[[@page.4.14.2]]4.14.2 - What is the Rapture?
If we go back to the original language of the New Testament, we find the rapiemur of 1Th. [[4:17|bible.73.4.17]] in the Vulgate to be a translation of the Greek term ἁρπαγησόμεθα [harpagēsometha] which is the 1st person, plural, future tense, passive voice, indicative mood form of the verb ἁρπάζω [harpazō] meaning to "snatch, seize, i.e., take suddenly and vehemently"1 and which can denote "rescue from a threatening danger."2 In general usage, it describes: how violent men take the kingdom by force (Mtt. [[11:12|bible.61.11.12]]); carrying off property from the strong man's house (Mtt. [[12:29|bible.61.12.29]]); how the evil one snatches away what has been sown (Mtt. [[13:19|bible.61.13.19]]); or how the people approached Jesus to take Him by force and make Him king (John [[6:15|bible.64.6.15]]). The term is also used of supernatural events where God takes people in the Spirit and transports them either physically or in a vision. Philip was caught away from the Ethiopian eunuch to Azotus (Acts [[8:39|bible.65.8.39]]), the Apostle Paul was caught up to the third heaven (2Cor. [[12:2|bible.68.12.2]]), and those who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet Christ in the air (1Cor. [[15:51-52|bible.67.15.51-67.15.52]]; 1Th. [[4:17|bible.73.4.17]]). The same term is used to describe the ascension of Christ who was caught up to God and His throne (Rev. [[12:5|bible.87.12.5]]+).When we extend our study of this "catching away" to include the Old Testament, we find numerous rapture events including: Enoch (Gen. [[5|bible.1.5.1]]); Elijah (2K. [[2|bible.12.2.1]]); Isaiah (Isa. [[6|bible.23.6.1]]); Jesus (Acts [[1:11|bible.65.1.11]]; Rev. [[12:5|bible.87.12.5]]+); Philip (Acts [[8|bible.65.8.1]]); Paul (2Cor. [[12|bible.68.12.1]]); The Church (1Th. [[4|bible.73.4.1]]); and the Two Witnesses (Rev. [[11|bible.87.11.1]]+).3 The Scriptures present six raptures. Four have already taken place. Two are still to come. . . . The four raptures that have taken place include when both Enoch and Elijah who were taken up from earth to heaven without experiencing death (Gen. [[5:24|bible.1.5.24]]; Heb. [[11:5|bible.79.11.5]]; 2K. [[2:1|bible.12.2.1]], [[11|bible.12.2.11]]), when the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven after His death and resurrection (Mark [[16:19|bible.62.16.19]]; Acts [[1:9-11|bible.65.1.9-65.1.11]]; Rev. [[12:5|bible.87.12.5]]+), and when Paul referred to the rapture of a man (probably Paul himself) to the third heaven (2Cor. [[12:2-4|bible.68.12.2-68.12.4]]). . . . The other future rapture [besides that of the church, 1Th. [[4:17|bible.73.4.17]]] will occur when the two witnesses of the future Tribulation period ascend to heaven after God has resurrected them from the dead (Rev. [[11:3|bible.87.11.3]]+, [[11-12|bible.87.11.11-87.11.12]]+).4
The Rapture, in the sense we are using the term, is the "catching away" of persons to a new location by the power of God without their initiation or control. We are specifically interested in the Rapture of the Church--the event which describes the translation of the living and dead in Christ to be caught up in the clouds forever to be with Him (1Th. [[4:17|bible.73.4.17]]).
Notes
1 Frederick William Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 109.
2 Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 109.
3 Tim LaHaye, and Thomas Ice, Charting the End Times (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2001), 110.
4 Renald E. Showers, Maranatha, Our Lord Come (Bellmawr, NJ: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, 1995), 11.
Copyright © 2004-2005 by Tony Garland
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