Evangelism Part 17: Rapture Series
Evangelism Part 17: Rapture is Exaltation
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1). By Christians’ tradition, the highest heaven is God’s abode. In other traditions, heaven is a Paradise like the garden of Eden, while other teachings claim that there are seven heavens and heavens where the wicked and the righteous can come in and out. There is also a notion that the third heaven is where the angelic warriors reside.
Judaism and Islam specifically mention seven heavens in their doctrine, while in Christianity, they believe that Paul mentioned only the third heaven, and from there, they believe in three heavens. However, many Christians disagree that when God created the heavens and the earth, it was just one time, so God created the seven heavens in one day. God did not create heavens for personal religion. God created the seven heavens to house all His rich and poor children. Therefore, all human beings belong to God, and artificial religion, should not be a barrier to living as one spirit on this earth.
All descendants of Adam that embraced the light will not witness the judgment of those who live in darkness together with all the fallen angels that rebelled against God before the time began. Instead, the sons of God will be transported with jubilation to another dimension where they cannot experience how the judgment is being made. Rapture is a general euphoria, a heavenly event with supernatural guidance by the Divine Spirit.
Rapture is not explicitly written in the Bible, but exaltation does, and both these words have the same meaning and were written 26 times in thirteen (13) books of the Bible. Therefore, only those who are doomed to be judged will not be exalted.
Hell is the destination of the doomed and was never mentioned in the Old Testament, and hell was only mentioned once by Peter in the New Testament. He called it Tartaroo (2 Peter 2:4). Tataroo- is the abode of the wicked dead. It is hell, as we all used to hear. It is reserved for eternal torment only for the fallen angels, including the prince of this world.
Are you still confused about rapture and heaven? First, the best way is to examine yourself and why you are confused; secondly, look at who is speaking to you, is he your trusted pastor or your neighbors (people around you that could be your relatives, friends, and associates)? Observe how they live their lives, and you will find the answers.
These are some of the scriptures that can equate to rapture:
Samuel 1 2:10—The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Psalms 37:34—Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Matthew 23:12—And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Peter 1 5:6—Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Do not worry about hell. Just focus on how to go the heaven.
God is all in all.