The Rapture – What is it, When Will it Most Likely Occur?

What Does the Rapture Have to Do with the End Times?

Just about all Christians agree that a “Rapture”, or the catching up of true believers to “meet the Lord in the air“, will occur at some point during the End Times. What is argued about among believers, and what is not crystal clear from Scripture, is exactly WHEN the Rapture will occur.

• Will the Rapture happen before the seven year Tribulation period starts?  Thus true believers – Christians – will be “caught up” (or Raptured) in the “twinkling of an eye” to meet the Lord in the air, and thus be rescued from going through the Tribulation. 
• Will the Rapture occur in the middle of the 7 year Tribulation period, such that Christians will undergo someThe Bible teaches that Christians are to expect tribulation and persecution in this world. If fact, by undergoing persecution and tribulation, we are somehow joined to Christ, in that He suffered for us to make a way to the Father tribulation and persecution during the first 3 1/2 years, but then be rescued (Raptured) before the second half of the Tribulation begins, the time when God pours out His wrath upon a rebellious Anti-Christ and all those who dwell on the earth.
• Or might the Rapture occur at the end of the Tribulation, when Jesus Christ returns in His second coming to the earth, to give relief to believers undergoing tribulation and persecution, and bring judgment and to the Anti-Christ and all the wicked.

What you believe about the timing of the rapture is not a matter of salvation. We are “saved by grace, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not of works, lest anyone should boast.” If you “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” So whether you that the pre-tribulation view, the mid-tribulation, or the post-tribulation, your view is not going to determine whether you are saved or not. When you believe the Rapture will come has nothing to do with your salvation (thank the Lord!).

But, what you believe about the rapture just might affect your attitude and actions in the End Times leading up to the final 7 year Tribulation period. If you took the pre-tribulation viewpoint, your view would be that you and yours would be “removed” from the earth prior to the final Tribulation period – hence you needn’t worry about going through that period, or what happens to those that might go through it.  You wouldn’t be here, so why care? But what if the pre-tabulation view is an incorrect interpretation of Scripture, and you DO enter the Tribulation period?  What then?  What if the Mid-tribulation view is correct, or the Post-tribulation view?  Is it possible that the church would go though part, or all of the final 7 year Tribulation period?  Is there any evidence to support these these views?

In the End Times Many Deceivers will Go Out into the World

As followers of Christ, we are to told to seek the truth, and that the truth will set up free.  We are also told to test doctrines by studying the scripture, to see “whether these things be true”.  We are also warned that in the last days many false doctrines will be passed about, so as to “deceive the elect if that were possible”. So what are we to do?  We need to look to the scripture, and not just a text here or there, but study what the whole of scripture has to say about a “Rapture”. So lets consider:\ the following

• Where did the idea of a “Rapture” come from? 
• Does the Bible speak about the Rapture being a separate event, or an integral part of the second coming of Christ? 
• Is there strong evidence that its a special event prior to the final seven year period of world history, the Tribulation? 
• Does the evidence point to this happening before the Tribulation (Pre-trib), in the middle of the Tribulation (Mid-Trib), or at the consummation of the Tribulation?
• What conclusions can we draw from all the evidence concerning a Rapture, and when it most likely will occur?
• Finally, what should this mean for our behavior, in light of all this?

What is the Origin and Meaning of the Term “Rapture”?

The Rapture is a doctrine held by some Christian, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an end-time event when all dead Christian believers will be resurrected and, joined with Christians who are still alive at that time. Together, in a moment, in the “twinkling of an eye”, they will be “caught up” “in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air”. The origin of the term extends from the First Epistle to the Thessalonians in the Bible, which uses the Greek word harpazo (Ancient Greek: ἁρπάζω), meaning “to snatch away”. A key text for the Rapture doctrine is 1 Thess 4:15-17:

15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, 
will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, 
with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 
¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Notice this verse doesn’t say anything about the timing of the Rapture relative to the Tribulation period. It merely refer to those of us “who are still alive” won’t precede those who have died (fallen asleep). It then refers to the Lord coming down from heaven.  The Greek of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 uses the verb form ἁρπαγησόμεθα (harpagēsometha), which means “we shall be caught up” or “we shall be taken away”. The dictionary form of this Greek verb is harpazō (ἁρπάζω).

