Mondo Gonzales: What Is The Rapture?

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What Is The Rapture?

The first thing I want to do is share with you—I’m going to be talking about the Rapture today, and we’re going to cover a variety of things related to what we’ve been singing about. One of the things Jesus said—He called Heaven the “Throne of the Father,” the Father’s House, right? He’s going to take us to the Father’s House. My question to us is: Where is the Father’s House?

We imagine that, according to Scripture, it’s in the highest of the heavens. This gives me an opportunity to share some of the things we’ve been doing, because I think when the Lord comes and takes us to the Father’s House in the highest heavens, we’ll get to see some of these things on our way there.

What we’ve done—and I won’t take long on this—is build an observatory that God has allowed us to have, because ultimately Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of the Lord, and the skies above show forth His handiwork.” Here is our observatory, and we get to take pictures of the heavens. Ultimately, what God wants for all of this is—He wants to show off (in a good way). We’ll see some pictures we’ve taken to show off His glory. We’re singing about His glory; we are recognizing His majesty and power.

These are pictures we took with our observatory. The colors are all natural—this is the way God made it on the fourth day of the week. On the first Wednesday of the world, He says, “This is what I did on Wednesday; what did you do?” We see beautiful, rich colors that God created out in the universe. And as we go to Heaven on the day the Lord takes us, I think we’ll get to see some of these wonderful, amazing creations of God that show His power.

This is the sun, taken with a special filter. One reason we do this is because there are many people—even some of our brothers and sisters—who believe these pictures are fake. But really, God created all this. He created it so the heavens declare His glory. The colors are stunning.

On the left is the Hubble Space Telescope image. On the right is our picture. We did okay—ours isn’t too bad. That one cost a billion dollars; ours did not.

This is one of my favorites: the Andromeda Galaxy. There are over a trillion stars in this one galaxy alone. Scripture says in Psalm 147 that God calls them all by name. When I see this at night and come out—certainly as a pastor—I think for all of us, when we seek the Lord in prayer (and I’ve already talked with many of you, hearing how God has been faithful), it always comes back to this: How big is your problem, and how big is God? He can handle it. He can handle whatever we ask Him to do.

I wanted to share some pictures to show you other things we’re doing. But today, I want to talk about the Rapture of the Church. We’ve been singing about going to see the Lord, having Him come to rescue us. At the end of the day, for all of us who study prophecy, we talk about a lot of things—World Economic Forum, the Antichrist, evil and wickedness, and all the things that show the Lord’s return is soon. But as all of us teach: we are not looking for the Antichrist; we’re looking for Jesus Christ—His return to rescue us from this world and bring us back to Himself.

This is why I call this a promising comfort. It’s fascinating that in the Christian world, many of our brothers and sisters love Jesus, but many of their pastors do not teach on the Rapture. In fact, many of them hate the Rapture and criticize it. So today I want to talk about why we believe in the Rapture. Is it true? Is it just something we want, or is it in the Bible?

We’re going to talk about the what, how, and why. What is the Rapture? We’ll come right down to basics and also go into some detail. The English word rapture comes from 1 Thessalonians 4. It is the catching away of the Church when Jesus comes out of Heaven, takes His Church, and brings them up to Himself.

Many people say the word rapture is not in the Bible. If you’re looking for it in English, it’s not there. But the Bible wasn’t originally written in English or Latin; the New Testament was written in Greek. The Greek word is harpazō. If you go to the Latin Vulgate (4th century, 400 AD), the word rapturo/rapiemur is there. So when people say, “Why do you believe in the Rapture—it’s not even in the Bible,” we say: you just have to look at the Latin version; but more importantly, the concept is clearly in Scripture.

When we think about the Rapture—the catching away when Jesus comes down and catches away the saints—if you look at harpazō in various places, it means someone with power comes and grabs somebody else with authority and sovereignty, moving them from one location to another.

For example, in Acts 8, Philip was preaching to the Ethiopian eunuch and shared the gospel with him out of Isaiah. Afterwards, it says the Spirit grabbed him and sent him to Azotus—Philip was moved by a Person of authority (the Holy Spirit) from one location to the next.

