Rapture - Taking of Believers

Created Date: 9-May-2017

Harpazo

Last updated: 29-Dec-2023
A A A  help
Sections:
 
1 What is the Rapture? 2 Greek Word Harpazo
3 Is the Rapture Biblical? Two Key Scriptures 4 Seven Raptures in the Scriptures
5 Removed before a Judgment 6 Scriptural Inferences to Future Rapture
7 Not One Righteous Person on Earth Occurs Only Once 8 Rapture and 2nd Coming the Same Event?
9 Jesus Christ Stated He Didn't Know the Dates? 10 Glorified Bodies
11 Explaining the Disappearance to the World 12 Rapture of those under the Age of Accountability

In the Old Testament scriptures there are scriptures that speak about a future time of deliverance before the most evil and horrible time that the Earth will ever experience.  The scriptures identify this time as the Tribulation Period.  One example is Daniel 12:1-4 where the key part of verse 1, "a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then", is one of many identifications that this period is the Tribulation Period.  The comforting and wonderful details from God is that everyone marked by God as having their name written in God's Book will be delivered from the time of distress that is the Tribulation Period. 

In this scriptural passage of Daniel:12:1-4, many Biblical Scholars have stated the meaning of verse 4 is the revealing that the knowledge of the Word of God would increase with greater understanding, which certainly consists of world-wide travel and the Internet as part of the delivery of increased knowledge of the God of the Bible with Salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Verse 4 is also comforting for all of us concerning people we love, and the entire world that do not recognize Jesus Christ as their Savior as the knowledge of God is increasing and will increase more and more.  We do not know the exact date of the Rapture and the Tribulation Period where it appears many other prophecies that are required as part of the Tribulation Period, which is after the Rapture, are being set up for fulfillment on the Earth.  See the Gog and Magog topic.

Note that some Biblical Scholars have stated that verse 4 also means increased knowledge in all areas of science and general areas of living, which can also be true. 

If you haven't recognized Jesus Christ as your personal savior, then ask Jesus Christ now.

Daniel 12:1-4 1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

What is the Rapture?

The word Rapture came from the Latin word "rapio", which means to be seized or snatched.  The term Rapture has come to be used in several languages, besides English, to describe an event where Christians all over the world will be simultaneously taken to meet Jesus Christ in the air.  This is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, shown below in the section "Is the Rapture Biblical?".

Biblical Scholars describe the Rapture Event as the taking away of all the people on the Earth, who have Salvation, to escape the period of time called the 70th Week of Daniel.  The 70th Week of Daniel is a seven year period of time, which contains the Tribulation Period, is described in the Book of Daniel chapter 9.  The last three years of the 70th Week of Daniel is the Tribulation Period

There are two primary views by Biblical Scholars on when the Rapture Event occurs:

  1. The Rapture happens before the Russian, Gog and Magog, invasion attempt of Israel and the 70th Week of Daniel has not started.
  2. The Rapture happens after the Russian, Gog and Magog, invasion attempt of Israel where the 70th Week of Daniel has already started.

Greek Work Harpazo

Harpazo is a Greek word that is sometimes used in place of the Rapture in Biblical Commentaries, as they are equivalent.  The Greek meaning of Harpazo is:

  1. To be seized and carried off by force.
  2. To be seized and claim for one's self eagerly.
  3. To be snatched out or away.

Is The Rapture Biblical? The Two Key Scriptures

There are critics of the Bible, along with even some cultish groups that may have a resemblance of Christianity, that claim the word Rapture and the Event do not appear in the scriptures.  This is not true.  While the word "Rapture" is not in any translations that this author knows about, the word "Harpazo" is in the Greek version of the New Testament, and the word Rapture has become a synonym word of the Harpazo event. 
 
An analogy when comparing a rocket or airplane launch:

In all languages, there are words that are used to describe and summarize events and processes, where an example word that has similar meaning to Rapture, which makes it an excellent analogy is the word "Takeoff".  The word "Takeoff" is taking the two words "take" and "off" into a concatenated into a new word "takeoff" which means to leave the earth's ground into the sky.  Everyone accepts the word and the meaning of Takeoff in the English language.

