In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua] was in the beginning with God.

THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

A general definition of the word rapture means ‘to be caught away’. More specifically, it has both a secular and a religious meaning. In the secular, it means to be carried away by an overwhelmingly good emotional experience. In Christianity, it refers to the spirit, soul and body being caught up in the air to meet the Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The word rapture is not found in the Holy Bible. However, the meaning is clearly presented in scripture by the contemporary definition given to the word. Most evident is the Apostle Paul’s first letter written to the people of Thessalonica (see First Thessalonians 4:17), which is present day Thessaloniki, Greece. Another description of the rapture is found in Paul’s first letter written to the church of Corinth (see First Corinthians 15:51-52), which is present day Korinth, Greece.

The rapture will mark the end of the church age, the age of grace. It is important to understand how the rapture fits into God’s plan of redemption. The prophet Daniel prophesied 70 weeks God has appointed to Israel regarding her future and the two advents of the Messiah. Each week represents seven years. The 69th week ended with the crucifixion of Christ at His first coming. The 70th week represents the tribulation period of seven years. The gap of time between the 69th and 70th week is the age of the church, the age of grace, brought about by Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. We are living in this era of God’s grace, which has lasted for more than 2,000 years. Now is the time to accept God’s gift of salvation. At the end of this era, the rapture of the church (body of true believers) will occur and the tribulation period will follow. The time of the Gentiles will come to a close at the end of the tribulation.

The tribulation period will culminate at the second coming of Christ during the final battle of Armageddon. Christ will come as a warrior on a white horse to judge the nations. He will return as Israel’s everlasting shepherd and rule the world from the throne of David in Jerusalem.