In Acts, Paul was preaching to the Jews in the temple; they were beating him. The Roman government came in and harpazō-ed Paul and took him away. The Roman authorities had authority and sovereignty; they grabbed Paul and moved him—thankfully saving his life.

So, at the end of the day, Jesus, who has all authority, will step out of Heaven, come down, grab His Church, and move us from earth to the highest heavens—where we’re going to see all those galaxies as we go.

How does the Rapture happen? In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul writes to the Thessalonians. He had gone there (see Acts 16–17). He was there for three Sabbaths, planted a church, taught some things, and left. Think about being a Christian for your first three weeks—and Paul is already talking about the Rapture, the Antichrist, the wrath of God, and being rescued. Paul believed prophecy was important enough to teach new believers in their first three weeks. That’s why it’s refreshing that Pastor Leslie teaches prophecy; many places don’t, and people are hungry to learn.

Paul writes: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep [who have died], that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.” The Thessalonian believers were worried: What about my aunt? My grandfather? Will they miss the Rapture—the catching away? Paul says no; they won’t miss out. When the Lord comes back, He will bring them with Him. Their spirits are in Heaven now. If we die today, our body goes into the ground, but our spirit goes immediately to be with Jesus. God has not destined us to live forever without a body; He wants us to have a physical body. So when Jesus returns with their spirits, their new, glorified bodies will be raised, and their spirits will be reunited with those bodies.

“For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord: We who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.”

That touches me—we will always be with the Lord. Paul says, if you have this hope and understand this truth, comfort one another with these words. The Rapture is a comfort to us. God will bring His wrath upon the world (we’ll talk about the when), but Paul tells us this so that we have comfort, and so we know our brothers and sisters who have died won’t miss out—in fact, they will be first to have their bodies raised.

Will we instantly disappear, or slowly ascend? The typical viewpoint is that we’ll vanish and our clothes will be left behind. I don’t think that’s what the Bible teaches. There is a clear Greek word for vanish, and it is never used of the Rapture.

In 2 Kings, Elijah was taken up: “As they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven.” He didn’t disappear; Elisha saw it (and tore his clothes in grief).

In Acts 1, Jesus didn’t disappear either: “As they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.”

In Revelation 12, the Ascension of Jesus uses the word harpazō (“caught up to God and to His throne”).

In Revelation 11, the two witnesses are killed; after three days, they hear a loud voice from Heaven: “Come up here.” They went up to Heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.

Based on these patterns, I think the world will watch us go up—just like Jesus, Elijah, and the two witnesses—into the cloud.

Billy and I did a podcast a few months ago about the coming alien deception. The Bible says we go up into the cloud. New Age teaching says a group of people must be removed from the Earth. It’s possible the world will spin a narrative—New Age or “alien”—to explain where we went. We don’t know for sure, but we do know we are going into a cloud, and the world will need an explanation. Satan will deceive many, saying we were “unworthy,” “not enlightened,” and needed to be removed for human advancement.

If we simply disappeared, our unbelieving friends and family would call, then come to our homes searching for us—maybe for a long time. But if the world sees us go up into a cloud and then a deceptive narrative is presented, fewer will be looking—they’ll think we “had to be removed.”

Why are we raptured? The Church has received a special promise not to endure the coming Tribulation (the seven-year period—the 70th week of Daniel). In 1 Thessalonians, right before the Rapture passage, Paul writes: “You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.” Jesus delivers believers from the coming wrath because He already took God’s wrath for us. There’s no reason the Church needs to go through that specific wrath.

Do we have tribulation now? Yes. Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We all have tribulation—but that’s different from the Great Tribulation.

In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul says: “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with Him.” Beautiful language—Jesus wants us to live with Him and to escape the coming wrath.

When is the Rapture? Churches and seminaries disagree: before, middle, or end of the Tribulation? Jesus talked about being rescued. In Luke 17, He gives the stories of Noah and Lot—both were rescued prior to judgment.

