[Must read] The purpose and qualifications of rapture

THE PURPOSE AND QUALIFICATION OF RAPTURE.

The Greek translated “Rapture” harpazo, and it has several meanings which include to carry off, snatch up, seize, over powering, an irresistible act of catching away due to divine force.
The Latin word for the Greek is Rapturo from which we derive the English word “Rapture”. It is believed that the church will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (Jn. 14:1-3; 1Cor. 15:23, 51-58). The rapture is the coming of the lord Jesus Christ in the air for the saints. It would be an event that will end the age of grace and usher in all other eschatological events.

THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH (1Cor. 15:51-57)
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1Cor. 15:52).

It is important to know the coming of the lord would be in two ways. One is the Rapture, and the other is the second Advent of Jesus Christ. These two comings would be separated by seven years.
At rapture, Christ will meet the saints in air where they would remain during the time, the tribulation would run its course on the earth (Jn. 14:3;, 1Thess. 3:13).
At rapture, Christ will not appear visibly on the earth as he did in the first advent, but in the air to catch up or rapture the dead and the living saints (1Cor. 15:51-57).

The marriage supper of the lamb and the judgment or reward of the saints would take place in the firmament. Then, at the second Advent after the tribulation, Christ and the saints would leave the firmament together to come down to the earth (Matt. 24:30; Acts 1:10-11; 1Cor. 5:10)
At rapture, Christ will come for the saints and at the revelation of Jesus Christ, which is the second Advent, Christ will come with the saints (Matt. 24:30, 16:27; Mark 13:26).

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THE MANNER OF THE RAPTURE (John 14:1-3; 1Cor. 15:51-56; Phil. 3:11, 20-21).
 For the lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first (1Thess. 4:16).

1. All saints shall not die before the rapture, but all shall be transfigured (1Cor.15:51-54. 1Thess. 4:15).

2. It will be a sudden incident, in the twinkling of an eye (1Cor. 15:52).

3. The trumpet shall sound by the Archangel (Matt. 24:31; 1Cor. 15:52).

4. All the righteous /saints who had slept (died) shall be raised with incorruptible body (1Cor. 15:52-53).

5. The living (those who are alive) shall then be transfigured.

6. Both dead and living souls in Christ will put on immortality. However, the living ones will not precede the dead ones in the rapture. (1Cor. 15:53-53; Eph. 5:27).

7. Jesus will appear for his people in the sky (1Thess. 4:16).

8. Both the living and the dead shall be caught up to meet Christ in the air and unite with him (John 14:3; Phil. 3:20b).

9. The rapturable saints shall appear to the BEMA SEATS (i.e the judgment seat) to receive rewards (Matt. 16:27; 1Cor 5:10) in form of crowns (1Thess 2:19).

10.On earth, the ANTI CHRIST will take over.

THE PURPOSE AND QUALIFICATION OF RAPTURE (1Cor. 15:21-23, 51:58)
The we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the (1Thess. 4:17).
To receive saints to himself as he promised (John 14:1-3; Eph. 5:27).

1. To raise the dead in Christ from among the wicked dead (1Cor. 15:21-23, 51-58).

2. To take the saints to the firmament to receive their rewards (John 14: 1-3; 2Cor. 5-10; 1Thess. 3:13) and partake of the marriage Supper of the lamb (Rev. 19:19).

3. To transform the bodies of the saints from mortality to immortality (1Cor. 15:21-23, 2Cor. 5:1-8).

4. To present the saints before God.

5. To receive the fruit of the early and latter rain (John 14:1-3; James  5:7).

6. To remove the one restraining the mystery of lawlessness (2Thess. 2: 1-8).

7. To make the saints to escape the tribulation that is to come upon the earth (Luke 21:34-36; Rev. 3:10).

8. To allow the appearance of Anti Christ. Once the saints have been raptured, the anti Christ would surface to fulfill the prophecies.

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THE QUALIFICATION FOR BEING RAPTURABLE (1Thess 4:16b)
……The dead in Christ will rise first (1Thess. 4:16b).

1. Be in Christ (2Cor. 5:17-18; 1Thess. 4:16)
Be holy and pure (John 3:1-3); without spot (Eph. 5:27).

2. Watch and pray always (Luke 221:34-35).

3. Walk in the light (1John 1:17; Col. 2:6-7).

4. Live and walk in the spirit (Gal. 5:16, 25-26), demonstrating his fruit daily (v. 22).

5. Be in the way, the truth and the life (john 14: 14:1-6).

6. Crucify the flesh with its affection and lust (Gal. 2:20).

7. Be in the church or body of Christ 1(Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:27, 1:22,23).

8. Maintain justification by faith and salvation by God’s grace, and obey the truth.

9. Doing good (John 5:28-29).