Jesus Christ, the bridegroom is going to come for His beloved bride and take her to heaven where He has prepared a place for her to be with Him forever. This reference to church is referring to those who have made Jesus their Savior and Lord. It is not a reference to any particular church denomination.
Hear the words of Jesus
In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. (Jesus speaking in John 14:1-3 WEB)
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. In this, my joy, therefore is made full. (Jesus speaking in John 3:29 WEB)
How will Jesus Christ come for His bride?
For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. (Paul writing in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 WEB)
The body of believers (church) will be caught up in the clouds (raptured) to meet the Lord in the air.
Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Paul writing in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 WEB)
Who is the bride? It is the body of believers.
“The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (Jesus speaking in John 3:35-36 WEB)
Jesus paid the price for His church to be with Him for all eternity.
Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (Paul writing in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 WEB)
Soon after the rapture will occur the marriage of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) to the church (believers).
Let’s rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let’s give the glory to Him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (John the apostle writing in Revelation 19:7-8 WEB)
He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” He said to me, “These are true words of God.” (John the apostle writing in Revelation 19:9 WEB)
The apostle Paul writes we should be
looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Paul writing in Titus 2:13 WEB)
Look up! Do not tarry! The Lord may come very, very soon. Do not miss what is captured in the following verse.
But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. (Paul writing in 1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV)
Commentary: If you did a search in most modern day versions of the bible, you will not find the word “rapture”. You will find the expression “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in most modern day bible versions. There is another version called the Latin Vulgate. This translation by Jerome, from the original Greek translation, was the primary bible used from 380 AD to well into the 1500’s AD. This Latin version translated the Greek word Harpazo into the Latin word “rapturo”. (Note: the first King James Version was published in 1611.)
