Blog

*In Part 5 we’ll debunk some myths about what Heaven is like and what we’ll do there. Head HERE to read.

You’ve probably seen a version of the rapture dramatized in Christian fiction novels or movies like the Left Behind series. You know the drill: Christians suddenly snatched away, apparently leaving their clothes behind (yikes!), disappearing from earth, cars left with no drivers etc., ensuing chaos…Typical end of the world movie type stuff.

While sensationalized, those depictions are trying to convey a biblical point: When Jesus comes back, His followers will be gathered to meet Him in a sudden catching away of believers from earth to meet Him in the air. The timing of the rapture is an important but secondary doctrine in Christianity, meaning sincere Christians can have differing views about it and it’s okay.

I actually changed my position about which view I think most aligns with the Bible from what I grew up being taught after I was challenged on it and started studying Scripture for myself. I hope you find this chat to be a helpful and healthy challenge as well, even if we may not agree. 🙂

Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. (2 Thessalonians 2:1)

When does the rapture of the Church happen?

The pre-tribulation rapture (“pre-trib”) position (which I was taught growing up) believes Jesus raptures His Church before the tribulation. He takes us to Heaven with Him for 7 years, then brings us back with Him at the end of the 7 years when He appears visibly to the whole world. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 is often referenced to support this view.

The post-tribulation rapture (“post-trib”) position (the one I hold now) believes Christians, while not the objects of God’s judgment in those days, are still present on the earth during the Tribulation. We are gathered to meet Jesus in the rapture at the end of the Tribulation when He returns.

1 Thessalonians 4 is clearly about the rapture of the Church; it does in fact prove to us that the rapture is a real thing. We learn in these verses that Jesus will descend from Heaven with a commanding shout, with the archangel and the sound of a trumpet. Dead believers will rise from their graves, and then along with living believers at the time will be “caught up” in the clouds to meet Jesus. (Pretty epic, huh? 😉 )

When I read this passage, I ask myself, “does any part of this text directly state or implicitly suggest that the gathering of believers happens before the visible return of Jesus or before the 7 years? I don’t see timing indication language in this text. This passage doesn’t tell us whether the rapture happens before or after the Tribulation, it just teaches us that it happens.

I also think about this: When the Bible mentions the rapture, the purpose of it is that believers are caught up in the clouds, gathered to meet Jesus in the air on His way down as He descends from Heaven to earth. I don’t see clear statements that we’re gathered and taken to Heaven with Jesus for 7 years so we can escape the Tribulation.

When 1 Thessalonians 4:14 says Jesus will return and “bring back with Him” the believers who have died, I don’t think that’s referring to bringing them back because He took them to Heaven during the Tribulation. I believe it means He will reunite their spirits which have been with Him in Heaven with their physical, resurrected bodies when He returns to earth. (2 Corinthians 5:1-10 // Revelation 6:9-11)

In Matthew 24:29-31, however, we do see a timing reference regarding Jesus gathering His Church in the rapture. Jesus describes in verses 15-23 the events that happen in the final 3 ½ years of this age (which we can cross-reference with Daniel 7-12 and Revelation for a more detailed explanation). Directly following that, Jesus says this:

“Immediately after the anguish of those days…the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

(Matthew 24:29-31)

Sounds a lot like 1 Thessalonians 4, doesn’t it? The language in the two passages is almost exactly the same. When Jesus spoke about gathering His Church in the rapture, He placed the timing of that event at the end of the Tribulation.

As you study this more, you might hear it said that 1 Thessalonians 4 and Matthew 24 are describing two different raptures, one to gather existing believers before the Tribulation and the second one after the Tribulation to gather people who become Christians during those 7 years. But the Bible doesn’t clearly teach anywhere that there are two raptures, so it might be hard to hold that conclusion.

“What about the verses that say one will be taken and the other left, or that we’ll be raptured in the twinkling of an eye?”

