The Rapture and the Resurrection Body: What to Expect When Christ Returns
- Keith Thomas
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Since the beginning of the New Year, we've been reflecting on eternity and its significance for believers in Christ. We've covered Christ's rewards for virtuous character, faithfulness, and service. Soon, we'll delve into the resurrection body that believers will receive when Christ returns. The Lord knows His own (2 Timothy 2:19), and at His return, He will dispatch His angels to gather all who have accepted His forgiveness for sin and the gift of salvation.
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:31).
At Christ's return, believers will be caught up and gathered with Him in the clouds. As the Apostle Paul described this magnificent event:
The Promise of Christ’s Return in 1 Thessalonians 4
13Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According 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. 16For 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. 17After 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 4:13-17).
The Biblical Meaning of the Rapture
The words above come from the well-known passage about the Church's rapture. In our series on the End Times and our study titled 'The Rapture of the Saints,' we discovered that the term "rapture" itself isn't found in the Bible. The English word “rapture" is derived from the Latin "rapere," which translates the Greek "harpazo," meaning "snatched up." In some English Bible versions, this Greek term is rendered as "caught up" (v. 17). Before this event, there will be a loud shout from Jesus, accompanied by a trumpet sound. Those who have died or fallen asleep in Christ will be brought with Him at His return (v. 14), and they will be instantly transformed and rejoined with their bodies. Even though they have been in heaven with Christ, He will bring them with Him.
What Happens to Believers Who Have Fallen Asleep?
Those believers still alive on Earth at that time will see this event before being gathered with believers worldwide. It will be a homecoming as the Lord Jesus rewards everyone who belongs to Christ. What an incredible day that will be! When that Day arrives, all who have repented and walked with Christ but have died will receive new bodies. Those on Earth will also be instantly transformed (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). Paul explains that our new bodies will resemble Christ's glorious body (Philippians 3:20). The radiance of Christ shining through us will be both powerful and beautiful, showcasing God's transformative power. The Lord said, “The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43).
We will reflect on the new body we will receive in the coming days. I hope to see you in the clouds when that Day arrives (v. 17). Keith Thomas.