There are to primary references to the Rapture in the New Testament but they are not the only ones as there are many inferences 

which describe the Rapture Event. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 50 Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.

Seven Raptures in the Scriptures

There are seven primary Rapture events in the Scriptures:

There are also other references that are inferences for the Rapture, which are discussed later in the "Scriptural Inferences for the Future Raptures" section of this topic on the Rapture.

The two Rapture events in the Old Testament are very well-known: 

  1. The first is Enoch who was taken before the Great Flood of Noah, and
  2. The second is Prophet Elijah who was taken up in a Whirl Wind.  See the link reference for more on their raptures.

TherThere are five future events of the New Testament are often read where they can be inadvertently not correlated with the Rapture because we are reading about other information that was the context that happened at the event.

  1. Jesus Christ appeared to the eleven Apostles and then was taken up.  There are three references in the scriptures.
    Mark 16:19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
    Acts 1:9-11 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.
    Revelation 12:5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.

    The word used for "caught up" is harpazo in the Greek.  The interesting point of "caught up" according to some Biblical Scholars is this is a reference to the those of us who are Believers and sealed by the Holy Spirit.  This verse is a double reference.
  2. The Apostle Philip in Acts 8:39 was talking with the Eunuch and the Holy Spirit took Philip away from the presence of the Eunuch.
    Acts 8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
  3. The Apostle Paul writes about himself in the third person as not to be boastful.  The Third Heaven is the location of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is outside of our Universe in a higher dimension.  The interesting, point is the Apostle Paul visits the location where he is not allowed to reveal anything about it, which to many Biblical Scholars is another proof of the scriptures.  If Paul, as a sales representative of a company, would always have something good to say, but Paul does not per instruction from God.
    2 Corinthians 12:1-4 1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
  4. The Body of Christ, which is all people who have Salvation that are alive prior to the 70th Week of Daniel, will be Raptured into the air to meet Jesus Christ.
    1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
  5. The Apostle John was taken up alive temporarily into Heaven to write about the future before coming back to Earth.
    Revelation 4:1 After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voice as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.

Removed before a Judgment

Many Biblical Scholars have pointed out:

  1. Israel as a Nation when they were living righteously,
  2. Individuals in the Old Testament, and
  3. Individuals in the New Testament

where always warned and removed before a judgment event.  The scriptures show the pattern of God that has and is always removing His chosen people from harm when: a Penalty Judgment is occurring that requires the Righteous to be removed and protected.

The Rapture Event is before the most horrible, perilous, deadly period of destruction on the Earth that has ever happened and will ever happen, which is the 70th Week of Daniel that contains the Tribulation Period.  WWII, as an example, is a minor foreshadowing of the evil, death and destruction that will be occurring during those 3.5 years period.

These are just a few examples of protection in the Scriptures:

Lot Removed forcibly, with his wife and two daughters, from Sodom and Gomorra in order to allow the destruction to occur to the two cities.
Moses His body buried by God personally to not allow Lucifer to desecrate it.  Moses' spirit body and soul was taken up by God.
Israel The Syrians are pursuing the army of Israel, where the Prophet Elisha warns Israel in advance by knowing the thoughts the thoughts of the King of the Syrians spoken in private, but given by God to Elisha.  See 2 Kings 6:8-23:

"11 And the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12 And one of his servants said, Nay, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber."
Luke 19:43-44

Jesus warns to leave Jerusalem before a specific event. 

This is discussed further in the 69 Weeks of Daniel topic.  Additionally, according to ancient writing from Eusebius (263 - 339 AD) the Christians fled Jerusalem to Pella.  Josephus spoke about an exodus out of Judea after 60 AD as written about in War of the Jews, book 2 and chapter 14.

43 For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
Abomination of Desolation
(This is the future event)		 Jesus Christ warns the Israel to flee at once when they see the Abomination of Desolation, which occurs at the half-way point of the seven years of the 70th Week of Daniel.  This is the start of the three and one half years of the Tribulation Period.

