PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE(Eng.) ND/HD
(Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.
THE
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (PART 1)
…THE
RAPTURE
Devotional Text: I
Thess. 4:16-17
Introduction:
The word “rapture”, according to Grant
Jeffrey (1993) comes from the Latin Word “rapere”, which means to “snatch away”
or to “caught up”. Although, the word does not appear in the English
translations of the Bible, other words like “caught up”, “gathered up“ and
“snatch away” are used to express the concept. Therefore, when the word
“rapture” is used, it is used to express the sudden “take-home” of the
Christian church at the sound of the trumpet of God, (I Thess. 4:16).
GENERAL REMARKS
(1) The rapture
is the sudden caught up of the saints, (vs. 16:17).
(2) At rapture,
the living and dead saints will meet Jesus in the air, (vs. 16-17).
(3) The rapture
will be heralded by the trumpet of God, (vs. 16)
(4) At rapture,
the first resurrection will take place, (vs. 16).
THE OLD
TESTAMENT EXAMPLES OF RAPTURE
The
Bible shows the demonstration of the “rapture” in the Old Testament. In fact,
the caught up of Elijah (I Kings 2:11) and the snatching of Enoch (Gen. 5:24)
are clear indications of the future rapture of the saints, (I Thess 4:16-17).
Therefore, to doubt the advent of the rapture is the doubt;
(i)
the resurrection of the saints, (vs 16);
(ii)
the ability of God to transforms the bodies of His saints, (I Cor.
15:51-57);
(iii)
the victory of the Lord over death, (vs 54-57).
THE CHURCH
AND THE RAPTURE
The advent of the rapture focuses on the
church, and it is the gathering up of both the living and dead saints in
Christ, from the “apostolic age” to the present and future generations of the
church, marked by God for the rapture. The world is yet to experience these
dramatic events, which is sometimes described as the invisible return of
Christ, during which the saints (not sinners), living and dead, will see and
meet Him in the air, (I Thess. 4:16-17). The Scripture equally shows that the
rapture will;
(i)
take place suddenly, and that many believers will remain alive at
the event, (I Cor. 15:51-53)
(ii)
happen at the blowing of the last trumpet, and that there will be
the resurrection of those who died in the faith, (vs. 52);
(iii)
provide an opportunity for the believers, dead or alive, to be
changed for eternity; (vs. 52-53).
GETTING
READY FOR THE RAPTURE
The second coming of the Lord at the rapture
is exclusively an affair of love between the Saviour and His Saints. This
indicates that the sinners or unbelievers will not see the Lord during the
rapture, as it will come as a surprise to them, (Matt. 24:40-42). The rapture,
therefore, will provide the Lord, the opportunity to receive His saints to
Himself, and so, for one to qualify for the rapture, one must;
(i)
say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, (Titus 2:11-12);
(ii)
live a self-controlled, upright and godly life, (vs 12);
(iii)
have a renewed hope for the Lord’s glorious appearing, (vs. 13).
In conclusion, please note that the second coming of Christ, referred to as the
rapture is an indispensible events, since heaven and earth shall pass away, but
His word shall never pass away, (Mark 13:31). In line with this, the believer
in Christ is, therefore, enjoined to take cognizance of the fact that those who
hope to see Him purify themselves, as He is pure, (I John 31:3). “Watch and
pray, for you do not know what hour the Lord is coming, (Matt. 24:42). HEAVEN IS REAL.
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