RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-05-12	Where Do Believers Go After The Rapture?
		A common question is often asked where do believers go after the rapture? What we do know is that we meet the Lord in the clouds (1Th.4:13-18). After we meet Jesus in the sky, then what? Jesus will then escort the people of God before the Father in Heaven (2Co.4:14). 2Co 4:14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. The resurrection and the rapture are two events. The resurrection happens first, then almost immediately we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Christ will present us into the Father's presence as seen in the phrase, “will present us with you”. (Re.7:9-10 shows the result of the rapture). We will not be there in the Father's presence permanently, but we will be there as the wrath of God being poured out upon the earth. There are other explicit passages that help us to know what happens after the rapture (Jn.14:2-3; Re.7:13-15; Is.26:19-21). Joh 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Jesus speaks of the rapture and the promises that we will be where Jesus is located in heaven. Jesus said, “where I am, there you may be also”. Jesus will take us to where the Father is at. Jesus says, “In My Father's house are many mansions”. These appear to be specific dwelling places or chambers. So, we are escorted before the Father, but we also will have an abode (inner rooms) within New Jerusalem (Re.21-22). Isa 26:19 Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead. Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past. Isa 26:21 For behold, the LORD comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain. This is a clear resurrection language similar to Daniel 12:1-2. First Israel is being chastened with tribulation and trouble (Is.26:16-18). And we know a remnant will come out of that. Notice it speaks of those who “enter your chambers”. These chambers are in heaven, not on the earth. After we go to the presence of the Father, we will go to our personal “your chambers”. Observe that “the LORD comes out of His place” which is heaven (v.21). And this is where He brings believers to. Rev 7:13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" Rev 7:14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev 7:15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. This great multitude appears in heaven out of the great tribulation as a result of the rapture. They have their new resurrection bodies and are rejoicing for their salvation. They are before the throne of God. So, the believer meets the Lord in the air at the resurrection and rapture (1Th.4:13-18). Jesus will escort us to the presence of the Father (2Co.4:14; Re.7:1-15). Then we will be brought to personal “mansions” or “chambers” (Jn.14:2-3; Is.26:19-21). Eventually we will descend to the earth in those chambers prepared by Jesus for us as part of the New Jerusalem (Re.21-22). Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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