12: What and When is the Rapture? | Biblestudy4Starters Chapters

End Times: Great Tribulation

Chapter 12: What and When Is the Rapture?

What and When Is the Rapture?

Abstract

What and when is the rapture?

Rapture comes from the Latin word ‘Rapio’ that is being caught up, just like Jesus rose up into heaven. In like manner the Saints will also rise to meet Jesus in the air.
Considering what the Lord Jesus says, what Enoch, the Early Christians, Daniel and the Apostles said, the holy body of Christ, Yeshua’s Bride, will need to persevere and overcome persecutions and tribulations, as discussed in previous Chapters.
According to Apostle Paul, these two conditions must be met prior to Jesus’ return: (1) Many believers will be offended and fall from the faith; (2) The Antichrist will be revealed in the Temple in Jerusalem.
In line with Isaiah 28:10, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little”, in other words based upon numerous Bible verses while considering context, it seems obvious -contrary to common belief- that the Saints will go through the Great Tribulation and that many will be killed. This is nothing new, as many are already persecuted and martyred in different parts of the world.
However, a remnant will be kept safe and nourished “in the wilderness”, while they await the Rapture, read Daniel 12:12 and Revelation 3:10; 12:6,14 as presented in Chapter 11.
Only after the faithful dead in Christ, including those that were faithful and beheaded during the Great Tribulation, are resurrected -called the 1st Resurrection- will those that are still alive and ready be caught up, carefully study 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and Revelation 20:4-5 together.
You may have another opinion about the Rapture's timing and that is no problem; ultimately it is about always being ready as God can call us any day and any moment to give an account of ourselves to our Creator, see Romans 14:12.
Nonetheless, let us be prepared for the worse of tribulations and continue doing God’s will with boldness and welcome God’s decision for our lives, as He knows what is best for each one of us.
Thessalonica Christians were persecuted and Paul encouraged them by telling them that our Lord Jesus would return in flaming fire as the Eternal Judge, again indicating that both the Rapture and 2nd Coming of Jesus as Judge on the Day of the LORD are one event.
The Scriptures indicate that the Rapture event is Post-Tribulation at the last (7th) Trumpet -see 1 Corinthians 15:52- and Pre-Wrath “for God did not appoint us to wrath” according to 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
Jesus' message is be not deceived in Matthew 24 and persevere and overcome till the end in Revelation 2 and 3, the latter is discussed in Chapter 6.
Finally, Jesus will most likely return on the Day of the Feast of Trumpets, “at the last Trump(et)”.

What Is the Rapture?

Matthew 28:1-7

"Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.

Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

Mark 16:19-20

"So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen."

Luke 24:50-52
“And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,”

Just like Jesus, the Son of God, had said, Jesus was risen from the dead on the third day.
Christ Jesus after His resurrection showed Himself to Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, as well as to His eleven disciples, after that, our Resurrected Yeshua rose up and was "carried up into heaven".

Revelation 11:3,7,11

"And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

[1,260= 3½ years]

When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them."

The 2 Witnesses -these might be Elijah and Enoch, as both never experienced death and were both caught up into heaven, or Moses who was buried by God and whose burial ground was never found, of course in the end it is God's prerogative- have a special task in the last 1,260 days that is the 3½ years of the Great Tribulation.
While they will be killed by a strong and evil spiritual entity that was bound in the bottomless pit, Father God will have them resurrected and also ascend -in other words- Raptured into heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:17
"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [Strong's G726 - Greek harpazō, Latin rapio] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord."

Rapture comes from the Latin word ‘Rapio’ that is being caught up just like Jesus rose up into heaven.
The Saints one day will be Raptured that is gathered together -see below- in other words they will rise up to meet Jesus in the air.

2 Thessalonians 2:1

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, ..."

Matthew 24:31

"And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

When Is the Rapture?

