For over nineteen centuries Bible-believing Christians have had their eyes on the horizon, hoping to see the Lord Jesus Christ descending from heaven with a shout to call them home. The Apostle Paul called this future prophetic event, “The Blessed Hope”, but most Christians refer to it as, “The Rapture.” As believers we all want to go to heaven and miss the Tribulation but, more importantly, we want our “Blessed Hope”, which is Christ himself. The New Testament was originally written in Greek, the universal language of the ancient world. It was then translated into Latin in the fourth century and later into English. You won’t find the word rapture anywhere in the Bible. Rapture was a Latin term used in the Latin translation of the Bible but since Latin is now a dead language you won’t find it in print anymore.
However, the term rapture caught everyone’s imagination and the word stuck. The rapture event was described in the original Greek language by the word “harpadso” which means “snatched up.” Believers are literally going to be “snatched up” or “caught away” by Jesus at his promised return. The term rapture may be a better translation than the original Greek because it suggests a joyous exaltation in the prophetic event. Rapture gives Christians a sense of expectancy, a sense of immediacy that you simply don’t get with “snatched up”. Interpret Scripture, first and foremost, based on God’s intended audience. Determine whether God is talking to Israel, to the Gentiles or to the church, and then the Scriptures will start making more sense to you. All Scripture is for us but not all Scripture is about us. We need to know the difference between the two. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Then we are to interpret Scripture literally; using correct grammar and with an awareness of the historical setting in which the verses were written. If Scripture makes sense seek no other sense. Let’s take a look at the three main Bible verses on the rapture:
John 14:1-3 – (Jesus speaking) – 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.
The main theme of the Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of mankind through his substitutionary death on the cross in our place. The Old Testament is Jesus prophesied and the New Testament is Jesus fulfilled. In 685 BC the prophet Isaiah prophesied about the coming birth of the Messiah, the Son of God, who would save people from their sins. Fulfillment of this prophecy came during the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lived on this earth from 0-33 AD. This was the “first” appearing of God on the earth, in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Since Jesus spoke the words of this Scripture some two thousand years ago Christians of every age have been thrilled at the prospect of living in heaven forever in the presence of Jesus Christ, who is God. It’s the “blessed hope” of every Christian. While the verse itself is not that specific we know from other verses in the Bible exactly what Jesus means. We know Jesus came off his throne in heaven, came to earth and lived a human life, was crucified and brought back to life three days later by God the Father. After his resurrection Jesus ascended back to heaven. We know Jesus is currently sitting at the right hand of God where he is our Mediator. Jesus has had two thousand years to make a place in heaven for us to live with him and he will come for us one day just as he promised. As far as how Jesus plans to call us to himself, that is explained in the following two verses.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
This is one of the “mysteries” of God revealed to us by the Apostle Paul, whom God has appointed to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. This is the “second” of the prophesied “appearing” of Jesus Christ on the earth. The first “appearing” of Christ was to save all men of every age through the forgiveness of sins by his sacrificial death. On the second “appearing” of Jesus he is coming some time in the future for his own, his church; those believing Christians who by faith have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Jesus will not be actually setting foot on the earth this time so the rapture can’t be confused with the Second Coming of Christ referred to as, “The Glorious Appearing.” At the rapture Jesus is remaining in the clouds at his second appearing and bringing all believers from every age, both dead and alive, instantaneously to his location where they will be given new “glorified bodies.” Jesus will then take all believers back to heaven as he said he would. The last sentence in the above verse lets all Christians know God wants believers to call to remembrance the coming rapture when they gather together.
This “rapture” of the saints is the same thing as God “translating” people in the Old Testament. In Genesis 5:24 we learned that the prophet Enoch pleased God and he was translated directly from earth to heaven without dying. Elijah, the great Hebrew prophet, was also translated by God directly from earth into heaven. Only this time God sent a fiery chariot of holy angels to pick him up while he was in the sight of his disciple Elisha (2 Kings 2:11). The important thing to remember is nothing is impossible with God and God does just as he pleases. We don’t have to understand exactly how or why God does something to believe it. Take the Bible literally unless the Scripture is obviously a spiritualization or an allegory. Believe what God tells you in his word and accept it at face value because God cannot lie and he always has our best interest at heart. God is good and God is great!
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 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.
