The Bible contains writings that describe a future event that is often referred to as The Rapture (taking up.) Paul, the apostle of Jesus, in his letter to the church in the Greek city of Thessaloniki, described the event this way:
According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
I Thessalonians 4: 15-17 (NIV)
In another letter, this time to the city of Corinth, Paul wrote:
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
I Corinthians 15: 51-52 (NIV)
Paul is describing an event upon the return of Jesus that will affect believers in Jesus Christ, both alive and dead, who will be ‘caught up’ and changed suddenly and then be with the Lord. We don’t know when this will be as God stated it is a ‘mystery’.
What is vital for us to know is YES IT IS COMING, and YES IT WILL BE FOR REAL. Each of us must ask: Am I prepared? Have I committed my life to Jesus Christ? How about you? If you would like to be included in those who are caught up with Jesus to spend eternity in the presence of God, please read our post: How Can I Become a Christian?