The term rapture comes from the Latin word, rapio, which means "a snatching away." The Rapture, then, is the time when the Lord comes in the clouds of glory, bodily (see Acts 1:11), to take out of this world -- also bodily -- all those who have died in Christ and who are still living as believers in the Savior. First Thessalonians 4:16-18 describes it: 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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them [the dead in Christ] in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Just like the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible, neither is the word "Rapture", but with careful examination of the scriptures we find that both are clearly explained. Also the word "Bible" is not to be found in the "Bible" but we all know that it's the "Bible" !

In 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15, the Apostle Paul teaches us about the sureness of the resurrection of every believer from the dead . He also teaches us that our bodies will be changed, transformed into a wonderful, eternal and immortal body. Paul declares that our new bodies will " bear the image of the heavenly," (verse 49)  and in verse 50 he explains why we need new bodies , "I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." So what will these bodies be like?

Well the Lord Jesus himself is our example, the resurrected Lord Jesus could appear and disappear at will (Luke 24:31; John 20:19). He could move through solid walls (John 20:19,26). He could be seen and felt (Matthew 28:9; Luke 24:36-42). He could eat food, though it apparently wasn't necessary (Luke 24:41-43). Though glorified, Jesus could be recognized (Luke 24:30-31). Our resurrected bodies will no longer experience death, aging, crying mourning, sorrow, or pain (Revelation 21:4). I don't know about you but I can't wait for my new body. So does this mean that we all will have to die first before we get our resurrected body?

Right in the middle of Paul's teaching on the resurrection he says, "Listen", let me show you a mystery. He went on to say:

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."   "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.                            (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)

That mystery is the "Rapture", so now it's not a mystery any longer. We call it the Rapture because rapio means "a snatching away," in the Latin. Lets examine 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 very carefully that we can receive the full extent or impact. First, ...we will not all sleep, (Die, Pass Away), but we will ALL be changed, (ALL Believer's, not some) ...in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye (suddenly, violently), ...the dead (Believer's who have already passed away) ...will be raised (Resurrected) imperishable (Eternal, Indestructible), and we will be changed (Receive our new Heavenly bodies). For the perishable (Earth dwellers, Humans) must clothe itself with imperishable (Eternal, Indestructible).