The Rapture 

Although the Bible does not use the term "Rapture" in most translations (although some German translations do), it does speak about the "Departure" or the "Removal" of the Church. Based on the following verses, we definitely believe in the rapture of the Church prior to the "period of wrath" on the earth, or the tribulation: 
 
1 Corinthians 15:51-54: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory."

John 14:1-3: "Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10: " For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

1 Thessalonians 5:9: "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."

Revelation 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."

Matthew 24:21: "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be."

Philippians 3:20-21: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."

When we speak of the "rapture", we are talking about the time when Christ will come to the sky to take his people to heaven. It will be instantaneous, so fast that one moment the believer will be here on earth, and the next moment we will meet Jesus in the air. This will be a great experience. but not all people will experience it, only those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, by believing the Gospel as outlined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. If you have not done this, we invite you to do so, now.

Do not confuse the "rapture" with the "second coming of Christ". The rapture will take place prior to the period of wrath, or the seven year tribulation, and the second coming will be at the end of the tribulation. During the rapture, Jesus will meet the church age saints (both those who have died and those who remain alive) in the air, whereas, at the second coming, Jesus will come to the earth at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. During the rapture, Jesus comes "for the saints" and at His second coming, He comes "with the saints".