Who is The Church who will be Raptured? Where better to find the answer than the words of Jesus addressed to the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelation 1-3.
Re 1:11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Broadly: The Seven Churches were located in Asia. While being comprised of Jews and Gentiles, all were generally regarded as Gentile congregations. Historically, the Church has carried-on this distinction, even to today. Therefore, given the context of Jesus’ address, The Church who will be Raptured will be predominantly Gentile.
Re 1:13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
Re 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Specifically: The Church who will be Raptured is a congregation of individuals who have the collective characteristics found in the Seven Churches, among whom Jesus is in the midst.
Identifying The Church who will be Raptured – 7 characteristics Jesus will seek
1. Intimacy with Him [Ephesus]
Re 2:4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
2. Fearlessness [Smyrna]
Re 2:10 “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
3. Rejection of False Doctrine [Pergamos]
Re 2:14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15 “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
4. Abstinence from Sexual Immorality & Idolatry [Thyatira]
Re 2:20 “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
5. Watchfulness [Sardis]
Re 3:3 “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
6. Faithfulness Keeping His Word [Philadelphia]
Re 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
7. Zealousness [Laodicea]
Re 3:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Re 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
Pretty handy to know Jesus’ list for ID’g The Church who will be Raptured in advance of the event, isn’t it?