One of the spiritual truths of God is that sin cannot enter heaven. Every man born after the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden bears the mark of that original sin in his physical body, which is why our bodies decay and die. Adam and Eve were immortal until they sinned. Everything in heaven is infinite, eternal and our bodies are finite, just temporary housing for our eternal spirit so it’s just common sense our physical bodies can’t exist in heaven. That’s what the Apostle Paul is telling us in 1 Corinthians 15:50-53. Who wants our old worn out bodies anyway? I certainly don’t. Not when we can have new, younger, glorified bodies that never grow old or get sick. Jesus was resurrected into his glorified body and we’ll get one exactly like his. Think about it. We’ll be able to translate anywhere in the galaxy in the blink of an eye. The universe will be our playground. We’ll be able to walk through walls, walk on water, fly, you name it. The Bible doesn’t say what age our new body will look like but I’m assuming it’ll look enough like us so we’re recognizable and appear about 33 years of age, the same age as Jesus when he received his glorified body. Don’t worry about it either way. Whatever God decides to give us will be the perfect choice and we’ll be well pleased.
Foster the mindset that the rapture is imminent! Jesus could come for us today and the thing is we need to be ready to go and we need to always keep watch for Jesus to come in the air for us. As Christians we always need to maintain that sense of expectation; the imminence of the Lord’s soon return. The rapture of all believers is the next prophetic event on God’s calendar and it has been for two thousand years. No more Bible prophecies need to be fulfilled before the rapture occurs. The Apostles expected the rapture to occur in their lifetime as has every succeeding generation of Christian faithful, including ours. Jesus said he would come again within the lifetime of the generation alive at the rebirth of Israel, which we all know happened on May 15, 1948. After 74 years the clock is still ticking. How much longer can it be? Jesus commanded all believers to be ready for his return and to watch for his coming so we need to obey God. When Jesus does come at his second appearing it’ll only be for believers who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Simply going to church regularly and calling yourself a Christian won’t get you raptured if you haven’t also made the personal choice to serve God through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The church of God, millions of believing Christians, will suddenly vanish from the face of the earth because Jesus will personally call us to him in the air and take us back to heaven to be with him. All nonbelievers will be left on the earth to feel the wrath of God, including nonbelieving Jews who rejected Jesus at his first appearing.
1 Timothy 6:14 – That you keep this commandment (to have faith) without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing.
2 Timothy 1:10 – But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 – And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
2 Corinthians 5:20 – Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as through God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
There are two ways we can be sure we’re truly dealing with God and not some false god or Satan in disguise. God is the Creator, the Author of life. Only God can create life and only God can bring someone back to life. During the three and half year ministry of Jesus Christ he brought three people back to life. There was the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17), Jairus’ daughter (Mt 9:18-26), and Lazarus (John 11:1-44). When Jesus brought these people back to life it was to demonstrate to us that Jesus is God in the flesh. When God the Father brought Jesus back to life after three days in the earth it was to prove to us that God is who he says he is and if he can resurrect Jesus then when we die God will do the same for us. We have peace knowing that Jesus will one day come for those who love him, whether we are dead or alive. That is truly our “blessed hope” and the reason we have the peace of God in our hearts and the reason we constantly watch the horizon in the hope that Jesus will soon appear for us. Believers are securely held for eternity in the loving arms of God.
Deuteronomy 33:27 – The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
John 11:25-26 – (Jesus speaking) – I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
John 5:21 – (Jesus speaking) – For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
John 5:25 – (Jesus speaking) – Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
The second way we know we’re dealing with God is if his prophecies come true. God is the author of history and only God knows what’s going to happen in the future; because God creates history! Only God knows the end from the beginning. We know the Bible is God’s Word because he says it is and because the Bible is one third prophecy with over 1000 individual prophecies, over 500 of which have been fulfilled in their appointed time and documented as fact. Satan on the other hand, with all his fake religions and false gods throughout the centuries has not fulfilled even one prophecy. Satan is doing all he can to keep men from the truth of God. It’s easy to spot falsehood if you objectively look at all the evidence presented by God in the Bible because it proves without a doubt that Jehovah is the one true living God. We are blessed because God is ours and we are God’s children.
