God's Prophetic Blueprint
- by Dr Bob Shelton
Chapter 1
THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
"A MYSTERY"
Paul wrote in his first letter to the church at Corinth: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 15:51-57).
The subject at hand is of vital importance- the Rapture of the Church. Please note that Paul begins this passage by saying, "Behold, I shew you a mystery." Many deep and precious truths regarding the catching away of the Bride of Christ were still a mystery at this point of God's revelation to man. As puzzling as it may appear, the Old Testament is silent on the subject of the Rapture. A similar void is found in the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Even Matthew 24, with its oft quoted, "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Matthew 24:40), is not , a reference to the coming of Christ for His Bride. It is my conviction that the first passage in the Gospels that deals clearly with the Rapture is John 14:2-3. There the Lord Jesus declares: "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. 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." He does not say, "I will come again to the earth," but rather His promise is, "I will come again, and receive you unto myself." Though Christ introduces the truth of His coming for His Bride in John 14, He does not give us the details of this marvelous event. Consequently, Paul is able to introduce I Corinthians 15:51-58 by saying, "Behold, I shew you a mystery."
"WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP"
The Holy Spirit then begins to unravel this mystery as He writes through Paul, "We shall not all sleep." In other words, there will be a generation of believers who will not taste of physical death. This could be that generation. No one on earth knows when Christ will return for His Bride. There are many indications that this age is coming to an end, but whether He comes in this generation or not should not deter believers from "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). The promise is "we shall not all sleep." Paul then went on to write, "but we shall all be changed."
"WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED"
I was conducting a series of meetings in a church some years ago and was delighted to see the joy in the heart of the pastor and his people over their newly constructed Christian education building. The pastor was eager for me to see this new facility, so we began to walk down the long corridor. Doors on both sides opened for me to see the various Sunday school departments and classrooms from the oldest age group down to the baby nursery. As we stood before the entrance of the nursery, I saw this appropriate message written above the door: "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." Obviously, Paul is not speaking in I Corinthians 15 of babies in a nursery, but of Christians who are alive at the time of the Rapture. "We shall all be changed." This change is spoken of in other passages of God's Word. For example, Paul wrote, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Philippians 3:20, 21). First John 3:2 reads, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." This truth has brought comfort to countless believers in years gone by and remains a source of encouragement today.
Several years ago, when my wife and I were missionaries in South Vietnam, I was invited to conduct a Bible Conference at a leprosariurn high in the beautiful central highlands. I shall never forget the joy of proclaiming God's Word to those precious Christians. In one of the meetings, I felt directed of the Holy Spirit to speak on the subject of the Rapture of the Church. In the process of presenting this thrilling truth, we came to I Corinthians 15:52 with its announcement, "We shall be changed." At this point, I could not help noticing a dear lady nudge her neighbor with her fingerless hand as if to say, "Did you hear what I just heard? We won't look like this forever!" The fact is that every living child of
God will receive his incorruptible body at the Rapture of the Church. This will enable believers to pass through any hindrance that might stand in the way as they rise to meet the Lord in the air. In other words, the molecular structure of glorified bodies will not be disturbed as they pass through solid objects. Remember, "we shall be like him." As Jesus passed through the stone walls of the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea and entered that room "where the disciples were assembled," even "when the doors were shut" (John 20:19), so believers, in their glorified, incorruptible bodies, will be caught up to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air without being blocked by any earthly obstacle.
"IN A MOMENT"
Paul goes on to state that the change which occurs at the Rapture will take place "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (verse 52). It has been estimated that the twinkling of an eye is approximately 11/100th of a second. The point is, the Rapture will take place so quickly that no unbeliever on earth will be able to see this great event. Imagine the confusion that will erupt when Christians suddenly disappear. Cars could lose drivers, and planes might lose pilots. There will be people facing each other; suddenly one will be gone. An unsaved person will be talking to his Christian friend by phone when, in an instant, the conversation ends. The question will be asked, "Are you there?" No doubt telephone operators will be flooded with questions and requests. Hundreds of scenarios could be imagined in an effort to present the unbelievable consternation during the moments that follow the Rapture, but the truth to be underscored is that it will happen "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."
SOUNDS, NOT SIGNS
Paul continues by announcing that the Rapture will take place "at the last trump" (verse 52). Someone has well said, "We are not looking for signs but listening for sounds." It is true that there are many significant developments in this day that blend into the prophetical picture, but the so-called "signs of the times," even those of Matthew 24, are not events that must precede the Rapture of the Church. They are signs to those who will be living in Tribulation days that point to the return of Christ in His Revelation (see chart). The Jews were always looking for signs. "Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe" (John 4:48). The day is coming when there will be signs on every hand which will point not only to destruction and judgment for unbelievers, but, also to that long-awaited day when Christ will return to the earth and set up His kingdom. However, the word in our text is not "sign" but rather "sound," and there will be no less than three of them. Paul mentions one in this text, "the last trump," but he mentions three in I Thessalonians 4:16: "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 shout," "the voice of the archangel," and "the trump of God" are the three great sounds which will be heard at the Rapture.
