“Rapture” is a term used by Christians to explain an event described by the Apostle Paul who wrote: “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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 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. 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 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, emphasis added).

The Greek term meaning “caught up” is harpazo, which means to seize suddenly or snatch. In Latin the word is rapio, which means to seize and carry away; it is from this Latin word that the term “rapture” comes.

Paul teaches that Christ will come at some future point in time for those who belong to Him. Those who are the “dead in Christ” will experience their resurrection first and be gifted with glorified bodies when He comes. Those believers in Christ who are alive at that time will then be instantly transformed from their earthly state to their eternal state, and will not experience death. Instead, they will be caught up to be with all those who have previously gone on to be with the Lord and be transferred to heaven. Paul speaks about this generation of believers who will not taste death when he says, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51).

There is no debate among Bible scholars as to whether there will be a rapture, but much discussion has occurred over when the rapture will occur.

We should NOT cause the timing of the rapture to divide us, the Body of Christ. Whether you believe in Pre, Mid, or Post rapture should not be a reason to break the body of Christ. If you think about this closely, someone is wrong!!! Someone is incorrectly misinterpreting scripture! All three Rapture timings CANNOT be right! We should be more worried and concerned with spreading the Gospel and winning souls for Christ. Keeping people from the gates of hell should be our first priority! So share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Look up. Christ will appear in the clouds at an hour we knoweth not!