WHAT HAPPENS AT THE RAPTURE? The New Testament and the Old Testament blend together. 2 Pet. 3:12a Peter is addressing the second coming and the rapture {parousia, rapture}. Paul acknowledged the fact that it is a day to be greatly anticipated and longed for. Phil. 1:10 There
is a great need in the church to prepare for that glorious event. The good work, the work of salvation leading to the perfection that is in Christ Jesus will come to fruition in that day, with the transformation and resurrection of those who are in Christ. That is the day when we receive our
glorified bodies. A day of marvelous ecstasy for every one who has followed Christ. 1 Cor.15:52 The change from a living physical or a dead body is what will take place in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye {we shall all be changed in a moment}. He does not say that Jesus will come in a moment. The sounding of the last trumpet is a key to be considered here. Rev. 10:7 In the days {plural}, when the trumpet shall begin to sound. In order for the scheduled events to be accomplished there must be a period of time involved, in order for all the events related to His coming to be completed.
IT IS A DAY OF GREAT CATASTROPHY. 2 Pet. 3:12b The heavens will be utterly burned by fire. Please be aware that Peter is talking about that moment which is termed THE RAPTURE. There are two tremendous occurrences, celestial and terrestrial, or two phases of judgment that take place at that time.
THE FIRST EVENT. Isa. 34:4 The rolling up, as a scroll, of the universe or the host of the heavens. They will be completely annihilated. Dissolved, to be consumed, to melt. In other words no longer exist. To seal the matter he said that they would ALL fall down like the fluttering of leaves in the fall. Rev. 6:13-14 This is one of the events under an opened sixth seal. The circumstances that apply to the heavens are here reiterated for us. In the mouth of two or three witnesses. Isaiah and John.
THE SECOND EVENT. Is the dissolving and the melting of the elements? To dissolve is to melt, destroy or break up. It can only speak of the final and complete cleansing of the heavens and the earth. The tremendous heat generated at the coming of Christ will completely annihilate them. Ps. 50:3 He is coming with fire and with a tempest flowing around Him. This is the ultimate fire storm. 2 Pet. 3:10 The heavens to pass away, cease to exist, destroyed with a great explosion, a great
crashing.The ultimate and utter destruction of those things that the Lord Himself has created are in His hands. Before there can be a kingdom of God on this earth the old contaminated and polluted universe must be purged by fire. The kingdom of God is sinless. The kingdom of God on a renovated earth will be sinless and without sinners. He is coming in flaming fire. Our God is a consuming fire. Even so, come Lord Jesus.