We Want the Rapture

We Want the Rapture

 

Our sermon today is titled, “We Want the Rapture”.  The word “Rapture” comes from a latin word, “raptere”.  While the NT was written in Greek, the word rapere is a latin translation of the Greek word, “harpazo”.  Harpazo is a word that means “to steal away”, or “to snatch away”, or “to catch away.”  This word harpazo conveys a very sudden, almost violent, definitely aggressive, snatching away of something. 

 

Think of a purse snatcher.  Think of a dog grabbing something off the table when you turn your head.  Think of an older brother grabbing a toy out of his little sister’s hand when she won’t share it with him.  The other day I was driving and as I came up to a stop light I saw a huge hawk coming down directly at the front of my car.  It looked like a plane trying to land while coming right at me.  It’s wings were spread way out and his talons were extended in front.  For a brief moment I was confused and startled but then I saw a chipmunk running across the street and I saw what the hawk was doing.  It was one of the coolest scenes I’ve ever witnessed.  I watched a hawk “harpazo” a chipmunk, I watched him snatch away, steal away, catch away in a sudden way.  In other words, I watched a chipmunk get “raptured”. 

 

Well, there is a rapture that is going to take place where Christians get snatched away from this earth by Jesus Christ.  The Bible teaches us very clearly that there is an event where Jesus Christ will personally come down from heaven and rapture Christians up from the earth to meet Him in the air, and then be with Him forever.  It is a marvelous passage, a marvelous doctrine, and a marvelous source of encouragement. 

 

We are going to look at 3 quick reasons why we want the Rapture.

 

#1:  We want the Rapture because we will be Transformed.

            First, we want the Rapture to occur because at that time we will be Transformed.  Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.  Notice Paul says in verses 51 and 52 we will all be changed. 

 

The Rapture is going to be an event that will change us forever.  We will undergo such a radical transformation at this glorious moment when it finally comes.  How will we be transformed?  The Bible says that we will receive glorified bodies.  Let me take you through several passages to show you what the Bible says about these bodies. 

 

First, these new bodies will be like Jesus Christ’s resurrected and glorified body.  Turn with me also to Philippians 3:20-21.  Paul says our bodies will be like the glorious body of Jesus Christ’s.

 

Second, these new bodies will live forever.  They will never suffer death.  Turn with me back to 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.  Notice the description Paul gives of these bodies.  They will be imperishable, immortal.  In other words, death will never have any power over these bodies.  Jesus said in Revelation 1, “I was dead, but now I am alive forever.” 

 

            These bodies we have now are weak.  They are breaking down.  Every day they are another day closer to death.  They are corrupted, polluted, and perishable and made weak by sin.  We cannot - and by God’s plan we will not - live in these bodies forever.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:42, “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”

 

Two Applications:  First, do not love this body too much.  Don’t glory in your body, don’t live like life is all about your body.  Proverbs 31 says “beauty is fleeting”.  Don’t mistreat your body for sure, because it is the temple of the Spirit, and created by God, but, realize it isn’t going to last.  They are temporary, so don’t live for what is temporary (2 Corinthians 4:18).  That’s why 1 Timothy 3:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things…”  Don’t spend more time in the gym than you do in the Word and prayer. 

 

            Secondly, don’t despair when the weaknesses of this body are apparent.  When you are sick, diseased, handicapped, etc. do not despair.  There is no ailment suffered in these bodies that our glorified bodies will ever be subject to.  They will be perfect in health.  So, like 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, [Turn there and Read]…

 

We want the Rapture because when it happens we will be transformed.

 

#2:  We want the Rapture because we will all be Together.

            Secondly, we want the rapture to happen because at that time we will be gathered Together with all believers.  Notice 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  [Read]  Notice especially verse 14 and verse 17.  First Corinthians 15:23 says it is Christians for whom Christ is coming back for, “All will be made alive, but each in his own turn:  Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to Him.”

 

            Application:  This is a great comfort because it means that death is not the final end of our relationship with other Christians.  We have a sure hope of seeing again those who have “fallen asleep” in Christ.

 

            Application:  Meeting together now, as the Church, does 2 things:  1)  it reflects our desire for that ultimate gathering at the Rapture, and 2) it stimulates our desire for it to happen.  Hebrews 10:25 says, “Do not forsake meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  In other words, our longing to be with all the believers someday is expressed in our longing to be with the believers in our local church. 

 

In sports there is a saying we always heard:  “Practice like  you play”.  In other words, the way you practice is the way you’re going to play.  And how seriously you take the game will determine how seriously you take practices.  Our regular fellowship here is like practice before the big game, before the big, ultimate fellowship with all believers at the Rapture.  How seriously do we look forward to that day?  It will shape how seriously we want to be together down here now. 

 

            We want the Rapture because we will all be together.

 

 

#3:  We want the Rapture so we can be Together with Jesus Christ

            Lastly, we want the Rapture so we can finally be with Jesus.  Notice 1 Thessalonians 4:17 [Read].  We will meet the Lord and we will be with the Lord forever.  Inside each believer is the longing to be with the One whom they trust, the One who has saved them.  The Psalmist expresses this longing in Psalm 42:1-2, “As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?”  Job said in Job 19:27, “I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!”  Paul said in Philippians 1:23, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far..”  In 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

 

            To be with all of us is the desire of our Lord.  In John 17:25 Jesus prayed to the Father and said, “I want them to be with me where I am and to see me in all my glory.”  You sense Jesus’ affection towards Christians when He promised in John 14:2-3, “In my father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so I would not have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for  you.  And if I go to prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  In Jewish culture a young man who is engaged to his fiancé would not be able to see her for a year, which is called the betrothal period.  During that time he would be doing many things to get ready for

 

You see God wanting to fellowship with man by the simple fact that He created Adam and Eve and walked with them in the Garden.  He dwelt with the Israelites by placing His Shekinah glory, His presence, in their midst within the Tabernacle and the temple.  Finally, the grand finale of Scripture is God dwelling with His people forever at the end of all things.  Revelation 21:3, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.”

 

 

Conclusion:
            Do you want to the Rapture?  Are you ready for it?  The Rapture is imminent – meaning that it can happen at any moment.  This is very significant for believers and how we live.  We do not know at what day or hour our Lord will come down and take us.  So like Peter asked, “How then ought are we to live?”  Should we not live holy, blameless and pure lives?

 

The Rapture has significance also for unbelievers.  Jesus is coming for those who belong to Him.  You are invited by God to belong to Jesus.  You can’t belong to Jesus because of being a good person, or being religious or charitable or anything.  You can’t belong to Him by living up to some standard.  Actually, you already meet the standard – you’re a sinner.  And if you are willing to acknowledge it, God has more grace for you than you could ever know.  Jesus Christ paid for your sins when He died on the cross.  Now you are invited to come to Him in faith and believe in Him so that your sins will be wiped away by Him and He can give you eternal life. 

 

Believe today so that you can experience the great Transformation, the great Gathering Together with all of us, and so that when Jesus comes back, He comes back for you, so you can be with Him forever.