As our title suggests, this five-part series focuses on The Rapture in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament).
Some of the passages we cite are crystal clear, others are nuanced, and still others are to be considered allusions. These allusions within this study series will be clearly identified and are generally for portions of Scripture that speak generically of the resurrection, as we know that the rapture is intrinsically linked to the resurrection of the church.
Many of these allusions are found in the gospels in some of Christ’s parables, as well as His teachings on the resurrection, while others are found throughout the epistles. Hence, this is why they are included within this study.
Some of the passages within this series have already been covered in past study articles. Therefore, links to those past study articles are provided in this series so that the reader may access them for a more enhanced understanding of those passages.
Past articles:
The Rapture in the Brit Chadashah – Part I
The Rapture in the Brit Chadashah – Part II
The Rapture in the Brit Chadashah – Part III
Underlined Scripture passages are my own emphasis.
Hebrews
Hebrews 9:28 – Unto Them That Look for Him Shall He Appear the Second Time
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” – Hebrews 9:28
Jesus Christ our Lord “shall appear the second time,” and when He does, we will finally be “without sin unto salvation” in our glorious eternal bodies and forever present and secure in our Bridegroom’s loving hands at the resurrection/rapture of His bride!
Hebrews 10:24-25 – Ye See the Day Approaching
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25
Each day that passes in the church age gets us one day closer to the Lord’s appearing for His bride; and we can have confidence that as it does, we can “see the day approaching,” that day of our blessed hope, the resurrection/rapture of the church!
Please see Watching and Waiting Is Not Knowing for more on this passage and many others.
Hebrews 10:36-37 – He That Shall Come Will Come
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” – Hebrews 10:36-37
Patience is a virtue. Patience is vitally needed by the child of God in this fallen, cursed world we all traverse. We have a glorious promise, and that promise is the resurrection/rapture of the bride of Christ, which, when He “shall come,” He “will come,” and when He does, He “will not tarry” any longer.
So, be patient, dear Saint. The timing of the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is in the loving hands of the Father, and His timing to send His Son for His bride will be absolutely perfect!
James
James 5:7-8 – The Coming of the Lord
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” – James 5:7-8
Patience again is stressed in relationship to our Bridegroom’s coming for His bride.
As with Hebrews 10:24-25, each day that passes brings us one day closer to the Lord’s appearing for His church; and we can have confidence that our blessed hope, the resurrection/rapture of the church “draweth nigh” with each passing day!
1 Peter
1 Peter 1:5-7 – Revealed in the Last Time at the Appearing of Jesus Christ
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ…” – 1 Peter 1:5-7
The finished product of our entrance into the Salvation Kingdom at conversion will finally be completed and “revealed in the last time… by the power of God through faith.”
Though in this temporal life we “now for a season, if need be, are in heaviness through manifold temptations [or trials],” and “the trial of [our] faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” – the rapture/resurrection of the church – when we will have on that glorious day ultimate victory through our Lord and Savior, the Author and Finisher of our faith!
1 Peter 1:13 – The Revelation of Jesus Christ
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” – 1 Peter 1:13
Another glorious promise of the infinite “grace that is to brought unto [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ” – the resurrection/rapture of the church of Christ.
Our “hope to the end” – or “hope perfected” or “hope completed” – of this blessed promise in Messiah Yeshua will never disappoint those who “gird up the loins of [their] mind,” working on behalf of their Lord and Savior in reaching the lost with the salvation message of His Salvation Kingdom, while loving and serving Jesus and loving and serving others, and are “soberly” watching and waiting for the glorious return of their Bridegroom!
1 Peter 4:7, 13 – The End of All Things… When His Glory Shall be Revealed
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer… But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” – 1 Peter 4:7, 13
Again, Peter similarly stresses the command for the believer in Jesus Christ to be “sober and watch unto prayer, rejoicing, inasmuch as [we] are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory shall be revealed,” at the resurrection/rapture of His bride, we “may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
This is a wonderful promise, to be sure, as our future “exceeding joy” is solely dependent upon His immeasurable “glory [that] shall be revealed” when He returns for us!
1 Peter 5:4 – When the Chief Shepherd Shall Appear
“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” – 1 Peter 5:4
Jesus, our “chief Shepherd” and Bridegroom, will “appear” for His bride in the resurrection/rapture of the church, and we “shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
Prayerfully, this will be one of many crowns each brother and sister will receive if they have been faithful and faithfully serving our Lord and Savior in love and true holiness during their pilgrimage on Earth.
2 Peter
2 Peter 3:3-4, 10 – Where is the Promise of His Coming? The Day of the Lord Comes as a Thief in the Night
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…” – 2 Peter 3:3-4, 10
The resurrection/rapture of the bride of Christ, which “comes as a thief in the night,” initiates the “day of the Lord.”
That glorious day will finally put to rest “the last days scoffers who walk after their own lusts,” asking, “Where is the promise of His coming?” To which we can then reply while in heaven, “Just as He promised, He came! Never ever distrust the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word, and His glorious promises!”
For a complete study on these verses and the entire chapter of 2 Peter 3, please see 2 Peter 3 – Peter’s ‘Revelation.’
1 John
1 John 2:28 – Have Confidence Before Him at His Coming
“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” – 1 John 2:28
If we are walking in the Spirit, faithfully following His commandments that are not grievous, working out of love for Him and love for others, serving Him and others out of a pure heart, then, “when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” at the resurrection/rapture of the church!
