What is the Rapture?
I get a lot of questions about what is termed “The Rapture”. What is it? How does it happen? When will it happen? Why is there not word “rapture” in the Bible? Is it even a biblical doctrine? The following is a great synopsis of answers to these questions by some leading scholars in the field of escatology.
Nature of the Rapture
At the rapture living believers will be “caught up” in the air, translated into the clouds, in a moment of time. The rapture is characterized in the Bible as a “translation coming” (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:15-17) in which Christ comes for His church. The second advent is Christ returning with His saints, descending from heaven to establish His earthly kingdom (Zech. 14:4-5; Matt. 24:27-31).
The rapture (or “translation”) of the church is often paralleled to the “raptures” of Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2: 12). In each case, the individual disappeared or was caught up into-heaven. At His ascension, our Lord Himself was “taken up” into heaven (Acts 1:9). The biblical description of the rapture involves both the resurrection of deceased believers and the translation of living believers into the air to meet the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51 52).
At the rapture, the Lord comes for his saints (1 Thess. 4:16), while at the second coming the Lord comes with His saints (1 Thess. 3:13). At the rapture, the Lord comes only for believers, but His return to the earth will impact all people. The rapture is a translation/resurrection event where the Lord takes believers “to the Father’s house” in heaven (John 14:3), while at the second coming believers return from heaven to the earth (Matt. 24:30).
The Rapture in the Bible
The rapture is most clearly presented in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In verse 17 the English phrase “caught up” translates the Greek word “harpázô,” which means “to seize upon with force” or “to snatch up.” Latin translators of the Bible used the word “rapere,” the root of the English term “rapture.” Paul speaks of the rapture as a “mystery” (1 Cor. 15:51-54), that is a truth not revealed until its disclosure by the apostles (Col. 1:26), making it a separate event, while the second coming was predicted in the Old Testament (Dan. 12:1-3; Zech. 12:10; 14:4).
Many important biblical doctrines are not given to us directly from a single verse, we often need to harmonize passages into systematic conclusions. Some truths are directly stated in the Bible, such as the deity of Christ (John 1:1, Titus 2:13). But doctrines like the Trinity and the incarnate nature of Christ are the product of biblical harmonization. Taking into account all biblical texts, orthodox theologians, over time, recognized that God is a Trinity and that Christ is the God-Man. Similarly, a systematic consideration of all biblical passages reveals that Scripture teaches two future comings. As an example, Christ’s ministry has two phases which revolve around His two comings. Phase one took place at Christ’s first coming when He came in humiliation to suffer. Phase two will begin at Christ’s second coming when He will reign on earth in power and glory. Failure to distinguish these two phases was a key factor in Israel’s rejection of Jesus as Messiah at His first coming. In the same way, failure to see clear distinctions between the rapture and second advent lead many to a misinterpretation of God’s future plan.
Contrasts between the Rapture and the Second Coming
| Rapture | Second Coming |
| Translation of all believers | No translation at all |
| Translated saints go to heaven | Translated saints return to heaven earth |
| Earth not judged | Earth judged & righteousness established |
| Imminent, any-moment | Follows definite predicted signs including tribulation |
| Not in the Old Testament | Predicted often in Old Testament |
| Believers only | Affects all men |
| Before the day of wrath | Concluding the day of wrath |
| No reference to Satan | Satan bound |
| Christ comes for His own | Christ comes with His own |
| He comes in the air | He comes to the earth |
| He claims His bride | He comes with His bride |
| Only His own see Him | Every eye shall see Him |
| Tribulation begins | Millennial Kingdom begins |
Passages that contrast the Rapture and the Second Coming are listed below.
| Rapture | Second Coming |
| John 14:1-3 | Dan 2:44-45 |
| Rom 8:19 | Dan 7:9-14 |
| 1 Cor 1:7-8 | Dan 12:1-3 |
| 1 Cor 15:1-53 | Zech 14:1-15 |
| 1 Cor 16:22 | Matt 13:41 |
| Phil 3:20-21 | Matt 24:15-31 |
| Col 3:4 | Matt 26:64 |
| 1 Thess 1:10 | Mark 13:14-27 |
| 1 Thess 2:19 | Mark 14:62 |
| 1 Thess 4:13-18 | Luke 21:25-28 |
| 1 Thess 5:9 | Acts 1:9-11 |
| 1 Thess 5:23 | Acts 3:19-21 |
| 2 Thess 2:1 (3?) | 1 Thess 3:13 |
| 1 Tim 6:14 | 2 Thess 1:6-10 |
| 2 Tim 4:1 | 2 Thess 2:8 |
| Titus 2:13 | 2 Peter 3:1-14 |
| Heb 9:28 | Jude 14-15 |
| James 5:7-9 | Rev 1:7 |
| 1 Peter 1:7, 13 | Rev 19:11-20:6 |
| 1 John 2:28-3:2 | Rev 22:7, 12, 20 |
| Jude 21 | Rev 22:7, 12, 20 |
| Rev 2:25 | |
| Rev 3:10 |
Bibliography
Chuck Missler (2002). Our Blessed Hope. Coeur d’Alene: Koinonia House.
Thomas Ice (2006). The Rapture and the Second Comming: An Important Distinction. PreTrib Institute.
John Walvoord (1979). The Rapture Question. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.