What is the Rapture? Is This Event Taught In The Bible?
Will the church go through the seven year Tribulation? Who will be taken at the Rapture? Does the church need to go through the Tribulation in order to be purified? These are a few of the subjects that are detailed in this article.
Many people are surprised to learn that Jesus had a great deal to say about the event commonly referred to as “The Rapture.”
The epistles of 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written to a church that no longer believed that Jesus would return during their lifetime. The dangers associated with this loss of expectation for the Lord’s soon return are addressed by Paul in his two letters to this church.
When a person who claims to be a follower of Jesus discontinues living in a constant expectation that He could return at any moment, this lack of vigilance will affect how they live their life. Today, many people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ and allege that they believe the Bible is the word of God—do not affirm the doctrine of the Rapture.
Jesus said that a person who has lost their expectation of His soon return will find that He will return and catch them unaware.
Luke 12:43-46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find watching for Him when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, “My master is delaying his coming,” and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Jesus said that the result of loosing our anticipation that He could come at any moment, will be manifested by a change in our moral behavior. Conversely, If we maintain a vigilant hope that the Lord is coming for us soon, the manner in which we live—will be drastically impacted.
Notice that Jesus did not say that this person will verbally express that they don’t believe He is coming soon. The change begins first in the heart and is later manifested in the behavior. Compromise begins by our thought processes long before it is lived out in the actions of our life. This is why it is important to guard our hearts by a consistent daily intake of the word of God.
A person not living in the daily expectation that Jesus could come at any moment will become preoccupied with his own life and the things that are happening in the world. This mind set will cause the believer to do things that are contrary to the character of someone who is following Jesus. Finally, this lack of expectation will produce a heart that is unprepared when Jesus does arrive.
The person who lives everyday in eagerness that Jesus could come at any moment will live a life that is constantly seeking to purify itself of things that are contrary to the Lord.
1 John 3:2-3 …when Jesus is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Jesus will reward the faithfulness of those watching for His return with great authority and responsibility during His one thousand-year reign on the earth at the end of the seven-year Tribulation.
Luke 19:17 And he said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.”
If upon His return, the Lord shall find those who claim to believe in Him, in a state of indifference—returning to the world to live as a nonbeliever, He will “cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers” (Luke 12:46 above).
How important is it that we continually teach the doctrine of “The Rapture of the Church”? According to Jesus, it is one of the most important doctrines that we MUST continually study, meditate on, and continue to look forward to.
The “Rapture” Is Not In The Bible
One of the points that critics make concerning Jesus return, is their claim that the Rapture is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible—by terminology, or example. When I hear someone say this, I am always amazed. I know that they didn’t come to this conclusion by reading and studying the Bible themselves. This opinion came by what they have heard someone else say or teach. If we simply read the Bible, we will come away with the conviction that Jesus will return for His church at a time—just prior to the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation.
The description of this event is found in Paul’s epistle to the church at Thessalonica where he describes the Lord descending from heaven with a shout, to raise to life those who have died believing in Him—as well as those who are alive at this moment—to rise to meet Him in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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. 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.
In These 6 Verses Of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul Said:
- He does not want us to misunderstand the doctrine of the Rapture; for this reason, he defines it.
- Paul’s explanation includes a description of what has happened to all those who have died believing in Jesus as their Savior. When Jesus comes, He will be bringing with Him, those who have already died. It is important to notice that those who have died have been with the Lord in heaven, not in purgatory or in soul sleep.
- Jesus will descend from heaven; a shout will be given, similar to the announcement made at the beginning of a traditional Hebrew wedding, signaling the arrival of the Bridegroom.
- First, those who have already died, their new bodies will rise from the grave or wherever they were placed after death. (We know today that a single cell contains all of the genetic DNA code that is necessary to build an entire body.)
- Remember, Jesus said He is bringing “with Him” all those who have already died. This confirms the scripture: “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Apparently, Jesus is bringing with Him all the spirits of those who have died believing in Him and have been with Him in heaven since their death. At the return of Jesus, their spirits will be reunited with their new glorified body. This group will rise first to meet Jesus in the air.
