Clearing Up the Confusion and Ending the Speculation About the ‘Rapture’

Clarifying the “Rapture” of the Church

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

(1st Thessalonians 4: 13–18; Matt. 24: 3–14; Rev. 13: 5–8)

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For as long as I have been alive, which has been for quite a while now, there has been endless talk and rampant speculation about the ‘rapture’, or literally snatching away, of all the ‘real’ followers of Christ. This has been predicted to take place within 3–7 years prior to the return, or Second Coming, of our Lord and Savior. There are 3 versions or explanations of the “rapture” of the Church, also known in the Book of Revelation as the Bride of Christ. But before we get into that, let’s have a look at one of several passages in the New Testament about the ‘rapture’ so we can get a little background, and I quote:

First Thessalonians Chapter Four Explained

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to God’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, and the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet our Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (1st Thessalonians 4, verses 13–18)

The Necessity of Our Sincerity Regarding Our Faith

There is considerable symbolism being used here by the apostle Paul, the man who wrote the above passage of Scripture, but its nature is not that complex. The phrase “those who fall asleep” is an ancient expression for what we now call ‘the deceased’ or ‘the dearly departed’ or ‘the late whoever’ and so on. But Paul then comes right back and sums up the essence of Christianity in one simple sentence: “We believe that…