The Rapture is a believer's "calling upward to meet Christ in the air". This upward call was taught by the Apostles Peter, John, and Paul. This upward call known as the Rapture of the Church is the believer's deliverance and escape from God's Future Judgment and Wrath that takes place on Earth during the Great Tribulation of (7) years. Members of the body of Christ (the Church) "will not" go through Tribulation and Wrath on Earth as taught in the book of John's future Revelation. The Rapture is God's blessing upon believer's in Christ... at the end of this Age. The Rapture is God's final Judgment upon the Church which calls those both, who are dead and alive... to meet with Christ in the air. This union in the air is the child of God's escape from God's future Judgment.
The revelation of the Rapture comes from the Holy Spirit's inward work and testimony of Jesus Christ to the human soul. The Holy Spirit prepares the heart of a child of God for the Rapture. The Rapture became a New Testament revelation that dealt specifically with the Church (the spiritual body of Christ) that Jesus purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28. The Rapture is an operation of God's plan for both Jews and Gentiles that flowed from the death of a Savior. The Rapture is an operation of God that tore down the entity of the Law for Israel only; and ushered in Grace and the New Testament to both Jew and Gentile. This miraculous work of God's Plan formed the Church, the spiritual body of believers worldwide. Within God's plan this entity was a creation of the Church which is primarily believers in Christ that are spiritually united with God through the Spirit and faith in Christ. The believer's union with the Spirit of God is what reveals freedom and deliverance from sin and the future temporal world that will perish according to Old Testament Prophecy.
John's revelation given by the Spirit of God (after the death of a Savior) strongly teaches about the Rapture of the Church and implies being "called out" or "caught up" to meet Christ in the air. The language of the following verse stated by the Apostle John says,"Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter"...
Rev. 4:1-2...After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Students must consider that John was exiled to the Island of Patmos as God revealed the writing of the book of Revelation to John's heart and thinking. John was exiled because of his profession as a preacher and confession of Christ as personal Lord and Savior. John was an Apostle ordained by Christ during the earthly ministry of Christ. John's heart and life was liberated by Christ (after the death and resurrection) when he was baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire on the day of Pentecost. From that point on John boldly preached and stood for the power of a resurrected Christ until he was exiled to Patmos where God revealed to John's heart what would take place "after" the Rapture of Church.
Only the first (4) chapters of John's future Revelation deal with the Church. It must be understood that God takes His spiritual body of believers in Christ out of a world that will suffer and perish during the Great Tribulation. It must also be understood that Israel and Israel's rejection of the promised Messiah are the primary focus of John's future Revelation. Only the first (4) chapters of John's Revelation deal with the Church. Afterwards (after the Rapture of the Church) Tribulation, Wrath, and Judgment takes place and the Church and all of its members never go through such devastation. wrath, and Judgment. The Church escapes what is taught in the remaining 18 chapters of John's Revelation.
John walked with Christ during his Earthly ministry and preached the Kingdom message to Israel. That message was rejected by Israel. John dedicated his life to preaching New Testament Grace to both Jews and Gentiles "after" the death of Christ. That was ushered in after Israel rejected the Kingdom Message and their promised King. After John was exiled to Patmos he was given Divine Revelation of things that were to come upon both the Church and Israel. John wrote as God revealed to his heart...
Rev. 4:2...Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter
Come up hither (related to being caught up to meet with Christ in the Rapture) and being showed things that would take place hereafter. Hereafter what? After the Church is taken out (Raptured) to escape Judgment and Wrath promised to come upon Israel. God will confirm such revelation and truth to the holy and studious heart. Enjoy your studies.
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