For the LORD himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with the LORD forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
There are many good people who claim to know Christ who are shamefully ignorant. In accepting whatever they are told by some seminary graduates, who are simply regurgitating what they have been told by others, they are deceived by a myth put forth by demons. Even though their eternity depends on the resurrection they stake their future on a myth built around the incorrectly used and timed word 'rapture.' They don't dare question their teachers or even bother to read the context around the pathetic excuse for proof offered in the few verses given.
For many of you who have sent email to me I have strived to make clear that the term rapture is incorrect terminology. It is well known that the term is found nowhere in the Bible. My email responses usually include correction to the term rapture by replacing it with the word RESURRECTION. One of the most important terms in Christianity and it is being replaced with a term that is not even used by the pre-tribulation proponents correctly. Our LORD says of himself "I am the resurrection and the life." He doesn't say "I am the rapture."
I know - I know, how dare I say that. Thank you for the opportunity to explain. If you were to delve a little deeper into your Bible, say . . . into the Greek, you would find the word used to describe what many call the rapture is the word apantesis. The noun apantesis is found only three times in the New Testament (1 Thessalonians 4:17, Matthew 25:1 & 6 and Acts 28:15) and correlates with the English word 'meet' in these verses only.
Upon closer examination of the word the reader would find that it does not mean what many teach. You do not need to be a scholar to do this. A good concordance can be purchased for under thirty dollars and is an asset to the serious Bible-wisdom seeker.
The term apantesis, as used in antiquity, was used when a dignitary paid an official visit to a Greek city. When the leading citizens went out to meet him and escort him on the final stage of the journey back into their city this was called apantesis.
The term 'meet' in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is translated from the Greek word apantesis. In other words the believers will meet the LORD in the air and escort him on the final stage of the journey back to earth.
The term 'meet' in Matthew 25:1 & 6 is the Greek apantesis. Here we see the virgins being called out to meet (apantesis) the LORD, that is to meet him and escort him back to earth.
The term 'meet' in Acts 28:15 is the Greek apantesis. Here we see it used most descriptively apart from the resurrection. The 'brothers' in Rome heard Paul was coming and went out to 'meet' him some distance from Rome at the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. Paul gave thanks and then they proceeded to Rome escorted by the believers that came out to meet them. This is apantesis.
It should be obvious to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear that there is no u-turn coming of Christ in this biblical description. When Jesus comes He will come the whole way down escorted by RESURRECTED believers to deliver His wrath upon the earth.
Even a pre-tribulation myth believer acknowledges that the last day is when Christ comes to deliver wrath and establish His kingdom. Hebrews 9:27-28 clearly says that there are only two comings. He came once and He will come once more.
Jesus says four times in John chapter 6 that He will raise us up on the last day and the Bible says that we will meet and escort (apantesis) Jesus to earth. Believe whatever you want, but as for me and my house we are striving for the RESURRECTION on the LAST DAY, just as Jesus told us.
Concerning the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him . . . Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4