- Then those of us who are alive when Jesus returns will also rise, having received our new bodies as we ascend to meet Him. This will be a body in character with the body that Jesus had after His resurrection. (A complete description of this new body is given in 1 Corinthians 15.)
- It is important to understand that the living Christians will be transported while still alive, unlike the dead in Christ. These living believers are a unique group of people who will never taste death.
Both groups of believers will “meet Jesus in the air,” in the clouds, above the earth. The Rapture is not the “second coming,” which is commonly spoken of, that will not occur until the end of the seven-year Tribulation. - At the Rapture, Jesus is coming for His church (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
- At the second coming, Jesus is coming with His church (Revelation 19:14).
- The fact that Jesus returns at the end of the seven-year Tribulation with His church is one of the proofs that the Rapture has already taken place before the Tribulation begins.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain (here on the earth) shall be caught up…
The Greek word for “caught up” is Harpazo.
Harpazo means “to be snatched away or taken away by force.”[1] It is a word in the Greek language that is used to describe a general who takes hostages by force. Harpazo is also used in the New Testament as translated—by force.
When Paul was being questioned by the Sadducees and the Pharisees, the captain of the Roman Guard sent soldiers to rescue him and to take him by force from the mob of people, before they tore Paul to pieces.
Acts 23:10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force (Harpazo) from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
When Jesus comes for us at the Rapture, we will be taken away by the force of God’s Spirit, at the call of Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (Harpazo) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
When this verse was translated from Greek into Latin, the word that the translators used here for “caught up” was the Latin word “Rapturo,” which is where the English word “Rapture” originated from. This is why we use the word “Rapture” to describe the event of Jesus’ return for His church, as described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
“We’ll be ‘caught up’ (Rapturo) with them (together with our loved ones) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Once again, this event is not the Second Coming of Jesus that is commonly spoken of. At the Rapture, we meet Jesus in the air, the atmosphere above the earth; not “tera firma,” earth itself.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Jesus is coming for His church prior to His return at His second coming, when He will be returning with His church.
The American Heritage Dictionary suggests that the word “Rapture” may be defined as the “Transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to Heaven.”[2]
So, when someone tells you that the word “Rapture” is not in the Bible, you now understand that the Latin word Rapturo came from the Greek translation of the New Testament word Harpazo—translated from 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the phrase: “caught up.”
The Three Views That Christians Have Concerning The Rapture:
1. The Rapture will happen BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation.
2. The Rapture will happen IN THE MIDDLE of the 7-year Tribulation.
3. The Rapture will happen AFTER the 7-year Tribulation.
I believe that if you just examine the Bible without any other outside influence, you will come away with only one conclusion: The Rapture must happen before the Tribulation Period begins.
See Rob’s Detailed Book On The Rapture Of The Church, “Dead Or Alive: The Return Of Jesus.”
An important fact to remember when studying the Rapture is that the seven-year Tribulation is described by the Bible as—“The Wrath of the Lamb.” This is a period of history which is unparalleled in the history of the world. God will be pouring out His wrath on the kingdom of the antichrist and all those who worship him. Throughout the Old Testament, on every occasion when God was going to pour out judgment, He always removed His people first.
The Pre-Wrath Rapture is well established in the Old Testament by several examples. The following are a few of the places which prove that God always removes His people before He pours out His wrath:
Genesis 5:23-24 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Enoch was a Gentile who lived before the Flood of Noah, who was “Raptured” to heaven before the Judgment of the Great flood, that killed all but eight people.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Beginning at Genesis Chapter 6, the Lord determined that He would destroy the world by flood, because the evil of men had reached a level that required judgment.
Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. ~Genesis 6:1-8
Don’t miss what the Lord is saying here. If we were to apply the text of Genesis 6:1-8 to Jesus’ church and the Tribulation period, we might write these verses as follows:
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually…So the Lord said that I will destroy man whom I have created, but those who have given their lives to Jesus, as His church, found grace in the eyes of the Lord… so He took them out of the earth, before the judgment of the Tribulation Period began…” (RCR)
Finally, after Enoch has been removed from the earth, the judgment of the flood arrives:
For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him. Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth. ~Genesis 7:4-6
A similar place in the Old Testament where the Lord would not bring His wrath until after His people were removed, is illustrated by the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. The principle that is established here is that Abraham is asking the Lord if He would destroy the “righteous” (those who are His) with the “wicked” (those who do not know Him).
Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” ~Genesis 18:16-26
Abraham proclaims: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
In other words, it would be unjust for God to allow His people to go through the same wrath that He is pouring out on the wicked. Why is this true? Because wrath and judgement are not required for those who have come into a covenant relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. This would include those in the Old Testament who were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. Those in the New Testament and everyone who has lived since Jesus arrived—up to the present day—all of us are saved in the same way—by looking to the sacrifice Jesus has made for our sins.
This Is The Reason That The Church Of Jesus Will Not Go Through The Tribulation Period
When we come to God through Jesus Christ, all of our sins are all removed; and we are seen by Him as perfectly righteous. There is no need for further judgment or purification for our sins. At the cross, Jesus took the full wrath of God for us, so that no wrath remains. The Tribulation Period is described as the “Wrath of the Lamb,” as Jesus pours out His fury on those who have rejected Him as their Savior and have instead worshipped the Beast—the antichrist.
The doctrine that teaches the church must go through the Tribulation to be purified of it’s “dross,” is a false teaching that distorts the grace of God. Jesus’ death for us on the cross is complete and there is nothing that we must add to His sacrifice for our sins in order to be acceptable or ready for heaven. Whenever you hear someone add something to Jesus death for your sins, such as baptism, work or tradition, you are hearing lies.
Paul wrote that we are complete in Christ and any other doctrine which requires us to to anything else in order to be saved, is a false teaching and should be ignored.
For in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. ~Colossians 2:9-10
Abraham continues his need to understand the judgment of God, by asking just how many would God leave when He is about to pour out His wrath.
Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” 33 So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place. ~Genesis 18:27-33
When the angels arrive at Sodom and Gomorrah, they do not find ten righteous, they find only one righteous—Lot. For the sake of Lot, the Lord spares his family, though they are clearly not committed to the Lord with all of their heart.
Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. ~Genesis 19:1-24
The angels tell Lot that they are not permitted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until they first remove Lot. The wrath of God never falls as long as those who love the Lord are still present. This is why it is completely inconsistent for the Lord to allow His church to go through the “Wrath of the Lamb,” described by the Book of Revelation Chapter 6-18. During this time, Jesus will be directly executing His judgment on the earth. The church is called “the bride of Christ” (Revelation 21:9); therefore, it would be inconsistent for the Lord to permit His Bride to experience His wrath.
The purpose of all Old Testament narratives are for the purpose of defining principles that are described in the New Testament.
“The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.”
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ~Romans 15:4
The Lord has already established in His word—throughout the body of Old Testament scriptures, that He does not pour out His wrath when His people are present. The exception to this principle is the Jews. Because they have not come into a relationship with God through Jesus as the Messiah, they will go through the Tribulation, being preserved through this time of wrath, by their escape to the wilderness, which will take place during the last three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation.
Then the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days (3 ½ years). ~Revelation 12:6
There is an exciting verse in the Book of Isaiah that speaks of God “hiding His people in a chamber, for a little moment, until the indignation has past.”
Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past. For behold, the LORD comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. ~Isaiah 26:20-21
This verse may have a dual meaning: preserving the Jews through the Tribulation Period, or hiding the Church in heaven while the wrath is being poured out.
See: The Rapture, the Tribulation, Heaven, Rewards, and God’s Final Judgment
Notice that this verse from Isaiah designates a place where God’s people will be hidden, described as “your chambers.”
Jesus said that He went to prepare “a place for us” (chamber?); and when everything is ready, He will come and take us to “our place.”
John 14:2-3 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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.
There is an interesting parallel between the two events of the Rapture—the dead being raised and the living being caught up and the description of Jesus to Martha concerning her brother Lazarus, that is found in John 11:25-26.
