“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout…” 1 Thessalonians 4:16
In this blog edition, I reflect on a song by MercyMe, “Almost Home” Click HERE to see the lyrics video.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is hard to listen to religious shows and news and not be bombarded by studies about the rapture, prophecy, the end times, and the apocalypse. Even I get caught up with my church brothers and sisters in discussions about the rapture during bible study.
What is the Rapture?
The word “Rapture” is not found in the Bible text, but the event it implies is. The Greek word in the Bible, “harpazo,” used to describe this event, means “to snatch away,” “be caught up,” or “seize.”
A good mental illustration I provide is to imagine using a giant magnet swinging across a field inches from the ground, picking up all magnetic metals, and leaving behind non-magnetic objects. The magnet will “snatch away” or “catch up” magnetic objects and take them away in this event.
At this event, the Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven, “snatch up” all true believers (born-again Christians), and take them to heaven before the earth is judged. This is not His second coming; that will happen later, I will explain.
The critical issue arises in interpreting several other Bible-written verses that explain this event or similar. Some of these verses are taken out of context, thus creating confusion and different disciplines.
There are four main disciplines when it comes to the rapture:
Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath, Mid-Tribulation, Post-Tribulation
“Pre-Tribulation” believers claim the rapture will happen before the 7-year tribulation. (Most non-believers refer to this event as the “Apocalypse” or “Armageddon.”) I am a believer in the Pre-Tribulation rapture.
Believers in Pre-Wrath rapture believe it will happen after the opening of the 7th seal in the book of Revelation.
Believers in “Mid-Tribulation” believe it will happen during the 7-year tribulation.
Believers in “Post-Tribulation” believe it will happen at the end of the tribulation.
Not all of us can be right, so what is happening to create such a disconnection between believers?
Context, context, context!
The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, taught a new pastor named Timothy that a teacher of the Word of God must “rightly divide” the Word of truth. The Greek word in this verse, “orthotomeo, ” means “cutting a straight line.” Translated in most versions as:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
No matter how the word is translated, “rightly dividing,” “cutting a straight line,” or “rightly handling.” It all boils down to knowing the context of the verse in question. We need to ask three basic questions:
Who is speaking?
Who is the audience?
What is the purpose of the words spoken?
Once we answer these questions, our interpretation cannot conflict with other verses in the Bible; if it does, we need to pray, study more and research more. Not taking context into account leads many to misinterpret the rapture prophesy.
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
To understand the pre-tribulation rapture, we must understand that there are three general groups of people on the earth right now.
Believers in Jesus Christ.
Jews who do not believe in Jesus Christ.
Non-Jews who do not believe in Jesus Christ.
When Jesus walked the earth, there were two groups; Jews and Non-Jews. After Jesus’ resurrection, a new group of people was created at Pentecost.
This group is called the Church of Christ and The Bride of Christ. This group was a mystery to the old testament saints but revealed in the new testament (Ephesians 3:1-12).
This group consisted of born-again believers of Jesus Christ, including Jews, Arabs, Greeks, and all nations.
The creation of this group started a new age in God’s calendar called by some “The Age of Grace.” In this age, all are saved by grace, through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8, unconditional salvation, based on God’s promise, not our works). “The Age of Law” was a conditional salvation age (if you keep my law, I will bless you, Deuteronomy 12:28). This is why Paul explained to Timothy that we must rightly divide (properly handle) the Word of God to avoid confusion in interpreting prophecy.
The New Testament began on the day of Pentecost because a testament does not become active until after the testator’s death.
For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament isin force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Hebrews 9:16-17
This is why Jesus instructed His disciples to wait until endowed with power from above.
And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:48-50
While Jesus ministered, He did so under the law of Moses (Galatians 4:4-5)
The start of this new age also paused God’s dealing with the nation of Israel. God gave the prophet Daniel a timeline for the completion of God’s dealing with Israel and the atonement of sins (Click Daniel 490 Year Prophesy to see a chart about this, or click Here to see a more detailed chart of the End-Times). God explained to Daniel that from the moment the order to rebuild Jerusalem was given, there would be 70 weeks (of years) or 490 years to finish the transgression (Daniel 9:24-26). From the order to rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah is cut off, there will be 483 years or 69 weeks (of years).
The Jews were punished for not knowing the time of their visitation by God.
For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:43-44
Wise men from the East came to honor the newborn Messiah, but Israel did not.
From the time Messiah was crucified and killed (cut-off), there was one week remaining on Daniel’s prophecy, seven years left to finish the transgression.
At Pentecost, God paused Israel’s calendar and turned to the Gentiles to build His Church and the Bride of Christ.
God blinded Israel after Messiah was cut-off to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, but this blindness was until the total number of Gentiles were brought into the Church.
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Romans 11:25
So, the pause of God’s dealing with Israel will soon end, and then God again will restart the clock on Israel to finish the transgression (the last week of Daniel’s prophesy).
Removal of the Bride of Christ and the start of the Marriage supper of the Lord.
To understand why the rapture will be Pre-Tribulation, we need to study the process of a Jewish wedding. When a Jewish man is betrothed (engaged to be married), he goes away from her to his father’s home and prepares a place for her. Jesus also left to prepare a place for His Bride, us.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” John 14:1-4
When the time comes to be married, the father sends his son to pick up his bride and bring her home for the ceremony. A procession is made, and when the bridegroom arrives at the bride’s house, a shout is made for her to come out and meet him; this is a picture of the rapture.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Matthew 25:6
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.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
After the ceremony, the celebration and the marriage supper last seven days.