A Little History on the Origin of the Rapture Doctrine

Its worthwhile to consider how the notion of a Rapture has been viewed in the church throughout history. The notion of a “Rapture”, as it is currently defined, is not found in historic Christianity. Historically, from the early church fathers up to the 1800s, the church maintained that there would at the end of history a seven year period of Tribulation, the rise of an Anti-Christ who would position himself as the savior of the world (when in reality he was the minion of Satan), a final battle in the land of Israel, and a second coming of the Lord Jesus “in the clouds” to defeat the Anti-Christ, comfort those who had undergone persecution, and judge the wicked. Jesus Christ would then reclaim the earth, establish His Kingdom, and reign for 1,000 years with all the saints. 

The idea of a “Rapture” became popular in the 1830s.  Some of the key aspects of the doctrine grew out of the translations of the Bible that John Nelson Darby analyzed in 1833. The doctrine asserted that all believers would be “caught up to meet the Lord in the air” as the world entered the End Times. They would leave behind their physical bodies, and in their spirit meet the Lord Jesus in the air. The would then be with the Lord in Heaven during the 7 year Tribulation period, a time when the world would undergo tremendous upheaval, an Anti-Christ would appear out of the nations to rule the world and declare himself as God, with terrible persecutions leveled at all Christians. 

The Three Primary Views on When the Rapture will Occur

There are three main views on the timing of the Rapture, each based on interpretation of certain scriptures. Differing viewpoints exist about the exact timing of the rapture and whether Christ’s return would occur in one event or two. 

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture View

Pretribulationism distinguishes the rapture from the second coming of Jesus Christ mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew, 2 Thessalonians, and Revelation. This view holds that the rapture would precede the seven-year Tribulation, which would culminate in Christ’s second coming and be followed by a thousand-year Messianic Kingdom. This theory grew out of the translations of the Bible that John Nelson Darby analyzed in 1833. Pretribulationism is the most widely held view among Christians believing in the rapture today, although this view is disputed within evangelicalism. Some assert a post-tribulation rapture. Which view you take may have are implications as to how you behave, depending on which view you take.

The pre-tribulation position advocates that the rapture will occur before the beginning of a seven-year tribulation period, while the second coming will occur at the end of it. Pre-tribulationists often describe the rapture as Jesus coming for the church and the second coming as Jesus coming with the church.

During the 1970s, belief in a pre-tribulation rapture became popular in wider circles, in part because of the books of Hal Lindsey, including The Late Great Planet Earth, which has reportedly sold between 15 million and 35 million copies, and the movie A Thief in the Night, which based its title on the scriptural reference 1 Thessalonians 5:2. Lindsey proclaimed that the rapture was imminent, based on world conditions at the time. In 1995, the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture was further popularized by Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind series of books, which sold close to 80 million copies and was made into several movies and four real-time strategy video games.

Pre-tribulation educators and preachers include Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Jeffress, J. Dwight Pentecost, Tim LaHaye, J. Vernon McGee, Perry Stone, Chuck Smith, Hal Lindsey, Jack Van Impe, Chuck Missler, Grant Jeffrey, Thomas Ice, David Jeremiah, John F. MacArthur, and John Hagee

The Mid-Tribulation Rapture View

The mid-tribulation position espouses that the rapture will occur at some point in the middle of the tribulation period, or during Daniel’s 70th Week. The tribulation is typically divided into two periods of 3.5 years each. Mid-tribulationists hold that the saints will go through the first period (Beginning of Travail), but will be raptured into Heaven before the severe outpouring of God’s wrath in the second half of what is popularly called the Great Tribulation.

Mid-tribulationists appeal to Daniel 7:25 which says the saints will be given over to tribulation for “time, times, and half a time,” – interpreted to mean 3.5 years. At the halfway point of the tribulation, the Antichrist will commit the “abomination of desolation” by desecrating the Jerusalem temple. Mid-tribulationist teachers include Harold Ockenga, James O. Buswell (a reformed, Calvinistic Presbyterian), and Norman Harrison. This position is a minority view.

