Earlier this week, my coworker returned from break with an exciting statement. Apparently, while she was in the parking lot outside, a customer of ours approached her with a book by David Jeremiah called, “The Great Disappearance: 31 Ways To Be Rapture Ready.“

Defining ‘Rapture’ In Simple Terms

“What does that mean?” she asked me. My coworker is from another country, and she didn’t know what the word “rapture” meant. This excited me greatly! I love to help people understand new concepts or get a better grasp on old ones.

Since English isn’t her native language, this presented an interesting challenge. I would have to explain what the word meant, while also teaching her what the usual context is when people are discussing it in English.

I began explaining that the “rapture” is referring to the event that occurs when Christ returns, and all believers are pulled up out of the earth and, as some believe, taken to Heaven during the time of Tribulation spoken about in the Book of Revelation.

She remembered hearing something about this in her home country, where she was raised in Armenia. But before we dove any deeper into the topic, she wanted to know precisely what the word “rapture” meant, so she could translate it into her native language to understand it better.

“Rapture” comes from Latin.

This is where things got interesting.

Instead of trying to explain the linguistics around it, I figured it would be better to show her the Bible verse it ultimately comes from. That way, she could look it up in her own Bible and get a better understanding of it using something she is familiar with.

The word “Rapture” typically carries a certain meaning with Christians.

I explained to her that the word “rapture” doesn’t really have much usage outside of this Biblical context. While there are some very limited examples, the VAST majority of the time Christians use it, they are referring to the “catching away” of the Church as seen in this verse.

She seemed to understand what I was saying, although she needed some clarification on what was meant by being “caught away.” So I told her that many Christians believe that when Jesus returns, those who are believers on the Earth will basically get sucked up into Heaven to meet him as he comes.

She was familiar with the teaching, but it just wasn’t stressed much in her culture like it is in many Christian circles in the West.

The Church’s teaching pushed her away.

Later that day, when she had a moment to talk, she revealed to me that this topic was one of the reasons why she didn’t like going to Church in the United States.

I totally agreed.

Is the rapture supposed to be scary?

This was one of the most preached subjects at a church I once attended. And sure enough, EVERY time it was spoken of, it was used to make people afraid that they might get “left behind” or sent to Hell for some weakness in their flesh.

But I assured her that not every church preaches about it like that. Mine doesn’t.

The return of Christ should bring peace and joy to believers.

She continued, “When I read this, and I think about my Saviour coming back to me, shouldn’t that give me peace? He is our Father, when a Father comes back, shouldn’t that bring His children great joy?”

That was well said. I thanked her for pointing it out.

I completely agreed with what she said and I added that Paul is also providing this EXACT same comfort in 1 Thessalonians.

I seem to remember her saying once that, in the church she grew up in, it wasn’t really for the laypeople to read the Bible for themselves, and instead they were supposed to be fed, like sheep, by their qualified pastor. So, I encouraged her to go home and read it for herself, and I’m sure she would see Paul is providing comfort to other believers who are going through much persecution.

Here’s something to look forward to.

Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to go to the text with her that day. But I would like to on this blog.

Paul ends his chapter with the command: “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Stay tuned and one of these days I’ll do a post focused exclusively on that section of 1 Thessalonians and we’ll all see that When Christ returns, those of us who trust in him will ONLY rejoice at his coming.

Have you ever discussed the rapture with any of your coworkers? Let me know your thoughts below!