Is there such a thing as a Rapture of the church? Is resurrection real? There are actually 5 raptures and 2 resurrections.
Though the Bible does not use the word, rapture, there are many other unused words like drug use, smoking, gambling, prostitution. The Bible uses more general terms such as ‘uncleanness’ and ‘drunkeness’.
Table of Contents
What the word rapture really means
Rapture means to ‘Seize and carry off’ and there are five instances of it.
Rapture is only a word, but is used by Christians to describe one particular carrying away between the time of Christ’s ascension (Acts 1) and the tribulation. Notice the next two verses that couple resurrection with carrying away:
1 Corinthians 15:51–52 - 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 - 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.
Note: For ages, Christians have hoped to be among the living ones carried away to meet Jesus. Of the 5-parts (carryings away) of the first resurrection, only two parts include living people;
the NT church, and the Tribulation saints
The two witnesses were ‘carried away’ alive in the OT (Genesis 5:24; II Kings 2:1) They will die at the end of the tribulation, and be carried away with the tribulation saints immediately before Christ’s coming.
The living tribulation saints will caught up together with them. (Rev. 11:3-14)
What is Resurrection?
By definition, resurrection is revitalization, or revival of something. Above, we saw that, not all will be dead when that happens, but the living too, shall be revived. From corruption, to incorruption; from mortal to immortality. In the same sense, believers are said to be ‘risen with Christ.’ Which means spiritually changed from a corrupt nature, to incorrupt, but their bodies must wait for the resurrection, to be changed.
Resurrection involves re-entry of the soul and spirit into the body, and rising up from death into the next, immortal disposition. The ‘dead in Christ shall rise first’ Paul said. Those bodies are still in the ground, and will rise to eternal life, but the wicked dead, to eternal torment.
Philippians 3:10–11 - “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” That was the Apostle Paul’s hope.
The First Resurrection
The first resurrection is divided into 5 separate ‘carryings away.’ In each, participants, like captured chess pieces, are carried away, once they’re time on earth is finished. Notice in Rev. 20 that the 1st resurrection comes before the 2nd coming, which is before the Millennium:
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Parts of the First Resurrection
The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ
The Resurrection and Ascension of the Old Testament Saints
The Resurrection and Ascension of the New Testament Saints
The Catching away of the 144,000 Jews (Manchild)
The resurrection of the two witnesses and carrying away of Tribulation Saints
The Second Resurrection
Two Deaths
There are two deaths! The first resurrection is unto life eternal, the second is unto death. The first (physical) death, is pre-judgment; Hebrews 9:27 - “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
Revelation 20:14–15 - And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The second death, is post judgment.
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