2 Thessalonians 1:3-8;

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,

which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;

since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us

when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

Realize that the original Scriptures did not have any Chapter separation of the text; these were only later added. Hence, the Bible verses of Chapters 1 and 2 of Thessalonians should be read as one whole text; this will make us better understand the context.
Apostle Paul emphasizes that we should not be troubled in our mind, as though our Lord Jesus had already come; we will certainly know when this happens, as children of the light.
Interestingly, Paul connects Jesus’ return with “the Day of Christ” that is the Day of the Lord, as we have seen in previous Chapter 4.
Paul warns in Thessalonians not to be deceived and then gives specific prerequisites for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus:
- (1) What a pity but according to the Scriptures many -including believers- will be offended and fall from persevering and trusting in the true God, as they will believe Satan’s lies and connect with technology, as we saw in previous Chapters, and maybe also be disappointed due to the delay of the Rapture.
- (2) The Antichrist must be revealed.

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

"And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

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 will by no means precede those who are asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will 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 thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Paul declares that the Rapture is AFTER the dead in Christ are resurrected.
In other words, the faithful Saints that had died in the past up to this point are the ones that belong to the first resurrection.
Now let us turn to Revelation to find the Scriptures that talk about the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:4-5

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.

And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”

The previous Scriptures, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and Revelation 20:4-5, confirm that the dead will rise first, which actually is also called the First Resurrection.
In addition, we read that judgment seats were given to those that were martyred as they did not take the Mark of the Beast during the Great Tribulation; they can only have taken seat on a throne if they were risen from the dead; hence, these together with those that in the past had died in Christ are the ones who have been resurrected first and will then reign one thousand years -during the Millennium- together with King Jesus.
The Rapture therefore unquestionably happens after the Saints come out of the Great Tribulation.
Let us continue with the following Chapter in Thessalonians, which again should be read as a whole.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-10

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."

Paul in this Chapter continues talking about the Rapture and equates it to the Day of the LORD, in which Jesus will come as a thief in the night.
It looks like the Rapture is Pre-Wrath, as God does not intend His Vengeance to fall upon His obedient children. "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them." [Colossians 3:4-7]
Once again, God could also simply protect and hide His children in His "Secret Place" during the outpouring of His Wrath, as we saw in the previous Chapter 11.

Matthew 24:29-31

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect [Elect, Strong’s G1588] from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

None other than Christ Jesus clearly declares that we will "see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven" and that "His angels ... will gather together His elect", this is exactly what happens at the Rapture, and Jesus also emphasizes that this happens AFTER the Tribulation, we quote, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days" indicating that this is the Great Tribulation by mentioning the heavenly signs (sun, moon, stars), see the Chapter on the Great Tribulation, in other words, this Rapture event is at least Post-Tribulation.
Jesus also mentions that the Rapture occurs at the sound of the heavenly Trumpet.
In the below image Strong's Greek Lexicon explains that the "Elect" are both born-again Christians and Jews that have come to faith in Christ Jesus. Paul also shares on the true Jew in Romans 2:29, "but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

More on the Elect

Romans 2:28-29, HCSB

"For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh.

On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart-by the Spirit, not the letter. That man’s praise is not from men but from God."

Ephesians 2:11-18

"Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh -who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands- that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father..

Galatians 3:26-29

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."

In the letters to the Romans, Ephesians and Galatians, Paul clarifies that there is no distinction anymore between a born-again Greek (non-Jew) or Jew, as we have become Abraham's seed, yes by grace we have become true spiritual Jews.
Awesome isn't it that we have -through Jesus' sacrifice and Holy Blood shed at the Cross- access to our heavenly Father by one Spirit: that is both and all true Jews.
It is therefore safe to say that Jesus in Matthew 24 is not only directing His message to the Jewish tribes of Israel, but also to the born-again Christians.

Even more so if we once again realize that we should not read the Word of God, as if there are Chapter separations; hence, Luke 20 and 21 can be read as one continuous message.

Luke 20:45-47

"Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

In this paragraph Jesus is talking to ALL the people, after which Luke, the physician, continues with the widow's offering, then Jesus' prediction of the Temple destruction, and then the signs of the End Times.

Luke 21:5-6,20-28

“Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, “These things which you see -the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.

