The Rapture

This is a subject that some people believe in fervently, and others laugh off as a joke. Many times, we have seen bumper stickers on the cars of self-righteous people proclaiming, ‘In the event of rapture, this car will be driverless.’

The concept of the rapture is based on Jesus’ words found at Matthew 24:40, 41, which says, ‘Then, two men will be in the field, one will be taken along and the other abandoned. Two women will be grinding at a hand mill, one will be taken along, and the other abandoned.’

Rapture is an old English word that originally meant ‘a transporting.’ And that is the basic meaning given to it by religious people – that they will be instantly taken along and transported to heaven in their fleshly bodies.

Yet, some commentators have concluded that these verses have a meaning that is opposite to that of being taken to heaven. They say the verses imply that individuals are taken away to be killed and the one left behind is saved. This could also be true, since Jesus’ words are a bit vague. However, the Greek word (paraLambanetai) that we have translated as taken along here, is never used in other verses to mean just taken (as in death), but always as taken along. So, the logical assumption is that Jesus was in fact speaking of individuals being taken into the sky.

That Jesus was talking about their being taken heavenward is verified by the parallel account of the last days that are found at Mark 13:24-27, which says, ‘But, in the days following that time of difficulty, the sun will be darkened, the moon won’t shine, stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will shake. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with much power and glory. And he will send the messengers off to gather his Elected Ones from the four winds; from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.’

So, there’s no joke here, for Jesus is obviously talking about something that sounds very much like the common concept that religious people have of the rapture. And this account seems to indicate that the rapture happens immediately at his coming. However, there is a problem with the concept as most people envision it. While millions of people may self-righteously claim that they qualify to be taken to heaven, let’s take a hard look at those who really do:

• First, there were the Apostles of Jesus, who all had to suffer terribly, and most died violently for their faith.
• There were the early Christians, who were terribly persecuted, and many died violently at the hands of either the Jews or the Romans.
• There were the Christians who lived between the latter First Century and the Fourth Century, many of whom died in Roman arenas at the hands of gladiators or wild animals, while others were doused with oil and lit afire to illuminate the arenas.
• There were the Christians who were tortured, burned alive, flayed alive, buried alive, etc., for their religious beliefs from the Fourth through the Fifteenth Centuries.
• There were the Christians who were murdered, raped, tortured, etc., during the religious wars of the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth Centuries.
• We will skip to the Twentieth Century and mention all those who were beheaded, hung, and shot for refusing to support the wars and politics of governments that are described as ‘wild animals’ and under the control of ‘the dragon’ in the Revelation.

So, after considering the terrible things that such holy ones had to endure and the great faith this required, does it seem fair that those who have died rather peacefully and ordinarily, and suffered no great persecution would then be offered their same reward? No, and that isn’t likely. Rather, the Bible indicates that those who receive the reward of life in heaven with Jesus must be chosen by God, and they must prove their faith through great persecution, and even torture and a violent death… as did Jesus, his Apostles, and thousands of truly ‘anointed ones’ who were willing to give up everything for the heavenly reward. And this is what the scriptures say will be required of them. Notice what was said of those who do deserve this special heavenly reward at Romans 8:17, ‘However, we have to suffer together so we can also be glorified together.’

Also, notice what was also said at Revelation 6:9-11, ‘I saw the lives of those who had been slaughtered because of the Word of God and because of the testimony that they gave, underneath the altar. They were calling out in a loud voice asking, O Sovereign Lord who is holy and true, how much longer will you hold back from passing judgment on those who live on the earth and from avenging our blood? Then they were each given a white robe and they were told to take it easy just a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow slaves and brothers was filled (who were going to be killed, as they were).’

Yet, as we will discuss later, there does seem to be some question as to whether this rapture is really speaking of people being taken into heaven (the presence of God).

When the Rapture Happens

Assuming that we understand the meaning of Jesus’ words properly and that some people will in fact be taken and transported to heavenly life, first we would assume that they must be transformed to have spiritual bodies, for what value would a fleshly body have in heaven where all others are ‘spirits?’ And they must live until the time of the rapture to be taken alive into the heavens (not needing a resurrection). When will that happen?

We read of their acceptance at Revelation 7:1-4, where it speaks of God’s messengers ‘holding back the winds’ of destruction until they are all sealed. Then at Revelation Chapters Seventeen and Eighteen, we read of the destruction of Babylon the Great. This is followed in Chapter Nineteen with ‘the marriage of the Lamb’ and the ‘the Battle of Armageddon.’

So, if the order of the Revelation is correct, we can expect the Rapture to happen at the coming of Jesus, which is sometime between the destruction of what appears to be unfaithful religion (Babylon the Great) and the Battle of Armageddon, because ‘the marriage of the Lamb’ refers to the uniting of the Chosen Ones with Jesus (the Lamb). We read of this marriage at Revelation 19:6-8, which says, ‘Then I heard what sounded like the voices of a huge crowd, with the noise of a lot of water and heavy thunder. They shouted, Praise Jah, because [Jehovah] our God the Almighty has started ruling as king. Let’s rejoice, shout in joy, and glorify him, because it’s time for the Lamb’s wedding! His bride has prepared herself, and she has been found as worthy to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen. This fine linen represents the righteous actions of the Holy Ones.’

That the rapture would come after the destruction of religion seems to be implied by Jesus’ prophecy at Mathew 24: 22, where he said, ‘And if those days aren’t cut short, nobody will be saved. But, because of the chosen ones (literally, ‘elected’) those days will be cut short.’

