We’re going to segue back to the title of this article after a little study period first. Although important, there are more pressing issues than just the physical needs of the body alone. How about the ‘health’ of your soul, for one? Today, the condition of your soul is directly linked to the Rapture of the Church and the fact that you were not amongst those taken up to Heaven.
Ignorance leads to destruction (Jeremiah 5:4; Isaiah 5:13; Proverbs 10:21; Hosea 4:6). And so at the risk of appearing to have the ‘cart before the horse’, it is actually the perfect time for a background check on Health Concerns Post-Rapture, by looking into the truth of the Rapture in the Bible.
Onward, fellow scholars! . . .
The existence of the Rapture in Scripture has been debated by theologians and laymen alike for many years. According to Thayer’s New Testament Greek-English Lexicon, the Greek word Harpazō found in the original New Testament writings is defined in the following:
1. to seize, carry off by force
2. to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly
3. to snatch out or away
The Bible is made up of two main parts known as Testaments: the Old Testament, written in Hebrew (with some portions written in Aramaic), and the New Testament, which was written in Greek. The Bible was then translated into Latin so that the early Christians of the Roman Empire could understand it since this was the common tongue of the western Roman Empire. And much later, William Tyndale (c. 1494–1536) was credited with bringing about the first English translation directly from Hebrew and Greek texts.
And so, Latin translates harpazō to “rapture”; English translates harpazō to “caught up”.
The word harpazō is found a total of 17 times in 13 different verses in the New Testament. Each time harpazō is used this verb refers to a quick or sudden, often violently physical “snatching away” or “catching away” of a person, a thing, or an idea. And 4 out of 17 times it refers to the literal physical (bodily) removal of a faithfully righteous human being from one place to another, or from one sphere of existence to another.
1. Christ Jesus is harpazō’d from Bethany near the Mount of Olives to His Throne in Heaven (Revelation 12:5; Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9).
The English phrase “was caught up” in Revelation 12:5 (for example), is hērpasthē (ἡρπάσθη). This word means that something was caught up or snatched up in a violent manner. Now this word hērpasthē in the Greek tense and mood is Aorist Initiative Passive, referring to something that happened in the past.
2. Philip is harpazō’d from the presence of the Ethiopian eunuch to a different location, miles away (Acts 8:39).
3. Paul is harpazō’d from the Earth to the ‘Third Heaven’/Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:2; 12:4).
Please note that this reference to the ‘Third Heaven’ can be explained against the First Heaven being the atmospheric heavens with clouds, thunder, lightning, and rain; Second Heaven, the stellar heavens and Third Heaven, where God Himself dwells.
4. The Church is harpazō’d from the Earth to the clouds to meet Christ Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Again, the phrase “shall be caught up” in this verse is translated in Greek as harpagésómetha. This comes from the same root word (harpazō) that is used in Revelation 12:5 but harpagésómetha is referring to something that happens in the future. It is a Future Indicative Passive. In Latin, this word is rapere, from which “rapture” is derived.
The time on earth – post-Rapture – is called the Tribulation and is a period of God’s judgment on the whole world for refusing to acknowledge His Son Jesus Christ and for living according to a fallen moral code separate from God’s Law. The Church – having accepted Christ’s payment – are set free from the weight of the Law (since Jesus fulfilled it with His sinless life on earth), are therefore not appointed to wrath, and so are Raptured from the earth just before the Tribulation begins.
God desires that everyone should be set free from His righteous judgment on sin, but not all will put their trust in Jesus’ payment.
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:9
And so, it is the Church who is SAVED (harpazō’d / caught up / Raptured away) from God’s wrath.
Since you have kept My command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
Revelation 3:10
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.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Jesus said that He would prepare for the much anticipated hour when the Church would be called home and lifted up to Heaven to hide away from the Tribulation until God’s wrath is spent: “My Father’s house (in Heaven) has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2).
This next passage of Scripture, also inspired by the Holy Spirit and written thousands of years prior to the above passages, encapsulates all that is written in Revelation 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and John 14:2.
Your dead (God’s saved people – The Church) will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead.
Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed.
For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
Isaiah 26:19-21 “Song of Salvation”
So what is this wrath that the Church is actually escaping from? What is mentioned about those Left Behind in the Bible?
How will life be for them after the Rapture?
A large part of the answer can be found in Revelation, chapters 8 and 11. One-quarter of the world’s population will die as a result of wars, famine, and plague. Life, in short, will be terrible.
In addition to all this, because of the poor economic situation worldwide and the 3.5-year drought that depletes the world’s supply of water, sanitation practices will deteriorate. With the short supply of water, there won’t be sufficient water for flushing toilets, taking baths, washing clothes and transporting wastewater to treatment facilities.
This will result in an increase of typhus, cholera, salmonella and E.coli infections. A supply of multiple vitamins with particular emphasis on anti-oxidants such as C and E and minerals would be very helpful. It will also be necessary to have a supply of disinfectants, particularly ones that can be added to water to make it potable.
There is a common theme coming from God throughout the Old Testament when He warned of impending judgment upon Israel – His chosen nation – for their sins: “Repent and live!” (Amos 5:4; Zechariah 1:3b; Proverbs 1:23 and 28:13; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Joel 2:13; Job 22:23). God set up everything necessary for the sins of the Israelites to be forgiven and for their prosperity. And the warning for their refusal to adhere to His ways came long before judgment was rendered. There was always time for the people of Israel to turn away from their sinful lifestyles, get ‘back on track’ and find God’s mercy and forgiveness – but they rarely took the opportunity.
Today, God commands repentance from all because He sent Jesus to pay for the entire world’s sins – past, present, and future. If any of us refuse His plan to save us, we are without excuse.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent.
Acts 17:30
God is just but not without mercy: For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him (2 Chronicles 30:9b).
He is still the God who provided water out of a rock in the desert for the Israelites: The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink” (Numbers 20:7-8; see also Exodus 17:1-3, 5-6).
How will God help you during the Tribulation if you choose to turn to Him, repent and seek His counsel? How will He care for your health and the health of your loved ones?
My dear friends, it is better to suffer temporarily in this life, if it leads to your eternal salvation. Remember God’s words: “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone,” declares the Sovereign Lord. “Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32).
There is going to be a massive spiritual return to God during one of the darkest times on planet earth (Revelation 7:9-17). May you see for yourself the goodness of God on your behalf through sending Jesus – the “Mighty Warrior who saves” (Zephaniah 3:17) – and may you be a part of those who would be saved!
It’s not too late to escape the ETERNAL wrath that is coming.
A word to the wise should be sufficient.
Dear Reader, yes! The sudden disappearance of millions of people around the globe has always been foretold in the Bible: Rapture in Scripture = harpazō.
You may not have believed your eyes at this synchronized world event, but see now that God’s Word holds true amidst the chaos.
Mention of the Left Behind in the Bible is never without hope. God, who knows the future says: I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish’ (Isaiah 46:10).
God wrote to you (thousands of years ago) in His Word about this time on earth in order to help you. What is ‘His good pleasure’?: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
God’s ultimate intention towards you at this time is to see you eternally safe and secure with Him in heaven.
The Rapture signifies that Jesus will be returning to the earth again soon and there is hope for you in that if you turn to God for refuge. But in the meantime, there will be many key events that will occur which you will not want to be ignorant of.
And so, please don’t stop here. Search further. Continue by reading the other blogs offered on this site. “Safety Concerns Post-Rapture” comes highly recommended to help inform and encourage you – despite the dark times ahead.
Find ‘Quick Guides’ in the English menu and click on ‘Left Behind’ for a summarized version of what is about to happen next. Or if you prefer, jump straight into the deep end by clicking on the ‘Full Guide’ for even greater detail.
Scour this site. Read, watch, listen – and through this information – may you come to draw near to God and humble yourself before the Almighty Creator.
Sin blackens and sickens your soul, leading to wrath, condemnation and eternal death: As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10); For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 3:36
Find shelter in Him by allowing Him to restore and keep the health of your precious, priceless soul!
But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
Psalm 73:28
