The phrase “Rapture” refers to the ascension of Christians pre to Christ’s second coming to Earth. This is the noun that corresponds to the verb in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, where those who are still alive at Christ’s return are described as being “caught up” to meet him “in the air.” In 2 Corinthians 12:2-3, Paul describes his unusual experience of being “caught up” into the third heaven, or paradise. The Rapture occurs before the Antichrist is revealed in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The timing of the Rapture in respect to other end-time occurrences is interpreted differently. As a result, several eschatological schools have emerged. Bear in mind, our Christian fellowship is founded on the completed work of Jesus on the cross, not the time of the Rapture. Those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture have been accused of seeking to dodge any hardship. While the Church has always been and will always be persecuted, this is not the same as God’s wrath poured forth during the Tribulation. We believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture because it is more biblical than the Amillennial, Post-millennial, and Post-tribulation doctrines. We cannot be dogmatic about the future. His return is His will, which should be adequate for your situation. Meanwhile, God has given us Scriptures to study. In the following list of proofs from the Holy Scriptures, the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation.
Proof#1 Revelation 19:11-21
Because Revelation 19:11-21 mentions no resurrection, these verses do not describe any rapture event. People “in Christ” are raptured (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Why does Revelation 19:11-21, which is the clearest portrayal of Christ’s Second Coming, not include a resurrection passage? The Rapture describes when millions of Christians will be revived and translated into immortality, but the resurrection is not mentioned here in Revelation 19:11-21. If this was a rapture event, these verses should have at least one reference to the resurrection. However, the rapture is not discussed here because it does not happen.
Proof#2 Zechariah 14:1-15
Because there is no resurrection in Zechariah 14:1-15, these verses do not describe a rapture event. This is simply an Old Testament depiction of Jesus’ Second Coming, and nothing about a resurrection.
Proof#3 Rapture and Revelation
There is a difference between the Rapture and Revelation. The Messiah is shown in two ways in the Old Testament: suffering (Isaiah 53:2-10, Psalm 22:6-8, 11-18) and ruling as king (Psalm. 2:6-12, Zechariah. 14:9, 16). We can see from these Scriptures that they spoke of two distinct Messianic comings, the first as a suffering Messiah and the second as a future ruling King. The New Testament adds another image. Again, we have two paintings that are not identical. These two distinct accounts of Jesus’ return allude to the Rapture of His Church and His revelation to a Christ rejecting world during His Second Coming to Earth.
Proof#4 Unknown and known Days
The Holy Scriptures reveal an unknown day and a known day concerning Messiah’s return. The unknown day is mentioned in Matthew 24:36 when Jesus said “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” The known day is revealed in Revelation 12:6 and the verse indicates the Jews will have to wait 1,260 days for the Lord to return. The 1,260 days begin when the Antichrist proclaims himself God in the Temple (Matthew. 24:15-21, 2 Thessalonians 2:4). This will occur midway during the seven year Tribulation (Dan 9:27). The Antichrist will reign for 42 months (1260 days) before being destroyed by Jesus at His Second Coming (Revelation. 19:20, 2 Thessalonians 2:8). The unknown day describes the Rapture event, while the known day describes the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the known and unknown days occur at different times, thereby being distinct occurrences.
Proof#5 Revelation 4:1
The door open in heaven represent the pre-Tribulation rapture event. Heaven’s door is opened for John, which symbolize the rapture of the Church to Heaven. After Revelation chapter three, the Church is not mentioned again until Revelation 19 when the army of Christ returns to Earth. John’s call into heaven foreshadows the Rapture. In Revelation 19:11, the heavens are opened again, this time to allow the heavenly troops out. This is the Church that was previously raptured in Revelation 4:1, 1 Thessalonian 4:16-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, and the Church is here following Jesus out of heaven at His Second Coming. In addition, after the words “Come up here,” John was instantly in paradise. This looks to be a prophecy of the Church’s Rapture. “Come up here” is spoken to the two martyred witnesses who are raised from the dead and ascend into paradise (Revelation 11:12). Therefore, in Revelation 4:1, the words “Come up hither” clearly suggest that the Church is being raptured to Heaven.
Proof #6: Revelation 3:10
The book of Revelation 3:10 states that we shall be spared from the hour of trial that will befall the whole world (the Tribulation). Some people mistakenly assume that the word “keep” refers to the ability to maintain or secure one’s position during the Tribulation. Consider the following scenario: you’re approaching a high-voltage region with a sign that states, “Keep Out.” Does this imply that you may enter while being protected? No, it just implies that you are not permitted to access the area. However, according to this passage, He will protect us from the hour of trial. It is not just the testing that is problematic, but also the time span. If a student is excused from an exam, he or she may still be required to remain in the classroom while the other students take the test. However, if he gets excused from the hour of testing, he will be able to return home. The Church will be summoned to its last resting place before the hour of trial.
Proof #7: Enoch and Noah
According to the Bible, Enoch was the first to be raptured and taken to be with the Lord. Genesis 5:24 recounts Enoch’s miraculous transfiguration. “And Enoch walked with God; but God took him” (Genesis 5:24). What does “God took him” mean? It indicates Enoch was translated to be with the Lord without dying. Enoch was either raptured (1 Thessalonians 4:17) or “taken” (1 John 14:3). The mournful repetition “and he died” that follows the legacy of the other patriarchs described in Genesis 5 shows that Enoch was raptured or translated to heaven. “By faith Enoch was taken up so he would not see death; and he was not discovered because God took him up; for he gained the proof that before his being taken up he was pleasant to God,” says the divinely revealed New Testament commentary in Hebrews 11:5. The Greek translators used the same term for “taken up” in Hebrews. This term means to migrate from one location to another. Translation to heaven is taught in both Genesis and Hebrews, where Enoch is mentioned three times. Because Enoch was a type of the “Translated Saint,” he was raptured “before” the great Flood, which is a model of the Tribulation. However, Noah and his family represent the Tribulation Saints who will be preserved through the Tribulation. Noah’s days began when the fallen angels had sexual relations with human females, which resulted in genetic hybridization of most of pre-flood humanity. When God flood the planet Earth, He preserved Noah and his family on the ark.
Finally, how wonderful to think that some of us will not die, that instead of the winding sheet of the tomb, we will be suddenly trans
Primary Sources: Kent Crockett Ministries; Rev Clarence Larkin; Dispensational Truth; Dr. Thomas Ice