Intro:

Rev. 4:1 gives us a vivid picture of the Rapture of the church. Remember that (Rev. 1:19) is the divinely given outline of the book; so we are now about to see "the things which shall be hereafter." Everything from (4:1) on is prophecy. The fact that John is "caught up" at this point is another evidence that the church will not go through the Tribulation. Note how this experience pictures the Rapture:

[1]. Heaven is opened to receive God's child.
[2]. There is a voice to be a trumpet (I Thess. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:52).
[3]. It is a sudden event.
[4]. It comes at the end of the "Church Age."
[5]. It introduces John to the throne room of heaven.
[6]. It signals the beginning of God's judgment on the world.

You might note the different doors in Revelation:

[1] . The door of service (3:8)
[2]. The door closed against Christ (3.20)
[3]. The door into heaven (4:1)
[4]. The door out from heaven (19:11)

I. REASONS FOR A RAPTURE (I Thess. 4:13-18)

A. That a marriage might be completed - (Rom. 7:4 - Rev. 19:6-9)

*In (Matt. 22:1-14 and Matt. 25:1-13) there are guests who are invited to the wedding - this is a rapture (not the rapture of the church), but rather the mid-tribulation rapture of (Matt. 24:40, 41). This rapture is probably in conjunction with the Tribulation appearance of the Lord to Israel in (Rev. 10).

B. That the Tribulation might come.

Some Christians who are determined to go through the Tribulation have failed to distinguish between tribulation and THE GREAT TRIBULATION. Christians have always suffered tribulation but the Great Tribulation is a time for the earth to reap the wrath of God. No love is mentioned from (Rev. 4-19!) A New Testament believer is not destined to experience the wrath of God. (See I Thess. 1: 10, 5:9, Rom. 5:9).

C. That Old Testament types might be fulfilled.

[1]. It is interesting to note that Enoch was the seventh from Adam. (See Gen. 5:5,8,11,17 2 20,21-24.) Enoch was the only Old Testament saint who was raptured and never has to die. (Elijah does - Rev. 11)

In parallel fashion the seventh church from the second Adam (I Cor. 15:45,50-55) is raptured.
[2]. Noah stayed on the Ark, during the flood and is a type of Tribulation saint. (See Rev. 12: 14-17; Matt. 24:36-39.)
[3]. Moses - (Deut. 32:48-52; 34:5)

Devil has power of death - (Heb. 2:14) In (Jude 9) Michael disputed over the body of Moses.

 

II. WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS THE RAPTURE

A. Start working you way to heaven

Anyone of this opinion has always despised the Gospel of Grace anyway so it's time to start "living it" (Matt. 24:13). Keep in mind who this passage is addressed to (See Rev. 12:17, 14:2).

B. Don't take the mark (Rev. 13:17, 14:9-11)

C. Get fanatical - die as a martyr, Salvation will depend upon enduring or death (Rev. 12:11, -14:11, 20:4).