Scriptural Inferences for the Future Rapture

There are several scriptural inferences that have double meaning, and also are located in specific groups of passages that deal with the 70th Week of Daniel so that are additional proof of the future Rapture. 

Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion: In the covert of his tabernacle will he hide me; He will lift me up upon a rock.
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.
Isaiah 26:20-21 20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
John 14:1-4 This passage is primarily dealing with the Christian's future home, but it also reflects the care of God that He will come to receive us, which can also mean that is for some by the Rapture.

1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go, ye know the way.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 1 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

There are other inferences that have double occurrences and meanings to an event that was occurring and one in the future.  A prime example of this type of usage in the scriptures is the example of Ezekiel 28:11-19, where Ezekiel is writing a lament against the King of Tyre that quickly changes to Lucifer.

Not One Righteous Person on Earth Occurs Only Once In History of the Earth

In Micah 7:1-2, the first interpretation is the injustice occurring at the time of the Prophet Micah, but just the terminology of verse 2 has led some Biblical Scholars, that this author agrees, to state there is a parallel double occurrence prophecy contained in this passage.  Note that there is only going to be one point in the entire earth's history that there is not one upright person among mankind, and that is right after the Rapture event, as all of those who have Salvation will be removed from the judgments that will be coming. 

Yes, there is those that are covered under the Age of Accountability protection, but they do not have the mark of Salvation.  During the Tribulation Period, there will be millions and millions of people receiving Salvation.  There are a few Biblical Commentaries, which this author agrees, that state that during the Tribulation Period, unlike other times in history where people can live their whole lives without making a Salvation decision, everyone will be forced or coerced to make a decision for or against receiving Salvation.

Micah 7:1-2 1 Woe to me! For I am Like harvests of summer fruit, like gleanings of grapes. There is not a cluster of grapes left to eat, Nor an early fig, which I crave. 2 The godly person has perished from the land, And there is no upright person among mankind. All of them lie in wait for bloodshed; Each of them hunts the other with a net.

In Psalm 12:1, there is a similar feel and double meaning as Micah 7:1-2.

Psalm 12:1 Help, Lord, for the godly person has come to an end, For the faithful have disappeared from the sons of mankind.

Understanding that there is only one time in the history of the Earth that there will not be any righteous people, is key to understanding:

  1. The Rapture happens.
  2. The Rapture happens at the first of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ events when Jesus Christ meets all of those who have Salvation in the air.
  3. At the second of the two Second Coming of Jesus Christ is when the Great Tribulation Period ends, which is before Jesus Christ rules in the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

The next section of this topic details the reasons why the three points are different events.

Rapture and Second Coming of Jesus Christ the Same Event?

Is the Rapture and Second Coming of Jesus Christ the same event?  Since there are two Second Coming of Jesus Christ events, the answer to the question is:

  1. The first event is the same as the Rapture as Jesus Christ takes all peoples that have Salvation off of the Earth, where Jesus Christ meets all peoples in the air. 
  2. The second of the two Second Coming of Jesus Christ events, is not the same as the rapture.  When Jesus Christ comes back the second time, then Jesus Christ will be at the first of the two Armageddon Events, where Jesus Christ destroys the armies at the Armageddon Event.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

In the Book of Matthew, chapter 24, the information Jesus Christ is giving the Disciples is the Rapture Event is at the end of the "birth pains".  Jesus Christ states that there are signs and warnings that are called "beginnings of birth pains" in Matthew 24:8, which will happen before everyone who has Salvation is Raptured. 

Matthew 24:8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

The beginnings of birth pains include:

All of these events are given with an analogy of the Fig Tree in Matthew 24:32, to recognize upcoming:

  1. Rapture.  Notice "you know that it is near" reference in verse 33.
  2. 70th Week of Daniel, that contains the last 3.5 years known as the Tribulation Period
Matthew 24:32-35 32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The key to recognizing there are two dates, is one is concerning the "taking away" that Noah and his family along with Enoch, experienced as Jesus Christ speaks about in Matthew 24:37:41.  Noah, Noah's family and Enoch were removed from the judgment of the Great Flood that killed all of human-kind, animals and specific reptiles on the Earth.  The two references of "one will be taken and the other left", indicates the removal and those who remain to face judgment.

