UNLEARN THE LIES - IS THE RAPTURE BIBLICAL? WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE RAPTURE? PART 2

Published on Feb 8, 2017
Does the Bible really teach that believers will be raptured up to heaven? The rapture theory has become quite popular among Christians, but the popularity of a teaching does not determine its truthfulness. The Bible is our source for truth and doctrine, so we need to find out if the rapture theory is Biblical or not.

One of the most common verses used is 1 Thessalonians 4:17. However, when we look at the context of this verse we find out that Paul is actually talking about the resurrection of the dead.

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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 with the Lord.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Many who hold to the rapture theory claim it will happen secretly and without warning, but these verses describe a shout and a trumpet that will announce the return of the Messiah. This is not a secret vanishing of believers, this is a worldwide announcement of the return of the Messiah.

Notice the text says, “we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep...”

So, if the living do not proceed the dead, then how are we “raptured” before the tribulation? Because Paul said that when Yeshua returns, “the dead in Christ will rise first”. This is the “first resurrection” as described in the book of Revelation. However, Revelation tells us the first resurrection will take place after the tribulation when Messiah returns to setup His kingdom.

Other verses that are used to support the rapture theory are:

“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:52

“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
- Matthew 24:31

"But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."
- Matthew 24:37-42

Yeshua said that His return will be like the days of Noah, and just as the flood took away everyone outside of the Ark, so also will the wicked be taken away when Messiah returns. This is the opposite of the “Left Behind” series which portrays the godly being taken away and the wicked being left behind. However, we don't want to be taken away like those “in the days of Noah”.

Yeshua also told a parable about the wheat and the tares, in which the owner instructed the servants to let the wheat and tares grow together until the harvest.

"Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "FIRST gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."
- Matthew 13:30

As we have seen, the Bible describes the snatching away of the wicked from the earth, and the godly being "left behind" to join Yeshua in His kingdom.
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