When Is The Rapture

Don’t Miss The Rapture

There are many different beliefs of when the rapture is going to happen. The rapture wich is not mentioned in the Bible is reffering to when the saints get caught up and meet Christ in the air. Some believe that it will occur before a 7 year tribulation, some say afterward, some say directly in the middle, some say between the middle and the end, and then there are those that don’t even believe there is a rapture coming.

The Pre-tribulation rapture theory or as some call it, the "Secret Rapture", was popularized (notice, this is when it was popularized, there has supposedly been evidence that this theory actually originated in the 1700’s but wasn’t popularized as of yet) in 1830 when Margaret McDonald, a 15 year old girl had visions that included a secret rapture, where believers would be taken out of earth before the rise of the antichrist. She was a member of Edward Irving’s congregation. Edward Irving and John Nelson Darby both attended prophecy meetings soon after. Darby learned of Margaret McDonald’s vision and began to promote a secret rapture. Cyrus Ingerson Scofield who was influenced by writings of Darby came out with the Scofield Reference Bible, which supported a secret rapture. About 1 million copies were printed by 1930. The pre-tribulation or secret rapture theory was widely accepted in the 1900’s making it one of the most taught beliefs among prophecy teachers.

If you watch some modern end times movies, read their books, and listen to their teachings, you will most likely come across prophecy teachers teaching the secret rapture. The popular Left Behind series, which include fiction books and movies, promote the idea of a secret rapture before the appearence of the antichrist. Teachers such as Jack Van Impe, John Hagee, Tim Lavay and many more, teach this theory. Let’s see what the Bible says:

Argumant 1: The rapture and the second coming are two totally seperate events.

Mark 13:24-27 - "But in those days after the tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of the heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man comming in the cloudswith great power and glory. And then he will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four wins, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven."

Here is a clear scripture showing that the second coming and the rapture both happen after the tribulation. First you see the word, "after the tribulation", so you know that it is talking about the period that follows the tribulation. Then you see "the Son of Man coming in the clouds", which is describing the second coming. "He will send his angels, and gather together His elect" which is the rapture of the saints.

Argument 2: But the scriptures in Mark 13:24-27, Matthew 24:29-31, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, and Revelation 20:5 show His coming with the complete gathering, whereas 1 Thessaloninas 4:15-17 shows a partial gathering (harpazo) before the tribulation.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 - "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 witht the Lord."

Harpazo means a taking up, not a partial taking up. If anything, this scripture is more evidece that Christians must go through the tribulation. Where it says, "we who are alive and remain", the word "remain" means survive according the the strong’s concordance. Why would the sord survive be used if the ones caught up didn’t have to go through a life threatening trial?

Argument 3: The blessed hope is the pre-tribulation rapture.

Titus 2:13 - “Looking for the blessed hope, and glorious appearing of our great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

The blessed hope is the second coming of Christ. Too many Christians alive today aren’t concerned about the second coming. Imagine if the tables were turned and Christians faced terrible persecution from the antichrist and all his followers. Christians would grasp onto the hope of the second coming in order to make it through. Also notice in this Scripture that Jesus appears. It’s not some rapture where everyone disappears and there is no visible appearance of Jesus Christ like all the movies show.

Argument 4: The pre-tribulation rapture is only for the bride, the reast of the church has to fo through the tribulation.