51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
There has been a popular understanding amongst those of us who are dispensational that the Rapture is instantaneous and invisible to bystanders. In a split second we will vanish leaving only a pile of clothes. Invariably there will be a dangling phone somewhere, but more likely cell phones bouncing off the floor. This idea was surely perpetuated by the Left Behind books and movie, and a preoccupation with the phrase “in a twinkling of an eye.”
What’s lost in all the excitement is “the dead” in Christ will be “raised imperishable,” and the living must be “changed” before we can be taken up. The “mortal must put on immortality.” (v. 53) This is what’s instantaneous.
This opens up another aspect of our being “snatched away,” that we may not instantly vanish into thin air, but if we are in the presence of others, we might have gawking witnesses. In other words, are we overlooking the possibility that in some cases, just like Elijah, and Jesus, and the two witnesses in Revelation, startled people may watch our imperishable bodies rise up!
Before I explain this line of thinking a bit more and what it might mean, for those who readily point out that the word “rapture” does not appear in the Bible anywhere, and thus is a figment of John Darby’s imagination, try searching for the Greek word “harpazo,” meaning to be “snatched out,” “taken away,” or “seized” in the New Testament. It’s not only used in the “rapture” passages, but also to describe Philip’s departure from the Ethiopian (Acts 8:39) and Paul’s whisking away into the Third Heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2). With a little bit of study you’ll quickly find that the word “rapture” comes from the Latin word “rapturo,” found in the Vulgate, a 4th century Latin Bible translation adopted by the Roman Catholic Church. Knowing this will at least dispense with the classic feeble opening argument against this event on dispensationalist’s timeline. But my purpose here is not to defend a systematic theology, but to bring to light one interesting and hopeful insight.
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
This is the standard go-to passage for instruction on the harpazo. Not being a theological giant, my intention is simply to draw attention to a few observations so they may not, as Peter was fond of saying in his second epistle, “escape your notice.” First, the sequence, and second, the sights and sounds of the event. The state we must be in to enter heaven is covered in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
Paul wrote these words to the Thessalonians to calm their fears that their loved ones who died believers in Christ would not miss out on the harpazo. This is why we’re not overwhelmed with grief at the passing of family and friends who knew Jesus. Not only do their souls rest with him now in heaven at death, but their bodies will be resurrected when he descends in a cloud to retrieve them, just as he ascended into one (Acts 1:9-11). This will be the first order of business. They and Jesus will be waiting for us, and we will be “snatched up” together. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) All this was a mystery introduced in Paul’s teaching by way of “the word of the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:51)
I’m also struck by the noises that accompany the harpazo, a shout, the blast of a trumpet, the loud voice of an angel. Therefore, those in the stands at the ballpark will undoubtedly be startled. I’ve always thought I’d be the only one hearing these sounds, but imagine the impact of billions hearing these alerts across the globe! No one will mistake the cacophony to come from an alien spaceship. Remember the two witnesses who boldly proclaim Jesus for three and a half years of the Great Tribulation who are killed, their bodies left to rot in the streets, and who come back to life after three days? A loud voice from heaven above says “come up here!” (Revelation 11:12)
If there is indeed a live audience to our translation to imperishable and harpazo, imagine what new souls will be won globally when many true Christians will be seen rising to meet Jesus in the air. This will be far more effective than instantly vanishing leaving only a pile of clothes.
For example, the wife is saved, her husband’s admittedly not. She’s in front of the bathroom mirror brushing her flowing hair. He’s examining her beautiful form from behind. Suddenly, she’s changed. She’s illuminated and shining, then begins to rise, slowly then quickly, and then she vanishes. Perhaps her robe does fall to the floor. Most assuredly, he’s now a believer, but “left behind.”
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9–11
This new “revelation,” at least to me, could partially explain why evangelism and martyrdom are so prevalent in the Tribulation. The disciples saw the risen Jesus ascend with their own eyes, and were counseled by the angels that he’d come again in the same fashion. This created in them an ever present expectation of his imminent return. This also certainty fueled their faith, made them fearless, and ultimately made them all, less one, martyrs.
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained. Revelation 6:9
The remaining last hope of one left behind, the one last chance of those who hesitated, of that husband who saw his wife changed in the mirror and then vanish, will be to make one last stand for Christ. It’ll cost them their temporal lives, but put them safely and securely under the altar of the Lord, where the blood of our Savior still remains.
Leave a Reply