Caught up together

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).

Introduction

Here Paul offers us one his clearest descriptions of the Second Coming of Christ and the Rapture of His church. These words are meant to be an encouragement for those mourning the death of saved loved ones, and for all believers who are looking forward to the soon return of the Lord.

It is in the Word

Paul received his teaching about the Second Advent of Christ from studying the Scriptures as well as via direct revelation. He no doubt studied the Lord Jesus’ own discourses, found in the Gospel, relating to His future return for His own, such as, “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” Matthew 24:31). He taught that believers ought to be “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This is not a new doctrine, but one that is derived from one of the oldest Old Testament books, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” (Job 19:25-27).

The Rapture

It all begins, when at the fullness of times, the Lord Jesus descends from Heaven, and probably not “until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25). “Behold, I show 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” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

[1] There will be a shout, the authoritative command of the Lord, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice” (John 5:58) … “He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43). [2] The voice of Michael the Archangel will be heard. [3] The trumpet of God will sound. The trumpet is both to announce the Lord’s arrival and to rally His own together. “God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet” (Psalm 47:5).

At the Rapture the spirit is reunited with the body, and thus fulfils another aspect of redemption, “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 8:23). Though in 1 Corinthians 15:51 Paul calls this “a mystery” it does not infer that the Rapture is a secret event. It is likely that it will be seen by the world. The word ‘rapture’ is derived from the Latin ‘raptus’ which is a direct translation of the Greek ‘harpazō’, and literally means to be caught away or snatched up. Paul explains that this will happen extremely quickly, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). In modern terminology we would say, “In a nanosecond”, that is, “One billionth (10^-9) of a second” (Online Dictionary). All believers, both dead and alive, will be caught up into the presence of Christ. Notice the mention of clouds. This indicates that the Lord does not come to earth at this stage; therefore the event must take place before the Millennium. Jesus calls His own to Himself to take them to Heaven, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

It will be for ever

All believers will be together with the Lord throughout eternity. Those who have died in the faith will be reunited with their loved ones. Will we know each other in Heaven? According to this Scripture we will. Our comfort is in the fact that one day Christ will come to receive us unto Himself, and that those we miss will be seen again. “Cheer each other with these assurances. Tell the mourning ones that when they are called to meet the Lord they will find their own sleeping ones in the glorious company” (The People’s New Testament).

Conclusion

Can we say, “Maranatha” (1 Corinthians 16:22) and “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20)? Do we really want the Lord to come right now? Only those who faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ will be caught up unto Him when He returns. Therefore, we need to be ready. “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13).