I would like to add my thoughts and to expand on what was written below.
Although I do not believe in a partial rapture in that the luke warm or carnal but born again Christians will be left behind etc.. I do believe there are many raptures.
1) Enoch was the first to get raptured.. He walked with God and was not because God took him.
2) Next came Elijah. 2nd kings chapter 2. He, Elisha and the sons of the prophets even knew the exact day he was taken up to heaven. (Thus I believe when the trumpet is sounded we too will know it's time for us to be caught up.)
3a)Jesus imho was raptured twice. When He resurrected, He told Mary Magdalene "“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17)
3b) Jesus then ascended (raptured) again in Acts 1:9 He was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see Him.
4) Then
1 Thessalonians 4:17 speaks of the rapture of the church. Everyone who is washed and cleansed in the Blood of the Lamb is an overcomer regardless of how they lived. The Blood of Jesus is the key to entering heaven. But rewards will be distributed differently.
On a sidenote, I believe based on 1 Corinthians 15:52-53 that those of us alive at the time the Trumpet is blown will remain here for a short time. When the dead in Christ are resurrected they will receive their Glorified bodies immediately and will be caught up to the clouds and meet Jesus in the air. They go first. The scripture says however "we who are alive
AND REMAIN"...
For umpteen years I could not figure out why it says
WE REMAIN. (I'm pretty sure I figured it out with the help of some bible teachers). I
n the twinkling of an eye, in the blink of an eye the dead in Christ and those of us who are alive and remain will receive our Glorified bodies at the same time.
The dead in Christ though are caught up right away to meet Jesus in the air.
We who are alive, will remain in our Glorified bodies for a short time as witnesses.
The pattern I see here is when Jesus resurrected many saints resurrected with Him and were seen in Jerusalem.
End of sidenote.
Next:
5) After the rapture 144,00 Jews will be sealed with the Seal of God on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3)
I believe (but not absolute certain) they will be raptured. For in Chapter 14 they are in heaven, standing on Mt. Zion with the LAMB.
6) Let's not forget about the 2 witnesses in Chapter 11:12
But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And
they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
I also think that right before the 2nd coming of Christ in which every eye will see HIM,
7) the final harvest (rapture) will take place when an
angel flies in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Revelation 14:6
And there you have it: my thoughts on the rapture.. No partial rapture but I made my case for many raptures.
Carol
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
The harvest is the end of the world. ... So you see there is no partial rapture. We all go up. We are all a part of the body. ... God bless and stay in the spirit but don't worry you belong to Christ He purchased you and will take you up. You will not be caught unaware as a thief in the night because you are children of the light and children of the day. So God bless you and keep looking up for the Saviour because your redemption draweth nigh.
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