1 John 2:28 – And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
2 Timothy 4:1 – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.
Romans 8:1 – There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Titus 11:13 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
As we can see from Titus 11:13, the first appearing of Jesus Christ brought salvation to men by his sacrificial death. The second appearing of Jesus is referred to as the “blessed hope”, which we know is the coming rapture of believers to meet Jesus in the air before going to heaven. The third and final appearing of Jesus Christ is referred to in the above Scripture as the, “glorious appearing”, which we also know as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ because Jesus will set foot on the earth for the second time, on the Mount of Olives. All three appearances of Jesus are separate and distinct from each other and each occurs at different times and each has their own purpose. The Second Coming will end human history as we know it and Jesus will judge all peoples and nations for their sins. Jesus will then usher in his 1000 year millennial kingdom on earth. All believers will have been removed from the earth at least seven years prior to the Second Coming of Christ, at the rapture, or second appearing of Jesus in the air. Believers have their sins forgiven and therefore will not be on earth to go through the wrath of God known as the seven year tribulation period.
Romans 5:9 – Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Titus 2:13 – Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:3 – And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies Himself, just as He is pure.
2 Timothy 4:8 – Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8 tells us that it’s important to God for believers to be watching for the second appearing of Jesus Christ in the air, when he comes for his own. It’s important to God that believers be ready for the rapture when Jesus does comes. It’s so important to God that he will give a special crown to all believers who love the rapture event and watch for it. Nothing keeps Christians more righteous and grounded in the faith than knowing Jesus could come at any time. When we know Jesus is coming for us we get out and witness more, we go out and do more good works and we overall live more godly lives. We know from Scripture that God will remove the church from the earth before the tribulation period. Most pretribulationists, including myself, are Christians who believe that God has not appointed the church to receive the wrath of God, which is a time reserved for Israel and for those who have sinned against God and who have not repented of those sins.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 – For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:10 – (Jesus speaking) – Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 – Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Satan doesn’t want believers to be expecting God at any moment because that leads to righteous living, effective witnessing for Christ and doing numerous good works for the Lord. Satan has muddied the waters by causing some Christians to believe the rapture will occur at the half-way point of the tribulation (midtribulationist) or at the end of the seven years of tribulation (posttribulationist). If the mid-tribbers or post-tribbers are correct Christian enthusiasm would be dulled because then we would know the exact date of the rapture and have time to prepare for it. If they are right then Scripture would have no need to tell us to watch expectantly for the coming of the Son of Man on that day. If what they say is true then why does Scripture need to tell us the rapture would come like a thief in the night? If the mid-tribbers or post-tribbers are correct then all believers would have to go through some or all of God’s wrath which would make the Scripture promises a lie. The narrative of the mid-tribbers and post-tribbers doesn’t fit the facts as laid out in Scripture so they are obviously mistaken. God cannot lie and the Bible is the inerrant word of God.
2 Corinthians 5:8 – We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
1 Thessalonians 4:15 – 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.
Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
When believers die their spirit immediately returns to heaven to be in the presence of Jesus. At the rapture Jesus will come down from heaven and he’ll bring with him the spirits of all those who have died in Christ over the last two thousand years to give them their glorified bodies in the air above the earth. Immediately after doing this Jesus will translate all the believers still living on earth to himself and he will also give them their glorified bodies in the air. Jesus will then take all believers back to heaven to receive their reward and attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. In the book of Revelation the church is mentioned seventeen times in the first three chapters but that all stops in chapter four when John is called to heaven. The church isn’t mentioned again until the end of the book of Revelation and the only logical reason for this is because the church is no longer on earth. The next time the church is mentioned in Revelation it’s accompanying Jesus to earth at the Second Coming. It’s obvious the church was taken out of the earth earlier and that could only have occurred at the prophetic event known as the rapture in order for the saints to already be in heaven and ready to accompany Jesus back to earth at the Second Coming. There is no other logical explanation that fits the Scriptures and also makes sense.
Isaiah 30:18 – Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are those who wait for Him.
