The word of God declares that there will be a rapture of the church. All that are saved at that time will be “caught up” to meet the Lord Jesus Christ is the air. They will be then taken to heaven during the almost 7-year tribulation which tries all “that dwell upon the earth”.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.- - Rev 3:10
Paul wrote about the rapture in 1 Thessalonians. Paul also wrote:
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. – 2 Timothy 2:7
13 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.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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:
17 Then 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. - 1 Thess 4:13-18
This rapture of the church is referenced several times by Jesus Christ the Lord. As it says in Revelation 19:10.
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Now the Bible tells us how to read the word of God. One of those passages is in Isaiah 28, where correct precepts (“precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept”), combined with handling context correctly “line upon line, line upon line”) leads to correct doctrine. These passages are scattered throughout the word of God (‘here a little, and there a little”). Of course some groups have false precepts, bad context handling and strain at gnats (verse 13)
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. – Isaiah 28:9-13
Here is Jesus Christ speaking about the rapture of the church prior to the tribulation in the next 6 passages.
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. - Matt 25:1-4,10--13
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. - Matthew 24:40-42
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. - Luke 17:34-36
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 22:11-13
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are – Luke 13:25
Please note the few that were saved in the ark (in Christ) went up. Those left behind are destroyed.
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. – Luke 17:26-27
Now after the wedding in heaven, where the raptured and those that died in Christ prior to rapture are at, Jesus Christ comes back at the second coming with all his holy angles and all his saints.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. – Rev 19:11-16
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. – 2 Thess 2:1-10
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. – 1 Thess 3:13
The rapture is also prefigured in Enoch being taken by God because he pleased God as well as Job who sees God in his flesh at the end of the first Gentiles age.
There are more passages in scripture which talk about the rapture. In the next passage, there are many that buy into the offer of peace from those that do not have peaceful intentions. They will not escape, but the saved escape at rapture.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. – 1 Thess 5:3
The following also refer to the rapture of the church.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. – Rev 3:3
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. – Rev 3:16
Revelation is of course a big clue. Who are all those people in heaven from Revelation 4 through 19?
Also please note that the church is not mentioned in scripture after Revelation 3 except the one reference in Revelation 22 which refers back to Revelation 1.
Also please note that Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, does not warn the saved Gentiles about the mark of the beast which occurs during the tribulation. In fact, Paul tells them not to be worried about that.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. – 1 Thess 5:9-11
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; - 2 Thess 2:1-3
Now the doctrine of the rapture is not essential to salvation. No one ever preached that when preaching the gospel of Christ. Many learn of it after salvation. Many see evidence for the 2nd coming and associate rapture passages with that event.
So, if you do not believe in the rapture maybe you will not be raptured. For us who are convinced, we will be raptured.
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