Are You Rapture Ready?

There is a great world event coming, called the rapture. The word rapture however, is not mentioned in the Bible scriptures, but it is clearly referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Snatched!

This is the day when Jesus Christ will come down from heaven to snatch His church from planet earth. This includes those who are still alive when the raptures happens and those who have died in Christ. His church is not a building, but is made up of people who have been born again of the Spirit of God. This rapture event is the hope we have as born again Christians, which is mentioned over and over ,in the New Testament scriptures.

Let’s talk a closer look at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 

Let’s break down these verses….

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”

Paul wants Thessalonians Christians, to be informed, that Jesus is coming back and to assure them of this rapture event. Even though they might have lost a loved one to death, they will meet them again in the air, when Jesus comes back. The Apostle Paul is referring to the “the rest of mankind” as those who are lost and are not Christians. Those who are lost have no hope, because they did not have the Spirit of God living in them. They will not be snatched at His coming to meet the Lord in the air. That is a hopeless situation.

“For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

Not only did the Apostle Paul believe that Jesus died and rose again, but he also believed that those who have died in Christ will also rise again. This gives all Christians great hope that physical death does not end the life of a Christian.

“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Those who have died as a born again Christian, will be first to meet the Lord in the air. Why, because when they died, they were immediately ‘absent from the body and present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Notice how Paul mentions twice that the dead in Christ will rise first. “Those who are left” are referring to those born again Christians who are still alive when Jesus comes back. The whole world will hear his loud command and know that the end is near.

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

“After that” again refers to Christians, who have already died to meet the Lord in the air. Notice that this is the third time Paul is mentioning to the Thessalonians that their loved ones will be risen first. This is great encouragement to family members who are grieving for their loved ones. Paul doesn’t say you shouldn’t grieve, but that you don’t have to grieve like those do not know God, and have no hope. Don’t worry, you will see them again soon! And better yet, when this happens, we will all be with the Lord forever. Does it get any better than this? Is there anything better than this to look forward to?

Paul then writes “Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

 

What About You?

Since the rapture event is going to happen, are you ready? Have you accepted Jesus Christ in to your heart to be born again? If you have praise God. If you have not or are not 100% sure then pray this prayer…

Lord Jesus I need you.

Thank you for taking away all of my sins at the cross.

I realize that I came in to this world spiritually dead and condemned for hell.

I am asking you to come in to my life so that I can be born again and so that I will be with your forever.

I now thank you for giving me new life and coming to live inside me, making me rapture ready!

I will see you in the air!

I would love to year your comments.