As Jesus describes Lazarus’ resurrection, He speaks of the same two events that Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 concerning the Rapture:
- The dead being raised
- The living being caught up.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16 “And the dead in Christ will rise first.”) And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. (1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”) ~John 11:25-26
A big mistake that occurs over and over is the attempt of many people to set a date for the Rapture of the church. It is apparent that the Lord does not want us to know the precise date of the Rapture, for obvious reasons. If we knew the day that Jesus would return, we would not be living in a constant expectation of His return. Because we do not know the “day or the hour,” we must always be ready. Therefore, we should always be doing those things that will please the Lord, since He could come for us at any time.
But of that day and hour of my return no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. ~Mark 13:32
The Marriage Supper
After we meet Jesus in the air at the Rapture, we will return with Him to heaven where the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” has been prepared for us.
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. ~Revelation 19:7
The exact timing of this event is unknown, except that it will happen after the Rapture and be located in heaven. All those who were taken from the earth by the Lord at the moment of the Rapture will be united together with Him in heaven. Revelation 19:7 refers to the fact that Jesus’ bride has made herself ready. The way that we make ourselves ready is by receiving Jesus as our Savior and by being fully submitted to Him as our Lord.
This will be a great coronation banquet for billions and billions of believers in Jesus Christ. Luke speaks of Jesus, coming to us during this event—to serve.
Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master (Jesus), 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.
Imagine being seated in heaven at a great banquet table with billions of others who are watching the Lord come out to serve us! How He will accomplish this, we do not know. The fact that we will see Him and know that we are all together in heaven, free of this world—it will be a time of great rejoicing.
As if Jesus laying down His life for us at the cross was not enough, He continues His incredible example of humility and service—into heaven. What an amazing and awe-inspiring event it will be to see Jesus coming to serve us! I don’t think there will be a dry eye in the entire congregation, as we witness these things taking place.
I personally observed the power of an event, several years ago, when I attended an international pastor’s conference in Murrieta, California, hosted by Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. As we were all seated for our luncheon, various men came out with waiter’s attire and brought our food to us. As I looked up, one of the men who was serving us was the pastor of the first Calvary Chapel that I had attended back in 1975, Raul Ries. I remember how deeply this affected me, seeing a man who had served us all faithfully for so many years, now continuing to be a servant and bring our lunch to us.
As I consider the power of that moment upon my heart, being served by a great man of God, my thoughts ran ahead to this verse here in Luke Chapter 12:37: To see Jesus serving us in heaven at such an incredible event, with billions of believers in the Lord—all assembled together at once. Whether or not this will literally happen, we are not certain. It would seem, from many examples that Jesus gave us in the New Testament, that He certainly could do something like this. When the Lord girded Himself and brought the basin of water to each of the disciples to wash their feet, each man was deeply affected by this act of love. I would imagine that all of us will be filled with great tears of Joy, as we watch the Lord come out to serve us once again. Personally, I would rather stand up and help Jesus serve rather than be served by Him. Of course, it would not be my place to do such a thing. If Jesus has planned to do this for us, then we should sit back in our chairs and watch Him, as He serves us yet again with the kind of Love which He has continued to show us since the day He first created all of us.
The Bestowing Of Rewards
The second event that the church will experience in heaven is the ceremony of rewards that will take place.
During the kingdom age, where Jesus will rule as the Messiah for one thousand years, certain rights of rulership will be given to those who have faithfully served the Lord during their earthly life. According to how we use the resources, abilities, and opportunities that the Lord has given to us while we were here on earth, He will appoint us to positions of authority—over cities and people, during His one thousand-year reign upon the earth.[3]
Service After Salvation
There are no rewards given for works done prior to salvation, for no one can earn their eternal life. Salvation is by Grace, through Faith; not of ourselves. However, there are great rewards given to the believer after they have experienced salvation in Jesus Christ, if they live for Him.
The doctrine of Rewards is not taught today in most Christian churches, even though it is widely described in the Bible.
Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Some Christians will receive a “double portion” of rewards from the Lord for their faithful service to Him while living in their bodies here on earth. These works are done for Jesus after the believer has been saved and before the Rapture occurs. Once the foundation for salvation in Jesus Christ has been laid, then the believer has the opportunity to build on that foundation and earn rewards, based on the motivation for performing those works.
See the chapter: Service Now, Rewards and Rulership: When Jesus Returns
For a detailed study on the events that will transpire at the return of Jesus to the earth, see Prophecy 285.
What Happens To Our Body At The Rapture?
How we are translated from mortal human beings into immortal, eternal beings, is described in detail by 1 Corinthians 15. Here, we see the exact process that our bodies will undergo at the moment of the Rapture:
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 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.
The word that the Holy Spirit uses here in 1 Corinthians 15 for changed is “allasso” (al-las-so), which means “to totally transform,” or a metamorphosis. Although your new eternal body will still look like you, it will be nothing like your former earthly body. Your eternal dwelling will be perfect and made up of different elements that will enable you to live in any environment, never become sick, age, or die.
No matter where you are on the earth during the time when Jesus appears—at the “Rapture,” you will be instantaneously transformed from your present body to an eternal body, and meet the Lord in the air. The entire process is said to take place in the twinkling of an eye.[4] Someone with a lot of time on their hands computed that the twinkling of an eye takes 1/100th of a second. Keep in mind that all those who have died before the Rapture will be raised and given their immortal bodies, before the living are translated to meet Jesus in the air. The entire event appears to be very sudden, with no prior warning, and is over in an instant. The world will be left dazed and confused, not knowing what has taken place. Various explanations will be offered from so-called experts around the world. Anything from alien abduction to mass suicide will be offered as possible reasons for the disappearance of perhaps a billion people—at once—all over the earth.
The Purpose Of The Rapture:
End the Time of Grace
Begin the Time of Wrath
End the Time of the Gentiles
Begin the Time of Jacob’s Trouble
End the Harvest of souls to Righteousness
Begin the Harvest of souls to Judgement
The Rapture will signal the beginning of the final seven years of the present earth called The Tribulation Period. The Lord will conclude the gathering of His church and turn His attention once again—back to the nation of Israel, as the Times of the Gentiles comes to an end (Prophecy 301). This will begin the 70th week of Daniel that is described in Daniel Chapter 9, Prophecy 309.
The seven-year tribulation is spoken of in the Old Testament as being “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” This will be a period when God will again deal with the nation of Israel and gather the Jews who remain on the earth to a place of safety, where they will be untouchable by the antichrist.
The Parallel Between The Feasts Of Israel And The Rapture
Having concluded the harvest period that occurs between the fourth feast of Israel (Pentecost) and beginning of the fifth feast (Trumpets) which takes place at the Rapture, God will gather the rest of the world to judgment for their rejection of Jesus Christ as their Savior.
See The Prophetic Fulfillment of the Seven Feasts of Israel by Jesus
The time of God’s Grace, where anyone can come and find the forgiveness of their sins through Jesus’ sacrifice, will be at an end. The Lord, having gathered His bride and taken her back to heaven, will begin outpouring of His wrath, described by chapters 6-18 in the Book of Revelation.
The first three and one half years of the Tribulation will be a time of peace—over the whole earth. At the midway point, or 3 1/2 years into the reign of the new world ruler—describes as the beast—he will demand that whole world worships him as God. This will begin the final 3 1/2 years called the Great Tribulation—referred to as the abomination of desolation by Jesus and Daniel.[5]
Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Described by the Book of Revelation as the time of judgement, nearly two-thirds of the population of the earth will die during these final 42 months. There will be three sets of seven judgments called “the wrath of the Lamb.”
Revelation 6:16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!”