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man.” Note the plural days—the Second Coming isn’t just one day on the calendar; it’s a process. It begins with the Rapture and continues as He opens the seals (see Revelation). Jesus says people were living normal life—eating, drinking, marrying—until the day Noah entered the ark, then the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise with Lot: eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building—until the day Lot went out of Sodom—then fire and sulfur rained from Heaven and destroyed them all. “So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

The pattern: the rescue happens before judgment; judgment comes quickly. I don’t think there’s a big gap of time between the Rapture and the start of God’s wrath; on the same day it happened for Noah and Lot.

Also, when the rescue happens, life is relatively normal—that doesn’t match the middle or end of the Tribulation, when people are seeking death, with famines, wars, pestilences, and terrifying celestial signs (see Luke 21). Therefore, many reasons point to a pre-trib timing.

In Revelation 3:10, Jesus says: “I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” He keeps us from the time, testing, location (global), and people group targeted—another promise that we will not be on earth for that hour.

Let’s go a little deeper. John’s Gospel is very intentional theologically. He uses the phrase “where I am” seven times. Why is that important?

In John 7, Jesus says He’s going back to the One who sent Him—the Father. “You will seek Me and you will not find Me; where I am, you cannot come.” They didn’t get it; they thought He was going to the diaspora. But He meant Heaven—the Father’s House.

In John 12, He says: “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will My servant be also.” Where is He? In Heaven. If you’re a Christian, you will follow Him there—ultimately at the Rapture and certainly after death.

In John 17, on the night of His betrayal, Jesus prays: “Father, I desire [I will] that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory.” Jesus wills that His people be with Him in Heaven to see His glory. Jesus wants the Rapture to happen even more than we do.

In John 14, He says: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s House are many rooms… 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, you may be also.” The wording is intensely personal—“receive you to Myself” is like taking us into His arms. Jesus will come again, take us to where He is—the Father’s House in Heaven.

Readiness for the Rapture. What does God want from us right now?

Jesus says: “Watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (See Luke 21.)

When the Rapture happens and the Lord takes us, one of the first things that happens (after the hug!) is we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10). Our sins are forgiven forever, but we will receive rewards. Jesus says, if you’ve trusted Him, you will be in a position to escape all the coming judgment and then stand before the Son of Man.

Notice: Jesus uses the word escape. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul says the Day of the Lord comes like a thief. “While people are saying, ‘Peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them… and they will not escape.” There’s a group that will not escape—and a group (believers) that will (Luke 21). It matches perfectly.

People say, “You pre-trib Christians are escapists.” Paul said we’ll escape. Jesus said we’ll escape. So yes—in that sense, we are escapists. Not from all trouble (Jesus said we’ll have tribulation), but from the Great Tribulation.

How much more of the signs of the times will we see before the Rapture? We don’t know the date (ignore date-setters!). But we might see more digital IDs, cashless systems, surveillance, lockdowns, and the maturing beast-system infrastructure. These developments don’t mean we missed the Rapture; they mean we’re getting closer. Judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). The Church is being refined. We are living (and will increasingly live) in perilous times (2 Timothy 3).

Finally, Paul says: “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (See 2 Timothy 4.) Have you set your affection on Jesus’ appearing at the Rapture? If you long for it—wake daily saying, “Maybe today,” and serve Him even if it’s not today—you’ll receive the Crown of Righteousness.

What does God want?

1. Be pure by God’s grace. “Beloved, we are God’s children now… when He appears we shall be like Him… and everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.” (1 John 3) Our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (see Philippians 3:20–21). The body change is instantaneous; then we ascend.

2. Be busy—good busy. Have short-, mid-, and long-term goals. Live as if Jesus might delay, but be ready if He comes today. “Engage in business until I come.” (Luke 19:13)

3. Watch. “What I say to you I say to all: Watch.” (Mark 13:37)

Let’s pray.
Father, we thank You for the truths about the Rapture. You’ve shown us what it is, how it happens, and when. You’ve shown us that Jesus wants the Rapture—He wants to rescue us, bring us to Himself, and take us to Heaven, to Your House with many rooms, to show us His glory. It’s so rich and wonderful that we have these promises and this comfort. Speak to our hearts; help us learn what’s happening in our world so we’re always ready. You love us, and many still need to hear the truth You desire to save. We love You because

You first loved us.

We pray this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.