazō: to snatch out or away. The Rapture! One day, perhaps sooner than we expected, every person will enter into eternity. However, Heaven is NOT THE DEFAULT DESTINATION of the nonbeliever; it is the hope of the person who has put their FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. Whenever the subject of the Rapture comes up, there are a lot of questions. Some critics like to point out that you won’t find the word “rapture” in the Bible. But that depends on what kind of Bible you have. If you have a Latin translation, then you have the word rapturous, from which our word “rapture” is derived. And the word rapturous comes from the Greek word harpazō, which is mentioned 13 times in the New Testament.
“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 not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven WITH A 2SHOUT, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST.” (1 Thess. 4:15-16) 2keleuma: an order, command, a stimulating cry.
So, what will the Lord command us to do with this stimulated cry… “COME ON UP”!
“…I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:3)
Exciting times await us…let’s make sure we are ready!!!
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:18)
Are you ready to go? …Bill Stockham