This subject is one that can oftentimes stir folks up.  I normally avoid speaking about it because of what I’ve seen over and over.  The topic can trigger contention, confusion, and misunderstandings, even separating brethren within the church – especially when you throw one little word into the mix.     

That word is Rapture.  “The Rapture of the Church” is being proclaimed from church pulpits as never before in response to all the events going on today.  Many, if not most, Christians believe they will be snatched out of here at any moment.  They believe they will not have to go through any of the cataclysmic tribulation period.  Another mantra you hear is, “We are not appointed unto wrath.”   

The latter statement is absolutely true!  God’s people are not appointed unto wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9).  But the Word also says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).” 

For clarification purposes; the Tribulation period consists of two parts:

Judgment – During the judgment period, which consist of 7 seals, God releases various global “calamities” to beckon mankind to repent and turn to Him.  Remember, “Judgment must begin at the House of God (1 Peter 4:17),” so the Church (House of God) will still be here when it begins.” 

Wrath – During the wrath period (last half of the tribulation), which consists of 7 trumpets, God pours out His wrath upon the unrepentant – the kingdom of darkness.

But getting back to the subject of the “Rapture.”

I’ve been asked, “Do you believe in the Rapture?” probably more times than any other question I’ve been asked through the years.  If you ask me that right now, I’d give you my standard pat answer of, “Well, would you define what you mean by the “Rapture?” 

Let’s first look at the formal meaning; then we will toss it aside in favor of another word, and go from there.

Rapture:  The English word “rapture” comes from the Latin verb “rapere,” meaning “to seize, snatch, or carry off.” 

From the Latin word “Raptus or Raptura”, which literally means “seizure,” it was translated to the Greek New Testament verb “harpazo” (as found in 1 Thess 4:17), meaning “to snatch away”.  In Jerome’s 5^th century Vulgate it was translated as “rapiemur”, which means “we shall be caught up.”

The word “rapture” began by meaning a LITERAL PHYSICAL ABDUCTION.  The English word “Rapture” stuck.  That’s the word used to describe the event of seizing, snatching, or carrying off.    Then in the 19^th century that same word “Rapture” was popularized by John Darby and various dispensationalists, and the word Rapture came to be defined as the prophetic event of believers being “caught up” to meet Christ.  THAT’S IT!   That’s all the word means.  Would you or I deny that it’s going to happen?  I would say, “NO!”  The question to ask then would be – WHEN is this going to happen?

As mentioned, The Greek rendering of the Latin word “rapere” is “harpazo,” and the definition is the same all the way through, “to snatch away, to seize, take by force, or carry off suddenly and decisively.”  In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul used the same word to describe us being “caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

It is also used elsewhere in scripture, like to describe Philip being transported by the Spirit in Acts 8:39, describing a translation from one place to another; and Paul being caught up to heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.

But through time, most began to associate the popular English word “Rapture” as taking place prior to the end-time Tribulation, when Jesus comes for all the saved.  This became a cultural trend, like with Darby, and the Left Behind Books, etc.   They took the English word “Rapture” and put their doctrinal spin on it. 

But if you look at the WHEN of this taking place, that’s where Christians are divided into four general camps: 

• Probably the largest group are those who believe Saints (all who belong to Jesus) are taken (redeemed – before the tribulation begins (pre-trib).
• A second group believes Saints are taken – redeemed midway through the tribulation (mid-trib).
• The third group believes Saints are not redeemed until the end of the tribulation at the 2nd return of Jesus (post-trib).
• Another camp believes the redemption is done through several gleanings (harvests) before, and at, the physical return of Jesus Christ.

There are variations of each of the above, but what is the truth of the matter?  And why do you think it might be important to get some revelation on this topic in this hour – as much as the Lord wants us to have? 

Before proceeding, if you did not notice, I used the word “REDEEMED,” and not the word “Raptured” above in the 4 groups. I think the word redeem/redeemed might be a better term to use to avoid confusion in the camp of God.  Even though the word Rapture describes what happens in the event, like – the snatching away, taken, forced seizure, the PHYSICAL ABDUCTION; The word “Redeemed” better communicates the WHY.  So, there is a WHAT and a WHY to this event.

Before going further, the question needs to be asked; Why is this important, and why might the Lord want us to consider this right now?

One thing is that the redemption is right in front of us – no matter which camp you may be in.  We recently completed all the festivals of God for this calendar year, all so rich in meaning. These festivals reveal the “blueprint” of God’s redemption plan for mankind, and shed much light on the order and timing of events.  More on this blueprint will be covered later, but the Feast of Trumpets in particular pictures the return of Jesus Christ!

What is so exciting is that, the redemption – YOUR REDEMPTION – will have taken place by the time Jesus’ feet touch down on the Mount of Olives!!! His second coming.  It doesn’t matter which of the “camps” you believe or see yourself in.

Before going further, we need to begin on the foundation upon which all of us should be standing.  And that foundation is Jesus Christ and His blood atoning sacrifice He’s already paid, which places us all in the same category to begin with. We should all agree on what’s said in:

Ephesians 1:7 says, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

His blood was the purchase price paid for the redemption.  Now going further:

Ephesians 1:13-14, “…In whom also after you believed you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest money/down payment deposit of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. 

Look up the word redemption: you’ll see there are two parts described in the Word: the first is He as our redeemer – paid the purchase price for our redemption.   The deposit was paid until the redemption of His purchased possession.

Let’s look at a couple of examples:

There used to be a major national store chain called ‘Service Merchandise.’    We had one for a long time in Oklahoma City.  After you pay for the merchandise, you are handed a receipt of purchase.  This proof of purchase was then turned in to redeem your purchase.  It was a redemption ticket – your payment until you picked up, or took, what was already paid for.

Another analogy:  We were slaves to sin before Jesus redeemed us with His blood.  Picture a group of slaves on an auction block.  A buyer purchases one, and then another slave.  He may purchase a group of slaves.  The purchased slaves are then separated from the others – and held in a separate area – until the owner comes to redeem/take what he has already paid for.  This is what Jesus has done for us!

Ephesians 1:7 says the receipt for our purchase has been signed in His blood, and verse 14 promises the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that God is coming back to collect (redeem) what He paid for.

Let me quickly tell my story of what Camp I’ve been in regarding the time of our redemption:

For the first 25 plus years, I was in Camp #3, believing our redemption was after the tribulation – at Jesus’ 2^nd coming. I was a post-tribulation believer.

Then for a few years I joined Camp #1, believing my redemption was before the Tribulation – a pre-tribulation believer.

But as the Lord continued opening my understanding, I moved into camp #4.  You see, I found ample biblical evidence for the first three camps.  Using the Word of God, it became clear to me the redemption takes place through multiple gleanings. 

Instead of going through all the explanation, when someone now asks, “Do you think the rapture/redemption takes place before, mid-way, or after the tribulation?”  my reply most likely would be, “You know, it doesn’t matter to me, as I can see all those scenarios in the Word, so just count me in – no matter when my redemption takes place!”

God willing, this will be continued next week in Part 2, at which time we will cover scriptures highlighting each of the groups, and examine why I consider myself in camp #4.  But until that time, I believe we should all agree it is time:

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.”  (Luke 21:28)

To Be Continued