As our title suggests, this five-part series focuses on The Rapture in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament).
Some of the passages we cite are crystal clear, others are nuanced, and still others are to be considered allusions. These allusions within this study series will be clearly identified and are generally for portions of Scripture that speak generically of the resurrection, as we know that the rapture is intrinsically linked to the resurrection of the church.
Many of these allusions are found in the gospels in some of Christ’s parables, as well as His teachings on the resurrection, while others are found throughout the epistles. Hence, this is why they are included within this study.
Some of the passages within this series have already been covered in past study articles. Therefore, links to those past study articles are provided in this series so that the reader may access them for a more enhanced understanding of those passages.
Past article:
The Rapture in the Brit Chadashah – Part I
Underlined Scripture passages are my own emphasis.
John 16:16, 22 – We Shall See Jesus, and He Will See Us! – Allusion
“A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father…
“And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” – John 16:16, 22
In “a little while,” at Christ’s death, the disciples did not see Jesus. Yet, “again, a little while,” after three days, they saw Him again after His resurrection; still, He would soon thereafter “go to the Father.” Understandably, when Messiah saw them after His resurrection, their hearts did rejoice, and their joy could no man take from them.
Additionally, in “a little while,” at the disciples’ own deaths, Christ would see them again, where they would see Yeshua in His heavenly glory, and certainly then their hearts did rejoice, and their joy could no man take from them!
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 5:8
Moreover, that last generation alive on Earth at the resurrection/rapture of the church, in “a little while” (as 2,000 years is a “little while” in God’s eyes), will see Christ, and He will see them!
All of us – the dead in Christ and those alive on Earth at the resurrection/rapture of the church – will see our loving Lord in eternal glorified bodies, and our “heart shall rejoice, and [our] joy no man taketh from [us]!”
John 21:21-23 – Peter, John, and Tarrying till Jesus Comes – Allusion
“Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
“Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
“Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” – John 21:21-23
When Jesus said, “If I will that he tarry till I come,” Jesus would necessarily have been speaking of His coming for His bride at the resurrection/rapture of the church. For no believer in the bride of Christ in the church age will be present on Earth at Christ’s Second Coming because they will have all been taken to heaven in the pre-Tribulation resurrection/rapture seven-plus years prior to the Second Coming.
As an aside, there are some who believe that John will be one of the Two Witnesses. Concerning the Apostle John and the belief by some – utilizing John 21:21-23 as a “proof” text – that he would be one of the Two Witnesses, here is what we noted in Can We Know the Identity of the Two Witnesses?
John: The rationale for John being one of the Two Witnesses usually comes from the dialog between Jesus and Peter in John chapter 21. Jesus, in essence, told Peter that he would die a martyr’s death, and Peter, referring to John, asked, “What shall this man do?” Jesus replied, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” John summarizes this account by adding, “Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” – John 21:22-23
The point I would like to make is this: Even if the Lord supernaturally kept John alive for the last 2,000 years, John most certainly would be taken in the pre-Tribulation rapture of the church and, as all other believers in the body of Christ, would not be allowed to live during the Tribulation when God’s wrath is being poured out on the world.
Romans
Romans 5:9 – Saved from Wrath – Allusion
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” – Romans 5:9
Just as true believers in Messiah Yeshua have been saved from God’s wrath against the ungodly who reject the Son’s free-gift offer of salvation, so too will Spirit-filled believers alive on Earth be saved from the wrath of God on a God-hating Christ-rejecting world following the resurrection/rapture of the church, “for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Romans 8:11 – The Spirit Will Quicken Our Mortal Bodies
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” – Romans 8:11
As we noted in The Trinity: Examining the Triune God, all three members of the Trinity were involved in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, and therefore, there is every reason to believe that all three – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – will be intimately involved in the resurrection/rapture of the bride of Christ, as well as all the other resurrections that will follow in their proper order!
Here, Paul assures us that the same “Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead,” that dwells within every believer, will also “quicken (make alive) [our] mortal bodies” – whether we are dead in Christ or alive on Earth – at the resurrection/rapture of the church.
Romans 8:22-23 – The Redemption of Our Bodies
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” – Romans 8:22-23
As with Romans 8:11, Paul’s focus is on “the redemption of our body,” which, for the church, will obviously occur at the resurrection/rapture of the bride of Christ.
Our mortal bodies, along with everything else in this fallen creation, groans and travails in pain, and these mortal bodies, whether naturally deteriorating during our lifetimes or decomposing after death, await our glorious adoption at our blessed hope when those alive on Earth will be instantly changed and those who are dead in Christ will have their spirit/soul complexes united with their glorious eternal resurrected bodies.
What an amazing promise and special gift from our awesome God!
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 1:8 – The Day of Our Lord Jesus Christ
“Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 1:8
“The day of our Lord Jesus Christ” is the resurrection/rapture of the church, and Paul encourages all believers to trust our Savior, that He “shall also confirm [us] unto the end,” being found “blameless in” that glorious day!
1 Corinthians 4:5 – The Bema Seat When the Lord Comes – Allusion
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” – 1 Corinthians 4:5
The Lord Jesus Christ will first “come” for His bride in the resurrection/rapture of the church. Then the Lord, at the Bema Seat of Christ, will judge His bride individually when He “brings to light the hidden things of darkness… manifesting the counsels of [our] hearts,” those things we did for our Lord in love and thankfulness (and those things we tragically neglected), and then shall every man [and woman] have praise of God.”
Until then, we should “judge nothing before the time.” That is, we should condemn nothing in this life, for judgment belongs to the Lord.