1 John 3:2-3 – When He Shall Appear, We Shall be Like Him
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” – 1 John 3:2-3
When Jesus does come again for His bride, as “we are the sons [and daughters] of God…, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him” without sin unto salvation in our glorious eternal bodies, “for we shall see Him as He is,” face to face, then our joy will be complete.
This indeed is our blessed hope, “and every man [and woman] that hath this hope in [themselves] purifieth [themselves], even as He is pure.”
This He has lovingly done for us, for He is faithful and just to carry it through, as His promises never fail. What a mighty God and Savior we have the privilege to love and serve!
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” – Colossians 3:1-4
Jude
Jude 1:21 – Looking For the Mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” – Jude 1:21
Similar to Paul’s desire in 2 Timothy 1:18 for Onesiphorus to “find mercy of the Lord in that day” (Part III), “The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” has its fulfillment for those Saints that are alive on Earth on that glorious day in the resurrection/rapture of the church.
While we look for our Savior’s mercy from heaven – loving and serving Him and loving and serving others on Earth – we will inevitably “keep [ourselves] in the love of God.”
This magnificent day that every Christian believer has eagerly desired for 2,000 years is the result of patient watching and waiting, sober living, and diligent service for our Lord Who purchased us with His precious blood on the cross, and we shall never be ashamed.
All of this is His work, and His promises are sure!
Revelation
Revelation 2:25-28 – Holding Fast till Christ Comes and Ruling the Nations – Allusion
“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.” – Revelation 2:25-28
Those who have died in Christ and those who are alive on Earth at the resurrection/rapture of the bride of Christ that “hold fast” and “overcometh, and keepeth [His] works unto the end” will be rewarded soon thereafter with Christ giving them “power over the nations… and… shall rule them with a rod of iron” during the Messianic Millennial Kingdom with their Lord Jesus Christ!
Messiah’s promise here reminds one of His Parable of the Pounds and Paul’s “faithful saying” found in 2 Timothy:
“And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.” – Luke 19:17 (Luke 19:19)
“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him…” – 2 Timothy 2:11-12a
Revelation 3:3 – Hold Fast and Watch
“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” – Revelation 3:3
As in Jesus’ parable on the rapture in Matthew 24:43, Paul’s citation in 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Peter’s bookends of the day of the Lord in 2 Peter 3:10, and Christ’s last warning to His bride in Revelation 16:15, the rapture is equated to “a thief.”
And as we have noted before, any thief worth his weight will never announce when he plans on breaking into the house, thus the oft-repeated command for believers to be watching and waiting!
Since we mentioned Messiah’s parenthetical interjection to His church in the middle of Revelation 16 – that He is “coming like a thief” – here it is:
“(‘Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!’)” – Revelation 16:15
For a detailed commentary on Revelation 3:3, please see Watching and Waiting Is Not Knowing.
Revelation 3:7 – Parallel to Matthew 25:1-13 – The Parable of the 10 Virgins– Allusion
“… These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth…” – Revelation 3:7
When Christ said that He is the One “that openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth,” this should lead the Bible student back to Messiah’s Words in Matthew 25:1-13 – The Parable of the 10 Virgins concerning the rapture:
“… the bridegroom came; and they that were ready [the wise virgins] went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
“Afterward came also the other [foolish] virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” – Matthew 25:10-13
Revelation 3:10 – Keeping Spirit-Filled Believers from the Tribulation through the Rapture
“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. – Revelation 3:10
“The hour of temptation” is the pouring out of God’s wrath up through the Tribulation, “which shall come upon all the world” after Christ comes for His Bride in the resurrection/rapture and takes her back to heaven with Him; the rapture being the event that initiates the day of the Lord.
Revelation 4:1-2 – Come Up Hither – Allusion
“After this I [John] looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” – Revelation 4:1-2
Again, we see a reference to “a door” that “was opened in heaven,” recalling our observations in Revelation 3:7 and Matthew 5:10-13, above.
John’s translation into heaven – as an illusionary illustration of the rapture and occurring just before he witnessed all that would come upon Earth from the rapture onward – happened simultaneously with a “voice which [he] heard as it were of a trumpet” saying “Come up hither,” and should remind the Bible student of Paul’s words concerning the rapture when he said…
“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 shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
“Comfort one another with these [precious and exhilarating] words,” indeed!
Revelation 22:20 – ‘Surely I Come Quickly’
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” – Revelation 22:20
The Lord’s promise that He will come quickly for His bride is certain. How quickly in the scope of time is known only to the Father.
The bride’s response? Just like John’s: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
The rapture for the bride of Christ is, and has been, the greatest, most eagerly anticipated event, promised to His loving church for 2,000 years. What an amazing and glorious day it will be!!!
***
May we all keep Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks us, “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?”
Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!
➢ Email: mab10666@yahoo.com – I would love to hear from you!
➢ If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ and are seeking answers about God, Jesus Christ, the gospel, and salvation, please email me at mab10666@yahoo.com for information.
➢ I am still taking questions for the Questions from the Body of Christ series. If you or someone you know has a question pertaining to the Word of God – theology, difficult passages, eschatology, etc. – I would really like to hear from you.
➢ To view my entire catalogue of articles, please visit my Home Page on FaithWriters.com.
