Prime question: Does the Bible teach an “invisible” coming of Christ and then a later “visible” return?
The primary verses most often used to establish the rapture are 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and some portions of the context. First, verses 16-17 will be examined, then later, the context.
Some background: “Rapture” is a derivative of the Latin word found in Jerome’s Vulgate (fourth century translation) of 1 Th. 4:17 usually rendered as “caught up”. [raptorare: to seize and carry off, to drag away, to plunder, to arraign] The Greek term is harpazo – to snatch, seize, carry off, drag away often used in the sense that no resistance is offered – such as winds blowing a leaf. We find it used in Paul (or the man Paul describes) being “caught up to the third heaven [2 Co. 12:2). While some claim that this experience of being caught up to heaven is proof that the word indicates a rapture, this is a poor handling of Greek words and context. The simple use of a word in a different verses does not equate both. Other reasons to connect them are needed. If we did so with other Greek words and verses, most of the Bible would become quite muddled. At any rate, Paul/this man returned from his heavenly event/vision and lived on earth again as a sinful, mortal. So, 2 Corinthians does not teach a rapture, but rather a vision, a temporary revelation even if perhaps in the body, but not a change of body nor a true entry into the heavenly existence that the rapture claims to be.
Now, we look at 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)
Q1. Do these verses state that this is an “invisible” removal of Christians and that more terrible events will then befall the remaining people? Clearly, no.
Q2. Do these verses sound “silent”? (Hint: cry of command, voice of archangel, trumpet of God) Obviously, no.
Q3. Does verse 17 give any indication that other Christians will later join us? Again, no.
What about the context? Here are the verses before the “foundation passage”… 13But we do not want you to be uniformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believed that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
Q4. What are Paul’s given reasons for this passage? To inform living believers about the future resurrection of all God’s people. Only one resurrection is indicated by these words.
Next, we briefly look at the verse immediately following the “foundation passage”… 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Q5. What is Paul’s goal for the teaching found in these passages? To provide comfort, encouragement to believers living in a very idolatrous culture and at a time when death by various means was common and life expectancy was low. There is no indication that this teaching is intended for frightening unbelievers into faith to avoid earthly troubles.
Now, we look at the larger context following…..
Chapter 5 1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all children of the light, children of the day. We are not of the night or the darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has not destined us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Q6. Can we know the times and seasons that will enable us to predict this event? In accordance with both Jesus’ clear words and the very reality of not knowing when a thief in the night will come, we cannot know the times or seasons beyond the fact that his return will be expected by believers and a surprise to unbelievers. The time of that return remains unknowable. In faith, we are prepared at all times to not be surprised. This is Jesus’ own explanation found in his parable of the thief. The difference between surprise and being ready (v. 4) is unbelief or faith, not reading the signs of the times. The history of the church, and especially so in the last 100 years, is littered with many who claimed to be able to discern the true time of Jesus’ return. All have failed miserably. All have therefore also proclaimed error and are proven false prophets. By the way, I have lived through multiple times that both famous and obscure rapture teachers have confidently and wrongly predicted immanent rapture and tribulation. Yet after repeated failures, these same teachers are by many still considered great teachers and sell books, movies, and get quite wealthy publishing this teaching that to date, has totally failed to fulfill its predictions. Might it be wise to question their entire interpretation framework as well as their non-biblical belief in the rapture?
Q7. (v. 3) Is the “sudden destruction” the beginning of a 7-yr. time of earthly travail, or is it something final in itself? There is no indication in the passage of anything other that sudden, total, complete destruction. That is the idea of the day of judgment, is it not? And that is what the single, biblical return of Jesus means for unbelievers. The “peace and safety”, while attached to other events such as the proposed treaty by an Antichrist, simply highlights the fact that those who don’t know Jesus cannot expect him and will be living for the things of this world, just like those of Noah’s day and every day since the fall of Adam and Eve.
[Note: Often, the idea of labor pains is used to assert the beginning of a longer period of troubles. In this context, the “Day of the Lord” appears to be just that – the final day of this age. Besides, labor pains don’t take years. They virtually always begin and end within a day. In ancient times, long labor would have meant death. So, the idea of labor pains here has no real connection to a lengthy period of increasing judgment on earth following a rapture. The term “sudden destruction” means just what it says. Final judgment has arrived on the day of the Lord, like a thief for those not ready, and there will be no escape on that day. Jesus’ reference to the beginning of birth pains (Mt. 24:8) clearly points to a different dynamic as He himself says that “the end is not yet.” Here, the primary focus is the ongoing reality of persecution for the faithful and no relief (rapture) is promised until the “end will come.”]
Q8. (v. 4) What is the “darkness” that would keep us from being prepared for this event? As mentioned before, lack of faith in Jesus. And v. 5 clearly contrasts faith and light with the darkness. This of course, applies fully to the end of the age and a single resurrection as elsewhere taught in the Scriptures.
Q9. (v. 9) What does the term “wrath” refer to – the final judgment or an earthly period of judgment? Note: it is balanced with salvation, an eternal state. If salvation is eternal, then the wrath indicated seems to be also eternal. Again, this fits with the Bible’s consistent description of the single, end of the age return of Jesus and the final judgment.
Q10. Is there any mention of later events for either the saved or the unsaved? No.
Q11. As a reminder, what is Paul’s main goal for this passage? (v. 11) To provide encouragement to believers regarding God’s joyous solution to death.
Summary
The rapture is not taught in this passage. The only way to see it here is to first assume it will happen and that these verses, although they accurately describe the return of Jesus at the end of the age, don’t really refer to that, but allow Christians with special knowledge and spiritual understanding extra-biblical insight into the verses that mere reading of the verses can never provide. Eisegesis beyond all doubt. A form of Christian gnosticism, perhaps?
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