Following the Second Coming of Christ, however, all Saints will then be able to judge the world with our Lord and Savior during His Messianic Millennial Kingdom where we will reign as Priests and Kings (Revelation 1:6).
Finally, over 1,007-plus years after the resurrection/rapture of the church, another judgment takes place, that of the unsaved dead at The Great White Throne Judgment.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:9-11
1 Corinthians 6:14 – God Will Raise Us Up
“And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.” – 1 Corinthians 6:14
The Lord Jesus Christ, God has raised from the dead, not only to show the world that the Father accepted His Son’s once-for-all perfect sacrifice for sins and payment for the punishment due to us all, but to demonstrate His ability in the future to “also raise up us by His own [mighty] power” in the resurrection/rapture of the church.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 – Made Alive in Christ – Allusion
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” – 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
The analogy of “sleep” for the believer is prevalent in Scripture.
A dead body produces the imagery of a person who sleeps at night. When the believer dies, their spirit/soul complex goes to be with the Lord while their body lies lifeless, similar to one who sleeps at night with their spirit/soul complex in a dream state that appears to be apart and absent from the resting body.
Christ’s resurrection had “become the first fruits of them that slept [died].” Since “Adam, all die,” as history attests. “Even so, in Christ shall all be made alive,” with the church first in the resurrection/rapture of the bride of Christ, and all others in their proper order thereafter.
1 Corinthians 15:51-55 – We Shall All Be Changed
“Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall 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 shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” – 1 Corinthians 15:51-55
In Paul’s discourse on the resurrection of the dead, beginning with our Lord’s own resurrection, Paul expounds on the future bodily resurrection/rapture of the church.
Once the resurrection/rapture of the bride of Christ takes place, indeed, for us at that time, death will no longer have any sting, and the grave will have lost its victory!
For more on this beautiful passage, please see Instantly Changed and Caught Up.
1 Corinthians 16:22 – Maranatha – “The Lord is Coming!” – Allusion
“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” – 1 Corinthians 16:22
Those who “love not the Lord Jesus Christ,” rejecting His free-gift offering to all of mankind, must necessarily be accursed, or Anathema.
The Greek word Maranatha or “marana tha“– 3134 μαράνα θά – means “our Lord cometh” or “our Lord will come,” signifying for the bride of Christ the certainty of our faith and trust that our beloved Bridegroom will indeed come for His bride at the resurrection/rapture, just as He has promised!
2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 1:14 – The Day of the Lord Jesus
“As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.” – 2 Corinthians 1:14
“The day of the Lord Jesus” is the resurrection/rapture of the bride of Christ.
The Greek word for “in” is 1722 ἐν “en” and can mean, depending on context, in, by, with, among, at, on, or through. In 2 Corinthians 1:14, in English, “on” or “at” would also be acceptable alternative translations.
Paul assured the Corinthians that, just as they were Paul’s rejoicing, so too was Paul and his ministry partners their rejoicing, which would culminate “at [or on] the day of the Lord Jesus Christ,” when the Father sends Yeshua to fetch His bride!
2 Corinthians 4:14 – He Shall Raise Up Us Also by Jesus – Allusion
“Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.” – 2 Corinthians 4:14
Here is another Pauline promise that, just as the Father “raised up the Lord Jesus,” so will we one day be “raised up also by Jesus” when we meet the Lord in the air and will forever be with each other and our Savior.
This glorious day for the bride of Messiah will obviously be the resurrection/rapture of the church of Jesus Christ!
Philippians
Philippians 1:6, 10 – The Day of Jesus Christ… The Day of Christ
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ… That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” – Philippians 1:6, 10
When we give our lives to Jesus Christ, we can be assured that “He which hath begun a good work in [us] will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,” the resurrection/rapture of the church.
Likewise, we who are truly born-again in this life “may approve things that are excellent – that we may be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ,” that wonderful day of the resurrection/rapture of the church.
Jesus is faithful to bring us through, whether through our deaths or still alive at “the day of Jesus Christ,” when our Bridegroom comes back to fetch His bride on that glorious day!
Philippians 2:15-16 – The Day of Christ
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” – Philippians 2:15-16
As the twice-born “sons and daughters of God,” we are “without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation [or generation or age], among whom [we] shine as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of life.”
In the same vein as 2 Corinthians 1:14 above, because the Philippians were Paul’s converts, he eagerly desired to “rejoice in the day of Christ” – the resurrection/rapture of the church – rejoicing with them all on that momentous day.
Philippians 3:10-11 – The Resurrection of the Dead – Allusion
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” – Philippians 3:10-11
This passage does not denote that Paul divinely knew he would die a martyr’s death before the rapture might occur at this time, only that though he was alive physically at this time, he was dead in Christ – “being made conformable unto His death” through “the fellowship of His sufferings” – and that Paul would be “resurrected from the dead” eventually if Paul were to die physically in the future. (Galatians 2:20).
The rapture and the resurrection of the dead, for the church, of course, will occur when Christ comes back for His bride.
Philippians 3:20-21 – Looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
“For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” – Philippians 3:20-21
The believer’s citizenship is already eternally established in heaven upon conversion, and, while alive on Earth, each Saint is to “look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body” at the resurrection/rapture of the church.
Philippians 4:5 – The Lord is at Hand – Allusion
“… The Lord is at hand.” – Philippians 4:5
As always, Paul preached imminence. That is, the rapture could occur at any time and, therefore, “The Lord is [always] at hand” – not only near to us but near to come.
This imminence, for believers who are always watching and waiting for their Lord’s return, is what purifies us in our daily lives and walk with the Lord as we love and serve Jesus and love and serve others!
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May we all keep Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks us, “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?”
Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!
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