Word Information
Word: Harpazō (Gk)
Greek: Harpazō
Phonetic: har-pad’-zo
Definition
Strong’s Definition: To seize (in various applications): catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:
- To seize, carry off by force
- To seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly
- To snatch out or away
Part of Speech: Verb
Harpazō has been narrowed down to mean ‘rapture’. But did you know that the word ‘rapture’ does not even exist in the Bible? Although the word ‘Harpazō’ can refer to the series of events of what is understood as rapture, it does not refer to that alone.
Some passages of the Bible where the word couldn’t mean ‘rapture‘ are:
- Matthew 11:12: “…suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
- Matthew 13:19: “…the wicked one comes, and catches away that which was sown in his heart.”
- John 6:15: “they would come and take him by force, to make him”
What exactly does Harpazō in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord) mean?
Here, it refers to a biblical futuristic event, known as The First Resurrection.
It is that event when the trumpet sounds, and the overcomers – those who endured to the end despite all opposition – will rise to meet Him in the air. They will will rule and reign with Him (Revelations 20:4-6), and will be transformed into His glorious image.
This is a promise from Jesus to anyone who follows Him wholeheartedly.
Would you like to experience harpazō?
Get to know Jesus today!
Source(s): Strong’s Concordance & Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
Author(s): James Strong, Joseph Henry Thayer
Sizzling Sunday: 18th September 2022
Sizzling Sunday 008
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