By: John Krug
The subject of the return of Jesus Christ and the associated event known as the rapture or the catching up of the church has come under repeated attack since the time of Christ. The average person on the street would probably be much too pragmatic to believe that this kind of supernatural event would be possible. You can even find churches today that will deny the visible, personal return of Jesus Christ, let alone the idea that His followers will defy gravity and rise up to be with Him. However, it is essential to focus upon Scripture for answers to future events that involve God dealing with His people.
A wonderful promise that Jesus gave to His disciples that I'm certain applies equally today is quoted by Jesus in the Gospel of John. John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "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."
After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, His followers in the book of Acts witnessed the wonder of His ascension to heaven to be with the Father. Acts 1:9 "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; 11 and they also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
There are other verses that could be cited, but the last verse in the Bible gives another clear statement of His return. Rev. 22:20 "He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
In considering the event called the rapture and its relationship to the second coming of Christ, it should be recognized that the second coming of Christ is in two phases. The second phase is often referred to as the "glorious return of Christ" when Jesus comes with His saints to judge and rule the earth. This occurs at the end of the tribulation period and ushers in the Millennial reign of Christ. The first phase of Christ's return is what we as believers call the rapture that many think will occur at least seven years before the second phase and will be separated by the tribulation period. Many Bible scholars, including myself, believe that believers in Jesus Christ are given the hope of His return to escape this horrible time of great judgment upon the earth and its evil.
The word "rapture" comes from a Latin word which when translated into English means "caught up" or "snatched away"; and is also known as the "translation of the Church". It has reference to the first phase of the second coming of Christ to earth to "catch up" His believers in the clouds to be with Him. Although the word "rapture" is not found in the Bible, it is a word that adequately describes the process of believers being united with their Savior as noted in the following proof texts.1 Thess. 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Cor. 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, " Death is swallowed up in victory.
For those who have placed their faith in the salvation that Jesus Christ has provided through His shed blood on the cross, and thus are counting on the promise of His coming again, the next question might concern the timing for this rapture event. It is obvious that it has not happened yet, but do we have any clues about when it might occur? I'm not going to get into clues or signs of His coming; since that is another large subject for another time. However, there are many Scriptural passages and Biblical events that might help us determine when the rapture could occur relative to all the other many end time prophecies in the Bible.
What I would like to present as my view for the timing of the rapture is what is known as the pre-tribulation view, which is a view shared by many other believers. This view simply states that Christ will be coming in the clouds as described in the above I Thessalonian and 1 Corinthians passages to catch up His church prior to the tribulation period that will follow. The support for this view is related to the following twelve (12) proofs, which are not necessarily arranged in any order of importance. Also, the proof of a pre-tribulation rapture does not rest on any one of these single arguments, but upon the weight of the collective sum of this evidence.
(A) Second Coming of Christ in Two Phases - The rapture is the first phase of Christ's second coming. In looking at Revelation 19 when Christ comes down to earth to act in judgment, we see a totally different picture than His appearance in the clouds in the 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians passages. Christ comes in the clouds to call out his children, the church, at sometime prior to the tribulation and then returns with them in Revelation 19 to judge and rule the nations.
(B) Christ's Promises to the Church - The pre-tribulation rapture conforms to Christ's promise in aforementioned John 14 passage to prepare a place for us and then come back to take us to be with Him. Additionally it is supported by the promise to the church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. The hour of testing can be none other than time of tribulation that commences in Revelation 6.
(C) The Old Testament picture of Enoch. Gen. 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. The flood of Noah that follows after the life of Enoch is a picture of Israel being spared through the tribulation. Enoch, a man of God did not die but was caught up to heaven alive before the great flood. He presents an illustration corresponding to the church, the people of God, who are taken off of the earth prior to the tribulation.
(D) Christ's Fulfillment of Old Testament Feasts. The Old Testament paints a picture of Christ's various advents in the nation of Israel's exercise of the various feast days. It is of great interest to note that the feasts in their chronological order in the calendar correspond directly to the chronological order of Christ's fulfillment of the feasts. The spring feasts were fulfilled by the Messiah at His first coming and the fall feasts will be fulfilled at His second coming. Passover and Unleavened bread signified the crucifixion and cleansing of sin, the feast of First Fruits signified the resurrection, and the feast of Pentecost was the day of Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit. There is a summer break between spring and fall feasts as there is a break between the first and second comings. The second coming starts with the Feast of Trumpets which will signify the rapture and the sound of trumpets given in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15. This is followed by The Day of Atonement and the cleansing of Israel corresponding to Christ's return at the end of the tribulation; Finally the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles corresponds to the Millennium when the Messiah will dwell with His people in peace and safety.
