1 Thessalonians 4 : 17
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Without doubt, the ‘rapture of the Church’ is one of the most discussed topics among those who look forward to the day “when my Jesus I shall see”. A lot is said and written about ‘the rapture’ and even put on film. Of course, the moment of this event is of interest; after all, the Bible does not leave us in the dark about the time in which we are now living. Is it before, during or after the Great Tribulation that we shall “meet the Lord in the air"? These discussions about the how and when, unfortunately often blur what they should really be about. What is ‘the rapture’? What does ‘the rapture’ look like and who are involved? What is the purpose of this event? These questions require Bible study, because only the above verse speaks about being “caught up […] in the clouds".
However, the other Scriptures clearly show us what it is really about. That is our revelation “before the judgment seat of Christ". This salvation with eternal glory entails that we will discard the earthly body in a ‘flash’ in favour of a changed and glorified celestial body. With that, we are allowed to continue in the position in which we have been placed since our regeneration. This imperishable life in Christ, in heaven, will be shown to Israel and the nations at the return of Christ from the sky.