Revelation Chapter 6:1, seven seals will be opened. Chapter 8:6, seven trumpets blown. Chapter 16:1, seven bowls of wrath are poured out on the earth. The judgments begin at chapter 6 verse 3, and continues through chapter 18. At Revelation Chapter 19, Jesus returns to the earth with His church—to the Mount of Olives. Traveling north to the Valley of Megiddo, the assembled armies of the antichrist will be waiting for the arrival of Jesus. Their purpose is to kill Jesus and His church who are with Him. The Lord will simply speak, and the armies of the beast will die instantly in a blood bath spread over the entire 200 miles of the valley. See Prophecy 112.
The Book Of Daniel And The Tribulation
The Book of Daniel describes the final prophetic word for these last seven years in vivid detail. The specifics of this prophecy are discussed in prophecy number 309 in this book.
Daniel 9:21-27
21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications (Prayers) the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision: 24 Seventy weeks (of Years= 70X7= 490 years) are determined For your people (The Jews) and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command (Command given by Artaxerxes Longimanus on March 14, 445 B.C.) To restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks (483 years); The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, (Jesus is crucified) but not for Himself (not for His own sins); And the people (Romans) of the prince who is to come (antichrist) Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (Titus destroyed the City of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.). The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined (This finished 69 of the 70 weeks, 1 remaining 7-year period of history left to fulfill this prophecy). 27 (Approx. 2,000 years later) Then he (The antichrist) shall confirm a covenant (peace agreement) with many (nations) for one week (7 Years); But in the middle of the week (3 1/2 years) he (antichrist) shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (Temple must have been built). And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
The final 7-year period of time required to fulfill this prophecy is called the 70th week of Daniel or the Seven-year Tribulation period.
• The first 3 1/2 years are called The Tribulation.
• The second 3 1/2 years are called The Great Tribulation.
• The first 3 1/2 years begin in Revelation Chapter 6, verses 1 and 2.
• The last 3 1/2 years begin in Revelation Chapter 6 verse 3 and continues through chapter 18.
In this Middle of the seven years, The Abomination that causes Desolation—described in the Book of Daniel 9:27 above and taught by Jesus in Matthew Chapter 24—will take place.
Jesus said that this “abomination” would signal the beginning of the Great Tribulation, in which no flesh would survive unless the Lord had shortened this period to just 3 1/2 years.
Matthew 24:15-16 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand) “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
Matthew Chapter 24 is written by Jesus specifically to the Jews and the nation of Israel. Jesus says: “When you see the one who has made your seven-year peace plan go into the temple and erect a stature of himself there and command that all the world should worship his image—flee Jerusalem, get out of the city and go to Petra (conjectured) as fast as you can (verse 16).”
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering (episunagoge,) together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (the day of the Lord, the seven-year Tribulation) will not come unless the falling away (Gr. “Apostasia,” a departure) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
The word Apostasia has been translated as departure. Many have taken this to mean a departure from the faith. The meaning of apostasia is simply departure. It can also mean a departure of the saints, as in departure by Rapture. This would fit the context of the verses in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, as the departure by the Saints takes place before the man of sin is revealed; and the seven-year Tribulation begins.
The Abomination which causes desolation that both Daniel and Jesus speak of, is described by 2 Thessalonians 2:4 above. At the midway point or three and one-half years into the seven-year peace plan the antichrist has instituted, he will enter the newly built temple in Jerusalem and “sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
From the moment that the abomination of desolation takes place, there will be 3 1/2 years remaining until Jesus returns with His church.
The Tribulation period is called The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, which is a subtle hint that these seven years are directed at Israel. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus’ church is not appointed to experience this Wrath but to obtain Salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, (Wrath—from the Greek, orge, meaning punishment) but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…
The faithful church, described in the Book of Revelation Chapter 3 by Jesus, is promised an escape from this time of trial that will come upon the whole earth.
Revelation 3:10 The Church of Philadelphia, the faithful church Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
The Greek word for “will keep” is tereo (tay-reh-‘-o); “to guard from loss or injury.”
This principle could not be any clearer: Jesus informs His church that He is going to keep us from the coming wrath—He will guard us from loss or injury that will certainly come from the Wrath of this great tribulation period.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
As the church, remaining on the earth—we will have tribulation, meaning, tribulation or trials that originate in this present world. This is, however, not the tribulation that the book of Revelation describes, which originates from Jesus and is directed at the world.
