HARPAZO, the Biblical term for Rapture
In the pursuit of truth, as Proverbs 23:23 encourages, "Buy the truth, and do not sell it" , we must examine the biblical concept of the Rapture with diligence and clarity. The English word "rapture" itself is derived from the Latin word raptus (or rapio), a term used in the Latin Vulgate Bible to translate the Greek word harpazō. This Greek word, meaning "caught up" or "snatched away," is the key to understanding the core of this eschatological doctrine. While the word "rapture" doesn't appear in the original Greek text, it accurately captures the essence of harpazō as it's been used in translation for centuries, becoming a theological term for believers being "caught up" to meet the Lord.
The concept of harpazō, far from being a novel idea, resonates throughout scripture, revealing a pattern of divine intervention. To grasp its full meaning, consider the various contexts in which harpazō is used:
Matthew 11:12: "...the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" . Here, harpazō carries the implication of taking something with great effort.
Matthew 13:19: "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart" . Harpazō signifies the act of taking something violently, as the enemy attempts to steal the seed of faith.
John 6:15: "Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone" . Again, harpazō denotes a forceful taking.
John 10:12: "But a hireling, who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches them and scatters the sheep" . Here, harpazō depicts the wolf's predatory act of seizing the sheep.
John 10:28-29: "...and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand" . Harpazō is used to describe the act of violently taking away.
1 Thessalonians 4:17: "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" . This is the key verse, where believers will be harpazō - "caught up" to meet the Lord.
The concept of harpazō is not just a future event; it has precedent in scripture. Consider these examples:
Acts 8:39-40: "Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away (harpazo), so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea" .
Genesis 5:24 and Hebrews 11:5: Enoch, who walked with God, was "taken" .
2 Kings 2:11: Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Acts 1:9-11: Jesus was taken up into the clouds.
These examples of being "caught up" or "taken" provide a clear pattern. The promise of the Rapture is not a fantastical notion but a fulfillment of a recurring theme in scripture. And yes, the "raptures" occur with people fully clothed, not leaving behind a pile of garments as some fictional depictions mistakenly portray. As we delve deeper into the meaning of harpazō, we gain a clearer understanding of the promise of the Rapture, a promise rooted in God's unwavering commitment to His people.
In a world marked by sin and rebellion, God's desire for all people to be saved is clearly stated in 1 Timothy 2:4, "who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth". This verse expresses God’s "revealed will" – what He openly desires for humanity. This is not an isolated sentiment, but a reflection of God’s character, echoed in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance". Ezekiel 18:32 reinforces this: "For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God. ‘Therefore turn and live!’".
Yet, while God desires all to be saved, this doesn't mean all will be. Individuals must exercise their free will to accept the truth and believe. As 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus". Christ’s sacrifice as a ransom for all is the means by which God's desire for all to be saved is made possible, although it is only effective for those who believe….
….The narrative of Noah and the Ark, as chronicled in Genesis, serves not only as a historical account of divine judgment but also as a profound object lesson, a prophetic foreshadowing of the Rapture and its purpose. Just as God intervened to preserve a remnant from the impending flood, so too does the concept of the Rapture reveal God's unwavering commitment to rescue those who are His. The Bible offers numerous examples, illustrating this pattern of divine intervention, where God physically removed those destined for preservation before the onslaught of His wrath through the John 1:1 Spoken Logic of His Word. These instances, like the door of the Ark itself, unlock a deeper understanding of the Rapture's significance. The most striking parallel with the Rapture, however, lies in the closing of the Ark's door. Genesis 7:16 states, "So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in." Noah did not shut the door…God did. God closed off the Ark ending any more from entering to escape the judgement they chose to go through Genesis 6:17–18 indicated maximum 75 year outreach period it took for Noah to build and fill the Ark. Genesis 6 seems to imply that Noah’s sons were married by the time God commanded him to build the ark in conjunction with the Biblical genealogical records makes the max 75 year timeframe.
Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace (Like with Noah finding God’s grace, Genesis 6:8) you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” We are not harpazo (snatched away) by our works but by God’s grace knowing our hearts of faith in relationship to Him…whether like corrupt Lot or Righteous preacher Noah at that time.
The harpazo rescue of Lot and his family (Genesis 19), therefore, provides a potent parallel to the Rapture. Just as Lot was extracted from the city's impending doom, believers are promised to be removed from the world before the time of God's wrath. Both scenarios emphasize God's active intervention to protect those who, by faith, are in a relationship with Him. It is the faithfulness of God, not the perfection of humanity, that secures this promise.
In an act of desperation to protect the angels, Lot offered his daughters to the mob (attempted sacrificial rape and murder, Genesis 19:8), a decision that, while understandable within the context of the ancient pride-based customs of flawed hospitality, underscores his flawed humanity. The angels, however, intervened, blinding the men of Sodom and pulling Lot inside, reinforcing God's protection. Lot's wife, disobeying the angel's command not to look back, stopped and went back “….and she became a pillar of salt" (Genesis 19:26). Lots daughters rape their father (Genesis 19:32-35). These actions, though morally questionable, do not negate Lot's status as one who was (harpazo) rescued. Instead, they serve to emphasize a crucial theological point: God's grace extends to those who are imperfect. The salvation of Lot and his family was not contingent upon their flawless behavior, but upon their faith in God. Ephesians 2:8-9 states that we are saved by God’s grace in our right standing with Him through applying the momentum of our faith, so Ephesians 2:10 follows up that we can then afterwards be used for good works which we were created to do, not in the end saved by them. This truth highlights that salvation is not earned through works, but received as a gift. The story of Lot, therefore, becomes a powerful illustration of the core principle of Christian faith: The power of God's grace, extended to those who are in right standing with Him, despite their imperfections.
The harpazo rescue of Rahab the harlot in Joshua 6:25 is also an example of God's harpazo (snatched away) rescue from wrath "But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her father's household and all who belonged to her, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. So she has lived among the Israelites to this day". Rahab, a woman of questionable background, was spared because of her faith and her willingness to protect the spies, and this is also an example of faith in Hebrews 11:31.
John 3:36 states, "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." Read more about this in our main article this is made off of labeled “Only 9 people per city!?!? YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT!! Noah's door & the Rapture” on our article and video archive.
