Below are Biblical answers to frequently asked questions concerning the rapture, the second coming and the day of he Lord.
What is the the Rapture?
The Rapture is the event when the Lord Jesus will return from Heaven and gather together all those who have excepted Him as there Lord and Savior, both the those that are living and dead. The gathering together of the Saints is described in 1Thessalonians 4:13-17 " But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (those that have died in Christ), that ye sorrow not, even as others, which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so will them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which re alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent themwhich 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 will rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet them in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Does the Bible say that millions of People will suddenly disappear in the twinkling of an eye? No! The Doctrine of a "secret" rapture and millions of people disappearing suddenly and leaving no clue to others where they have gone is not Biblical. Lets examine the scriptures carefully.This "Gone in the twinkling of an eye" comes from misinterpreting 1 Corinthians 15:51,52. "Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but We shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump." Scripture must always be understood in context with the scriptures before and after it. In the preceding verses beginning with verse 35 and continuing thru verse 54, Paul is talking about the resurrection of the body; How it will be changed from a natural body to a spiritual body. Verses 51 and 52 are talking about the body being changed in the "twinkling if an eye", not the entire rapture event described in 1 Thess. 4:13-17 in the previous question above.
Have there ever been any other raptures?
Yes. The Bible tells us of Enoch (Gen.5:23,24 and Heb.11:5), Elijah (2 Kings 2:9-12), and Jesus himself ,(Acts 1:9-11). Also the two witnesses will be caught up in the future,(Rev.11:11,12). Notice that all of these raptures, that someone saw them go up.They did not just disappear in the twinkling of an eye.
Does the Bible tell us when the Rapture will take place?
The Bible tells us that we cannot know the day or the hour, (Matt.24:36,42 and 25:13). However we are commanded to watch. Watch for what? There are specific signs that are given to tell us that the time is near.
What are some of the signs?
Some of the signs are; The anti-christ and Israel will make a covenant together; There will be increases in wars and rumours of wars, famines, Pestilences, and Earthquakes. The Abomination of Desolation must take place first, and a period of Great tribulation. Then specific heavenly signs that herald in the Day of the Lord.