And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Romans 11:25, AMP

"I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan] -so that you will not be wise in your own opinion- that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in;”

In Matthew 24 Apostle Matthew declared that after the Great Tribulation we would see the sign of the Son of Man Yeshua, Apostle Luke shares a similar message giving some more details on the armies surrounding Jerusalem and that these are the Days of Vengeance after which he also uses the title the Son of Man will appear with all His power and glory.
Luke also emphasizes that Jesus' return is AFTER the frightful heavenly signs, which will precede Jesus' Second Coming, that is after the Great Tribulation.
"Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" and "until the full number of the Gentiles has come in" indicate that God in His foreknowledge knows the exact and specific number of Gentiles (heathen, non-Jews) that will come to faith and enter His Kingdom, after which the doors will be closed for ever.

When Is the Rapture? (continued)

2 Peter 3:10-13

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

Apostle Peter uses the same warning that Jesus will come "as a thief in the night" indicating the Rapture, as we know that Jesus will come as a complete surprise and shock for those in darkness.
This happens on the Day of the Lord, which is the Day of Judgment accompanied with fire.

Daniel 12:9-10,12

"And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.’

And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

[1,290 days, that is 3 ½ years]

‘Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.’”

[1,335 days, that is an additional 45 days]

The ones that are spared in God's Secret Place are kept safe all those 1,335 days during the Great Tribulation and have kept their faith and waited for their salvation, these are certainly blessed.
These Saints with God's favor, will only be Raptured after the Great Tribulation.

1 Corinthians 15:50-52

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery:
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

In different Chapters we saw that the Rapture was accompanied by the heavenly Trumpet, now we know that it is at the Last Trumpet.

Revelation 8:1-2; 9:13-15

"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 ...

Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind."

Revelation 11:15-16

"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying,

’The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’

And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, …"

When the 7th angel sounds the Last Trumpet, the KING of kings and LORD of lords is finally crowned, as He alone deserves all the glory and the kingdoms of this world in all eternity.

More Last Plagues

After these 7 Trumpet blasts there are still 7 more last plagues to fill up the Wrath of God, which can be read in Revelation 15 and 16.

Another Indication of the Rapture Timing

On another note, God is a God of seasons, of order and of perfection; His ways are perfect.
We know that in many aspects -including prophecies, the exodus, the sacrifices, the blood requirement- the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the New Testament, as Jesus stated in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."
Interestingly, Yeshua HaMashiach already fulfilled 4 of the 7 Feasts of God exactly on that specific date; could His Second Coming also be on the day of a specific Feast?

Leviticus 23:1-2

"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.”

There are seven (7) Major Jewish Feasts held on specific times appointed by Almighty God in the Old Testament.

God’s Feasts are:

1. Passover: Jesus, the Lamb of God, rides on a donkey: fulfilled.
2. Unleavened Bread: Jesus is crucified: fulfilled.
3. First Fruits: Jesus is resurrected from the dead: fulfilled.
4. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost): Holy Ghost comes down: fulfilled.
5. Feast of Trumpets: Jesus’ Second Coming.
6. Day of Atonement: Day of the Lord (Repentance, Judgment).
7. Feast of Tabernacles or Booths: God dwells with us.

Our Lord Jesus and the Holy Ghost already fulfilled the first 4 of these Feasts exactly on that specific Feast day.
It is highly probable that Yeshua Hamashiach will return on a Sabbath on the Day of the Feast of Trumpets, for this Jesus most likely gave a hint by not indicating a specific day, as that exact day of this Feast was and is never known, as it depends on which of the 2 days the New Moon would appear: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." [Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32]
Jesus did not say you would not know the year or month, but He spoke of not knowing the day and hour. Now the Feast of Trumpets is on the Jewish New Year that is Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah) in Hebrew years 5791/2/3/4, which could fall on September 28-30/18-20/5-7/24-26/?? in the years 2030/31/32/33/??; again these are approximate days as the exact day cannot be set.
The upcoming Day of Atonement is the day of Israel’s repentance when the Jews finally see and welcome the One and Only Real Yeshua Hamashiach [Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12:10]
On the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus will dwell and reign with His children during the Millennium and also when the New Heavens and New Earth appear; already discussed in previous Chapters.

by Dennis V. Dare

All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.