There are still those that do not belief in this word. Many call themselves “Christian.” They belief in the Utopian theory that all humanity will finally suddenly see the light and turn to God as His Son descends from heaven to set foot upon the Mount of Olives.
Jesus setting foot upon the Mount of Olives comes at the end of the great Tribulation though. A time that will include the death of well over half the population of this planet in natural disasters and genocide committed mainly by those that willingly reject God.
There are warning signs given to all within the Bible. Wars and rumors of wars, a great falling away from the teachings of the Bible and the return to openly showing the world sin, due to the belief that humanity does not need its Creator. These things are now more evident than they have ever been before.
There is an ultimate sign that the Bible teaches all will be a sign that the great Tribulation is beginning. That sign is the Rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 – We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
John 14:1 – “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
1 Corinthians 15:50 – What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
Now in the early Church there is strong evidence that there is not just one Rapture, but multiple Raptures. This can be seen above. In 1 Thessalonians there is reference to “a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.” While in 1 Corinthians it states “when the last trumpet is blown.”
Is this the same event at the end of the Tribulation or is it the first and the last trumpet?
Here is a quotes from the John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries. 1&2 Thessalonians:
“It is evident that Paul had taught them that there would be a number of resurrections in a chronological order as the Scriptures portray – not just one general resurrection as some believe today. The question I their minds was: In the order of the various resurrections, when would there deceased loved ones in Christ be raised? Apparently they thought they would be caught up to be with the Lord at any time and that the resurrection of the loved ones would be delayed. Possibly until after the great tribulation when Christ comes back to establish His kingdom. They wondered if those who died before the Lord’s coming would miss out on this great event. They wanted some instruction on this point, so Paul wrote to answer this nagging question.”
The response to this question is in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”
I happen to agree with that there will be multiple resurrections. For when you read Revelation there is enough evidence to support not only multiple ones but they are given to separate groups as well. Those that sinned and denied God, or never knew of God being the last of these when they stand before the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ.
There is a major difference with the event of the first Rapture though. It is the calling card from Jesus to the world. It is stating and announcing a clear message. It has three major audible events. It is designed as a noticeable seal to all, so none can question that the event took place, yet many will anyway out of closeminded denial of what has just occurred.
It is made clear in the wording of 1 Thessalonians that those that died will be raised first and then in the blink of an eye those that have been faithful to God will be taken up. It will happen with three sounds coming from the sky and everywhere. The voice of Jesus Christ Himself accompanied by an angel and a trumpet. This is the first Rapture and the sign to the world that judgment has begun upon those that are left. Including those that thought they were right with God and are left behind.
Why they were left behind is made clear in the seventh letter to the churches in Revelation 3
“15 ‘I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
20 ‘Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
22 ‘Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.’”
They are left here because they are lukewarm. Saying on Sunday they are for God but living in and loving the world when they are not within the structure they call “church.” Speaking more about sports and the actions of people they see upon the television. Living in and driving their worldly rewards than preparing themselves for this event they just missed. The Rapture.