The Post-Tribulation Rapture View

In the post-tribulation view, the Rapture is occurring as an integral part of the second coming of Jesus, as a meeting in the air with Jesus that immediately precedes his return to the Earth before a literal millennium. The post-tribulation position places the rapture at the end of the tribulation period. Those that espouse this view hold that the tribulation period in a generic sense is the entire present age, and in a specific sense the 7 year period of time preceding the second coming of Christ.

The emphasis in this view is that the church will undergo the tribulation.  Matthew 24:29–31 is cited as a foundational scripture for this view:. “Immediately after the Tribulation of those days…they shall gather together his elect...”  Post-tribulationists see the rapture as occurring simultaneously with the second coming of Christ. Upon Jesus’ return, believers will meet him in the air and will then accompany him in his return to the Earth. In the Epistles of Paul, most notably in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (“the dead in Christ shall rise first“) and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52, a trumpet is described as blowing at the end of the tribulation to herald the return of Christ; Revelation 11:15 further supports this view. Moreover, after Revelation chapters 6–19, and after 20:1–3 when Satan is bound, Revelation 20:4–6 says, “and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.”

The Post-tribulation view, the longest held position in the history of the church, teaches that the church – all true believers – will go through the entire seven year Tribulation period, and that the church will not be “taken off” the earth, but will be preserved through the tribulation period. It also maintains that suffering is an expected part of the normal Christian life, and that – although many will lose their lives during this period, by virtue of persecution – God will protect the faith of all those who endure to the end.. This view maintains that at the end of this terrible period of time, there will be a rapture or “catching up” of the church to meet Christ in the clouds, as He descends to the earth to defeat the anti-Christ and all of his minions, and to establish His Kingdom on what will become a newly created earth.

Authors and teachers who support the post-tribulational view include Pat Robertson, Walter R. Martin, John Piper, George E. Ladd,^[106] Robert H. Gundry,^[107] and Douglas Moo.

Do all Christians Around the World Believe in a Rapture?

The idea of a rapture as it is currently defined is not found in historic Christianity, and is a relatively recent doctrine originating from the 1830s. The term is used frequently among American Evangelical churches. Most Christian denominations do not subscribe to rapture theology and have a different interpretation of the aerial gathering described in 1 Thessalonians 4.  They do not use rapture as a specific theological term, nor do they generally subscribe to the premillennial dispensational views associated with its use. Instead they typically interpret rapture in the sense of the elect gathering with Christ in Heaven right after his second coming and reject the idea that a large segment of humanity will be “left behind” on earth for an extended tribulation period after the events of 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

Of the three views previously mentioned, a pretribulation rapture view is most commonly found among American Fundamentalist Baptists, Bible churches, Brethren churches, certain Methodist denominations, Pentecostals, non-denominational evangelicals, and various other evangelical groups. The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Churches, the Anglican Communion, and Reformed denominations have no tradition of a preliminary return of Christ. The Eastern Orthodox Church, for example, favors the amillennial interpretation of prophetic Scriptures and thus rejects a preliminary, premillennial return. Most Methodists do not adhere to the dispensationalist view of the rapture. (Wikipedia). 

What Most Christians Agree on Regarding the End Times and the Rapture

There are some things that nearly all Christians believe regardless of their view on the timing of the Rapture:

• There will be a 7 year Tribulation period at the close of world history, a terrible time of upheaval and persecution, such as never before. An “Anti-Christ” will arise from the nations, a great and powerful world leader, who will deceive much of the world into thinking he is the savior of the world. 
• There will be a second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is well supported by Scripture, and has been the consensus of the church throughout history. The Lord’s first coming was 2,000 some years ago, when be came into the world as the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world. He will be the “Lion of the tribe Judah” at His second coming, to crush the head of the serpent (the evil one), deliver those who are oppressed, and bring judgement to the wicked.
• Christians are appointed to persecution, and suffering, as a result of their faith.  Jesus assured all believers of this when He said “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you”.

Historically, and even today throughout much of the world,, the “Rapture” is interpreted to mean the gathering of the elect (all true believers) with Christ in Heaven after His second coming. 

