Pre Tribulation rapture in 2Corinthians
2 Corinthians 4:14-5:11
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
This is a reference to the pre-tribulation where the dead in Christ rise first. Paul said we were his "crown". Think about that, those who are raptured will be the crown to the apostles.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
This is the Thanksgiving celebration to end the age. How fitting, Amos 8:10 says God will turn the celebrations of those left behind into mourning, but for those who are raptured it will be a great celebration of thanksgiving and glory to God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
It seems there are so many testifying of how they are close to fainting. Focus on being renewed day by day by the word of God, by prayer, by fellowship, by worship. Every morning when I wake up I feel empty, I have nothing, but little by little by the end of the day I am renewed and amazed at what the Lord has spoken and done.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Let's be realistic, many think the tribulation may have already begun, but if that is true it is "light affliction" compared to what we see in the book of Revelation.
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
This is the issue right now, it is easy to be distracted by all the things you can see, but we need to see Jesus. Everything that is happening around us are due to His sovereignty. Did Biden steal the election? Yes, but that has helped to wake up the believers. Is the Pandemic a pack of lies? Yes, but that is helping to wake up the believers. Do we see Sri Lanka and Argentina in economic collapse? Yes, but again that should wake up even more to turn to the Lord and repent.
5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
This is a reference to the rapture.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
"Our house" is "our tabernacle". The Lord went to prepare a place for us, that is "our tabernacle".
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
The believers who are left behind will be those who are "found naked". Our clothes are the righteous acts of the saints. We are to be clothed with Christ just as Paul said to "put on Christ".
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Another reference to the rapture being a resurrection.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
The earnest of the Spirit was given to us on Pentecost, that was our betrothal, our engagement ceremony. This is a reference to the Rapture being the bridegroom coming for His bride.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Another reference to the rapture. Who are those who are raptured? The bride, the ones who are clothed with Christ, those who have taken up their cross and followed Christ to the cross, and those who walk by faith and not by sight.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
That is what we need to do now! We are laboring so that we would be accepted of the Lord.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The first rapture is a judgement similar to winning a medal at the olympics. It is called the Bema judgement. A judgement can be positive, like winning a gold medal or getting 100% on an exam, and it can be negative like getting an F on an exam or being caught cheating.