Anticipating the Rapture
We sing, study, speak and even speculate about the Rapture, but imagine, as you read these words, proceedings in heaven that have already begun. The Father turns to the Son, stating, “The time is ready!” Angels pause with bated breath and a pin drop can be heard among the myriads of redeemed, all anticipating what they’re on the threshold of. Somewhere across this world, in a gospel series, oblivious saints are earnestly singing, “God’s house is filling fast, yet there is room! Some soul will be the last, yet there is room. Yes, soon salvation’s day from you will pass away, then grace no more will say, yet there is room.” Stepping from the throne into the very domain of Satan, flanked by mighty angelic forces, with the resounding trump of God, our Lord gives the imperious shout. Instantaneously across the globe, millions of ancient graves are opened as the bodies of Christians rise to the surface of the earth. For those in the grave, this “corruptible must put on incorruption,” and for the living, “this mortal must put on immortality” (1Co 15:53).1 Chains of death shatter as saints rise with the cry upon their lips, “O grave, where is thy victory?” (v55), and in one great instantaneous twinkling of the eye, all Christians are changed, simultaneously rising to “meet the Lord in the air” (1Th 4:17). None precedes the other, all are together, and together forever, death has lost its sting! In that long-anticipated day, the beginnings of Christ’s second advent will have at last begun – roll on the Millennium!
Anticipating the Review
In 2010, on his deathbed, an aged brother spoke these pertinent words to me, “Clive, it’s not so much what God is doing with you that counts, but what He’s doing in you that matters!” Following our rapture from this scene, we shall all appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ, where our Christian lives will be reviewed. So, what does this event have to do with the Millennium? Everything! Any reader of the New Testament will observe that the Spirit of God is at pains to teach us that our lives now will matter then. It’s there that crowns are given, with position and responsibility in the millennial kingdom bestowed. Those who have been faithful in that which was least will be granted to be faithful with much (Luk 16:10; 19:17). O, to hear the words, “Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Mat 25:21).
Paul anticipated this joy when he told the Thessalonians that the crown of rejoicing was his hope (1Th 2:19). Crowns are on offer, not only for Paul, “but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2Ti 4:8). The epistles are replete with specific accounts that bring before us that inescapable occasion. If Philippians 2:10 teaches that every knee in every realm shall bow to Christ, Romans 14:10-12 educates us that the Church shall be first. The Bema is the place where our private lives shall be opened to the light, “for it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” 1 Corinthians 3 reveals the assessment of our public life, particularly in relation to what we build into the local assembly. Wood may seem to be a good building material, but Paul teaches the Corinthians that it does not withstand the fire. In chapter 4, he unveils that even our personal motives will be examined. In 2 Corinthians 5, he highlights that what we’ve done in [through] these physical bodies will come under scrutiny, whether good or bad. There shall be reward or loss, so Paul warns, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2Co 5:11). Peter desires that, having been “tried by fire,” we might come forth with a word of praise, a place of honour and a crown of glory (1Pe 1:7), and exhorts us to add to our faith ingredients that will assure us of an “abundant entrance” (2Pe 1:5-11). Numerous other places point us to this awesome day of review, James referring to it in every chapter of his book (Jas 1:12; 2:12; 3:1; 4:11-12; 5:9).
Anticipating the Revelation
When God’s Son first graced this world, there were two parts to that humble advent: a public appearing for 33 years followed by a private appearing for 40 days on resurrection ground. Likewise, but in reverse order, we find the same with the second coming of Christ. First, there is a private coming for the Church, succeeded by a public descent to the earth. It may surprise some that to the Church there is far more spoken of regarding the revelation of Christ than about the Rapture. The Rapture (glorious as it will be) is just the stepping stone to our resplendent future with Christ. When Christ returns, this world will be in the most devastated state ever experienced. Destruction-strewn cities will lie smouldering throughout the world. One third of the trees will be burnt, leaving wildlife reeling from the catastrophic consequences of natural disasters. Israel will be littered with dead bodies, and Jerusalem will be in ruins. Sin will unmistakably reveal its ravishing effect across this planet. But Christ shall not return alone. By His side will be His bride, arrayed for all to admire (2Th 1:10). The planet will be set right, and the Church, as “joint heirs,” shall occupy the esteemed place of administrating the millennial government of the world (1Co 6:2).
The Greek words parousia, epiphaneia and apokalupsis occur almost 50 times in the NT, mostly referring to the public second coming of Christ. As Christians, we look beyond the Rapture “for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing [epiphaneia] of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). In that day, the whole creation, groaning under the weight of sin, anticipates the manifestation (apokalupsis) of the sons of God (Rom 8:19). John writes in Revelation 19 that when we exit heaven with our Lord, we shall be “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness [righteous deeds] of saints” (v8). If a bride were to sew her own wedding dress, how much effort she put in would be seen on the wedding day. Likewise, what we are in this life will be unmistakably seen by all then. Beloved, let each of us hear this exhortation: “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming [parousia]” (1Jn 2:28).
Having briefly noted our anticipation, Lord willing in successive articles we shall observe the location, occupation and association of the Church with Christ in the Millennium.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
