Prophecy

The REASON For The Rapture

by John Clark 
05/12/16
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I was watching the movie, "Left Behind," which gave me inspiration to write this article. The thought that came to mind is that many non-Christians, perhaps do not know the reason behind the rapture. Why does it have to happen? Before I begin, however, I need to explain that even though the word "rapture" does not occur anywhere in the Bible, it comes from the Latin word "rapturo" which means "caught up." The Greek word is “harpazo” which means to seize. This wording is used in I Thessalonians 4:16-17. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout...and the the dead in Christ shall rise first..Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air..."

    The rapture applies to all those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and humbly recognized their need for a savior. They have accepted God's forgiveness and grace through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross and his bodily resurrection. 

     Matthew 24:21-22 says that there is coming a time of great tribulation and judgment so bad that many people will not survive. Here is a list of "16 Terrors of the Tribulation" prophesized in the Book of Revelation. 

 1. A fourth of the earth's population will be killed. (6:8)

 2. Intense fear. (6:15-17)

 3. One-third of the earth, the trees, the oceans, sea creatures, ships, rivers, springs of water, the sun, moon, and stars, will be destroyed. (8:7-12)

 4. People will be tormented like that of a scorpion for five months. They will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die but death will not happen. (9:5-6)

 5. There will be frightening hailstorms and earthquakes, accompanied by horrific thunder and lightning. (11:19)

 6. Two prophets who passed from earth thousands of years ago will come back to earth (11:3-11). Many scholars believe them to be Moses and Elijah.

 7. An earthquake will occur in Jerusalem so severe that 7,000 people will die and one-tenth of the city will be razed. (11:13)

 8. No one will be able to buy or sell unless they have the mark of the anti-Christ, commonly called 666. (13:16-18)

 9. Cancerous sores will appear on those who worship the anti-Christ. (16:2)

10. The sea and water will become like blood. (16:3-4)

11. A severe heat wave. (16:8-9)

12. Severe darkness. (16:10)

13. World-wide earthquakes that will destroy cities, and bury islands and mountains. (16:19-20)

14. One-hundred poound hall stones will fall. (16:21)

15. The sudden destruction of wealth. (18:17, 19)

16. Beheading. (20:4)

     (You may have noticed upon reading through this list that some of this is already happening.) 

     The rapture will be God's "exit strategy" for the saints of God. After all, you don't think that the justice of God would allow Christians to suffer the same fate as those who have not believed, do you? God does not want Christians to have to experience the full wrath of God upon this world. So , you see, just as there was judgment in the form of a universal flood (for which there is scientific evidence) that wiped out the entire human race except for Noah's family that was saved on the ark, so there will be another time of judgment during the Tribulation. The rapture will be what God uses to spare the lives of those who have called upon him for their salvation. 

     God's grace has limits. It has been thousands of years since the last cleansing, and the human race as a whole, has still not acknowledged God. So, it is getting close to another time of judgment. And the way current events are unfolding some believe it is right around the corner. The question is, are you ready to be raptured?