The Rapture

8

“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 armageddon, 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” does not appear in the Bible, but the event it implies does. The Greek word in the Bible, “harpazo,” used to describe this event, means “to snatch away,” “be caught up,” or “seize.” A helpful mental illustration is to imagine a giant magnet swinging across a field, inches from the ground, picking up all magnetic metals and leaving non-magnetic objects behind. In this event, the magnet will “snatch away” or “catch up” magnetic objects and take them away.

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 occur later, as I will explain. The key issue is interpreting several other Bible verses that describe this event or similar events. Some of these verses are taken out of context, creating confusion and divergent teachings.

There are four main teachings on the rapture:

Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath, Mid-Tribulation, Post-Tribulation

“Pre-Tribulation” believers claim the rapture will occur before the 7-year tribulation. (Most non-believers refer to this event as the “Apocalypse” or “Armageddon.”) I believe in the Pre-Tribulation rapture. Believers in the Pre-Wrath rapture hold that it will occur after the opening of the 7th seal in the book of Revelation. Believers in “Mid-Tribulation” hold that it will occur during the 7-year tribulation. Believers in “Post-Tribulation” hold that it will occur at the end of the tribulation.

Confusion among Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation scholars is often attributed to misunderstanding the two resurrections described in the New Testament. Please read this example from GotQuestions.org.

The first resurrection takes place in various stages. Jesus Christ Himself (the “first fruits,” 1 Corinthians 15:20), paved the way for the resurrection of all who believe in Him. There will be the resurrection of “the dead in Christ” at the Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and the resurrection of the martyrs at the end of the tribulation (Revelation 20:4). The Old Testament saints will also be raised at the end of the tribulation, and they are also part of the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:12-13 identifies those comprising the second resurrection as the wicked judged by God at the great white throne judgment prior to being cast into the lake of fire. The second resurrection, then, is the raising of all unbelievers; the second resurrection is connected to the second death. It corresponds with Jesus’ teaching of the “resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29).
https://www.gotquestions.org/resurrection-first-second.html

Another group jokingly calls itself “Pan-Trib.” They hold that whatever scenario pans out, they will believe it. This means they do not care either way; they just know they will soon be with the Lord. However, we are to study and bring the truth to those in darkness and without hope.

Not all of us can be right, so what is causing such a disconnection among 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 “to cut a straight line.”

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Some interpret this Scripture as correctly handling the Word of God. 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 further. Not taking context into account leads many to misinterpret the prophecy of the rapture.

Pre-Tribulation Rapture

To understand the pre-tribulation rapture, we must recognize that there are three main groups of people on 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 (often referred to in the Bible as Gentiles or Greeks). After Jesus’ resurrection, a new group was formed 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 was revealed in the New Testament (Ephesians 3:1-12). This group consisted of born-again believers in Jesus Christ, including Jews, Arabs, Greeks, and people from all nations and tongues (Revelation 7:9).

The creation of this group marked the beginning of a new age in God’s calendar, often called “The Age of Grace.” In this age, all are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8; unconditional salvation based on God’s promise, not our works). “The Age of Law” was an age of conditional salvation (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 take effect 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 is in 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 they were 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 dealings with the nation of Israel. God gave the prophet Daniel a timeline for the completion of God’s dealings 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 recognizing 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. After the Messiah was crucified and cut off, one week remained in Daniel’s prophecy, with seven years still to complete 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 the Messiah was cut off to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, but this blindness will last until the full number of Gentiles is 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 in God’s dealings with Israel will soon end, and then God will again restart the clock on Israel to finish the transgression (the last week of Daniel’s prophecy).

Removal of the Bride of Christ and the start of the Marriage supper of the Lord.

To understand why I believe 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 to prepare a place for her. Jesus also left to prepare a place for His Bride, which will be us, born-again believers in Christ.

“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

In a Jewish wedding, 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 will last seven days. The Marriage Supper of the Lord will also last 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 clothed 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 and confirmed by the Antichrist, and 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 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy), the seven years of tribulation on earth are called “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 will the influence of the Holy Spirit in us, 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 indwelt the believers. Paul says that the Holy Spirit’s office (ministry, influence) within the believer will cease (or be suspended) at the rapture. When this happens, the floodgates of evil will be opened on the earth, since there will be no restraining force (Revelation 6:1-8).

During these seven years, God will refocus His attention on Israel, and Jacob (Israel) will finally cry out to God for deliverance, since no one else will come to his aid (the United States, which normally backs Israel and protects her, will no longer be around to do so). When surrounded by the nations and on the verge of destruction, they will see Him (Jesus) coming in the clouds to destroy Jacob’s enemy, look upon Him whom they pierced, and mourn.

“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 (His second coming), riding a white horse, with His Bride (the previously raptured Church, dressed in fine linen) around Him, to judge the earth and defeat Israel’s enemies.

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 ride as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, not as a humble Lamb, as in 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 begin 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 who did not take the mark of the beast during the tribulation and were slain will be brought back to be with Christ in His Kingdom.

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 mistakenly believe that the rapture will not occur until the anti-Christ is revealed. They quote 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, but Paul explains that the rapture and the day of the Lord, “that Day,” are two distinct events. Joel 2:1-2 explains the Day of the Lord as the day of the Lord’s vengeance. 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 future for Him. It is the day of the Lord when He returns to rescue Jacob at the end of the tribulation, long after the rapture. Later in the same chapter, Paul explains that the rapture will occur first, after which the anti-Christ will be revealed. This is why it is so important to rightly divide the Word of God.

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 concludes the chapter on the Rapture by instructing us to comfort one another with the knowledge that Jesus will soon return for us. Why would Paul ask us to comfort one another if believers will go through the tribulation?

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 in the Bible. But my friend, there are types of rapture, or shadow, that explain the “Pre-Tribulation” rapture. In the Old Testament, before God sends mass judgment upon the earth, a region, or a people, He protects those who are His, those who walk according to His will, from judgment (rapture). A good example is found in Psalm 91, which says:

A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.


Psalm 91:7-8

In chapter 6 of the Bible, God decided to destroy humanity from the face of the earth (judgment) because their thoughts were only evil continually in their hearts (Genesis 6:5-7).

Enoch

Before that judgment began, one man, Enoch, walked with God, 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 from 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 Millennium 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 them. Abraham pleaded with the Lord, finally asking whether God would spare them if there were ten righteous individuals there. Genesis 18:16-33

“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

God decided to destroy the cities; however, the Lord instructed the only righteous people in the cities, Lot and his family, to leave before fire and brimstone fell upon them, destroying them (a type of pre-trib rapture). See Genesis 19:12-17.

As you can see from the scriptures above, there is precedent for God keeping His people from mass judgment, wrath, and tribulations. This is my belief. If you see any contradictions in my belief, please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. I encourage you to study the scriptures yourself and ensure there are no contradictions in your beliefs. Pray while studying, and may the Holy Spirit illuminate your understanding of the Rapture.

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment. I love to discuss prophecy.

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

When God inspires me, I write or post articles that glorify God. I invite you to view this post as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, I encourage you to search the Scriptures to determine whether what I have posted is true. Always consult your church ministers regarding biblical matters. I am not a professional writer, so there may be grammatical or spelling errors. I strive to write as clearly and efficiently as possible. My prayer is that this message will inspire you to seek the Lord with all your heart and bring glory to His Holy name. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo.