The Rapture
by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2014, all rights reserved.  
Chapter 1
“The Rapture” is a term from Theology, but not found in the Bible.  When Christians talk about The Rapture, they mean the catching away of the church.  Not the Baptist church.  Not the Presbyterian church.  No, the church comprised of all the Christians on earth.  
Of course, there might be a backslidden Christian who is not right with God.  He runs the risk of missing The Rapture, and may have to go through The Great Tribulation described in the book of Revelation.  
The Scripture reference is 1 Thess 4:16-18.  Here are chapters 4 and 5 of 1 Thess from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version, (Amazon.com)

___1 Thessalonians chapter 4
 1 Furthermore then, we ask you please, brothers, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you've received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would flourish more and more.
 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
 3 For this is the will of God, your being made holy, so that you'll abstain from fornication,
 4 So that each one of you knows how to possess his body in holiness and honor,
 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, like the Gentiles who don't know God,
 6 So that no man goes beyond and defrauds his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have also warned you and testified.
 7 For God hasn't called us to uncleanness, but to holiness.
 8 He therefore that despises, doesn't despise man but God, who has also given us his Holy Spirit.
 9 But concerning brotherly love, you don't need me to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love each other.
 10 And indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia, but we ask you please, brothers, to increase more and more,
 11 And to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
 12 So that you'll walk honestly toward those who are outside, and so that you'll have lack of nothing.
 13 But I don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who've died, so you don't sorrow, like others who have no hope.
 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who've died in Jesus, God will bring with him.
 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord won't go ahead of those who have died.
 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first,
 17 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 so shall we always be with the Lord.
 18 So, comfort each other with these words.

___1 Thessalonians chapter 5
 1 But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you don't need me to write to you.
 2 For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
 3 For when they shall say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction comes on them, like birth pangs on a woman with child, and they won't escape.
 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that that day would overtake you like a thief.
 5 You are all the children of light, and the children of the day, we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
 6 Therefore let's not sleep, like others, but let's stay awake and be sober.
 7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.
 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
 9 For God has not appointed us to anger, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
 10 Who died for us, so that, whether we're awake or asleep, we'll live together with him.
 11 So, comfort yourselves together, and build up each other, as you've been doing.
 12 And we ask you please brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.  And be at peace among yourselves.
 14 Now we exhort you brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
 15 Make sure that no one returns evil for evil to any man, but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
 16 Rejoice more all the time.
 17 Pray without ceasing.
 18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
 19 Don't quench the Spirit.
 20 Don't despise prophesying.
 21 Prove all things, hold tightly what is good.
 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
 23 And the very God of peace make you completely holy, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 24 Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.
 25 Brothers, pray for us.
 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
 27 I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen.

Chapter 2
In the King James Version, 1 Thess 4:15 says we won’t prevent those who are asleep.  Those who are asleep means the Christians who have already died.  The word “prevent” there means “go before.”  We won’t go before the Christians who have already died.  No, they will rise first (vs 16).  
Then we’ll be caught up together with them in the clouds, and we’ll always be with the Lord.  Where will we always be with the Lord, in the clouds?  No, he’ll take us with him back to heaven.  
Later, this earth will be destroyed, the Bible says.  And God will create a new heavens and a new earth.  The new earth won’t have oceans.  
But those Christians who’ve already died, where are they now?  It was only their bodies that were buried.  Where are their spirits?
Their spirits are with Jesus, for it is written, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”  
But that was written for Christians.  
Jesus said, “You must be born again.”  
You get born again by obeying Romans 10:9,10—
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you’re saved.  For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation.”  
The Lord has lots of good things for his people, the Christians.  Jews can get born again, too.  I guess they would be called, “Messianic Jews.”  
Jesus came first to his own nation, the Jews, because of God’s covenant with Abraham.  But most Jews have not accepted Jesus.  
It’s probably partly because they were expecting Him to set up an earthly kingdom.  But Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”  
There’s a heaven to gain, and a fiery hell to shun, my friend.  Where will you spend eternity?

___James chapter 1
 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.
 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,
 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.
 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.
 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.
 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.
 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,
 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.
 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,
 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.
 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.
 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.
 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.
 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,
 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.
 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2
 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,
 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"
 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?
 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
 6 But you have despised the poor.  Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?
 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?
 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,
 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.
 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill."  Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.
 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.
 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.
 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works?  Can faith save him?
 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,
 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?
 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.
 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."
 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.
 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?
 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?
 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."
 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3
 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.
 2 For in many things we offend all.  If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.
 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.
 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.  See how great a matter a little fire kindles!
 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.
 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,
 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.
 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be.
 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?
 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries?  Or a vine, figs?  So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.
 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.
 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.
 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4
 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from?  Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?
 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.
 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.
 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.
 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"
 6 But he gives more grace.  So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.
 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.
 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.
 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers.  He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.
 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?
 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"
 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.
 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."
 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.
 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5
 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.
 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.
 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire.  You've heaped treasure together for the last days.
 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.
 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.
 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.
 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.
 8 You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.
 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.
 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
 11 See, we count them happy that endure.  You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.
 13 Is anyone among you afflicted?  Let him pray.  Is anyone merry?  Let him sing psalms.
 14 Is anyone sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,
 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.
 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.
 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.
 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,
 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.