The Rapture of the Saints (Final Rollcall of The Church)
The Rapture of the Saints (Final Rollcall of The Church)
The rapture of the saints is the instant whisking away of true believers who died in Christ, from the ascension of Jesus till our era, as well as truly saved, standing (holy living) believers, at the sound of the trumpet and the voice of the Archangel.
The clear picture of the rapture was hidden from the Old Testament prophets, but the Spirit of God, through Apostle Paul, has given the New Testament believer exactly how it will happen:
“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 Thess. 4:16-17)
He further gives the description in 1 Cor. 15:51-53: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (physically die), 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality”.
It is commonly referred to as the first phase of the Second Coming of Christ. Though the word 'rapture' is not directly mentioned in the Bible, it has been coined to stand for the description given in the scriptures above.
What is unique about it is IT CAN HAPPEN ANY MOMENT FROM NOW. Christ will not step on this earth at rapture, and not all eyes shall see Him at rapture. (refer to the verses above)
The rapture is the next major event to happen to the church, as it will mark the end of the Church Age (the period from Christ's departure from earth up to our current dispensation, called the End Time) on earth.
It will be characterised by the sudden disappearance of those the Lord will meet waiting because the Spirit of God living within them will automatically connect them to the voice of the trumpet and the voice of the Archangel.
Jesus earlier gave us another vivid description of how the instant whisking away of genuine, holy believers will be: “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”. (Matt. 24:40-41)
What will make people know it has occurred will be the sudden disappearance of the saints across the world, and media houses or portals will be filled with such breaking news for days.
The rapture will mark the end of the period of grace which we enjoy now. That is why we must take advantage of this period to repent from all sins, get saved and live holy for God.
Right after the rapture will be a new era the world will enter into: the reign of the Antichrist, called in the book of Revelation the Beast, empowered by the Devil and that False Prophet, a period referred to as the Great Tribulation.
For believers, the only caution is this, from our coming Lord: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come”. (Matt. 24:42). PREPARE TO MEET THY LORD!