The Rapture - Part 1

I have a long detailed blog on the Rapture.  These two parts are an attempt to abbreviate the longer blog for readability.  The longer blog can be found here:  Click Here!

Part 1: Warnings, Core Critique, and Biblical Timing of the Rapture

Introduction: Warnings from Scripture and the Dangers of Pre-Trib Teaching

Paul's stern warning concerning this issue:

[2Th 3:14-15 LITV] But if anyone does not obey our Word through the letter, mark that one, and do not associate with him, that he be shamed. [15] But do not count him as one hostile, but warn him as a brother.

A 2016 Lifeway Research study found that 36% of American pastors believed in, and taught, a pre-tribulation rapture. If 36% of pastors are preaching this, how many Christians in America are following their teaching? What will be their reaction when the tribulation events occur, and they’re still here experiencing the hardships?

[2Th 2:3 LITV] Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, because that Day will not come unless first comes the falling away, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

[1Ti 4:1-2 LITV] But the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, cleaving to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons, [2] in lying speakers in hypocrisy, being seared in their own conscience,

[2Ti 3:1-9 LITV] But know this, that in the last days grievous times will be upon us. [2] For men will be lovers of themselves, money-lovers, braggarts, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] without natural feeling, unyielding, slanderers, without self-control, savage, haters of good, [4] betrayers, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; even turn away from these. [6] For of these are those creeping into houses and leading silly women captive, the ones having been heaped with sins, being led away by various lusts, [7] always learning, but never being able to come to a full knowledge of the truth. [8] But in the way Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so also these withstand the truth, men having been corrupted in mind, found worthless concerning the faith. [9] But they will not go further, for their foolishness will be plain to all, as also that of those became.

Does the above passage sound familiar to anyone? All you have to do is turn on your local news station.

[Rev 7:9-15 LITV] After these things I saw, and behold, a great crowd which no one was able to number them, out of every nation, even tribes and peoples and tongues, standing in front of the throne, and before the Lamb, having been clothed with white robes, and in their hands palm branches. [10] And they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation to our God sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb. [11] And all the angels and of the elders and of the four living creatures stood around the throne. And they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, [12] saying, Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength to our God forever and ever. Amen. [13] And one of the elders answered, saying to me, These, the ones having been clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where did they come? [14] And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are those coming out of the great tribulation; and they washed their robes and whitened them in the blood of the Lamb. [15] Because of this they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary. And He sitting on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.

The Author's Position: Pre-Trib Rapture is Unscriptural

Before proceeding, note that I believe a pre-tribulation rapture is completely un-Scriptural. However, if I’m wrong, I would be pleasantly shocked! If “pre-tribbers” are wrong they’ve got a terrible surprise coming to them and will be ill-prepared for what lies ahead of us. You will have to read through the Scriptures below and take His Word for what it says.

Additional information: The pre-tribulation rapture view, which posits believers are removed before the seven-year tribulation, originated in the early 19th century with Plymouth Brethren leader John Nelson Darby. It gained widespread popularity through the Scofield Reference Bible (1909), influencing modern dispensationalism. Early church fathers like Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (2nd century) held post-tribulation or amillennial views, seeing believers enduring trials until Christ's return, aligning more closely with the author's position here.

Key Biblical Evidence: The First Resurrection Includes Tribulation Martyrs

Personally, the argument (against a pre-trib rapture) ends with these verses alone:

[Rev 20:4-7 LITV] And I saw thrones, and they sat on them. And judgment was given to them, and the souls of the ones having been beheaded because of the witness of Jesus , and because of the Word of God , and who had not worshiped the beast nor its image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand . And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. [5] But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is the one having part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years. [7] And whenever the thousand years are ended, Satan will be set loose out of his prison,

Note that this is the "first resurrection". There will only be two resurrections (not counting the Resurrection of Yeshua).

[Joh 5:28-29 LITV] Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear His voice. [29] And they will come out, [1] the ones having done good into a resurrection of life; and [2] the ones having practiced evil into a resurrection of judgment.

The first resurrection, in which the righteous dead shall rise first, and then those still living (at His return), righteously, will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. The wicked dead are not resurrected at this time… the second resurrection will be covered later.

Who is included in this first resurrection according to Rev 20:4?

... the souls of the ones having been beheaded because of the witness of Jesus, and because of the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor its image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand.

These are those who went through the Great Tribulation and are said to be a part of the first resurrection [Rev 20:5]. If Christians were raptured out of this world pre-tribulation then this would not be the first resurrection. These martyrs went through the tribulation and were part of the FIRST resurrection. For me, this is case closed on the pre-trib beliefs. I’ll continue anyway below.

[Rev 20:6 LITV] Blessed and holy is the one having part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.

Resurrection Order and Transformation Details

There is a resurrection order given to us in Scripture.

