’The Rapture,’ as referred to by Jesus Himself, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
(Mark 13: 24 – 27)
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.”
Jesus, referring to the days when humans were going about ‘life as normal,’ right up until the moment that Noah entered the ark and Lot left Sodom, leaving their fellow-humans to suffer the swiftly approaching punishment coming to mankind:
(Luke 17: 30, 34-37)
“Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. I tell you, in that night there will be two (men) in one bed: the one will be taken, and the other will be left. Two (women) will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two (men) will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”
And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”
So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
(Matt. 24: 29 - 31 - Jesus telling His disciples of the signs of His coming):
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [See also Rev. 6: 12-17 - The Sixth Seal]
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And he will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES IN ADVANCE THAT HE WOULD BE RETURNING TO GOD IN HEAVEN, WOULD PREPARE A PLACE FOR THEM, AND WOULD RETURN FOR THEM. ARE BELIEVERS THEREFORE RAPTURED TO THIS PREPARED PLACE?
(John 14: 28) “You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, “I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
(John 16:28 - Jesus told His disciples that He would be leaving this earth) “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
JESUS SPOKE TO HIS DISCIPLES OF THE PLACE HE WOULD BE PREPARING FOR THEM (FOLLOWING HIS ASCENSION TO HEAVEN).
(John 13:36 – 14: 3 NKJV)
“Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are many mansions [literally, ‘dwellings’]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
[ in NU text, a word added causes the text to read: if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?]
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Points to consider from Matt. 24: 15-31 in the order of events:
- Abomination of desolation will be set up in the holy place
- Then great tribulation
- Then the sun and moon go dark, stars fall…
- Then Jesus is seen coming comes in the clouds
- His angels gather His elect from the four winds = the rapture