Great question! In Matthew 24:39-41 and Luke 17:20-37, the context is about people being caught off guard and taken in God’s judgment because they are unprepared, not about being caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

Hence, the references to Noah’s day and sinful people being swept away in the flood (quite literally, in their case) of God’s judgment. There’s not mention here of believers being suddenly taken to Heaven, and no mention of believers being caught up in the clouds to meet Jesus, as in the other rapture passages.

1 Corinthians 15 is where you’ll find the reference to believers being “changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” This chapter is all about the resurrection of Jesus and how He will one day resurrect His people. When Jesus comes back, He will give to all of His people renewed, supernatural bodies that will live forever, just like the one He has. (Philippians 3:20-21 // 2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

In 1 Corinthians 15:50-55, the apostle Paul is writing about how quickly our mortal bodies–whether alive or dead when Jesus returns–will be transformed. This happens at the time Christians are raptured, but it is not in itself a reference to the rapture.

At this point you might be freaking out a bit so let’s tackle the last question we’re all probably wrestling with.

If it’s true that Christians will be on earth during the Tribulation, does that mean we experience God’s judgment?

No, not at all! Here’s how Scripture encourages us (spoken in context to the return of Christ):

“For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

In Revelation 7:1-10, believers are “sealed” by God before the Tribulation starts, distinguishing them as His people who therefore will not be touched by the judgment He releases on His enemies. I believe this seal is the Holy Spirit living in us, which we receive at salvation. (Ephesians 1:13-14 // 2 Corinthians 1:22)

The saints are preserved and protected from God’s wrath. God’s judgment happens around us not to us, only coming upon the Antichrist, his evil empire, and on sinful people who refuse to believe in Jesus.

However, we do see many Christians persecuted and martyred by the Antichrist and the evil people and government systems that rule in those final 7 years of this age, because they hate Jesus and His people. They will fight against Christians who faithfully maintain their faith and their testimony of Jesus instead of bowing down to the ungodly rulers and systems of that time. (Revelation 6:9; 12:10-17; 13:7-10; 14:12)

Believers will also need to resist the temptation to be deceived by those systems. (Matthew 24:22-25) Jesus never promised us a trial-free or persecution-free life. Quite the opposite actually (John 16:33 // 2 Timothy 3:11-14)

Where I find encouragement in these intense passages is in the way Jesus supernaturally empowers His people to faithfully maintain their testimony of Him, obey His commands, and proclaim His Word amidst the most intense and rebellious time in human history. (Revelation 12:11) He will help us love Him to the very end.

So, which rapture position is right and why does it matter?

I’d encourage you to familiarize yourself with the different views on this subject. Then, humbly and prayerfully hold what you feel God calling you to believe with conviction and teachability at the same time. While it’s okay to lovingly disagree, the implications your conclusion will have on your walk with God are significant, especially when we get to the end of this age.

There’s a level of spiritual preparation and endurance in the faith needed if the post-trib view is right that’s more intense than what’s needed if the pre-trib view is right and we don’t have to face the testing of the Tribulation period firsthand. Wherever you and I might land on this topic, I’m so grateful that we have a hope of eternity with Jesus to anchor our souls.

Resources:
-General overviews and commentaries: All Nations, Tribes, People and Tongues by Phylicia Masonheimer, Revelation by Gordon Fee, The NIV Application Commentary Series: Revelation by Craig Keener

-Pre-trib: Revelation by Greg Laurie, Tipping Point by Jimmy Evans and Perfect Ending by Robert Jeffress. Revelation sermon series by Greg Laurie and The End sermon series by Craig Groeschel, and these sermons from Pastor Jimmy Evans and Pastor Jeff Lasseigne.

-Post-trib: When Jesus Returns by David Pawson and I’m Not Afraid of The Antichrist by Michael Brown and Craig Keener

–Recapitulation view: Matt Chandler’s Revelation sermon series and The Overcomers book

In Part 5 we’ll debunk some myths about what Heaven is like and what we’ll do there. Head here to read.

Let’s Talk: Is the view of the rapture you believe now the same one you were initially taught? What made you either hold to it or change your mind? Discuss this post in the comments below.