Context is Key to Understanding the Rapture, and When it Will Occur

Its said that a “text without a context is a pretext to say anything you want to say“. So it is crucial when we are trying to determine WHEN the rapture will occur that we look at the context of the time and culture in which Jesus spoke, and the time in which Paul lived. It is also very important not to take Scripture out of context. To truly understand the truth of Scripture – and this includes the Rapture and its timing – we must read Scripture within its context. That is 1) what came before the passage we are trying to understand, 2) what follows the passage, and 3) how are we to understand this in light of other related Scriptures? 

In  terms of the context of the culture at the time of Jesus our Savior, and Paul the Apostle, its important to recognize three important aspects of the culture at the time. First, the time of Moses would be embedded in the minds of those that heard and read Jesus teachings, and those of Paul. The story of Moses coming down the mountain with the Torah, the blast of the trumpet sounding, a loud voice heard. After a long wait, Moses comes down to see what’s been going on while he’s been up on the mountain. 

Second, the passage in Daniel 7 would be familiar to the minds of the early believers – that “the people of the saints of the Most High” would be vindicated over their persecutors by being raised up to sit with God in glory. 

“I was watching; and the same horn [the Anti-Christ] was making war against the saints,
and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came,
and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came
for the saints to possess the kingdom”. – Daniel 7:21-22

Third, at the time of the early Christians, and that of Paul, all were familiar with what happened when a conquering King returned to his city after vanquishing his enemies in far off lands. The people would hear of the King’s coming return, and go out of the city gates into the open country to meet the King as He approached the city, after which they would turn around and escort Him into the city for a victorious celebration. Paul’s image of the people being “caught up to meet the Lord in the air” should be read with this cultural context in mind.

Nine Facts the Bible Says About the Second Coming and the Rapture

One. The Bible Only Talks About ONE Second Coming of Jesus Christ – Not Two

If there is a pre-tribulation Rapture, when all believers are “caught up to meet the Lord in the air” (signifying that the Lord is coming), and then they are whisked away to heaven while the great Tribulation engages; and then later Lord comes again in the clouds to the earth to vanquish His enemies and reclaim the Earth – what we have is the Lord’s second coming happening twice. Whether you call this two second comings, or one second coming with “two stages”, it makes no difference – It still amounts to two “second comings”. 

Yet the bible is very clear that their are only two “comings” of the Messiah:

• The first coming was for God to “become flesh” (John 1), and be born into the world, to come as a “Lamb to be slain”, to give Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.  Zechariah 9 predicts a king coming in humility and peace, John’s gospel notes that John the Baptizer recognized Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”, and Isaiah 53 speaks of a savior that would lay down His life for the people, to heal them and make restitution for their sins:

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!  Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”.- Zech. 9:9

 ^“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world! – John 1:29

:But he was pierced for our transgressions he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.“ – Isaiah 53: 5-6

• The second coming which Scripture refers to is His coming again “As the Lion of the Tribe of Judah” at the end of time to put an end to the evil that has consumed the earth, and to reclaim it and establish His Kingdom on the earth for ever and ever. Zechariah 14 talks about a “day of the Lord”, when all the nations are gathered to fight against Jerusalem.  It has becoming a “stone of stumbling” to the nations, and they are determined to wipe Israel and Jerusalem off the map (sound familiar?). At that time, the Lord Jesus will return, His feet touching down on the Mount of Olives, and He second coming will truly be as the Lion to bring judgement, and not as the Lamb to be slain:

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered
and divided up within your very walls. 
² I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; 
the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. 
Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 
³ Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 
⁴ On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two
from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 
⁵ You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake^[a] in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

The plain meaning of Scripture is that there are only two comings of the Lord Jesus to earth: the first as a Lamb to give Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, and the Second to come as a conquering Lion to slay the evil one and all the wicked, to being relief to those undergoing persecution, to bring judgement, and to establish His kingdom upon a reclaimed earth. 

Two. The Rapture Appears to be an Integral Part of the Second Coming

Consider carefully the wording in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our gathering together to Him,“

If read carefully, this passage suggests that the “our gathering together to meet Him” (the Rapture), and “the coming of the Lord” (the second coming), are the same event. Both activities – the gathering of believers (or being caught up to meet Him in the air”), and His glorious second coming, are spoken about as happening together at the same time. 

Three. In Jesus’ Descriptions of End Times there is No Mention of Believers Being Removed from the Earth Before the Tribulation

The disciples asked Jesus what would be the signs of the end times, and the end of the age.  The words of Jesus are recorded in the gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke.  Notice how the words of Jesus are extremely similar in all three accounts.  Notice also that in none of these accounts does Jesus speak of a “catching up” of believers to take them off the earth before the  final period of great Tribulation. On the contrary, he warns of persecution, and that the one who “perseveres to the end” will be saved”.

Mathew 24: 4-30

Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains

Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

“So if they tell you, ‘There He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather”.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

What can we surmise from this passage?

• That we are to be careful not to be deceived
• That we are to expect persecution, to be hated by all, and even killed for just being a Christian
• The one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
• That the coming of the Son of Man (Jesus) will be like lightening in the sky, very visible to all. There is no mention of a sudden snatching away of believers to the clouds of heaven before the tribulation.  
• After the tribulation of those days, the Son of Man will come on the clouds of heaven, and He will send out His angels to gather His elect (believers) from one end of the earth to the other.

Mark 13: 5-27

⁵ Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁸ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. ¹¹ Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. ¹³ Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

¹⁴ “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁵ Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. ¹⁶ Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. ¹⁷ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! ¹⁸ Pray that this will not take place in winter, ¹⁹ because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.

²⁰ “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. ²¹ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. ²² For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²³ So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

²⁴ “But in those days, following that distress, “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; ²⁵ the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[c]  ²⁶ “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

What can we surmise from this passage?

• That we are to be careful not to be deceived
• That we are to expect persecution – flogging, and arrest. Everyone will hate those who believe.
• The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
• When an “abomination of desolation” occurs (as recorded by Daniel), those in Judea should immediately flee to the mountains. This is the Ant-Christ sitting in the Holy Place within the Temple, declaring himself to be God.
• Those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning of the world until that time
• Following that distress (at the time of the end), “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken
• After the tribulation of those days, the Son of Man will come on the clouds of heaven, and He will send out His angels to gather His elect
• At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory

Luke 21: 8-28

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. ⁹ When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” ¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me. ¹⁴ But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ Stand firm, and you will win life.

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. ²² For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

What can we surmise from this passage?

• That we are to be careful not to be deceived
• That we are to expect persecution and prison, and for some even death. Everyone will hate those who believe.
• The one who stands firm to the end will will win life.
• When Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, you will know that its destruction is near. Those in Judea should immediately flee to the mountains
• There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity.
• At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

NOTICE: that in all three accounts, there is no mention of a first coming or rapture in the clouds to snatch away believers, and a another coming at the end of the tribulation. There is only one second coming being described, and this coincides with believers being gathered together to meet the Lord. 

Four.  Read in Context of the Culture, the Phrase “Meeting the Lord in the Air” Refers to Welcoming the Returning King to Claim His Kingdom

Recall that in Paul’s time all were familiar with what happened when a conquering King returned to his city after vanquishing his enemies in far off lands. The people would hear of the King’s coming return, and go out of the city gates into the open country to meet the King as He approached the city, after which they would turn around and escort Him into the city for a victorious celebration. Paul’s image of the people being “caught up to meet the Lord in the air” should be read with this context in mind.

In 1 Thess 4:17 the word “meet” is used to described what believers will be doing when they are “caught up” to the clouds.  

“then we who are alive, who are left, 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”.

This same Greek word for “meet” is used in two other places in the New Testament: 

• Matthew 25:6  “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
• Acts 28:15. “And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us…”

In both places it refers to a meeting in which people go out to meet a dignitary and then accompany him to the place from which they came out. In one of these cases – Matthew 25:6,- the text is a story about the second coming of the Lord: the bridegroom (Christ)  returning to claim His bride (the church). Thus a strong argument can be made that this is the sense of the term “meet” used in 1 Thess. 4:17—that we caught up to meet the Lord in the air as He is returning as conquering King to give relief to the pe4rsecuted, punish the wicked, and set up His Kingdom on the earth.

