RAPTURE What is the rapture? The Rapture is an event, in which the Lord Jesus Christ will "call-up" all the truly saved Christians. The rapture occurs before the tribulation, and the Mark of the Beast. If someone has truly received the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, they will not be on the earth during the Tribulation. What about Christians after the rapture? Before examining "What about Christians after the rapture?", because the rapture is under attack today, let’s briefly examine the rapture from the scriptures: One frivolous argument against the rapture is the word "rapture" isn’t even in the Bible. Just because the word "rapture" is not in the Bible, doesn’t mean the event rapture is not in the Bible. For example, the word "trinity" is not in the Bible, but thank God, the trinity is in the Bible (Matt. 28:19). The word "millennium" is not in the Bible, but the 1000 year period event of Rev. 20 – millennium, is in the Bible. In fact, the word "bible" is not in the Bible! The word rapture comes from the Latin Vulgate translation of the Greek word harpazo in 1 Thess. 4:17. The Greek word harpazo means "to snatch or catch away". I think the word rapture is the perfect word. The word rapture means ecstasy, beautiful joy, transport of delight, caught up. The "rapture" truly will be "beautiful, ecstasy, transport of delight"! Yes. Definitely. RAPTURE is the perfect word. Bible verses that describe Christians "caught-up" or raptured: Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, 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 [those still alive] shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Cor. 15:51-55 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. 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 [harpazo - this is where the word rapture comes from] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thess. 4:15-18 Notice, the above verses can NOT be the second advent that occurs AFTER the rapture: In Revelation 19, AFTER the tribulation, the Lord Jesus Christ comes back on a white horse, in war, and casts the false prophet and the beast into a lake of fire. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. . . . And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Rev. 19:11-16, 20,21 Again, look at 2 Thess. 1:7-9: And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 2 Thess. 1:7-9 Many, many more verses could be given, but there is obviously TWO coming. In the first coming, before the tribulation, spoken of in 2 Thess 4:15-18 and 1 Cor. 15:51-55: The Lord Jesus Christ is calling someone UP to meet Him in the clouds. It’s also called "a mystery" 1 Cor. 15 In the second coming, after the tribulation, spoken of in Rev. 19 and 2 Thess, 1: The Lord Jesus Christ is coming DOWN for judgement in war with fire. Nothing mysterious about the second advent. It does not take a "genius" to notice these are TWO totally different scenarios. But it does take someone to believe the Word of God.