The Marriage Supper of the Lord will also be a week, but it will be a week of years, seven years. To understand this, remember what the Apostle Peter wrote:
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8
The raptured saints will be dressed in white linen and ready for the marriage supper of the Lord in heaven.
And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:8-9
While on earth, the last week of Daniel begins. It starts with a treaty signed by the anti-Christ. The seven-year tribulation begins.
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. 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.” Daniel 9:27
This last week, the seven years of tribulation on earth, is called the “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble.”
Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. Jeremiah 30:7
At the rapture, all born-again Christians will be taken out of the world, and so also the influence of the Holy Spirit in them, which is a restraining force against evil before the rapture.
And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
Some claim that the Holy Spirit cannot be removed because He is Omnipresent. That is correct, but remember that at Pentecost, He “came down” and in-dwelt the believers. Paul says this office (the influence) of the Holy Spirit inside the believer will stop (or be suspended) at the rapture. When this happens, the floodgates of evil will be opened on the earth since there is no restraining force (Revelation 6:1-8).
During these seven years, God will return His focus to Israel, and Jacob will finally cry out to God for deliverance since no one else will come to his aid. When surrounded and ready to be destroyed by the nations, they will see Him coming in the clouds to destroy Jacob’s enemy and look upon Him whom they pierced and mourn (Zechariah 12).
“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10
Jesus Christ will finally return to earth, riding a white horse, with His Bride (dressed in fine linen) around Him, to judge the earth and defeat the enemies of Israel.
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:11-16
He will be riding as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, not as a humble Lamb as His first coming to take away our sins. This is the second coming of Christ, not the rapture, as some believe.
The Millennial Kingdom of Christ will start after Jesus Christ delivers Israel and casts the anti-Christ and the false prophet into the lake of fire.
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20
Satan will also be chained for a thousand years.
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
Revelation 20:1-2
All the people that did not take the mark of the beast and were slain will be brought back to be with Christ in His Kingdom. This is not the Church of Christ; many confuse this group with the Bride of Christ, who accompanied Jesus on the white horse.
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. 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. Revelation 20:4
Some mistakingly believe that the rapture will not occur until the anti-Christ is revealed first. They quote 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, but Paul is trying to explain that the rapture and the day of the Lord, “that Day,” are two different events. The Day of the Lord is explained in Joel 2. It is the day of vengeance of the Lord. When Jesus read the scroll of Isaiah early in His ministry, He stopped short of completing it.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
Isaiah 61:1-2
He did not read the part that says, “And the day of vengeance of our God.” That day was still the future for Him. That is the day of the Lord when He returns to rescue Jacob at the end of the tribulation.
Paul later in the same chapter explains that the rapture will occur first, then the anti-Christ will be revealed.
Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8
Paul finishes the chapter of the Rapture by instructing us to comfort each other with the knowledge that Jesus will soon come back for us.
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. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
Old Testament Shadows of Pre-Tribulation Rapture
I am often reminded, by well-meaning Bible scholars, that there is no basis for the Pre-Tribulation rapture found in the Bible. But, my friend, there is a type of rapture, or shadows, that explain the “Pre-Tribulation” rapture.
In the Old Testament, before God sends judgment upon the earth, a region, or a people, He will protect those who are His from judgment (rapture).
In chapter 6 of the Bible, God decided to destroy man from the face of the earth (judgment) because their thoughts were only evil continually in their heart. (Genesis 6:5-7)
Enoch
Before that judgment began, one man walked with God, Enoch, and God took Him away before the flood (a type of pre-trib rapture). (Genesis 5:24)
Noah and Family
God extended grace to Noah and his family. God instructed Noah to build an ark because he was about to flood the earth with water. God saved Noah and his family through the judgment of evil on the earth. This is a type of pre-tribulation rapture. Noah and his family were lifted from judgment (believers raptured to heaven), and after the judgment, after the waters settled, they came down again to start a new world (believers coming back with Christ after the tribulation and the start of the Millenium Kingdom.)
Lot and Family
Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities that had completely turned away from God, and the Lord Himself came down to see how bad it was and to bring judgment upon the cities. Genesis 18:20
God decided to destroy the cities, and Abraham pleaded for mercy. He asked the Lord:
“Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” Genesis 18:23
The Lord finally said, “…For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” Genesis 18:32
The Lord instructed the only righteous people in the cities, Lot and his family, to leave before fire and brimstone fell upon it, destroying it (a type of pre-trib rapture). Genesis 19
As you can see after reading the above scriptures, God will keep His people from judgment, wrath, and tribulations.
This is my belief, and I may be wrong, but I encourage studying the scriptures yourself.
This concludes “The Rapture, Part 1.” If you have any questions, please leave me a comment. I love to discuss prophecy. “The Rapture, Part 2” will cover the Mid-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath, and Post-Tribulation raptures. Stay tuned for this blog.
To God, be the glory!
Everything was created By Him, For Him!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-25
Disclaimer
I write this blog as I get inspired by God. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans In Acts 17:10-11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother, In-Christ, Ricardo
