Is the Rapture In the Bible?

Every time I post about an issue relating to the end times such as the tribulation I am often met with the objection that the rapture isn’t in the bible or that it is a heretical belief created by John Darby in the 1800’s or by Hollywood with the Left Behind films.

I don’t think people have come to these conclusions on their own. Having studied the Bible for many years I never questioned if the rapture was biblical. Both the Old and New Testaments refer to the end times and what awaits us in the future, including the rapture of the church. There are examples of raptures that happened such as Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5), Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), and Jesus Ascending into Heaven (Acts 1:9-11).

Since 2020 the rapture has been talked about a lot more. In late 2020, I was listing to a popular apologetics podcast. This podcaster also is a pastor and he made the audacious claim that the rapture wasn’t in the bible. He went on further to deny that there was any rapture taught anywhere in scripture. This is a guy who does rigorous studies on biblical issues but because the rapture doesn’t fit into his post-millennium eschatology views, he denies it. This is far too common with people who deny the biblical teaching of the rapture. It doesn’t fit into their denominational eschatology so they are forced to reject it.

Now, I’m no pastor but having studied scripture I was shocked that this pastor could make such claims. That was one of many catalysts that drove me into serious study on the rapture and what I thought the bible taught about eschatology. Even after studying the bible at a Christian university I didn’t know where I stood on end time events, so I decided it was time I took it seriously to see what the bible teaches.

Where is the word Rapture in the Bible?

In Greek the word rapture is Harpazo. It literally means to be caught up or carried away by force. It is mentioned 14 times in the New Testament. In Latin, the word rapture is Rapio or Raptura and it means a carrying off. To say the word rapture isn’t in the bible is like saying the word trinity or calvinism isn’t in the bible therefore, it’s heretical. That is the reasoning some people take with the word rapture so we must not go the same route. We must be Bereans of the word of God and search the scriptures for ourselves.

Further, in addition to typical biblical interpretation there is another biblical interpretation method called typology that is also weaved throughout the bible. This uses Old Testament scriptures to reflect what Jesus does/will do in the New Testament. It happens in Noah’s ark with the flood, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and many others. If you are looking for more information on this I highly suggest checking out the work of Dr. Ken Johnson, Lee Brainard, and Dr. Andy Woods.

The Rapture and Jesus’ Second Coming

As we look at scriptures relating to the rapture it’s important to remember there are scriptures relating to the rapture and to his second coming. These are two separate events that often get combined into one event. If you claim it is one event it becomes clear the scriptures conflict with one another. One simple way we can know the difference between these events is by the location of where Jesus is. At the rapture Jesus will meet the church in the air as 1 Thessalonians 4:17 states:

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

And also Revelation 1:7:

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

Verses on the rapture being at an unknown time:

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44)

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42)

At Jesus’ second coming:

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. (Revelation 22:12)

“For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27)

“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27)

We cannot know the exact day and time of the rapture but we can calculate the exact day Jesus will return for his second coming based on when the tribulation takes places and other events during that seven year period. The rapture isn’t a coming. We know that because the scripture tells us this. The rapture is a meeting event where the church meets Jesus in the air. The second coming happens after the seven year tribulation and Jesus will physically come to earth again with his feet on the ground.

Further, Jesus tells us what must happen before he can rapture the church. At the last supper after Judas betrays Jesus and leaves the group, Jesus shares with his remaining 11 disciples the following:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)

Here we have the promise that Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven. He will return to take us to that place once he is finished preparing everything that needs to be prepared. It’s very similar to a Jewish wedding. In these verses Jesus was speaking to his disciples in a way they would understand because it was a local custom. The bridegroom would ask for the bride’s hand in marriage. Once she accepted they would part ways and he would go back home with his family and build a separate living space onto his family’s home. When his father felt the living space was complete he would tell the bridegroom to go get his bride. Meanwhile, she was at home preparing her gown and everything for the wedding. She didn’t know exactly when he would arrive so she was always ready. Very similar to the rapture we are also to always be ready and that God will let Jesus know exactly when he can come get his bride, the church.

When is the Rapture?

As discussed earlier we don’t don’t exactly when the rapture takes place but I believe the bible tells us it begins before the tribulation. There are three primary schools of thought regarding the timing of the rapture. They are pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation. The bible tells us it is an imminent event so it can literally happen at any time. No sign or event needs to happen before it takes place.

However, what we are seeing now and have been since the reestablishment of the nation of Israel on May 14, 1948, is a convergence of end time signs. Before the second coming of Jesus Christ can happen there are events that need to happen. Such events include the following:

• The nation of Israel will once again become a country (fulfilled in 1948).
• People and nations will turn against Israel (currently happening but it’s not a total fulfillment yet).
• A beast system (Mark of the Beast) will be established in order to buy and sell (this system is being set up right now).
• A world wide governance system (BRICS and WEF).
• Global Deception.
• An increase in natural disasters (fires, earthquakes, floods, etc).
• The Antichrist is revealed (hasn’t happened yet).
• The Third Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem (there are talks of it being built, everything is ready except for the land).
• Israel will live in peace in a land of unwalled villages.
• The destruction of Damascus.
• The Ezekiel 38 and 39 war.
• World leaders will cry out “Peace and Security” as the answer to the world’s problems.
• A Peace Agreement in the Middle East will be signed.
• An alliance between Russia, Iran, Lybia, and Syria (these countries already have alliances together).
• Before the Second Coming, many millions of people will die from events that happen during the 7 year Tribulation.

The church will not be taken by surprise like unbelievers, when the rapture happens. Likewise, for believers who come to know the Lord after the rapture they also will not be surprised at Jesus’ second coming. There will be signs that the Day of the Lord is near. Like good Bereans we must read the bible for ourselves to see what the scriptures say without being influenced by a particular denomination that needs other books to reinterpret the bible. I encourage everyone to know what the bible says about the end times. We can’t answer people’s questions while evangelizing if we don’t know what the bible says about these issues.