The Tribulation that Jesus speaks of in John 16:33 has, as its source—the World. The Great Tribulation has, as its source, Jesus who is pouring out His wrath on the world that has rejected Him. One again, it is inconsistent for Jesus to die for the purpose of taking God’s Wrath for us, then allow us to experience His wrath for seven years where most of the population of the Earth will die.
The Great Tribulation Is The Time Of God’s Wrath
Revelation 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
During the last three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation, the antichrist will have power to kill anyone who has professed faith in Jesus Christ. The Book of Revelation describes the Saints (Biblical word for all believers) as being overcome or killed. Revelation Chapter 20 describes the method of their death by the antichrist as—beheading.
Revelation 13:7 It was granted to him (antichrist) to make war with the saints (Christians) and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
The “saints” described in Revelation 13:7, are those who receive Jesus during the seven-year Tribulation, not those who were saved before the Rapture and seven-year Tribulation began. Everyone who waits to receive Jesus during the Tribulation—will be killed by the antichrist.
We see the believers in Jesus who are killed by the antichrist during the seven year Tribulation—resting under the altar in heaven, waiting for the Tribulation to be concluded.
Revelation 20:4 …Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Some today see this method of death by beheading for those who believe in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation period, as a sign that the antichrist may have an Islamic origin. The common method for execution by Muslim extremists today is to behead their captors, by sawing the head off with a knife—during a public execution on television.
The Importance Of The Rapture
The reason that a correct understanding of the doctrine of the Rapture is so important is that an incorrect view will lead to a misconception of the grace of God. The Lord has not appointed those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, to experience any of His wrath. All of God’s wrath was poured out on His Son at the Cross. There is no wrath remaining for anyone who has accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins. The entire purpose of the last three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation is to pour out God’s wrath on the world which has rejected Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins. It is not possible that those who Love the Lord, would be present during the time that God is pouring out His wrath on the world.
If we believe that the Tribulation must come before the Rapture of the church, what would we be looking for next? The coming of the antichrist. Instead, the Bible teaches that we should be looking for the “appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Titus 2:13 …looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Rapture Is The Next Event
The greatest hope for the world today is that Jesus would return to the earth and bring His love and righteous government. It is certain that we have reached a place in our history when the climate is right for the Lord’s return. Jesus said, in Luke 17:26, “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man.” The days before the Lord destroyed the earth by flood were filled with violence and indifference towards God. Today, we see an exact mirror image of the world that existed in the days of Noah when he entered the Ark, and the world was covered by water. I hope that you are fully prepared for the coming of Jesus, having entered into a personal relationship with Him. Jesus is coming for all those who love Him. I hope that I will see you in heaven, and have the opportunity to worship the Lord together with you.
You Might Also Be Interested In:
The Rapture, the Tribulation, Heaven, Rewards, and God’s Final Judgment
The Rapture
The Tribulation
The Battle of Armageddon
The Book of Revelation MP3 Commentary
How Jesus Controlled the Earlier and Later Fulfillment of Prophecy
Waiting to Receive Jesus Will Cost Your Life During the Tribulation
Hear Rob’s Audio Study: “Are You Ready For The Rapture?”
Part 2 Of The Above Study: “The Rapture Of The Church”
The Preceding Is From:
“These Things Were Written: An Expositional Treatise Of The Life, Death, And Resurrection Of Jesus.”
Read all about the return of Jesus for His church, and the beginning of the Tribulation Period in the new book: “Dead or Alive“
“Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:10
NOTES:
[1] New Testament Greek Lexicon, Strong’s Number: 726
[2] The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
[3] Revelation 5:10, Matthew 19:28, Luke 19:17
[4] 1 Corinthians 15:51
[5] Matthew 24:21, Matthew 24:15, Daniel 12:11
Categories: Believers Removed before Tribulation, Jesus Church, The Last Days, The Rapture of the Church, The Seven Year Tribulation
Robert Clifton Robinson 
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