The rapture is not a term that is found anywhere in the Bible, it is a
concept invented by man to conceive of the Greek word harpazo. (The word “rapture” is
taken from the Latin Vulgate translation “rapio”.) This word has five meanings
spread across thirteen different Scriptures, so it is my intent here to let the
Spirit lead into a deeper understanding of this word, and thereby a greater
understanding of the concept of the rapture.
Matthew 13:19
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown
in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
If you stand passively by the wayside to receive the Word of God, it
will not penetrate your heart, and the devil will most certainly come to catch
it away before it takes root. You must actively pursue a deeper understanding
of the Word, feeding on it night and day, in order for the Holy Spirit to
effectively change you into the image of Christ. This verse illuminates the
work of Satan: he is urgently desperate to catch away (harpazo) the Word, for he
knows its mighty transforming power once it takes hold in the heart of man.
John
10:12
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose
own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and
fleeth: and the wolf catcheth
them, and scattereth the sheep.
Jesus warned here of the hireling, who leads the sheep into danger
because he does not care for them, and then runs away when the wolf appears to
catch them (harpazo) and scatter them. This is the rapture of the
antichrist, who lulls lukewarm believers to sleep as he slips the snare around
their souls. Be sober, be vigilant: your enemy knows how to impersonate light.
You have need of keen spiritual discernment, and you should always be trying
the spirits.
Acts 8:39
And when they were come up out
of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and
he went on his way rejoicing.
When the Holy Spirit moves upon the soul
of a man whom God has called to a sovereign purpose, there is a mighty flow of
revelatory outpouring. Here we see the Holy Spirit wooing an Ethiopian eunuch
with Isaiah 53 while simultaneously positioning Philip for a divine appointment
with him. The Ethiopian is so powerfully moved by the Spirit of God that he knows
to ask for baptism, boldly proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Afterward
Philip is caught away (harpazo) as soon as they come
up out of the water, moved on to his next assignment by the Holy Spirit.
The instances of catching away (harpazo) described in these
verses illustrate two opposites. First, the evil device used by Satan to catch
away the word of God and then believers. Secondly, the instrument God uses to
position believers for His purposes. As the rapture approaches, believers need to
be firmly rooted and grounded in God's Word, to ensure that their shepherd is
following the Good Shepherd, and to make themselves available when God moves to
position them supernaturally. And remember, as it is written,
Matthew 24:4
And Jesus said unto them, Take heed that no man
deceive you.
Related Scriptures: Matthew
13:10-23; John 10:1-18; Acts 8:26-40
