“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12) The “Upper Room Discourse” is only found in John’s gospel account in chapters 13-16 and then concludes with Jesus’ high priestly prayer in chapter 17. As you approach these chapters you are in the literal shadow of the cross that He will be suspended within hours. It is one of the most remarkable scenes found in the Bible. Alone with His own and as He was facing sacrificial death, yet His concern was for His disciples.
Unlike the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) which are unifying narratives, the Book of John is more an editorial. Almost one quarter of John’s gospel is devoted to the Upper Room Discourse.
It is here that Jesus shifts His focus from Israel to the founding of His Church and introduces brand new church age truths that they had not heard before. “The Upper Room Discourse serves as a seed-plot of that which is found later in the epistles of the New Testament” (Charles Ryrie). One of the New Testament concepts He formally introduces, is the Rapture of the Church.
We don’t know at what point in the Upper Room Discourse that it occurs, but they eventually depart for the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus will be arrested. John 13:2 tells us that Satan entered into Judas and then Jesus takes off his outer garment, puts a towel around His waist and prepares a basin of water to wash the feet of His disciples, including His betrayer. He demonstrates humility, as even in Israel at this time, a slave could not be forced to wash feet. His act unnerved the disciples. This lowly position showed the humility of our Lord as He laid out all He had for our benefit. Instead of a “top-down” organizational chart, Jesus calls them into a “bottom-up” organizational chart that emphasizes servitude to others first.
Our Lord declares in verse 21 that one of the disciples will betray Him and then discreetly identifies him to John as Judas gets up to leave at the end of the chapter. “Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him” (verse 31) fully knowing that the plan of betrayal was about to unfold.
(“Iscariot” comes from “Ish Kerioth” which translates in Hebrew as “from Kerioth” or a “man from Kerioth” near the Dead Sea in Judah. Thus, he is connected with Judah as a prototype as one of the brothers who sold Joseph into slavery.)
Jesus then says, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (14:1-3)
Our Savior had told them that it was important that He return to the Father in order that the Holy Spirit would come to infill believers as our Wonderful Counselor. And when He returned to heaven Jesus promised not only to prepare a place for each of us as believers, but that one day He would return and “receive you (us) unto myself” so that “where I am, there ye may be also.” This is a completely different event than the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to earth.
Interesting, that the word “receive” in verse 3 is the Greek word “lambano” which is the same word used in Hebrews 11:5 describing how Enoch was translated or “raptured” when God “took him” to heaven. (Genesis 5:24)
Prior to the age of the supercomputer, a Mennonite theologian named J.B. Smith identified that there is only one other place in the Bible whereby the thought progression found in John 14:1-3 is replicated. These exact same thoughts in an exact and certain sequence can only be found in 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18. Here is the sequence replicated:
| Thought Sequence | ||
| John 14:1-3 | 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 | |
| “troubled” (1) | “grieve” (13) | |
| “believe” (1) | “believe” (14) | |
| “God, Me” (1) | “Jesus, God” (14) | |
| “told you” (2) | “say to you” (15) | |
| “come again” (3) | “coming of the Lord” (15) | |
| “receive you” (3) | “caught up” (17) | |
| “to Myself” (3) | “to meet the Lord” (17) | |
| “be where I am” (3) | “always be with the Lord” (17) |
Three times Jesus said in the Upper Room Discourse to the effect, “I have more to tell you, but you are not yet prepared (until receiving the Holy Spirit).” That this same exact pattern is found in 1st Thessalonians is revealing. Paul’s first epistle was written to the Galatians prior to the Jerusalem Council. The next two were 1st and 2nd Thessalonians that lays the foundation of Christian eschatology.
What we find is that the church at Thessalonika had heard about the Rapture from Paul directly but had developed a fear that their loved ones who had died would not see or participate in that day. Paul reassures them that you will “go up” with your friends and loved ones.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which 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 ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Is the Rapture of the Church one and the same as the Second Coming of the Lord? No.
| Compare the Rapture versus the Second Coming of Jesus Christ | ||
| Rapture | Second Coming | |
| Translation of believers | No translation involved | |
| Translated saints go to heaven | Translated saints return to earth | |
| Earth not judged | Earth is judged | |
| Imminent, signless, any moment | Follows definite predicted signs | |
| Not in Old Testament | Predicted in Old Testament | |
| Believers only | Affects all men/women on earth | |
| Before day of wrath | Concludes day of wrath | |
| No reference to Satan | Satan is bound | |
| He comes for His own | He comes with His own | |
| He claims the Bride (Church) | He comes with His Bride | |
| Only His own see Him | Every eye shall see Him | |
| Tribulation follows | Millennium follows | |
Jesus gave these 11 remaining disciples several other incredible new teachings in the Upper Room Discourse. In addition to the Rapture, He shared in John 14:5-14 that believers in Christ will do greater works, about the New Testament ministry of the Holy Spirit (15-31), to abide in Christ, in effect living the Christian life (15:1-17), that the Holy Spirit would aid in evangelism (16:7-15), the course of the church age (16-25) and about prayer in the name of Jesus (25-33). And in the midst, He shared that the world will hate you (us) as followers of Christ (John 15:18-16:6). The Church has always been under persecution since its birth, but for many years in the West there has been a “peace” that is now reverting back to the “norm” as we are now experiencing a growing hatred by many for being Christ-followers. But our motive of anticipation of the Rapture is not to escape responsibility, but simply the desire of the Bride (Church) to be with Christ.
The Word of God is infallible and perfect and harmonizes beautifully between both Old and New Testaments. The Church is a “mystery” according to Ephesians 3:8-11 and is part of the “manifold wisdom of God.” Nowhere else in Scripture is there a reference to a “manifold wisdom” or a many-sided, diversified wisdom of God. The fact is, the Rapture as a concept is preposterous to consider, but it is surely Biblical and irrefutable beyond any doubt. (Take an OT view in Isaiah 26:19-21)
Our reminder today is that the Upper Room Discourse began with Jesus washing the disciples’ feet in an act of humility and servitude. His example is for the ages and for each of us today. The question becomes, are we “People of the Towel” or do others see us as lording with a “scepter?” I submit to you that we are to be “People of the Towel” just as our Savior served as our example.
Sources: Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost, Dr. Thomas Ice, Dr. John Walvoord, Dr. Chuck Missler, Charles Ryrie, J.B. Smith
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We continue to ask for your prayers and financial support of the Zambian people who are being impacted by a severe drought. Please go to the blog and review last week’s post. Blessings, RC