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The "Rapture" of the Church
A Realistic Look at the End-Time, Apocalyptic Event that Christians are Calling, "The Rapture"
Prologue
When I became a believer and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, one of the first doctrines of Christianity I was taught was that there would be a mysterious and miraculous event that would take place before Christ's second coming. The vast, inter-denominational Body of Christ calls this great event, the Rapture of the Church.
I was taught that the Rapture would take place at the beginning of the Great Tribulation Period, which is the terrible, seven-year period directly preceding Christ's return. The ever popular, Left Behind book series uses this event as its central theme throughout, leaving the main characters of the book in a situation of having been "left behind" on Earth to face the Great Tribulation events, after all of the believers in Jesus Christ had just suddenly vanished. But after further study of Gods word for myself, I'm not convinced that this is an entirely accurate expectation of when the Rapture will occur.
It is really not my intent to cause any division among believers in Jesus Christ over this issue. Nor is this a book-bashing of the "Left Behind" book series, which I myself have read and enjoyed. But we can't allow blind doctrines and traditions to overshadow the obvious either. And my concern becomes that if a believer is holding onto a false expectation of being "raptured" before the Tribulation events ever begin (the influence of the anti-christ on Earth during that time, for example), then they potentially place themselves in a position of being beguiled and deceived by this supposed peace-maker right along with the rest of the unbelieving world.
Scripture is always to be our foundation. So this simple essay will present the Scriptures and tie them together. But you, of course, are free to form your own opinion about the Rapture. And may we all continue to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and remain sober, conscious and diligently aware of the times in which we live, regardless of each person's own theology on this particular issue.
Mark Chapter 13
Perhaps the best place to begin this essay is by considering what the Lord Jesus himself had to say about his return and the end of the age, here in Mark, chapter 13:
As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"
"Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"
Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong- let the reader understand- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now- and never to be equaled again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false "christs" and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive even the elect- if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. But in those days, following that distress, 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back- whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!"
One of the first things you'll likely notice in this passage is that even Jesus himself did not pinpoint the exact day or hour of his return. I believe this is why his return is an event that was and is surrounded in "mystery" to those who have believed in him. But neither did Jesus make mention of any separate, "rapture" event prior to the "distress" of these times, wherein he comes "in clouds" to "gather his elect." So from this passage alone, it would appear that this "gathering" event the Church is now calling the "rapture" is actually an event that coincides with the Lord's spectacular return at the end of this age.
Following his resurrection, as Jesus departed from their sight for the last time, this is what his believers were told about his return:
Acts 1:9-11 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
And so I believe it has been in part a fear of the unknown, and in part a misunderstanding of the events of the Lord's second coming itself that has led to a belief in a separate event the Church now calls the "rapture." But let's examine other Scripture passages to see if they also suggest this possibility.
1st Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11
Although it is not a "stand alone passage" in its reference to this event, it is typically this passage in 1st Thessalonians that is most often used to describe the event in detail. And the Apostle Paul used the phrase, "caught up" to describe this event the Body of Christ now commonly refers to as, "The Rapture": In his next letter, Paul assures the Thessalonians that the Rapture had not already taken place, nor could it take place until a "rebellion" has occurred and the "man of lawlessness" is revealed. This passage in Paul's first letter to the believers at Corinth also makes mention of this "mystery" event. Note that in this passage, however, Paul clarifies that it is at the blowing of the "last" trumpet that the Rapture will suddenly take place: When you follow the chronological progression of the passages in Revelation, you can easily identify some key events that lead up to the Rapture. The one argument most use to support a belief in a pre-tribulation Rapture is that the Apostle John is on Earth when his Revelation vision begins, and is then called up to heaven in Chapter 4 by a voice speaking to him "like a trumpet," in order to see the remainder of the vision he was given. Then the passage says that John was in the Spirit "at once." But I think one has to really reach to jump to the conclusion that the rapture of the Church has just taken place here in this verse: Those who say that believers in Jesus will avoid the Great Tribulation altogether, I believe, are misleading themselves. In fact, Jesus said quite the opposite:
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.*
Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
What we are assured of in this passage is that the Rapture event will take place, "with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God." But most stop reading this passage at the break between chapter 4 and 5 (see the red asterisk above). Remember that Paul's original letter had no such division, and his thought process continues unbroken into chapter 5.
