Rapture Theology X Ascension
Does the Bible teach that the Church will be ruptured?
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (14:1)
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (14:2)
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (14:3) Mathew 14:1-3
Here and in several other occasions Jesus promised to return and receive = to get or to acquire, his church to himself. The word "rapture is not in the Bible!
The principal scripture used is: Matthew 24:44-42 " Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left." Even here when the context is studied we may notice that it refers to the investigative judgement to come upon unbelievers unawares not to the 2nd. coming of Christ( see verse 27) which says: " For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." What could be more noticeable than a lightening? No rapture here and on verse 42, says:" Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." We need to watch and be ready always. It does not say that it would be a secret rapture.
Now on Matthew 25:13 we may read: " Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh", here says it clearly that we are not to set a day nor an hour for the lord's return! It again deals with the judgment to come which we all have much to do as every case is decided for life or eternal damnation. Please see verses: 31 - 46. Therefore judgment not rapture is here referred to.
In 1 thessalonians 4:16 & 17 is where an allusion is made as to the Lord's return and believers being caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, also says that:" 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: ( the resurrection comes first, than those who are alive are taken up to meet the Lord). This scripture deals primarily with the state of the dead not the living saints, who most certainly will be here for the time of trouble an never was upon the earth.
( see Daniel 12:1,2 and Matthew 24:21). Here too speaks of the dead and the resurrection at which time the destiny of all is been decided.
Conclusion: Ascension yes, Rapture no. Christ is returning soon for his church not to carry on a work of rapture but yes ressurect and transform and take up the dead and the living saints up to heaven and every eye shall see his coming! Rev. 1:7.
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