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The Rapture of the Church |
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Of all the events described in the Bible that are yet to come, the rapture of the church has singularly captured the interest and imagination of many people. It represents a truly supernatural event that will be difficult to explain by those left behind. The importance of understanding this event, and what the Bible really teaches about it, continues to grow as each passing day draws us nearer to it and as Satan attempts to deceive those who are not wary or well studied in the Bible. The event we call “The Rapture” is never actually given a name in the Bible. It is simply described as an event which the writers at the time (mainly Paul and Matthew) found difficult to visualize and understand. We will take a step-by-step look at the biblical evidence concerning the Rapture and attempt to clear fact from fable. Many people become quite passionate (and sometimes dogmatic) about some of the topics we’ll cover. Just remember that we are here to edify one another and the main purpose is to lead the lost to a saving relationship with Jesus. We will be covering the following sections:
The Main Event
In this section, we begin by looking at where the Bible describes the actual event of the Rapture. Of course, the first question to answer is, “How do we know there will be one?” The Rapture, The Name
Since the Bible never uses the word, where did it come from? The word rapture in English is a transliteration of the old Latin word rapio, which means to ”snatch away.” This label stems from the biblical description of the event. The Rapture, The Context
The first passage we will look at is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The first point to note is why Paul is writing this. He is reminding us that all those who have placed their lives under the Lordship of Jesus will be resurrected, just as Jesus Himself was. Because of this, we need not grieve over the death of someone (if he or she was saved) the way the world grieves. Paul is reminding us of our hope and that, during the Rapture, those who have died (or, as Paul calls it, fallen asleep), will be the first to be resurrected. Paul’s compassion for the grieving helps to give us context in which we may understand the Rapture. He deals with the event in terms of what happens to people after they die. An important aspect of the Rapture is that those who were saved and then died are the first part of the Resurrection (which is what the Rapture really is; this often gets lost in the novelty of an event in which some noticeable percentage of the living population vanishes into thin air). It seems Paul is working to remind those grieving over a death that, if all involved are children of God, they will be reunited when we are given our eternal bodies (more on that later). Another vital aspect of the Rapture is that it applies only to born again believers. If you cannot say for sure you would go to heaven when you die, then you cannot say you will be raptured either. You only go to heaven if you are born again (John 3:1-8) and you can only be raptured if you are born again (1 Thessalonians 4:14; note “fallen asleep in Jesus“, emphasis added). As a final note on context, review verse 15. Even though it is not recorded anywhere as a direct quote from Jesus, Paul tells us that the teaching on the rapture event does come directly from Him. A bit later, we wil study the passages where Jesus Himself taught about the Rapture. The Rapture, The Event
So, when the time does come for the Rapture to take place, how will it happen? Let’s start with verse 16 of chapter 4. It states quite clearly that Jesus will descend from heaven and give a shout to call us home to heaven. Verse 17 tells us that Christians who had previously passed away will rise first, followed by Christians who are still alive on the earth when the moment comes. Since verse 16 tells us that we will meet Jesus “in the air”, it is taken that Jesus will not actually set foot on the earth at this time. This points out an often missed, but important distinction. Our best understanding of the Scriptures leads us to believe that the Second Coming will really be in two parts. The first part is generally thought to be His coming to rapture His Church. This may very well be what is meant when the Bible speaks of His coming. The second part is His physical return to the surface of the earth as described in Revelation. This is often termed His revelation, where He reveals Himself to the earths’ population. As we will see later, however, Jesus Himself teaches that when the Rapture occurs all eyes in the world will see Him. This is one of those areas with lots of differing interpretations that shows how limited our understanding really is in some areas. The Rapture, The Moment
Now that we know what the Rapture is, let’s have a look at another of Paul’s letters to get a few more details. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Paul again describes the supernatural event. In verse 51, he tells us by saying, ”we will all be changed” that the Rapture is really the Resurrection (this is further developed in verse 53-56). One of the interesting things in this passage is verse 52. In this verse, Paul tells us that the Rapture will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” This is why Christians will appear to have simply vanished into thin air. So, with these two passages we can clearly see that there will be a Rapture and that, when it happens, it will be virtually instantaneous. Before we get to the question that seems to interest people the most (”When will the Rapture happen?”), let’s take a look at what Jesus taught about the Rapture.
What Did Jesus Teach?
In this section we will study the passage in chapter 24 where Jesus teaches about the Rapture. This chapter contains what is known as the Olivet Discourse, since it was given by Jesus on the Mount of Olives. It is the chronicle of Jesus’ description of the last days in answer to His disciples’ questions on the matter of His ultimate, kingdom establishing return. In the first half of the chapter, Jesus outlines the various signs to be watchful of that will herald the final pouring out of the wrath of God. In Matthew 24:30-31 (paralleled in Mark 13:26-27), Jesus provides His description of the Rapture. In verse 30, He tells us that, “...the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” One of the more prevelant misconceptions about the Rapture is that those who will be left behind will see nothing changed except for the missing Christians. This verse lets us know that there will be a global vision of Jesus in the clouds, that all will see it and no one will mistake it for anything else. When the vision vanishes, those left on the earth will realize that all true Christians will have also vanished. We know this is a description of the Rapture (and not His physical return to earth) from verse 31. In it, Jesus says, “...they will gather together his elect...” from all over the earth. This is the same language used by Paul in the other passages we have studied that we know describe the Rapture. One major point here is the scope of the event that is the Rapture. Although it applies only to those who have submitted their will to that of Jesus and only those will be removed from the earth, God will have the attention of every last person on the earth, saved or not. No one will be unaware that the third member of the Trinity will have made His presence known in the clouds. It may top the evening news, but there will be no one who didn’t know about His appearance. Another point is to realize that all those who will be left behind will be in deep anguish about it. They will know they have seen God and been turned away (“...Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn...” in verse 30). They will anguish over it, but they will not repent and turn to God. This defiance will forever bar them from the presence of God.
