Please turn in your Bibles this morning to Revelation chapter 4, as we look at a very controversial subject, at least with some, the Rapture of the church. Now for some this is familiar information and for others, this is new ground for you. My prayer as we go through these verses is that each of you would have a clear understanding of what the Rapture is all about, that your questions would be answered.
Let me set the stage for what we will be studying this morning. To understand the book of Revelation you must understand how the book is divided up. Now we don’t have to guess at how the book is divided because the Lord shows us. In Revelation 1:19 we are told, “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”
The first division of this book, according to Jesus, is “the things which you have seen.” This is speaking of the description of Jesus in all of His glory that is found in Revelation chapter 1.
The second division of the book, according to Jesus, is “the things which are.” This is speaking of the things that were happening in John’s day and it relates to the church or more specifically, the seven letters that Jesus wrote to seven specific churches located in the Roman Province of Asia Minor or the western part of modern day Turkey. And as we saw as we studied those letters, they portray the church throughout the Church Age from the first century apostolic church to the last day’s apostate church. This is the second division of the book and it covers Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
What is the church about? The word for “church” is the Greek word EKKLESIA. This Greek word can be broken down into KALEO, which means, “to call,” and EK, which means “out of.” Thus, this word speaks of a group of people who have been called out, that is they are to be separated unto God, to become the body of Christ. It is as Paul said to the Ephesian church, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6. Thus, the church is not a building or an organization, but a living, breathing organism that is directed by Jesus Christ and is made up of people like you and me!
Now the Church Age, which began on the day of Pentecost, will continue on until a specific point in time. You see, the Church Age or the Age of Grace is not eternal but it will lead into something and we will see that this morning. As we move into the last division of the book, according to Jesus, it is “the things which will take place after this.” I believe the point that Jesus is making to John is that as the Church Age comes to an end then the events spoken of in Revelation chapters 4 through 22 will take place.
What are these things that will take place after the church is Raptured or taken up to be with the Lord? In chapters 4 through 18 of Revelation we see the events that will take place leading up to the second coming of Jesus. To break that down, Revelation chapters 4 and 5 are focused upon Heaven and then, as the Tribulation Period begins or unfolds, that last 7 year period of time where God pours out His wrath upon a Christ rejecting world, we see the seal judgments, the trumpet judgments, the bowel judgments and-so-on.
Then, as we move into Revelation chapter 19 we see the second coming of Jesus and the battle of Armageddon. From there we move to the aftermath of the battle of Armageddon and the establishment of the millennial kingdom in Revelation chapter 20. And as we conclude this book in Revelation chapters 21 and 22 we see the creation of a New Jerusalem, a New Heaven and a New Earth for us to dwell in with our Lord. It is the eternal state where sin will be done away with! Again, keep in mind that all this begins after the Church Age comes to a close.
Now, before we get to our text this morning, listen to this story that well-known author, Tim LaHaye tells. He said:
When I was a boy, I took a tour of [the] Henry Ford factory in Dearborn, Mich. Then we saw an electromagnetic crane move over a large railroad car filled with what seemed to be junk steel. At the flip of a switch, everything in that car leaped up to the magnetic crane. Then I saw a strange thing: some pieces of steel fell back into the car. I waited until others had left on the tour and then climbed up to look inside and find out why these pieces fell back in. I found they were not steel at all. Lying on the bottom of the car were some old two-by-fours, a broom handle, and some broken pieces of wood. Only objects made of the right component responded to the magnet, the rest were left behind.
- Tim LaHaye
Now, as we move into Revelation chapter 4 this morning, we see a change of scenery taking place. We will move from a earthly view to a heavenly view. We will move from the Church to the throne of God. And with this view, as we shall see, I believe we will see the close of the Church Age and the start of the seventieth week of Daniel or that last 7 year period of time known as the Tribulation Period. It is a time where God will once again work with the nation of Israel and we will also see God’s wrath poured out upon a Christ rejecting world. And so, with that said, let’s being reading in Revelation chapter 4, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us as we look at what the Rapture is all about!
Remember how the last division of the book of Revelation was spoken of like this, “after these things” and John uses the same Greek words to open chapter 4. In fact, in this one verse he uses this phrase twice so you don’t miss what he is saying. This is the last division of the book of Revelation! Those two words, “after this” comes from two Greek words, META TAUTA and as I have said, I believe it is speaking of the end of the Church Age and the preparation for the Tribulation Period!
