When we stress the catching up (rapture) we miss the whole point of redemption. Our goal is a "better resurrection," that is, a resurrection more glorious than would have been the case had we not been as diligent.

Every day, every hour, we are shaping our resurrection. If we choose to live according to our sinful nature, we will slay the eternal life that would have raised our body into the kind of resurrection we desire. If we choose to put to death the sinful deeds of our flesh, we will attain eternal life in our flesh, that which will be given to us when the Lord Jesus appears.

We see from the above what an enormous distraction the repeated proclamation of the rapture is. There is no such emphasis in the New Testament. Also, in the passage from First Thessalonians from which the teaching of the rapture is derived, there is no mention of Heaven. The victorious saints, those who died "in Christ," are caught up into the air to meet the Lord at His return, and then to return with Him as He descends to govern the nations of the earth.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (I Thessalonians 4:17)

There is no mention whatever of the Lord returning to Heaven with His Church. Such teaching is tradition, not Scripture.

The fifteenth chapter of the Book of First Corinthians is the "resurrection chapter" of the Bible. Yet the catching up of the believers is not mentioned even once in this chapter, revealing that it is not an important aspect of the resurrection.

Notice in the following verses that the catching up of the believers is not mentioned:

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice And come out those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. (John 5:28,29)

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54)

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Romans 8:11)

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23)

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (I Corinthians 15:21-23)

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. (I Corinthians 15:52)

To be continued.