If
the book of Revelation is to be taken chronologically, there is great
significance
in the similarities between I Thessalonians 4:16-17 and Revelation 4:1-2.
in the similarities between I Thessalonians 4:16-17 and Revelation 4:1-2.
A
voice like a trumpet is heard and John is transported instantly
through a door in
heaven to the very throne-room of God.
heaven to the very throne-room of God.
The
Three stages of the Rapture
1.
The Lord descends with a shout
Like
the shout when he raised Lazarus from the dead.
This
time his shout raises all those who died in Christ.
2.
The voice of the archangel
In
the story of the 10 virgins, they are told that it's time to go.
3.
The trumpet of God “Come up hither.”
John
is told to come UP.
If
the Rapture follows the Pattern set in the Resurrection of Jesus:
1.
The dead in Christ rise at the shout
At
the shout, all the dead in Christ rise. After the Resurrection of
Jesus, he ascended
40 days later. During that time he appeared to believers, and ONLY to
believers.
It
may be that way this time too. The dead in Christ rise, then there
may be a
time interval before the next stage, during which the dead in Christ appear to believers.
time interval before the next stage, during which the dead in Christ appear to believers.
2.
We are informed that it's time:
We
will know it's the time. But the story of the 5 wise and 5 foolish
virgins shows that there
will
be a time interval when people will ask us how to be ready, and we'll
have to tell them
there
isn't enough time, you'll have to go find it for yourselves. Then
WHILE they go,
after
a short time interval, we’re taken.
3.
We are all taken to meet the Lord in the air
Finally,
up we go!
Further
revelation on this passage in 1 Thessalonians 5:
“For
when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes
upon them,
as
labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
But
you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake
you as a thief.”
1
Thessalonians 5:3-4
It
won't overtake us as a thief
In
other words, somehow we’ll know it’s the time. Could it be that
we’ll know because the
dead
in Christ have risen and are seen by believers? Looking at the
pattern shown us in the
Resurrection
of Jesus:
“And
Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
Then,
behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;
and
the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
and
the graves were opened;
and
many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
and
coming out of the graves after his resurrection,
they
went into the Holy City and appeared to many.”
Matthew
27:50-53
This
part of the Resurrection story just might be the pattern we will see
in the Rapture.
The
dead in Christ rise first, and appear to many, and this may be how
we’ll know.
A
a reference to the Rapture in the Old Testament.
This passage in Isaiah clearly shows that it comes before the judgments begin:
First
the resurrection:
Your
dead shall live;
together
with my dead body they shall arise.
Awake
and sing, you who dwell in dust;
for
your dew is like the dew of herbs,
and
the earth shall cast out the dead.
Then
a hiding away:
Come,
my people, enter your chambers,
and
shut your doors behind you;
hide
yourself, as it were, for a little moment,
until
the indignation is past.
Then
the judgments:
For
behold, the Lord comes out of His place
to
punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
the
earth will also disclose her blood,
and
will no more cover her slain.
Isaiah
26:19-21