Picture in your mind what is going on here. John is standing on the earth and as he gazes up into Heaven he saw a door open. And as he continued looking he heard a voice that sounded like a trumpet and this voice was calling him to Heaven. When does this take place? Again, at the end of verse 1 of Revelation chapter 4 John tells us after the Church Age comes to an end or after the events of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are completed, which again are the things of the church or the Church Age!
Now who is the one who is calling John, who is the one who is standing at the door? We don’t have to guess because the Scriptures tell us. In Revelation 1:10-11 we are told, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’” So this is Jesus who is calling John up into Heaven!
Now the Greek word that John uses for “Come up” there in Revelation 4:1 is ANABAINO, (an-ab-ah’-ee’no) and it means to arise or ascend, to go up. What do you think will happen when the Lord says, “Come up”?
John is immediately taken up into Heaven! And Folks, I truly believe that John is a picture or type of the church who will be removed before the Tribulation Period begins, before that first seal is loosed there in Revelation chapter 6. Now I do realize that some Christians believe the church will go through part or even all of the Tribulation Period and we are wrong to teach otherwise because we are not preparing our people for what is ahead.
First of all I am preparing you because I believe that the Scriptures are clearly teaching us that we will not go through the Tribulation Period, any part of it. And I will show you why I believe that in a minute. Secondly, I am not saying that the church is going to be free of persecution because it has always faced that. What I am saying is that we will not endure the wrath of God that is going to be poured out upon a Christ rejecting world that occurs during the Tribulation Period. We need to be ready for the persecution that is coming and what our brothers and sisters in the Lord are already facing throughout the world, but that is not from God, but the Devil. During the Tribulation Period we won’t be here because God will not pour out His wrath upon His children, upon His bride!
In Revelation 3:10 we are told, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” You see, the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world is specifically for earth dwellers or unbelievers. We are not earth dwellers as Paul tells us in Philippians 3:20-21, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” So the Lord will keep us “out of” this Tribulation Period because of our faith in Jesus Christ!
In II Peter 2:7-9 we are told, “and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) — then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” You see, God knows how to deliver us out of this time of judgment, we won’t go through it and He uses Lot as an example. In Genesis chapter 19, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and those other cities for their wickedness, righteous Lot and his family had to be removed!
Before the judgment of God fell, the angel said to Lot, “‘Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.’ . . .” Genesis 19:22. Thus, the pre-requisite to the destruction of the city was that Lot had to be removed. And thus, I believe the pre-requisite to the start of the Tribulation Period is that the church MUST be removed first before God can pour out His wrath upon a Christ rejecting world!
And here is another point of interest here in the book of Revelation that points to the church being removed before the Tribulation Period begins. In the first 3 chapters in the book of Revelation the church is mentioned some 19 times. Then we don’t see the church mentioned again upon the earth until we come to Revelation chapter 19 as we come with the Lord back to the earth to set up His kingdom. And in chapters 4 through 18 of Revelation, if the church is mentioned, it is in Heaven, never on the earth, which tells me that the church MUST be removed before the Tribulation Period begins.
Yes, the church will endure trials that come upon them, that is the trials of this world, but they will not experience God’s wrath which is being poured out upon a Christ rejecting world, as I have said. That is what the Tribulation Period is all about, besides God dealing with the nation of Israel. Thus, the start of the 70th week of Daniel, the beginning of the Tribulation Period, the church will be home with the Lord. And with that line of demarcation, the Rapture of the church, we also see the beginning of the “Day of the Lord.” And the Day of the Lord begins with the introduction of God’s wrath being poured out and it extends through the millennial kingdom. Thus, with the Rapture we see the Day of Grace end and the Day of the Lord begin, the time of Jacob’s trouble according to Jeremiah 30:7.
Now, where in the Bible do we find the Rapture of the church spoken? One place is in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 where we are told, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 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.”
I find it interesting that Paul does not want us to be ignorant about this event and yet when you talk to people they truly are, why is that? Because they either don’t know the Scriptures or they don’t believe what the Scriptures are saying! Here in
I Thessalonians Paul is telling them that those that have died or fallen asleep in the Lord and those who are alive and believe in the Lord will meet the Lord in the air, we will be caught up to be with Him. Now those who have died in the Lord before the Rapture don’t go into what some call soul sleep. Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” You see, their spirit and soul are with the Lord and at the time of the Rapture, along with those who are living, will all receive our new bodies!
Now some like to argue that the word “rapture” is not found anywhere in the Bible, not even in these verses here in I Thessalonians. And you know what, that is very true. I can’t argue that point. The word RAPTURO is found in the Latin Vulgate and it is from this word we get our English word “rapture” from. The Greek word that Paul uses here in I Thessalonians for “caught up” is HARPAZO. This word literally means “to seize upon with force,” or “to snatch or catch away . . . and conveys the idea of force suddenly exercised.”