Matthew 24:37-41 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Jesus Christ further elaborates more in Matthew 24:42-44 the importance of being ready for the Rapture Event with the analogy of the owner of a house being watchful against a thief coming, as a thief does not announce the day or time when to break into a house to steal.

Matthew 24:37-41 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Important points that show there is a return of Jesus Christ in the sky and then one to stay on the Earth to rule in the Millennial Kingdom:

  1. When Jesus Christ returns in the sky (air), it is to remove those who have Salvation from the Earth as read in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.  Those that are removed are being taken away from the judgment of the Tribulation Period.
    1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
  2. When Jesus Christ returns to set up the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ:
    (a) does not take people with Salvation out of the Earth, as these people will be part of a large group that will live during the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, that repopulates the Earth. 
    (b) Those who have the Mark of the Beast and do not have Salvation will be sent to Sheol before the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ to await the future Great White Throne of Judgment.

Some Biblical Scholars, which this author agrees, have stated if the Rapture is the same event as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, then it will:

These two bullet points, along with the details Jesus Christ gave in Matthew 24, indicate the difference of the two events.  As already discussed in this topic, God has always removed the righteous from judgment in history.

Jesus Christ Stated He Didn't Know the Dates?

Most Biblical Commentaries point out that before Jesus' Crucifixion, Jesus Christ did not know the future dates for the Rapture and Second Coming as spoken by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:36.  

  1. Date of the Rapture. 
  2. Date of His Return to take charge over the Earth before the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ begins.
Matthew 24:36 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Many Biblical Commentaries state that after Jesus Christ's death on the Cross and then Ascension, then most likely the Father let Jesus Christ know the two dates.  This is a theory but there is no scriptural passages to prove the theory.

Glorified Bodies

When the Rapture Event happens, both 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1st Corinthians 15:50-54 indicate that:

  1. All the people who have ever lived in the Old Testament and New Testament periods who have died
  2. All the people who are alive at the time of the Rapture Event

will receive new glorified bodies.  In 1st Corinthians 15:52-53, the scripture informs us that we will receive a new body that is not perishable.  This new body, according to many Biblical Scholars is the Glorified body that is mentioned in 2nd Corinthians 5:1-2.

2 Corinthians 5:1-2
(habitation is a new body)		 1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 2 For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven. 

This author has not seen any scriptural commentaries give additional information that there appears to more enhancements and changes that will occur to the Glorified Bodies after the Rapture Event.  Some Biblical Scholars state that the Judgment Seat of Christ will be occurring right before the end of the Tribulation Period as there will be a selected group of Christians that will come back to rule with Jesus Christ during the 1,000 Millennial Kingdom Period.   During the Judgment Seat of Christ event, all Christians will be judged for eternal Rewards in Heaven that will also include visible signs in the Glorified bodies.

Explaining the Disappearance to the World

There is no scriptural reference given to what the Antichrist is going to provide for an explain to the disappearance of many, many people in the world that were taken during the Rapture Event. 

This author believes the Rapture Event will occur moments before the Gog and Magog Event, for these reasons and events that will happen: 

