The Remaining Prophetic Timeline – Part One

The Remaining Prophetic Timeline

Part 1 – The Great Catching Away

Dr. Jesse Martinez

I. Greek Goodies

  1. The English word “rapture” is derived from the Greek word “harpazo” G726.
  2. Classically, “harpazo” is translated as, “to catch up, pluck, pull, or take”. It is used 13 times in the New Testament and is where we get the word “rapture”.
  3. “harpazo” is found in the following verses:
    1. Matthew 11:12; 13:19 (take it by force, catcheth away)
    2. 6:15; 10:12, 28-29 (take him by force, catcheth, pluck)
    3. Acts 8:39; 23:12 (caught away, and to take him by force)
    4. 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4 (caught up, he was caught up)
    5. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (shall be caught up)
    6. Jude 23 (pulling)
    7. Revelation 12:5 (was caught up)

II. The Rapture

  1. The Order of the Rapture (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
    1. Only believers will be a part of the Rapture (cf. 4:14)
    2. The believers alive at the time of the Rapture will not go before those who have passed away (cf. 4:15)
    3. Jesus will come to the clouds bringing those believers who have died (cf. 4:16)
    4. There will be a shout from the Lord, an arch angel, and the trump of God. The dead believers will rise at this moment (cf. 4:16)
    5. Believers who are alive will be “harpazo” or caught up alongside Christ and with all the saints in the air (4:17)
    6. Believers shall remain in the presence of the Lord for all eternity (4:17)
    7. This record should comfort all believers (cf. 4:18)
  2. The Resurrections of the Rapture (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
    1. The dead will receive their new and physical resurrection bodies at the moment of the last trumpet (cf. 15:51)
    2. Those who are alive shall also be given their new and physical resurrection bodies (cf. 15:52)
  3. The Timing of the Rapture (cf. Revelation 4:1)
    1. John hears the voice of the Lord say, “Come up hither”, which is not the Greek word “harpazo” but can be concluded to allude to the Rapture.
    2. John had been writing things specifically for the Church (cf. 1:19)
      1. What are the things which you have seen? The vision of the throne.
      2. What are the things which are? The letters to the churches.
      3. What are the things hereafter? This is the Tribulation.
  4. The church is not mentioned nor addressed again until Revelation 19:7.
  5. The church will be kept from the “hour of temptation” (cf. Revelation 3:10).
    1. Written to the church of Philadelphia, but still applicable to the body of Christ.
    2. The description of “hour” is a reference to a specific period of tribulation, which I believe is the Tribulation period. The body of Christ has suffered persecution and tribulation in general but will be spared from the “hour” of the Tribulation period.
    3. The return of Christ is immanent, meaning there is nothing which must be completed before it occurs (cf. 1 John 2:28)

III. Welcome Home

  1. The Judgment Seat of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
    1. The believer’s works are tried by fire, not the believer himself (cf. 3:15)
    2. Rewards will be given based off the believer’s labor and not necessarily the results of that labor (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:58)
    3. A reminder for today: We serve the Lord Jesus Christ by serving others (cf. Colossians 3:24)
  2. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (cf. Revelation 19:7-9)
    1. The church will be with the Lord at the marriage supper of the Lamb (i.e. his wife).
    2. 2 Corinthians 11:2 describes the church as a chaste virgin