So don’t let that mislead you just because the word “rapture” is not used, for the word HARPAZO carries with it the same idea. Now if the word “rapture” bothers you, then call it the “great snatch away!” But I like the word “rapture” and it is the same thought. You see, we will be taken out of this world before God pours out His wrath upon a Christ rejecting world. And we will be gathered together to meet our Lord! What a joy that should bring to us and what a comfort it should not only bring to us but we should be able to share that comfort with others, that comfort that is only found in Christ!
Some still argue that this idea of a Rapture of the church, this pre-tribulation Rapture of the church is a new idea. It is of recent origin. In fact, many like to say that the Rapture of the church was completely unknown until the early 1800’s, until a man named John Nelson Darby put this idea forward. In regards to these verses here in
I Thessalonians 4:16-17 one person wrote: “The Catholic Church always has understood this verse to be describing the Second Coming of Christ and the ‘General Resurrection’ at the end of the world. But approximately 170 years ago – ‘recent’ by theological standards – an Irish Protestant named John Nelson Darby came up with the idea that this event would happen long before the end of the world. He claimed – on his own authority, of course – that this ‘Rapture’ (as he called it) will take all true Christians out of the world to be with Jesus in heaven right before a huge ‘tribulation’ befalls the rest of the inhabitants of the earth (those who are ‘left behind’).”
Also, John Bray, who also vehemently opposes a pre-tribulation Rapture of the church said, “this teaching is not a RECOVERY of truth once taught and then neglected. No, it never was taught – for 1800 years nearly no one knew anything about such a scheme.”
And Robert Van Kampen said, “The pretribulational rapture position with its dual parousias was unheard of in church history prior to 1830.” Folks, that is totally untrue! First of all, Paul spoke of this being a fact, and he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this down for us!
Secondly, in the writings of Pseudo – Ephraem from around 565 AD to 627 AD and he claims that he got his sermon from Ephraem of Nisbis, who is considered to be one of the greatest figures in the history of the Syrian church, who would have written this in around 373 AD. Listen to what is said, “All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.” Thus, this is not a new idea! I think that is very clear, not only did Paul teach on the pre-tribulation Rapture of the church, but so did the early church and thus, I believe it because I think the Bible is very clear on this issue, the Scriptures support it!
And as you look at verse 16 of I Thessalonians chapter 4 the wording is very similar to what we read in Revelation 4:1, with a shout, a sound of a trumpet and immediately we will be with the Lord!
Now why does this have to happen, why do we need to have these new bodies? Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:50-58 as he says, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ . . .
. . . ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
You see, these bodies of flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God but we all shall be changed so that we can. Think of the caterpillar and how it transforms into a beautiful butterfly. It is the same creature but it has been changed and that is what will happen with our bodies, we will be the same person but our bodies will be changed. Remember what Jesus said in John 14:1-4, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
You see, these bodies of flesh are like tents, they are temporary dwelling places for our spirit and soul to dwell in. But the Lord has a permanent abode for our spirit and soul to dwell in that is made by Him. In fact, He calls them mansions that will never fade away as compared to these tents that are fading away.
And Paul tells us that this is going to happen in the twinkling of an eye, immediately we are transformed when the Rapture takes place. It will take place very quickly. The twinkling of an eye can mean the time it takes for light to hit the surface of the eye till it hits the retina. Now light travels at 186,000 miles per second, which would mean it would take 1.5 seconds for light to travel from the earth and reach the moon. The moon is 239,000 miles from the earth! So then, in the twinkling of an eye the light would only reach 1 foot from the surface of the earth. No one will see it happen, but they will certainly see the effects! And I find it interesting that some in the New Age are already coming up with a scenario of what happens at the Rapture. They believe that the bad people, you and me, will be removed so that the earth can then enjoy a time of peace.
Now, if we were to go through the seven-year Tribulation Period, these words would not be comforting to us. But the hope of the return of Jesus for His bride, our eternal union with Him is a source of great comfort. I know, some say it is escapism and Jesus did say that in this world we would have tribulation. Here’s the thing, right now Satan and his forces are persecuting Christians all over the world. But in the Tribulation Period it is God’s wrath being poured out upon a Christ rejecting world as I have said. In I Thessalonians 5:9 Paul makes this powerful point, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And The Amplified Bible puts this verse like this, “For God has not appointed us to [incur His] wrath [He did not select us to condemn us], but [that we might] obtain [His] salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).” I think that is very clear!
