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“The Rapture of the Church”

Thoughts for Today:

When Paul says, "We will not all sleep," he is speaking about death. In other words, some of us won't die. How is it possible? I believe Paul is referring to the Rapture of the Church upon Jesus' return to the earth. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.") If we're still alive when Jesus returns, we won't go through the death process. As Paul says, "In the twinkling of an eye...we will be changed."

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the Rapture is when it happens. Some Biblical scholars place it at the end of the Tribulation period (making it one and the same as the Second Coming); others place it in the middle of the Tribulation; and others (myself included) believe it will occur before the Tribulation. The most important reason I believe it will happen at the beginning (pre-Tribulation) has to do with what Scripture says about being prepared. In Matthew 24:42, we are told to "keep watch"; in Matthew 24:44, to "be ready"; and in Luke 12:35, to "be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning". All of which make it clear that Jesus can appear at any time.

Think about it, if the Lord's appearance is placed at any other time (mid-Tribulation or post-Tribulation), our focus is on other prophetical events rather than on Jesus. For example, in Titus 2:13, Paul tells us how to live "while we wait for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ"; and 1 Thessalonians 1:10: "and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead --Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."

The Bible promises over and over again that the church will be saved from the coming wrath. So how can the Rapture come during or following the Tribulation period? Logically, the church must be taken out of the world before God pours out His wrath upon humanity.

Questions to Ponder:

There is much debate on the Rapture of the Church. I've presented and supported some of my thoughts on the matter. However, there are many compelling arguments related to other points of view (mid-Tribulation and post-Tribulation). Who is right? Only God knows for certain.

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.