1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 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.
1Th 4:16 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
There is so much confusion today and so much disharmony in the body of Christ the very foundation of the Doctrine of Christ has even fallen apart, how can we go on to perfection in Christ?
Look at what Hebrews states
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Did you see that?? the doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead was a principle thing that in Pauls day could be laid down as a foundation, it was clear and true.
Let us now look at verse 16 and 17 again
1Th 4:16 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
Have you noticed what came first? The dead in Christ shall rise first, FIRST OF ALL COMES THE RESURRECTION then we that are alive and remain shall (be caught up) together with them in the clouds.
So why all the focus on the RAPTURE, why not focus on the Resurrection?? Jesus spoke on the Resurrection, Daniel spoke on the Resurrection, Paul spoke on the Resurrection, John spoke on the Resurrection, Jesus said that there is a Resurrection of the Just and a Resurrection of the unjust, so did Paul.
Joh_5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Act_24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
I know which Resurrection I want to be in, The Better Resurrection of the two is the Resurrection of the Just, what is this resurrection? It is the First Resurrection
Rev_20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev_20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev_2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Jesus was the first to be raised in the immortal body and when he comes again all of those in Christ will be raised
1Co_15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co_15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Jesus was the FIRSTFRUITS, not Jesus and others, it clearly states Jesus as the FIRSTFRUITS and AFTERWARDS they that are Christs at His coming.
PRAISE God let us look forward to laying the foundation that is true and go on to perfection, The Blessed Hope we have is that when Jesus returns the second time with all of His angels and the Trumpet Blast of God we will be Raised from the dead and those alive will be raptured up with those that have been raised from the dead.All in the twinkling of an eye.
The Rapture is the means by which those Resurrected and those that are alive are caught up, into the clouds to be with Jesus.
Jesus died for the sins of the whole world from creation until the end of time.
This is what Jesus said to His believers
Joh_6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Joh_6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh_6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh_6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
This last day is the last day, there is no day after this day, it is the last day, the last day of being in this immortal body, the last day of sin reigning, the last day of death for the believers, the last day of sin reigning in our flesh, the last day before Christ begins His Eternal reign, the last day before Christ pours out His wrath in the winepress of the lamb of God.
Jesus thank you for deliverance and thank you for eternal life, thank you for your word is life to our souls, YOU are Truth and the only way.
The rapture word (caught up ) is no special word and is used in many places in scripture and is not a word that is only used in connection with the Resurrection
As follows
G726
ἁÏπαÌζω
harpazō
har-pad'-zo
From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
It is used in the following verses as well as many others
Joh_10:12 ButG1161 he that is an hireling,G3411 andG2532 notG3756 the(G5607) shepherd,G4166 whoseG3739 ownG2398 theG3588 sheepG4263 areG1526 not,G3756 seethG2334 theG3588 wolfG3074 coming,G2064 andG2532 leavethG863 theG3588 sheep,G4263 andG2532 fleeth:G5343 andG2532 theG3588 wolfG3074 catchethG726 them,G846 andG2532 scatterethG4650 theG3588 sheep.G4263
Joh_10:28 And IG2504 giveG1325 unto themG846 eternalG166 life;G2222 andG2532 they shall neverG3364 G1519 G165 perish,G622 neitherG2532 G3756 shall anyG5100 man pluckG726 themG846 out ofG1537 myG3450 hand.G5495
Joh_10:29 MyG3450 Father,G3962 whichG3739 gaveG1325 them me,G3427 isG2076 greaterG3187 than all;G3956 andG2532 noG3762 man is ableG1410 to pluckG726 them out ofG1537 myG3450 Father'sG3962 hand.G5495
Act_8:39 AndG1161 whenG3753 they were come upG305 out ofG1537 theG3588 water,G5204 the SpiritG4151 of the LordG2962 caught awayG726 Philip,G5376 thatG2532 theG3588 eunuchG2135(G3756) sawG1492 himG846 no more:G3765 and(G1063) he wentG4198 on hisG848 wayG3598 rejoicing.G5463
Act_23:10 AndG1161 when there aroseG1096 a greatG4183 dissension,G4714 theG3588 chief captain,G5506 fearingG2125 lestG3361 PaulG3972 should have been pulled in piecesG1288 ofG5259 them,G846 commandedG2753 theG3588 soldiersG4753 to go down,G2597 and to take him by forceG726 G846 fromG1537 amongG3319 them,G848 andG5037 to bringG71 him intoG1519 theG3588 castle.G3925
2Co_12:2 I knewG1492 a manG444 inG1722 ChristG5547 aboveG4253 fourteenG1180 yearsG2094 ago, (whetherG1535 inG1722 the body,G4983 I cannot tell;G1492 G3756 or whetherG1535 outG1622 of theG3588 body,G4983 I cannot tell:G1492 G3756 GodG2316 knoweth;)G1492 such an oneG5108 caught upG726 toG2193 the thirdG5154 heaven.G3772
2Co_12:4 How thatG3754 he was caught upG726 intoG1519 paradise,G3857 andG2532 heardG191 unspeakableG731 words,G4487 whichG3739 it is not lawfulG1832 G3756 for a manG444 to utter.G2980
1Th_4:17 ThenG1899 weG2249 which are aliveG2198 and remainG4035 shall be caught upG726 togetherG260 withG4862 themG846 inG1722 the clouds,G3507 to meetG1519 G529 theG3588 LordG2962 inG1519 the air:G109 andG2532 soG3779 shall we everG3842 beG2071 withG4862 the Lord.G2962
Jud_1:23 AndG1161 othersG3739 saveG4982 withG1722 fear,G5401 pullingG726 them out ofG1537 theG3588 fire;G4442 hatingG3404 evenG2532 theG3588 garmentG5509 spottedG4696 byG575 theG3588 flesh.G4561
What makes this word so special is what the subject is and in Thessalonians it is special because after the Resurrection takes place and the changing of our bodies which happens in the twinkling of an eye we are then (caught up) to meet Jesus in the clouds.
It is Gods force that draws us to himself, not ours.
So the Rapture is the means by which we are gathered to Jesus to meet Him in the clouds after the Resurrection and changing of our bodies. The Resurrection is the greatest mystery and miracle that will happen at His Coming and then we will be gathered to Him.
Praise God.
