Concerning The Rapture

This is my study on the doctrine of “The Rapture.” I have drawn my own conclusion based on prayer and study of the Word. Take this to prayer for yourself and draw your own conclusions. We will soon know the truth, during our lifetime or when we “sleep” in Christ. Personally, I chose to err on the side of (post-tribulation). It reminds me of how we as Christians try to convince non-believers to believe in God.  We ask the question, “Would you rather die and have faith in God or die and not know God and realize upon death that you were wrong?”  So, regarding the “rapture”, would you rather believe that you will be here during tribulation and prepare your heart and mind for persecution, or think you are getting “caught up” with Christ (pre-tribulation), and realize you got left behind?

The Debate  

The biblical “rapture” is a prophetic event in which the living and deceased Christians are instantaneously "caught up" to meet Christ in the air, transforming them from mortal to immortal so they can live eternally with Him. Although the word "rapture" isn’t in the Bible, it derives from the Greek word harpazo ("to snatch up") and appears in passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54. The timing of this event is highly debated, with some believers placing it before the Tribulation Period (pre-tribulationism) and others integrating it with Christ's single, visible Second Coming at the end of the tribulation (post-tribulationism).

Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall all indeed be raised, but we shall not all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised without corruption, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 JUB

‘The Tribulation period is a prophesied seven-year era in Christian eschatology, described as a time of intense global suffering, divine judgment, and the rise of the Antichrist, occurring just before the Second Coming of Jesus. It's characterized by widespread devastation, war, famine, plagues, and persecution, with the "Great Tribulation" being the more severe latter half. ~~ Internet Search

Note this definition points to Christ coming after the tribulation. ‘“before the Second coming of Jesus”

The Second Coming refers to the anticipated return of Jesus Christ to Earth in power and glory, a central belief in Christianity and Islam, marking the end of the current age with final judgment, the establishment of God's eternal kingdom, and the reward of the faithful, a concept detailed in the Bible with signs like societal chaos, false prophets, and a visible, glorious arrival.” ~~Internet Search

What does scripture say?

If you notice in 1 Thess 4:15,16, below. That the dead in Christ will rise first, and those that are alive will be caught up together with them and be with the Lord. This happens when the Lord returns. Not before, not after.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as the others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who sleep in Jesus will God also bring with him. For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall 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 so shall we ever be with the Lord.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Another scripture used to support the rapture is 1 Cor 15: 51-54. Verses 51 and 52 tell of how we will be changed upon our rising with Christ.

Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall all indeed be raised, but we shall not all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised without corruption, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. '1 Corinthians 15:51-54. JUB

These two scriptures tell us that we will be ‘caught up” and changed if we still live during the last trumpet.

So, these two scriptures tell us (those that are living): I am only addressing those that will be alive because if you are dead in Christ, your destination is decided.  

1.    We must first be believers

2.    We will rise “caught up”, dead or alive

3.    How we will be changed: to incorruptible, immortal.

4.    When: at the coming of the Lord

5.    And: at the last trumpet when Christ arrives in the clouds.

6.    We will live forever with Christ Jesus ( the dead in Christ and those that remain living in Christ)

Also See 1 Co 15:50-57, 1 Thes 4:16-17, Rev 1:10,

So, the questions which remain are, when is Christ coming before the tribulation, or after the tribulation? And when is the last trumpet?

The answer lies in knowing when the last trumpet sounds. So when the scripture says last, I must assume it means final. Last means coming after all others in time or order, final, rearmost. Coming after all other what? Final what? Revelation 8:2,6 tells us there are seven trumpets.

“And I saw the seven angels which stood before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. …. And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound their trumpets.” Revelation 8:2, 6 JUB

So, the next question is: when is the last trumpet blast, the seventh trumpet?

I won’t go through the first six trumpet sounds here, but the seventh trumpet is the last trumpet, which refers to the “catching up,” or “rapture.”

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 Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” 

Revelation 11:15 NIV

Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.'

Matthew 24:30-31 NIV

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. Revelation 10:7 NIV

The mystery of God will be accomplished: meaning the purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all mysteries found in the book of Revelation will be completed and accomplished, just as it was written in the Holy Scriptures.

According to Matt 24:4-28, Jesus explains to His disciples what will happen before His return. He tells them this so that they and we will know what to expect during the days before His arrival.

He tells us in this order: Matt 24:4-28,

·      Do not be deceived Wars and Rumors of wars Be not alarmed such things must happen The end is still to come Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom Famines and earthquakes, all beginning of birth pains Then…handed over to be persecuted/put to death/hated by all nations because of Jesus. False prophets will appear, deceiving many Increase of wickedness, love of most will grow cold Stand Firm…you will be saved The gospel will be preached in the whole world as testimony to all nations* And Then… the end will come

·      We will see the abomination of desolation  (another teaching for later)

o   Daniel 9:24 Prevarication is the act of lying, quibbling, or intentionally avoiding the truth through vague or evasive language. It involves creating false narratives or bending the truth to deceive, often to conceal wrongdoing or delay accountability. Da 9: 27; 11:31; 12:11

'Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city to finish the prevarication and to conclude the sin and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and seal the vision and the prophecy, and to anoint the holy of holies. …In one week (they are now seventy) he shall confirm the covenant by many: and at the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and because of the many abominations, desolation shall come, even until complete destruction shall be poured out upon the abominable people.' Daniel 9:24,27 JUB

Many people think that the Lord will not allow us to experience the tribulation, that tribulation is for the unbeliever.

The following scripture, Matt 10:23, says that we will be persecuted before “the Son of man be come”. And verse 24 says we are not above our Master and Lord.  If Jesus suffered and we claim to be his, his disciples, his followers. Verse 25 “they have called the husband of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of his household (us)”

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another, for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel until the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the slave above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the slave as his lord. If they have called the husband of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of his household? Fear them not therefore, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor hid that shall not be known. Matthew 10:23-26 JUB

To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:21 JUB

Overcome: succeed in dealing with (a problem or difficulty). (Tribulation)

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with excess and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare it shall come on all those that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:34-36 JUB

Conclusion: We cannot pick and choose the scriptures from the word of God that make us feel good or the words that satisfy only the flesh. We must always seek the truth, even when it is not what we want to see or hear. Take this to the Lord in prayer and let Him lead you to the truth, which always abides in Him alone.