The Relationship to the Great Tribulation
The biggest question most people ask about the Rapture is, “When will it happen?” The timing of the Rapture is most often discussed in terms of its temporal relationship to the 70th week of Daniel, more commonly known as the seven year Tribulation period. To gain the best understanding possible, it is important to remember that calling this seven year period the Tribulation is a bit of a misnomer. The Bible directly refers to a period of 3 and a half years as the Great Tribulation. It will be the worst time on earth, past, present or future. Coupling the prophet Daniel’s description (Daniel 12:11 points to a time frame) with John’s in Revelation, this would seem to be the last half of the 70th week. During this time will come the bowl (or vial) judgements. It is interesting to note that, if this interpretation is accurate, the worst (and final) outpouring of God’s wrath on man will come on the heels of the AntiChrist declaring his own deity in God’s temple (what Daniel calls ”the abomination of desolation”; see Daniel 11:31). Now, let’s take a brief survey of the more popular opinions on the subject. The Pre-Tribulational View
This is the most popular view among those who currently study the subject of the Rapture. In this view (outlined in this chart), the Rapture may occur at any time prior to the 70th week of Daniel. Shortly after the Rapture occurs, this seven year period of judgement begins and culminates with the return to earth of Jesus to set up His millennial kingdom. While the judgements are worked out on the earth, the raptured Church is enjoying the “marriage supper of the Lamb” in heaven. The Mid-Tribulational View
In this less popular view (outlined in this chart), the Rapture will occur in the middle of (3 and a half years into) the Tribulation period. During the Great Tribulation (the last half of the period), God’s final judgements are poured out on the earth while the raptured Church is enjoying the “marriage supper of the Lamb” in heaven. At the end of the Great Tribulation, Jesus returns to earth with the Church and establishes His millennial kingdom. The Post-Tribulational View
This is the least popular view among those with any kind of biblical support. In this view, (outlined in ths chart), the Church goes through the entire 70th week along with the followers of the AntiChrist. The Rapture occurs immediately prior to Jesus’ return to the earth. The Pre-Wrath View
This view (outlined in this chart), is very similar to the Mid-Trib view. The primary difference is that, rather than occurring exactly in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week, the Rapture occurs afterward, probably just after the AntiChrist issues the mark of the beast to the world. The book of Revelation does teach that this mark will represent a spiritual choice and that everyone will understand it for what it is. It also teaches that this choice is final; once someone takes the mark or decides to worship the beast, they will never be saved. So, it is conceivable that, once everyone has made their choice (which the AntiChrist will force), God will then resurrect (or transfigure into eternity) all those who follow Jesus. Holders of this view point to the fact that the passage in Revelation that describes the Rapture (Revelation 14:14-16) occurs in apparent chronological order after the issuing of the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16-18). Other Views
In addition to these, there are a variety of other views. Those with absolutely no biblical support (such as amillennialists who believe that, contrary to the last part of Revelation 20:4, there will not be a thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth) are not discussed here. Most other views tend to be slight variations on those already covered. As you can see, the issue of the timing of the Rapture is not very clear. There are numerous opinions that can be found in mountains of books and other study material. It is treated somewhat superficially here because, although the timing is what seems to interest people the most, it is not what is really important. The fact that it will happen and that when it does, every Christian who ever lived or is currently alive will be transfigured into eternity with God, that is what really matters. The Resurrection is what’s really important.
So Where Does All This Leave Us?
As discussed above, the Bible describes the Rapture as an event that is really the Resurrection where Christians will be given their eternal bodies, where our internal struggle with sin will finally be at an end. After this event, those who committed themselves under the Lordship of Jesus will be free for the rest of eternity to fulfill God’s will for their lives and serve Him with no fear of failing. Ultimately, it is unimportant when the Rapture will occur, only that it will occur. When it does, only those who are saved, who have committed their lives to Jesus, will be transfigured into an eternity with Him. Those who are never saved during their earthly lives will be relegated to an eternity without Him. That eternity will be made all the more painful since all the excuses and rationalizations about how the Bible could not be right, that God can’t exist or that God wouldn’t allow people to be condemned to Hell will be swept away. Each of these lost people will spend their eternity knowing to the core of their being what they have given up by turning their back on God’s gift of salvation. They will know that they had all the opportunity to be saved that they needed, but just wouldn’t submit to Him. They will experience what the Bible calls “wailing and gnashing of teeth,” an old Hebrew euphamism for extreme anguish. Jesus is our creator and our salvation. We are accountable to Him but can never meet His perfect standard. As such, He sacrificed Himelf to appease His own demand for justice so that we may come to Him clean. All He wants is to be your Savior and the Lord of your life, to love you in tangible ways, to have a personal, one on one relationship with you. If you do not already have this relationship, you can read more here about how to get it started. Jesus is knocking. Will you open the door and let Him help you?
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Last updated on January 22, 2001 at 2:01 AM
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