(E) The Apostle John Caught Up to Heaven in Revelation 4. There is a picture of the rapture displayed when the Apostle John was caught up to heaven in the Book of Revelation in chapter 4. John in Revelation, chapters 1 through 3, writes his messages to the seven churches explaining the things that were at their present time. This is abruptly followed in chapter 4 and 5 with John being caught up to heaven to the very throne room of God. Thus John illustrates for us the church being caught up to heaven before the terrible time of suffering occurs on the earth as related in Revelation 6 through 19. Rev. 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. The term "after these things" places the remainder of the book in a future time frame with the first event being the rapture as pictured by the Apostle John's ascension.
(F) The Removal of the Church and Corporate Work of the Holy Spirit. There is a time when there will be a removal of the restraint on evil as related in 2 Thessalonians. 2 Thess. 2:1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed. The best explanation of the restraint is the Holy Spirit at work within Christ's body, the church. When that restraint is removed, the forces of evil and wickedness will have an increased opportunity to wreak havoc upon the affairs of mankind on earth.
(G) The 144,000 Witnesses in Revelation. A new witness for the gospel of Jesus Christ emerges in book of Revelation during the early part of the tribulation. God has always had His remnant and witness for the Gospel at all times. Rev. 7:4 - "And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:" Later in the book in the latter half of the tribulation when the 144,000 are found in heaven, God then sends an angel flying in the heavens proclaiming the gospel. Rev. 14:8 "And another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people." When the church is gone from earth, God in His love and grace will continue to have the gospel proclaimed to those who might respond to the message.
(H) The Church Is Not Mentioned In Revelation 4-19. There is no mention of the church on earth from Revelation chapters 4 through 19, which covers the seven year tribulation period. Even though the word "church" is used extensively in chapters 1-3, the word then becomes conspicuous by its absence. Chapters 4 and 5 mention elders in heaven, some of which could be representative of the church. The bride, who is the church, is mentioned in heaven in Revelation 19:1; 7,8. Other references to saints in heaven and armies of saints occur when Christ returns in the second phase of His coming in Revelation 19. The use of the word "elect" in the book of Revelation does not necessarily mean the church. The Old Testament refers to Israel as the elect. Is. 45:4 "For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, elect I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me. Is. 65:9 "And I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, And an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones elect shall inherit it, And My servants shall dwell there.
(I) Marriage Preparations Take Place In Heaven. Preparation for the marriage of Christ with His church takes place in heaven while the tribulation is running its destructive course on earth. Eph. 5:26 "..that He might sanctify her (the church), having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word," Rev. 19:7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." The preparation for the bride takes place at the judgment seat of Christ in heaven. Rev. 19:8 And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright {and} clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Rev. 19:9 And he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God." According to the ritual assigned to a Jewish wedding, the bride is presented in Father's house as the church as bride will be presented in the Father's house, i.e. heaven. Col. 3:4 "When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." The reception element of the wedding then takes place on earth which is the new home of the groom, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Included in the wedding party will be the friends of the bride who include the Old Testament saints and those who have come to faith in Christ during the tribulation.
(J) The Israel/Church Distinction. This evidence is expounded in the prophecy of Daniel where it states that the seventy weeks of Daniel are assigned strictly to the future of Israel. The church came into the picture after 69th week when Messiah was cut off which we know occurred at Christ's death. This leaves one week corresponding to a seven year period that is yet to be completed, and it appears that this can only happen when the church is out of the picture on earth. After the rapture the 70th or final week can then occur. This week will be devoted to God again dealing with Israel as He did in the Old Testament before Christ's first coming. Dan. 9:24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy {place.} 25 "So you are to know and discern {that} from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince {there will be} seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end {will come} with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations {will come} one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
(K) Believers are to be on the alert - Since believers do not know the time of Christ's return, we are to be always on the alert. If the rapture occurs anytime after the commencement of the seven year tribulation time, we could set dates and have less reason to be alert. Also in many cases, depending on our view, we could even predict the exact time of His coming. The secrecy of the time of His coming would have little or no meaning. Matt. 24:42 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 "For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think {He will.} 45 "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
(L) Acceptance of the pre-tribulation view from the time of early church - Church history has shown that many false religions and cults have arisen out of development of views that are in opposition to what was accepted by the early church fathers. We need to be very discerning and skeptical of any Christian view that has emerged recently and drifts from the established teachings. The early church accepted the pre-tribulation view to the point of immediately developing the attitude of looking for the eminent return of Christ in the clouds as the disciples had seen Him go up. 1 Thess. 1:9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, {that is} Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. Phil. 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
CONCLUSION: I think the best scriptural support is for the above pre-tribulation view. This supports the great hope we have as believers that Jesus is coming back for us to take us to be with Him and escape the terror and suffering that will decimate the earth and the evil and lawlessness that is upon the earth.
1 Thess. 3:12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also {do} for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
2 Pet. 1:19 And {so} we have the prophetic word {made} more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
Praise God, Jesus has been risen victorious over the grave and death and we have the wonderful hope of His eminent return. Are you waiting and ready? If you are not sure you are included in this event called the rapture, you can join simply by placing your faith in the sacrifice offered by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He will cleanse you from your sin and place you in His family. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