Of course, that prophecy (Matthew 24, 25) is where Jesus gave many signs to look for, in answer to a very complicated question that was asked by his disciples. It is complicated because the question they asked covered things that would happen both during the coming destruction of Jerusalem (in 70-C.E.) and during his future nearness and coming. For, it’s interesting that it doesn’t appear as though ‘the rapture’ was fulfilled at the time of Jerusalem’s destruction, so we must assume that this is something that will happen during just the last days of this age.

An Invitation to the Wedding Banquet

But will this wedding then go unseen on the earth? No, for Revelation 19:9 goes on to say: ‘Write this: Those who are invited to the Lamb’s wedding banquet are blest.’

So, there will be people who are invited to the Lamb’s wedding banquet, and since they aren’t the brides, we must assume that they are earthly guests.

But, isn’t this verse referring to those who constitute the bride, as many think?

No, for in ancient Israelite society, brides weren’t just invited to their wedding banquets. Rather, the groom went to the house of the bride’s family to take her (which constituted the wedding), and thereafter they traveled to the banquet facility to meet and celebrate the joyous event with their friends. So, those who are invited to the wedding banquet are the friends of the bride and groom.

We read of a similar invitation to a wedding banquet of Jesus (the Lamb) at Matthew 25:1-13: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom and his bride. Five were wise, but five just didn’t care. Those who didn’t care brought their lamps, but they failed to bring any oil, while the wise brought jars of oil for their lamps. Well, as the bridegroom was taking his time, they all nodded off and went to sleep. But in the middle of the night someone shouted, Look, it’s the bridegroom… [let us all] go to meet him! Then all the virgins arose and started preparing their lamps. And those who didn’t care said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are about to go out! But the wise replied, There likely isn’t enough for us all. You’d best go to the store to buy your own. And as they were leaving, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready entered the banquet along with him, then the door was closed. Later, the other virgins arrived and said, Lord, Lord, open to us! But in answer he told them: I tell you the truth; I don’t know you. So stay awake, for you don’t know the day or the hour.’

Notice that we have rendered verse 1 as saying that the virgins went out to meet the bridegroom and his bride. Although the highlighted words aren’t found in the Greek text of Matthew, they are found in the Aramaic Targums, which we trust more that the Greek text of the book of Matthew (only), for it is thought that Matthew wrote his work in Aramaic. So, Jesus arrives with his bride, and the virgins who are waiting are the invited guests. Yet, although all were invited, not all were qualified and ready to enter the banquet.

We read of another similar wedding banquet with a similar situation and outcome at Revelation 22:2-14: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man, a king, who arranged a wedding banquet for his son. Then he sent his slaves to call those who were invited. However, they didn’t want to come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, Tell those I invited that {Look!} the dinner is prepared, bulls and fattened animals have been slaughtered, and everything’s ready, so come to the banquet! But, nobody paid any attention. One went out to his field, another to his business, and the rest grabbed his slaves, abused them, and then killed them. This sent the king into a rage, so he sent his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city. Thereafter, he told his slaves, The marriage feast is indeed ready, but those who I invited weren’t worthy. So, go to the roads leading out of the city and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet. Then the slaves went out to the roads and gathered everyone they could find, both the wicked and the good, and the wedding hall was filled with those reclining at the tables. But when the king came in to inspect the guests, he saw a man who wasn’t properly dressed for a wedding. So, he asked him, How did you get in here [dressed like that]? Well, the man was speechless. Then the king said to his servants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside into the darkness. There is where he will cry and grind his teeth. For, many are the called, but few are the chosen.’

As you can see, both parables of Jesus about the wedding banquet indicate that many in addition to the bride are invited to Jesus’ wedding banquet, but only a portion will be allowed to stay inside.

Where Will the Wedding Banquet be Held?

Although we don’t wish to be dogmatic, perhaps Paul’s words at 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 also describe this wedding banquet, for there we read: ‘This is what we are telling you, which is the word of the Lord: ‘[We] the living who remain until the coming of the Lord will definitely not go ahead of those who have been sleeping. Because, the Lord himself will come down from heaven and give the command in the voice of the highest messenger [of God] and with God’s trumpet… then those who have died in the Anointed One will be resurrected first. And we the living (those remaining at the time) will be snatched into the clouds along with them for a meeting of the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be together with the Lord.’

While these words have always been thought of as applying to the rapture of the bride (those who are called to heaven), notice that this meeting with the Lord in the air is not said to be a heavenly thing, for it tells us that the Lord himself will come down from heaven, and meet with those who are snatched (literally, raptured) in earth’s atmosphere (the air). So, whether these verses are speaking of the Lamb’s wedding or of those who are invited to the wedding banquet, we know that at least the banquet will be held in the vicinity of the earth.

Also, notice what appears to be the reason for this drawing away Christians from the earth (1 Thessalonians 1:10): ‘And [they tell of how you’re] awaiting His Son from the heavens who He raised from the dead, Jesus, who draws us to him and away from the coming wrath.’

So, is the purpose of this being taken ‘into the clouds’ and into ‘the air’ to be just a temporary thing to provide the faithful protection from ‘God’s wrath?’ And is this the same as ‘the rapture?’ Perhaps, but we will probably have to be there to find out.

For more information, you may wish to select the documents in the following links: The Resurrection, The Hereafter, and God’s Promise of an Inheritance.

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