Although the word "rapture" does not appear in the Bible, the concept appears numerous times. Rapture does not mean "ecstasy" though it will be one of the most thrilling sensations ever to be known. The word was coined from the Latin rapio or rapere which means to "catch up or snatch away." 1 Thes. 4:13-18 is the only place in the NT where a "rapture" is clearly referred to.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and 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 Thessalonians 4:16-17

This event is known as the rapture. Clearly, this passage teaches that the dead in Christ will rise first, after which we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds. To those who know, the "rapture" means the coming of Christ to take us home to Glory, to which we look forward with joyous anticipation. We all know that the coming of Christ is found often in the Bible, both in the Old and the New Testaments. But this special coming, known as the "rapture" is only found in the New Testament. The first time it is said by the Lord Jesus Himself, when we hear Him say in John 14:2-3: "In My Father's house are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

The Rapture is also described by the Apostle Paul described in 1 Corinthians 15:51: "I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [be dead], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. "And so this twinkling of an eye is a "snatching away," and occurs as we zip through the heavenlies to meet Jesus Christ in clouds of glory.

No biblical passage states precisely what day or hour the Rapture will occur, but when it does multitudes who are ready will be taken. Their sudden removal may cause a mysterious world crisis, confusion and panic, such as:

- Driverless car, bus, truck and train wrecks.

- Airplane crashes due to missing crew members.

- Mass confusion of the radio and TV news media.

- Telephone circuits overloaded, operators missing.

- Numerous and uncontrollable fires and looting.

- Rampaging lawlessness, crime and mobs, which the remaining police are not able to control.

- Graves of the saved opened and bodies resurrected.

- Packed churches of liberal religious and false cults seeking answers from their ministers.

- Families terrified and in shock over missing saved family members, while the unsaved family members are still left on the earth.

- Cultic new age groups, and ufo'nauts, telling that 'alien' entities prophesied beforehand, through channeling, that ufo's took up these people to 'purify' this earth, to prepare a new era of conscience.

- Alien encounters and ufo sightings, telling this has nothing to do with 'the wrath of God' over the ungodly, but that there is nothing to fear, and everything is coming alright, and that the biblical view of the 'end time tribulation' is not true.

Whenever it happens, it will be too late for the unsaved.

Regardless of the scenario or methods God uses we can be confident that Jesus will save us and take us to the place He has prepared for us. It is all too often easy to focus on the sequence of events or methods and take our eyes off Jesus. We cannot know the details of God's plan but we can know the person who will reveal that plan to us. Our focus must be on Jesus and we must listen for His voice and follow Him. That alone will bring us through whatever the future holds and He alone can save us.

My theology best fits that of the premillennialist and the main focus of the articles found here will be from a premillennialist viewpoint. Furthermore, I believe the Pre-Wrath Rapture best fits what Scripture teaches and that all of the prophecies have been fulfilled that have to be fulfilled before Jesus comes again. It could be very soon! Are you ready? Is your heart right with God? Don't you want to miss the great time of tribulation and judgment that is coming upon the earth?

The Post Rapture Survival Guide

When will Jesus return?

Rapture Ready: Website by Todd Strandberg