The first sound will be "the shout." "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout." This is a military term denoting urgency and authority. One is reminded of our Lord's encounter with Lazarus when "he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth" (John 11:32-43), and a man who had been dead four days responded to the command of God. When God speaks, things happen! Some day He will call for His Bride to leave this earthly scene, and every born again believer will be caught away.
The second sound will be "the voice of the archangel." It is not surprising that angels will be a part of this picture. They have always been by the side of Christ in His dealings with mortals. They heralded His birth, ministered to Him following His temptation, hovered over His cross, announced His resurrection, and at His ascension, gave a blessed promise to those dazzled disciples. It seems only right that the voice of the archangel should be heard as Christ calls His Bride unto Himself.
The third sound will be "the trump of God." As Old Testament prophets used a trumpet to bring the congregation of Israel together, so the day is coming when the heavenly trumpet will sound and Christ will call unto Himself His own ransomed Church. The song writer had this in mind when he penned these words:
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine,
Wonderful day, my beloved one's bringing;
Glorious Saviour, this Jesus is mine!
THE DEAD IN CHRIST
Back to the "mystery" in I Corinthians 15 - "for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible." It is essential that we understand where the dead in Christ currently reside before we consider their whereabouts at the time of the Rapture. In 11 Corinthians 5:8, Paul wrote, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." At the point of physical death, the believer leaves his body and is at once in Heaven with Christ. Little wonder that Paul could write, ". . . to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). One can also appreciate the words of the Psalmist, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15). Death for the child of God is "gain" and a "precious" experience. It is therefore understandable how Paul could write as he did in our text, "0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory?" (verse 55).
While pastoring the First Baptist Church of Pontiac, Michigan, I received the sobering news that my predecessor, Dr. H. H. Savage, was dying. Apart from my own father, Dr. Savage had the greatest influence of any man upon my life. He had been my pastor from my youth. As a matter of fact, he had been my only pastor. I jumped into my car and drove the 180 miles to the hospital in Muskegon because I wanted one more opportunity to talk to my pastor. During my journey, the thought kept returning, "Surely Dr. Savage will give me a nugget today that I will be able to use as the foundation of the message I will preach at his memorial service." I finally reached the hospital, made my way to his room, and slowly walked to his bedside. He looked up and said, "Hello, pastor." I responded, "Hi, pastor." Then with a twinkle in his eye (he had a sense of humor like few men I have ever known), he said, "I've got something very important to tell you." I thought, "Thank You, Lord, here comes my nugget." He went on, "In a few days you'll have my funeral service. The church will be filled with people and there will be tears and all those things that go along with funerals. But as you look at this body, I want you to remember, it's just the shell - the nut is gone!"
Obviously, I could not quote him a few days later when the service was held, but I got his message in the hospital that day. He was looking death in the face and making a joke of it. He was saying with Paul, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" His was the victory because of the triumph of the Son of God Who paid the penalty of sin by offering His precious blood upon the cross. Paul put it this way: "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 15:56, 57). I incorporated into the message the following poem that Dr. Savage wrote just days before his homegoing:
This isn't death I'm facing, but it's life forevermore.
It's not the end I'm nearing, it is entering heaven's door.
The way ahead is fairer than it's ever been before,
For it's glory, yes, it's glory over yonder.
There is no fear in thinking I'll soon meet Him face to face,
The One who proved He loved me by His dying in my place.
And how I long to thank Him for His mercy and His grace,
For it's glory, yes, it's glory over yonder.
No pain and no frustrations throughout all the passing years,
No death nor sorrows present, and no terrors and no fears.
For He Himself has promised that He'll wipe away all tears,
For it's glory, yes, it's glory over yonder.
Come quickly, 0 come quickly, this blest day for which I pine,
When faith will turn to vision and each promise will be mine,
And with the hosts of heaven in His presence I will shine,
For it's glory, yes, it's glory over yonder.
Yes, saints who have died are with the Saviour "over yonder."
The Holy Spirit continues to explain the mystery of the Rapture as He inspires His servant Paul to write: ". . . the dead shall be raised incorruptible . . . " (verse 52). The logical question is, "If Christians who have died are in Heaven with the Saviour, then how can they be raised out of their graves?" A perfect cross reference to the text in I Corinthians is found in I Thessalonians 4. "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (I Thessalonians 4:13, 14). Believers who have died are with Christ in Heaven, and when He returns to Rapture His Church, He will bring them "with him." If they are to come "with him," then it is obvious that they must originate from the same place. We do not read that He will be coming for them, but that they will be coming with Him. Then notice verse 16: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with a trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." The logical conclusion is that when Christ returns to Rapture His Bride, He will stop in the clouds and allow those who are "with him" to return to the places where their bodies were buried. They will then be given their glorified bodies and "shall rise first. " Then the final act of the Rapture: ". . . we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:17).
The Rapture is a series of important events:
* Christ will come from Heaven with His saints.
* He will stop in the clouds.
*The heavenly host of saints will continue in their descent to the earth to return to the places where their bodies were buried.
* They will then receive their incorruptible bodies and come out of the graves.
* We who are alive will also be changed.
* We shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.
This is the Rapture of the Church, and it could occur today. If you know Christ as Saviour, I implore you, ". . . be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (I Corinthians 15:58). If you have never received God's crucified, resurrected Son as your Saviour, I urge you to invite Him to enter your heart while you may.