Message from Pastor Leo

May 1, 2009

     Every month we get calls and letters asking about “The Rapture”.  Are you confused about the rapture of the church?  You don’t have to be.  Let me answer our most frequently asked questions by showing you a few key verses from the Bible.

What is the rapture? 

     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. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  Simply stated, the rapture is Jesus coming to claim His church – the believers, those He paid for with his death (Ephesians 1) – to take them back to heaven and reward them for their faith.  No, the word “rapture” does not appear in the Bible, but look at the words “caught up”.  In the Greek, that is the word “harpazo”, meaning to seize – catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).  It’s the same definition as the word “rapture” in our English dictionaries.

When will the rapture happen?

     But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew 24:36  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Matthew 24:40-41  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 15:52  No one knows when the Father will send the Son.  It will happen in an instant, and it will be over.  The Bible does tell us, in Revelation chapters 4 and 5, that the Church is in heaven before the Anti-Christ comes to power and before the Great Tribulation begins.

Who will be raptured?

     Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 145:6   Those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus and made Him their Lord, will be raptured. 

How will it happen?

     Jesus said: 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. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  The bodies of those believers who have already died physically will be taken from the earth first.  Then the believers still living will be taken.  The body itself is not important.  Its removal is a sign to those who are left behind.  We will receive new bodies in Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-53). 

What happens to me after the rapture - where do I go and what is it like?

     If you are a believer, a follower of Jesus, you will be snatched away from the earth to join Jesus and all of the Church in the clouds of the sky, and then be taken to heaven where Jesus has made a special place for you: In my Father's house are many mansions … I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2  Revelation chapters 4 and 5, shows the Church will be in heaven, praising and worshipping God, and laying our crowns before His throne.

As a Christian, do I need to do to prepare for the rapture?

     Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Matthew 24:42, 44, 46  We are commanded to watch and be ready for the rapture.  If we are ready and doing what Jesus has asked us to do, we will be rewarded.  In the instant that He comes for us, we certainly don’t want to be caught off guard, yelling at the neighbors, grumbling about a co-worker, fighting with our spouse, or anything like that.  We want to be in prayer, discipling a friend, teaching Sunday School, witnessing to a stranger, or singing praises when Jesus comes.

     Check it out for yourself.  Read about The Rapture in your Bible so that you can be confident in what you believe.  Start with Matthew 24:36-51, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, and Revelation 4-5.  Dig in and look for the good stuff, like these verses which assure you of a glorious, eternal life, reigning and ruling with our Savior and Lord.  God wants you be excited.  You should be looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).

     Read your Bible.  Read it every day, draw closer to Jesus, and get excited about God.

May the Lord Jesus Christ Be Magnified!

Pastor Leo A. Giovinetti