  1. During the Gog and Magog Event, the armies of the countries listed in the scriptures, that will attempt a failed invasion of Israel, will be confronted by God's use of earthquakes, meteors, hail of fire, tornadoes and other natural earth forces that are focused, in extremes, against the invaders so that Israel will know it was God protecting them. 
    (a) During this Gog and Magog event, there will be other armies and areas of the world, Young Lions in Ezekiel 38:13, which will experience destruction and deaths as they become involved in defense of Israel along with being attacked before the invasion to stop them aiding Israel.
    (b) There will be wide-spread power-grid destruction and communication unavailability because of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) consequences that destroys almost everything with computer circuitry.  The consequences of an EMP are no mobile phones will work, cash registers not working, no credit card usage, all vehicles will not be able to be driven, wide spread food shortages and most likely famine with cannibalism.  
  2. After the Gog and Magog Event, the world will be in a state of shock, confusion and hardship.  The destruction and death will most likely cause:
    (a) Bankrupt Insurance companies that are not able to pay on policies covering accidental death and damage to property.
    (b) Countries will be unable to quickly rebuild which will cause wide-spread looting, violence and murders.
    (c) The Antichrist will take power by use of a promise of peace, as predicted in the scriptures, that begins the 70th Week of Daniel.  The world will deeply and fervently desire world-wide peace.  The Antichrist will give a false peace of 3.5 years before the Tribulation Period begins.
  3. As the world recovers, the disappearance of people will be attributed to consequences of world-wide environmental catastrophes, destruction from missiles, EMPs, looting, murders and cannibalism so there will not be a method or way to do an accounting of people missing along with knowing how they were no longer found.
  4. Also, there most likely will be the additional Great Lie that the Antichrist will be utilizing.
  5. There is also another point that has never been brought up in any commentaries, that this author has read, is the Rapture event does not require our physical bodies to disappear as it was done with Enoch. 
    (a) In the scriptures, God always uses patterns, where this author would make the logical assertion that our bodies will no longer be available to be found by anyone on Earth after the Rapture. 
    (b) It may be a possibility, that having all the Christian's dead bodies all over the Earth, with no cause of death for those who were raptured, be a witness of God for those left on Earth to make Jesus Christ their Savior.
    (c) There are many scriptures that give us the conclusion that our inner-person body and spirit is most likely what will be meeting with Jesus Christ in the air.  We are a three-part being with future glorified bodies based on rewards of righteousness that we earned when being alive.  Imagine a scene with millions of people in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), where the scriptures do not give any detail that the people left on Earth saw millions of people in the clouds, so there is the possibility of the raptured people meeting Jesus Christ in their inner-person bodies and the old Earthly bodies are gone.
God always uses methods, that includes miracles, where the intervention by God can be seen two ways:
  • For those who already have Salvation and will have Salvation, will recognize God in the events.  This gives greater Faith and love for God when we see God in events along with giving God glory.
  • Everyone who will never trust God and never have Salvation, will see events in history, and occurring before them, as something that was caused by natural events that has nothing to do with God. 

This is why the theory above, on a possible explaining the disappearance of the true Christians to the world at the Rapture event, will have God using all the of the Gog and Magog events to let the unsaved world to be deceived.  There is also the explanations that "The Great Lie" will contain as spoken by the Antichrist.

At the Great White Thrown of Judgment, those who refused to see God in history will be further condemned.   The opinion of this author is even those in the Lake of Fire will worship God because they will at that point recognize they rejected the love of God.  Read the twelve areas of suffering in the Lake of Fire for detailed information.

Philippians 2:9-11 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Rapture of those under the Age of Accountability

An excerpt from the Age of Accountability (AA) topic:

It is fascinating to realize that because AA is a principle of God's Salvation then is there a possibility that God will also include all people under AA in the future Rapture, before the 70th Week of Daniel that contains the Great Tribulation Period?  Some Biblical Scholars state it is a strong possibility with God's Grace and Mercy.  The scriptures do not detail how and what will be said concerning the disappearance of people all over the world, where the addition of those under AA can have these two affects:

  1. A witness to those who have not made a Salvation Prayer request to have Jesus Christ be their Salvation, and
  2. Another indictment against those in the world that have rejected Jesus Christ.

While It is not written in any commentaries, that this author has read, I believe that there are many parables such as the Foolish Virgins, which teach us that there will be people who know about the Rapture and the Tribulation Period from a intellectual aspect, but are not Believers.  They will recognize many events and the disappearances across the Earth at that time, that can include those under AA, which will be the catalyst to recognize and ask Jesus Christ to be their Savior.

What to read next?

What is Salvation?  Is it possible to lose Salvation?  We have eternal life.  Evolution is not real.  When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it.  Rewards in heaven.  Do we Tithe?  What does the 3rd Commandment tell us?  What is Grace and Mercy?  Is there an Age of Accountability?  Is there a place of unending punishment and exile form God?