Thread: Rapture
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Old 04-14-2008, 12:29 PM
Connie
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I don't think the rapture itself is controversial. The Bible is clear that at Jesus' return those who remain alive will be caught up to meet Him in the air.

Quote:
I Cor. 15: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Thess 4: 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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: 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The controversy is about WHEN this is to happen, whether it will occur at the Lord's final return, or will be a "secret" rapture of the church occurring some period of time before He returns to earth at the very end, taking the church out of the world while leaving others to go through the tribulation.

I haven't resolved all this myself. In fact I prefer to leave it unresolved for now because I don't think it's going to be completely clear until the events are underway. (I don't think it can occur until "the man of sin" or Antichrist is first revealed, which I believe is imminent -- that much I'm quite convinced of). But I hope others will answer you, so I can follow along as well, because it's always good, and especially in these days, to be familiar with the scriptures relating to them, and I know others here will give you a rich scriptural answer.

Last edited by Connie; 04-14-2008 at 12:36 PM.