I believe the trumpet call is the first key to pinpointing when the Rapture event will take place. But reading on a little farther in the same context, Paul makes a statement I believe is also key to pinpointing the timing of the Rapture: "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."
But perhaps the most overlooked thing of all in this passage has been in failing to notice who it is that Paul is speaking of here: I think it is very clear that he is speaking of those who are left "till the coming of the Lord" at the very end of this age (the Lord's permanent return to this Earth, in other words).
2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
I believe this "man of lawlessness" in the passage to be the anti-christ, because he is a man "doomed to destruction". And when he "sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God," I believe this is the "abomination that causes desolation" that Jesus spoke of in the previous passage from Mark 13. All of this must take place before the rapture event, according to these Scriptures.
1st Corinthians 15:50-54
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' "
So from here, the next logical question is, "What is the 'last trumpet' and when will it be blown?"
The Book of Revelation
4:1-2 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this" At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it...
When one considers the information Paul made available about the Rapture event in his letters to Thessalonica and Corinth, it becomes plain to see that this event will take place sometime during the heat of the Great Tribulation period, rather than precede it in timing.
As you read, remember that Paul called the event a "mystery," and that the "man of lawlessness" would first be revealed to the world before it took place, and that we are not appointed to God's "wrath":
5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals...
8:1-2 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets...
10:5-7 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets..."
11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever..."
13:1-12 And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
He who has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
14:6-12 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries." A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus...
14:14-16 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested...
15:5-8 After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
When you read through John's entire Revelation vision as a whole, you will see "believers" and/or "saints" (those who have believed in Jesus) mentioned throughout the Tribulation Period. They have not been "raptured."
But as you can see in the passages I've selected here, the progression in the Book of Revelation is that Jesus is given a scroll with seven seals, and each seal opened is a "judgment" upon the Earth and upon mankind (just retribution for the evils mankind has embraced, in a final attempt to turn us away from evil and back toward God).
When the seventh seal is opened, seven angels are introduced, each one with a trumpet to be blown, also in "judgment" upon the Earth and mankind. Additionally, an angelic announcement is made that, in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the "mystery" of God would be accomplished. And notice the proclamation that is made as soon as the seventh trumpet is blown: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." It is an announcement of the Lord's imminent return to the Earth to reign over it.
After the seventh and "last" trumpet is blown, we see seven more angels who are each given a golden bowl full of God's final "wrath" to pour upon the Earth. I believe it is at this point that God's grace which allows a man to repent comes to an end because, "no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed." And finally, in the timing between the blowing of the seventh trumpet "judgment," and the first bowl of "wrath," we see Jesus "harvest" (or rapture) from the Earth those who have believed in him.
There may indeed be some things in John's vision that are difficult for us to interpret their meaning. In my opinion, however, the timing of this particular event is certainly not one of them.
Conclusion
John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you will have tribulation and trouble and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] ~Amplified Translation
But Jesus gave us the faith to face even great tribulation with the knowledge and awareness that the very Spirit of him who has overcome the world is now living inside the hearts of all who have believed in Jesus:
John 14:15-18 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you..."
We win this spiritual battle because of Christ in us, not because we avoid going to battle via some mysterious event called the rapture:
Revelation 12:10-12 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
I believe there is nothing to fear when one belongs to Jesus Christ. And I am thankful that my faith rests in him alone, regardless of the particulars of events such as these. But regardless of rather I may be right or wrong concerning the Rapture, we can all be sure of this fact: Jesus is indeed coming back! And the moment when he does, we who have believed will be gathered to him. God bless each one who watches and waits for him with me.
This Article was Published September 22nd, 2005