Five. The Bible Teaches that Christians Can Expect to Go Through Tribulation, Even When its God Appointed

The Bible teaches that Christians are to expect tribulation and persecution in this world. If fact, by undergoing persecution and tribulation, we are somehow joined to Christ, in that He suffered for us to make a way to the Father. Consider the Apostles who were hand picked by Jesus – every one, with the possible exception of John, were persecuted, endured tribulation, and died a martyrs death.  Millions of believers underwent persecution and tribulation during the first three centuries. Many were forced to live underground, in catacombs, or in caves.  In fact, there is good evidence that the first church in Jerusalem was underground to protect those that gathered from persecution.

What about where it says that “God has not destined us to wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ“. (1Thess 5:9). If you read the passage carefully, Paul is writing to the believers about the coming of “the Day of the Lord”. He mentions that the “day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night“ to unbelievers who will place their faith in an anti-Christ, who will promise them a new world order.  They will exclaim “peace and safety!” and all will seem well, until destruction will come raining down on them. Paul is saying not so with you, brothers and sisters, you are not in darkness, but are children of the light. Whereas unbelievers will be take by surprise, you will not. He continues, “Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober”.

So then Paul says “be alert, and sober“, and “put on the breastplate of faith, and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation“ (v 8).  Paul is not talking about getting ready to check out and be caught up to heaven. He is talking about putting on the whole armor of God, and being vigilant during increasingly dark times. In v 12 he continues this theme, by asking the believers to “live in peace with one another… admonish the unruly, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.”

Compare also what Paul writes about in 2 Thess 2: He describes the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him to be the same event. And then he describes  two key signs that must occur before the “day of the Lord”:  “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [the day of the Lord] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,“ He is telling them not to be “quickly shaken from your composure”. That two things must happen before the “day of the Lord”:

1. There must be a great “falling away“, or apostasy, of Christians from the faith as the day of the Lord approaches
2. The “man of sin”, that is, the anti-Christ, will appear and take center stage in world affairs. 

So he asks them not to be so easily shaken in mind, as these two events must occur before the coming on the the Lord (the day of the Lord) and our gathering to Him. If Paul were a pre-tribulationist, why didn’t he simply tell them that they need not worry about the “day of the Lord”, since all the Christians are still here? 

Six. The Command to “Watch” is Not About Gazing Up for an “Any Moment” Return of Christ

What about all the scripture about “watch, and be ready” for you know not at what hour your Lord comes?  Doesn’t this constantly watching support the notion of a rapture at any moment, and that we should be “watching” for that?

The commands to “watch” do not lose their meaning if the second coming is not an any-moment one. See Matt. 25:1-13 where all ten maidens are asleep when the Lord returns. Yet the lesson at the end of the parable is, “Watch!” The point is that watching is not gazing up for an any-moment-return of the Lord; it is the moral vigilance that keeps you ready at all times doing your duty—the wise maidens had full lanterns! They were watchful!

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. As Paul mentions in 1 Thess 5:6, “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”

Paul also wrote that believers are not “in darkness”, as unbelievers. such that the Lord’s return would take believers by surprise. In  1 Thess. 5:1-5 says, “You (believers) are not in darkness for that day to surprise you like a thief.”  For we walk in the light but those who are of the world walk in darkness.  So Scripture supports the notion that believers will be able to discern the “signs of the times”, and know when the Lords return is near (“even at the door”).  Unbelievers, caught up in the things of the world, will not be watching, and will not be aware of the signs of the times and the imminent return of Christ.  As a result, His return will be to those who walk in darkness as a “thief in the night”. 

Thus a view that the Rapture will occur near or at the end of the Tribulation period does not detract from the truth of Scripture. Believers will be able to discern the signs on the End Times (two chief signs being the great falling away from the faith, and the revealing of the Anti-Christ), and know that the Lords return is near. They will not know the day or hour, but they will know His coming is soon. They will be watching, with their lamps full, and be ready to go out and meet their Lord. 

Seven. Rest for the Persecuted Church and God’s Vengeance on a Wicked and Depraved World Happen During the Same Event

Notice the wording of 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7,

“.. which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God,
that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
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 is revealed
from heaven with His mighty angels,”

When read carefully, this passage shows that Paul expects to attain rest from suffering at the same time and in the same event that he expects the unbelievers to receive punishment, namely, at the revelation of Jesus with mighty angels in flaming fire.

The promise of tribulation to those who persecute the saints AND the rest that is promised to those who are troubled is promised are both going to occur when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. This is not a pre-tribution rapture but the glorious second coming. There is no expectation expressed here that Paul  and the other believers would be given rest seven years before the glorious appearing of Christ in flaming fire. Vengeance on unbelievers and rest for the persecuted church come on the same day in the same event.

Eight.  Being “Kept from the Hour of Trial” Does Not Necessarily Mean Being Taken Out of the World Physically

The strongest pre-tribulational text, Rev. 3:10, goes like this:

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial
 that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth”.

Those that hold to a pre-tribulation rapture claim that this verse promises that believers who are alive prior to the start of the Tribulation will be “kept” from having to enter the Tribulation period. The view assumes all believers with be snatched up physically off the earth to meet the Lord in the air, after which they will enjoy seven years in Heaven, while those left behind enter the Tribulation.

However, this verse is open to another interpretation without any twisting. To “be kept for the hour of testing” is not necessarily to be taken out of the world during this hour, and thus spared suffering. It can also be interpreted as the Lord will keep those that are His to be strong in their faith, guarded, and protected from evil.  Compare Gal. 1:3-4 

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 
who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father,”

and Jesus’ prayer for his disciples in John 17:15

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world
but that you protect them from the evil one.”

In these passages to “rescue us” or to “keep us from” does not mean physical removal. It means to be kept, guarded from the evil forces of the age.  Notice also the inevitability of martyrdom in Rev. 6:9-11.

Nine.  The Passage that says “One will be Taken, the Other left”  Does Not Mean What You Think It Means

Some have tried to press this passage into teaching the rapture of the church. While it’s true that the rapture will also result in some who are “taken away” and others left behind, it is better to understand Matthew 24 as speaking about the second coming, not the rapture.

Jesus’ reference of Noah’s flood suggests that those who are taken away are taken in judgment (not caught up in a pre-tribulation rapture). The “taken” will be destroyed, just as the ungodly of Noah’s day were swept away by the flood. Furthermore, they won’t even know what hit them. They will be continuing with life as normal when judgment suddenly befalls them. Jesus’ second coming and the accompanying judgment will be sudden and surprising for the unprepared.

The more proper interpretation of those who are “taken” in Matthew 24:40 are destined for judgment, while those who remain are righteous individuals who will survive and enter the messianic kingdom. This happens at the end of the tribulation, when Jesus arrives with the armies of heaven (see Revelation 19:11–16). Regardless of one’s stance on who will be taken and who will be left, one thing is certain: the return of Jesus will be momentous, resulting in a clear separation between the righteous and the wicked. This world is temporary, and all people will face the Righteous Judge some day, and all need to be ready for that judgment. (from Got Questions)

Conclusions About the Timing of the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

First of all, its important to realize that the topic of the Rapture, its timing, and the return of Christ, are very controversial topics within the Church. Whatever view you hold, you should NOT allow this this to be the source of quarrels or arguments with other believers. The timing of the Rapture is subject to differing views, as we have stated – even though we believe that the strongest evidence supports a post-tribulation rapture, no one know for sure. Jesus, in prayer listed in John 17, prayed that all believers “would be one”, just as He and the Father were one. Don’t let this be a divisive issue. 

Based on a careful reading of Scripture, and passages in both the Old and New Testament, there is just one Second Coming of Jesus Christ – not two. The first was Christ coming as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. The second will be to come as a Lion during the “Day of the Lord”, to rescue the persecuted, bring judgement upon the wicked, and establish His Kingdom upon a reclaimed earth.

There is no evidence that Jesus taught a pre-tribulation Rapture during His sharing of end times events on the Mount of Olives before His final hours, as recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

The Biblical evidence supports the notion that Paul believed the Rapture would occur at the same time as the Second Coming – at the end of the Tribulation.