Hebrews 10:23-25 – Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as in the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 – For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
2 Peter 3:14 – Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things (heaven), be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
Most Bible scholars see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as coming in two stages, seven years apart. Stage one is the Rapture where Jesus comes to earth in the air to gather all believers to himself, where he will give them all glorified bodies before taking them back to heaven. The Rapture will end the two thousand year church age known as the, ” time of the Gentiles” and, “the age of grace.” When the church is removed from the earth it will start the clock ticking on the last seven year Tribulation period of God’s dealing with Israel. This will be the seventieth week prophesied by the prophet Daniel. The Tribulation is the time of God’s wrath against Israel, which is why the Tribulation is also called, “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” Jacob is another name for Israel. The church age is about grace for believers while the Tribulation period is all about the wrath of God and his judgment against Israel. The Rapture and the Glorious Appearing of Jesus must be separated by seven years to fit God’s time clock and because Jesus has a different purpose for each appearing. Scripture confirms that suffering is the portion of the believer, but not wrath. God reserves wrath for the nonbeliever, not for his children. What God has revealed in Scripture he also means to be understood by us.
Isaiah 33:6 – Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure.
Hebrews 10:31 – It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 7:25 – Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.
Zechariah 14:5 – Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You.
Those who say the first half of the Tribulation won’t be all that bad are really deluding themselves. The first half of the Tribulation will be very bad; and the second half even worse. As a loving parent would you choose to let your children suffer through the most horrifying period in human history? No you wouldn’t and neither would God. As believers, we are God’s children and he loves us dearly. At Pentecost God sent the Holy Spirit to reside on earth and indwell all believers forever. When we die it’s the Holy Spirit that takes our spirit home to be with Jesus. When Jesus raptures the church the spirits of all those who died in Christ will be right there with him as will their constant companion, the Holy Spirit. As we accompany Jesus to the Second Coming the Holy Spirit will be there with us, indwelling our glorified bodies. During the 1000 year millennial kingdom of God on earth and then on through all of eternity the Holy Spirit will still be with us, our constant companion. We won’t be able to sin in heaven and the presence of the Holy Spirit may be why.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 – And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
Romans 8:9 – But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Colossians 3:4 – When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Philippians 3:20 – For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
God will not pour out his wrath on Israel and unbelieving Gentiles during the seven year Tribulation period until he removes his presence (the Holy Spirit). Shall God attack himself? Heaven forbid! Since all believers and the Holy Spirit are inseparable, forever joined at the hip, God cannot remove his presence from the earth without removing all believers too. The event known as the Rapture is when God removes his church (believers) from the earth, along with the Holy Spirit of God who indwells those believers. Scripture tells us the “Restrainer” will hold back the evil of this world until he is removed. The use of capitalized personal pronouns indicates God is talking about a divine person. The fact that the Restrainer has been holding back evil for thousands of years means he’s eternal. The Restrainer is obviously more powerful than Satan to be able hold him back. Since Satan is the second most powerful being in the universe after God it’s obvious the Restrainer is none other than the Holy Spirit; who is God. Nobody else fits the description.
John 14:16-17 – (Jesus speaking) – And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells within you and will be in you.
2 Peter 3:3-5 – Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 – Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.
Isaiah 45:22 – Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
Scripture tells us the appearance of the antichrist, the man of sin, will not happen until the Restrainer has been removed. You can’t remove the Restrainer without also removing the saints of God. The Tribulation cannot start until the antichrist appears. Therefore, the rapture of the church has to occur before the Tribulation starts. There are no other feasible options. The mid-tribbers and post-tribbers would have Christians look, watch and wait for the coming of the antichrist instead of Jesus Christ our Lord. Satan would have us waiting for his man, the man of sin, instead of waiting for the “Blessed Hope”, in order to steal the glory of Jesus at his second appearing in the clouds. Don’t allow Satan’s lackeys to knock you off your spot by getting you to believe unscriptural doctrine. Get the facts straight in your head and be ready to push back on anyone who approaches you with this false doctrine. It’s part of your witness for Christ to tell the truth of God to all comers, and that includes the rapture. Scripture tells us that in these last days many Christians, and even a lot of Christian churches, will be deceived by satanic influences and flock to false doctrine. Don’t be one of them. Leave any church that does not teach the Word of God and abide by its teachings.
Hebrews 9:28 – So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many (his first appearance). To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin (which has nothing to do with our sins this time), for salvation (Jesus will save us from the wrath of God by snatching us out of the world before the Tribulation). * My explanation is in parenthesis.
Luke 12:37 – (Jesus speaking) – Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
Luke 21:36 – (Jesus speaking) – Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (at the Bema judgement seat).
Proverbs 23:12 – Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.