LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Three Types of Rapture
In the crucial days in which we live, many expect something extraordinary to happen. The Bible abounds in prophecies that allow us to conclude that we are close to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to rapture His church. This event is foreshadowed in the Old Testament through three characters: Enoch, Isaac and Lot. Let us see how they show us different aspects of this event.
Enoch. In Genesis ch. 5 the first descendants of Adam are named. Of all of them it is said that they lived and died. However, of the seventh it is said: "And Enoch walked with God ... and vanished, for God took him" (v. 22, 24). Enoch was caught up before the flood swept away every living thing. He is, therefore, a beautiful type of those who will not sleep, but will be "changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:51-52).
Isaac and Rebekah. The story of Isaac and Rebekah shows us precious details of what will be the encounter of Christ and the church at the rapture. Abraham, Isaac's father, sends his servant to fetch a wife for his son from a distant land. He brings her richly attired. After crossing the desert, he arrives at the bridegroom's home, who has gone out to the country for a walk and receives her there. Then he takes her to his tent, and there he loves her.
Like the servant, the Holy Spirit has been sent to prepare a bride for Christ. To that end, he has adorned her with rich garments and gifts, and brings her through the wilderness of the world to meet her Beloved. "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:17).
Lot. This was a righteous man who lived in Sodom, overwhelmed by the depraved life they led. Until one day God decided to destroy the city, and sent two angels to take Lot out of the city, along with his family. But his sons-in-law did not listen, and they perished. The hardness and unbelief of the wicked is such that they would not be persuaded even if someone rose from the dead to testify to them (Luke 16:31).
As they fled from Sodom, Lot's wife looked back, and became a pillar of salt. Jesus said: "Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will save it" (Luke 17:32-33). The example of this woman shows us that not all Christians will be raptured. "I say unto you, that in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left" (Luke 17:34).
The Lord warns: "Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with gluttony and drunkenness and cares of life, and that day come upon you suddenly" (Luke 21:34). It is necessary to walk with God, as Enoch did, and to afflict every day the righteous soul, as Lot did. It is necessary to wait for the coming of the Son of God, to have the joy, like Rebecca, of going to meet him "in the field".