Read in context of the culture at the time, “meeting” the Lord in the air meant to go up to meet the returning King as He descended, to bring relief to the persecuted, judgement and vengeance on the wicked, and set up His Kingdom upon the earth.

The Bible teaches that Christians are to expect tribulation and persecution in this world. If fact, by undergoing persecution and tribulation, we are somehow joined to Christ, in that He suffered for us to make a way to the Father. As it says in John 1He will “keep” us in the sense that we will guard our hearts during persecution, and keep us strong in our faith.  

There are three views on the Rapture and its timing.  Each view has lots of Scripture which could be put forth as evidence that one view is more likely than the others. Arguments can be made for each view. Our view is the the Post-tribulation view is the most accurate view on the timing of the Rapture, based on a careful reading of all the Scriptures that bear on the subject, and a view as to context. When discussing this sensitive topic, do not be drawn into an argument – focus on the important truths we ALL agree on, 1) that Jesus will be returning again, as He promised, but this time as a conquering King who will set all things right; 2) Christians are already the most persecuted faith in the world, and we must love and support one another in unity, as Jesus prayed, as we navigate challenging times.

The timing of the Rapture has nothing to do with salvation, for believers are saved by “by grace through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”. Whether you take the pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib position, makes no matter in terms of you salvation.  That is based on your profession of faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior,, and Gods grace toward you.

Believers are going through tribulation all over the world now, and – if the Post-tribulation view is true – may need to endure the final 7 year Tribulation period as the great falling away concludes, and the Anti-Christ is revealed. But like Noah, we will be shielded by Christ, who is our ark of protection. Like the Israelites in the land of Goshen, we will be protected from much of the Tribulation – but if the Post-tribulation view is correct, we will go through it, just like the Israelites.  And with our door posts painted with the blood of Jesus, He will be our shield and our salvation,  He will be our strength, and our courage as we face many trials.  And though they may kill the body, they cannot kill our souls and eternal spirits, which are seated with Christ in heavenly places. 

What if The End Times and the Rapture are Approaching?

Thus as Jesus advised us, always be watching, and be ready, for you know not in which hour your Lord comes. Believers are always to be vigilant, watching for the Lords return. For indeed did He not say “I come in an hour when you think not”?  As the Scripture says, we are children of the light, and not in darkness – so we should be sober, and be busy doing

the Lords work. So that when He does come, He finds us awake, and ready to welcome Him as He brings us relief, dispenses vengeance on the Anti-Christ and the wicked during the End Times, and establishes His Kingdom upon a reclaimed earth. 

The Bible says “today is the day of salvation“.  Don’t keep putting it off.  Your heavenly Father is calling you.  He wants you in His Heavenly Kingdom. God reached down in the form of Jesus, and saved us from  our fallen nature.  So that ANYONE who would believe in Him should not perish, but have life everlasting (John 3:16). 

Christianity is about relationship, not “rules”.  When one believes in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and invites Him into their heart to become Lord of their life, they are “born again” into new life.  The Law is still good and valid, but a believer is made alive in their spirit, and God gives him/her His Holy Spirit to be in them.  So rather than struggling to keep the Law, and produce good works, these good things come naturally – as fruit that is produced from a healthy tree.  (Gal 5:22-23)

For it is “by grace that we are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not of works, lest anyone should boast” (on earth or in heaven).  (Eph 2:8). You have nothing to loose everything to gain. Give Jesus a chance to come into your heart and prove who He says He is! Here is a  link to Billy Graham’s web site that can show you how you can invite Jesus into  your life and be the creation He has always intended you to be …

Take Me to Steps to Peace With God ==>  http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp

Sources

“7 Reasons Against The Pre-Tribulation Rapture”, by Vladimir Savchuk – Dec 1, 2021

“Farewell to the Rapture”, by N.T.Wright. August 2001. 

“9 Reasons We Can Be Confident Christians Won’t Be Raptured Before the Tribulation”, by Justin Taylor, August 5th, 2014.

Wilipedia – Rapture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture#:~:text=The%20Rapture%20is%20an%20eschatological,Lord%20in%20the%20air.%22%20The

What is the Rapture – John Piper – https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-the-rapture