The Immediate, Incredible Results of the Rapture
The Great Interruption
Just think, there will be an enormous number of people living in the end times who won't ever get married, won't ever have children, won't ever live to the age of 40, won't ever get old, won't ever retire, or won't ever physically die. That's because Jesus Christ will return to this world and bring this present age to an end, suddenly interrupting and stopping the plans and normal activities of billions of people living on Earth.
The first thing which will take place at Christ's return will be the rapture of the Church. At that time, all Christians will be physically and forcefully removed from Earth and immediately taken to be with Christ. The Rapture will be one of the most climactic and dramatic events ever, a major turning point in the history of our world. For those on Earth at Christ's coming, it will be the most life-altering, body-changing, soul-exciting and God-glorifying event we will ever experience. Why can we say that?
The word rapture, from the Greek harpazo, refers to what physically will happen to Christians on Earth at the return of Christ; but so much more will occur.
Events Associated With the Rapture
When Christ returns, believers will receive immediate relief from the great persecution they will be enduring (2 Thessalonians 1:4-7).
When Christ returns believers will be rescued from God's punishing wrath, the devastating and deserved judgment of God to be poured out upon unbelievers (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
When Christ returns, believers will finally rest from their work, from the blood, sweat, and tears of living, laboring, and sacrificing their lives for the Lord (Revelation 14:13).
When Christ returns, the souls of believers will be redeemed, quickly and safely delivered from this wicked world, and from their corrupt and sin-prone bodies (Ephesians 1:14).
When Christ returns, believers will forever be glorified, for they will receive a brand new, powerful, immortal, and spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
When Christ returns, all believers from all-time will be gathered together to Him. How glorious this will be, for believers will be joined in a great multitude, and will shout, celebrate, and worship the Lord (Matthew 24:31).
When Christ returns, believers will be reunited with loved ones and friends who have already died and gone to Heaven before them (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
When Christ returns, believers will greatly rejoice, pouring out praises to God for their salvation, and for His gracious, infinite, and eternal love for them (Revelation 7:9-10).
When Christ returns, believers will be richly rewarded for their earthly service for God, for they will be given an imperishable and undefiled inheritance they will enjoy forever (2 Timothy 4:8).
When Christ returns, believers will be with Him! Can you imagine actually seeing and being with Jesus, your Lord and Savior? How wonderful and exhilarating it will be to finally see Him! (1 Thessalonians 4:17; John 14:1-3).
After the Rapture
Raptured, relieved, rescued, resting, redeemed, glorified, gathered, reunited, rejoicing, rewarded, and with Jesus! This is God's guarantee to you – what's definitely going to happen when Christ returns. This is what God wants you to get excited about, to look forward to, and to tell others about.
But the Rapture, and all that goes with it, is just the beginning. Right after the Rapture, there's the righteous wrath of God on Earth, the salvation of the Jewish remnant, and Christ's return to Earth. Then begins the next age, a good age, a glorious 1000-year (Millennial) kingdom age when Christ will rule over the world, and you and I – with all the other glorified believers – will have the great honor and privilege of reigning with Him (Psalm 47; Revelation 5:10, 20:4).
Be Diligent!
We now live in an evil age, a time when the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19). But the evil one is like a dog on a leash, for he will be reined in by God, the One who is sovereign over the devil and the entire world.
In these last years of the end times, God is on the move, and every day He is faithfully carrying out His eternal plan to bring His Son back to Earth. Don't be sleeping or sinning. Be awake and alert, loving and trusting God, serving Him, making disciples, and waiting for your Savior.
I hope you realize that Jesus is looking forward to seeing you. Are you looking forward to seeing Him? The truth is that you will soon see Jesus – either you will physically die and see Him in Heaven, or you will be alive on Earth when He returns, and see Him triumphantly coming in the clouds.
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. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; see also Job 19:25-27).
Steven J. Hogan has been a pastor-teacher for more than 25 years and at Hope Bible Church of Tampa since 2003.