Paul spells it out for us:

[1Co 15:22-26 LITV] for as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. [23] But each in his own order: [1] Christ, the firstfruit; afterward [2] those of Christ at His coming. [24] [3] Then is the end , when He delivers the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He makes to cease all rule and all authority and power. [25] For it is right for Him to reign until He puts all the hostile ones under His feet; Psa. 110:1 [26] the last hostile thing made to cease is death.

[1] Christ was first… then [2] those who are His (at His coming – first resurrection), then [3] is the end, the “consummation” (second resurrection) – the resurrection of those who were not His – prior to the Great White Throne Judgment.

All of mankind are a result of Adam – the first man. All are born through Adam, and all die. In Christ, the second, more perfect Adam, all will be made alive. Note that the word used is “all”. It doesn’t say “all Christians”, or “all wicked”. All of mankind, whether Christian or not, are a result of the first Adam. Therefore, in Christ – all will be made alive.

[1Co 15:51-52 KJV] Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Notice the timing of this resurrection and of the catching up… “at the last trump”. I’ll get to this below.

Changed in what manner?

[Php 3:21 LITV] who will transform our body of humiliation, for it to be conformed to His body of glory, according to the working of Him to be able even to subject all things under Himself.

[1Th 4:16-18 LITV] Because the Lord Himself shall come down from Heaven with a commanding shout of an archangel's voice, and with God's trumpet. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who remain alive will be caught up [harpazo] together with them in the clouds to a meeting with the Lord in the air . And so we will always be with the Lord. [18] So, then, comfort each other with these words.

Additional information: The Greek term "harpazo" (caught up) appears 13 times in the New Testament, often denoting a sudden, forceful seizure (e.g., Philip in Acts 8:39 or Paul in 2 Cor 12:2-4). Early Christian writers like Tertullian (3rd century) used similar language for the resurrection at Christ's visible return, not a secret pre-trib event.

Definition and Timing Debates: "Rapture" Term and Views

In Christianity, a rapture refers to a future event where all true believers in Christ, both dead and alive, will be instantly transformed and "caught up" to meet Jesus in the air. It should be noted that the word “rapture” does not occur anywhere in Scripture.

See harpazo below.

The Latin translators of the Bible used the Latin word rapere or raperio, the root of the English term rapture. Rapere means “to seize, snatch, or carry away by force”.

The greek word harpazo, or caught up, is equivalent to Rapere.

The debate lies in “when” this will occur. There are four main thoughts concerning the timing of this event.

[1] Pre-Tribulation, [2] Mid-Tribulation, [3] Pre-Wrath, and [4] Post-Tribulation.

All four of these timeframes relate to the tribulation period known as Daniel’s 70th Week or the seven year tribulation period.

When Will Jesus Return? Signs, Idioms, and Watching

When will Jesus return?

The Disciples asked Yeshua the same question…

[Mat 24:3 LITV] And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And, What is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?

Yeshua said:

[Mat 24:36 LITV] But as to that day and that hour, no one knows, neither the angels of Heaven, except My Father only.

While there is no conclusive historical proof, a strong case suggests that "no one knows the day or the hour" in Matthew 24:36 is a Jewish idiom referring to the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah). There is no doubt that Yeshua precisely fulfilled the first four Jewish feasts to the day. He has not fulfilled the final three fall feasts as of yet. You can find more information on this in the Jewish Feasts section below.

During Yeshua's time, the start of this feast was determined by the sighting of the new moon, which the Sanhedrin would then officially declare, making the precise date unknown to anyone but the Father until the proclamation. This cultural context provides a linguistic layer of meaning to Yeshua's statement, which would have been understood by his Jewish audience.

For reference, see: Rosh Hashanah 25a

Talmud Bavli, Rosh Hashanah 25a: Describes the procedure for the Sanhedrin to receive testimony of the new moon sighting by two witnesses. Illustrates why the Feast of Trumpets was called ‘the day and hour no man knows.’

Mishnah, Rosh Hashanah 2:7: If witnesses failed to report the new moon, the festival would be postponed by a day. Explains the uncertainty in determining the exact start of Yom Teruah.

It’s also significant, that in the context of Jewish weddings of the time period, the Jewish bridegroom would not know the exact day or hour he would return for his bride, because it was the Father who determined the timing. This perfectly parallels Jesus’ statement “but My Father only” — reinforcing the idea that His coming for His bride (the Church) mirrors the Jewish wedding custom of that day. See Historical Jewish Weddings.

[Mat 24:42 LITV] Watch, then, for you do not know in what hour your Lord comes.

We, as Christians, should always be watching while we wait for His return. That is the ultimate goal for all of us… all of creation is crying out for Him to return and restore all things [Rom 8:19-22]!

Yeshua also said:

[Joh 14:1-3 LITV] Do not let your heart be troubled;

Additional information: The "thief in the night" imagery (1 Thess 5:2, not quoted here but related) echoes Old Testament prophecies (e.g., Joel 2:9), emphasizing suddenness for the unprepared. Early church eschatology often linked this to a visible, post-trib return, as in Augustine's writings.

Continue on to part 2 - Click Here!