Think of it like this, before World War II started, Japan and Germany called their ambassadors home, they left America and went to their own home countries, why? Because war was about to break out and their countries wanted them to be home before war was declared! So too with our Lord, before He declares war on this earth, before He pours out His wrath upon a Christ rejecting world, He will call His ambassadors home, you and me! Remember, this is not our home, for our citizenship is in Heaven and that is where we are called to go, to be with our Lord. Thus, Paul tells us in Titus 2:13, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” That is what we are doing and in knowing He is coming back, in knowing we will be with Him, what should we do? Paul told us, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:18.
Now here is a key point that many people miss. In I Corinthians 15:51 Paul speaks of this being a “mystery” or MUSTERION, (moos-tay’-ree-on) in the Greek. This word carries with it the idea of something that was hidden and is now revealed and specifically here Paul is speaking of the Rapture of the church. God has revealed to Paul this mystery and he is sharing it with the Corinthian church and with us! This is not an Old Testament idea, but a New Testament revelation!
There are many different views out there regarding when the Rapture is to take place. Some say that it is a mid-tribulation Rapture of the church where the church is removed at the 3½-year mark of the 7-year Tribulation Period. But that makes no sense because we would then have to endure part of God’s wrath!
There is the post-tribulation Rapture of the church which says we will go through all of the Tribulation Period, then we are caught up to meet the Lord and then we will immediately come back with Him to set up His kingdom. Again, the Scriptures do not support this.
The most recent theory is the pre-wrath Rapture of the church presented to us by Marv Rosenthal back in 1990 where the church is Raptured just after the 3½-year mark. According to this theory, God’s wrath is not poured out with the opening of the first seal but we are caught up when, in the seventh trumpet judgment, that last trumpet is blown! Again, God’s wrath is being poured out when that first seal is opened and thus, the Scriptures do not support this theory.
There is the partial Rapture of the church where you have to be sanctified enough to be taken to be with the Lord. Folks, if that was the case, none of us would be taken up. The Lord sanctifies us, it is not our righteousness but His that has been imputed into our lives, so this too is wrong.
And lastly, the no Rapture view where there is no Rapture, no Tribulation Period, and no millennial kingdom, but just an eternal state with the Lord. Again, as you read the Scriptures, you will not find support for this view!
The only view that is supported by the Scriptures is the pre-tribulation Rapture of the church where the church is taken to be with the Lord, to meet Him in the air prior to the start of the 7-year Tribulation Period!
Now for some, they have a hard time separating the Rapture of the church from the Second Coming of Jesus. Folks, these are two separate events and the Scriptures are very clear on this. Let me see if I can help you to understand the difference, because there is!
Rapture/Translation
Second Coming/Establish the Kingdom
1. Translation of all believers. 1. No translation at all.
2. Translated saints go to heaven. 2. Translated saints return to the earth.
3. Earth is not judged. 3. Earth is judged and righteousness established.
4. Imminent, any-moment. 4. Follows definite predicted signs including tribulation. It is exactly 3½ years after the Antichrist goes into the rebuilt temple and demands to be worshiped as God.
5. Not in the Old Testament. 5. Predicted often in the Old Testament.
6. Believers only. 6. Affects all men.
7. Before the Day of Wrath. 7. Concluding the Day of Wrath.
8. No reference to Satan. 8. Satan is bound.
9. He comes for His own. 9. Christ comes with His own.
10. He comes in the air. 10. He comes to the earth.
11. He claims His bride. 11. He comes with His bride.
12. Only His own see Him. 12. Every eye shall see Him.
13. Tribulation begins. 13. Millennial Kingdom begins.
Of this John Walvoord concludes by saying that these, “contrasts should make it evident that the translation of the church is an event quite different in character and time from the return of the Lord to establish His kingdom, and confirms the conclusion that the translation takes place before the tribulation.”
And so, as I rap this up this morning, I believe that the next event on the prophetic scene is the Lord coming for the church, His bride. Don’t let anyone steal that joyous hope that God has given to each of us! Comfort each other with these words of hope that God has given to us. But for those of you that don’t know the Lord, you are not clothed in His righteousness by faith. All you need to do is repent of your sins before the Lord and ask Him to be your Savior and Lord of your life and as soon as you do, your sins are cast as far as the east is from the west, to be remembered no more! You are a child of God and you will be caught up to be with the Lord when He comes or you will go to be with Him as these tents fad and we sleep in the Lord.
But if you reject Him, you don’t have the right components you might say, and like the materials that were not made of steel, and the magnet could not lift them up, when the Lord comes for His bride, if you don’t know Him, YOU WILL BE LEFT BEHIND!