"End-Time Prophecy Bible Scriptures"

Is the rapture a three phase process?

The rapture is the departure of God’s Church and Holy Spirit from the Earth. Although the word rapture is not mentioned in the Bible, it is an accurate description of what the Bible describes as the resurrection of the believers. God’s Church is made up of all the believers in God since the world began. The believers in God will be raptured in the first resurrection. There is a first resurrection and second resurrection. In the first resurrection, all of the believers in God will be given immortal bodies. (KJV-Revelation 20:6, Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign  with him a thousand years). The second resurrection is for the unbelievers. Everyone in the second resurrection will be judged at the White Throne Judgement. (KJV-Revelation 20:11-15, And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12- And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13- And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14- And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15- And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire).

The believers are also referred to as the saints of God. When the saints of God are raptured from the Earth, God’s Holy Spirit will also be taken from the Earth. The rapture occurs in three phases, similar to the way the ancient Jews harvested their crops. In the first phase of the ancient Jewish harvest, the Jews would take a small sample of their crops that ripened first. This small sample of crops was referred to as the firstfruits.  In the first phase of the rapture, 144,000 saints were resurrected from the dead and given immortal bodies. The 144,000 are referred to as the firstfruits of the resurrection of the saints. (KJV-Revelation 14:3-4, And they sung as it were a  new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the  elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth 4- These are they which were not defiled with women;  for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb). In the second phase of the ancient Jewish harvest, they would harvest the field in the form of a circle until everything was harvested except the four corners of the field. In the second phase of the rapture, a great multitude of people that cannot be numbered will be resurrected and given immortal bodies. (KJV-Revelation 7:9, After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands). In the third phase of the ancient Jewish harvest, the remaining four corners of the field were harvested by the poor, referred to as Gleaners. In the third phase of the rapture, a group of new converts will be raptured during great tribulation. These are people who will not be saved during the second phase of the rapture. However, these people will not take the mark of the beast, and they will accept Christ as their Saviour during this time period. (KJV-Revelation 15:2,  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God).

After Christ rose from the dead, He resurrected the 144,000 and gave them immortal bodies. This was the first phase of the rapture. (KJV-1Corinthians 15:20-23, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21- For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22- For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23- But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming) and (KJV-Matthew 27:52-53, And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53- And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many). In the second phase of the rapture the main harvest of God’s Church will be raptured. (KJV-Revelation 14:15-16, And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16- And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped). Christ will give all the saints immortal bodies. (KJV-Philippians 3:20-21, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21- Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself). In the third phase of the rapture, a small group of people will convert to Christianity, and they will be raptured from the Earth and given immortal bodies during the time of great tribulation. (KJV-Revelation 14:18, And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe).

The Apostle John saw these three groups of resurrected saints in Heaven. He saw the 144,000 in Heaven. (KJV-Revelation 14:1-2, And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 2- And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of  many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the  voice of harpers harping with their harps). The Apostle John saw the great multitude of saints that could not be numbered. (KJV-Revelation 7:9, After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands). The Apostle John saw the great tribulation saints. (KJV-Revelation 7:13-14, And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? 14- And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb).

When Christ died on Calvary, His Holy Spirit went down to Hell to preach to the souls and spirits of the dead saints that were held captive in Hell. (KJV-1Peter 3:19, By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison). After Christ rose from the dead, He resurrected 144,000 of the saints and gave them immortal bodies. Christ took the 144,000 saints and the souls and spirits of the rest of the saints to Heaven with Him. (KJV-Ephesians 4:8-10, Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9- Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth 10- He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things). From that point forward, the souls and spirits of the people who die believing in Christ go directly to Heaven to wait for the resurrection of their bodies. (KJV-2Corinthians 5:6-8, Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7- For we walk by faith, not by sight: 8- We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord). If you believe that Christ died and rose from the dead, He will raise you from the dead and give you an immortal body. (KJV-Romans 8:11, But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you). The saints of God should be excited about the rapture. (KJV-1Thessalonians 4:13-18, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14- For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15- For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16- For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17- Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18- Wherefore comfort one another with these words).

The Holy Spirit and all the believers in Christ will soon depart from this world, and Christ will destroy the wicked and unbelievers. (KJV-2Thessolonians 2:7-8, For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8- And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming) and (KJV-2Thessalonians 2:3-4, Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4- Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God). The word falling in this scripture is translated from a Greek word which means to depart. The second phase of the rapture can occur at any time now. (KJV-1Thessolonians 4:13-18, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which  are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14- For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them  also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15- For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16- For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17- Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18- Wherefore comfort one another with these words). Prepare yourself for the coming of Christ. (KJV-Matthew 25:13, Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh).