When Does The Rapture Happen?
The next event in God's plan for the ages is the Rapture.
I believe that it is critical to understand exactly when on the timeline the Rapture occurs. It can mean the difference between living in hope, with joy and excitement about the future, and living in fear, with anxiety about what's coming.
Jesus could very well return at any moment — in this very generation!
According to the Bible, the Rapture is the next event on God's prophetic calendar. I believe this world-changing event will occur before the Tribulation Period described in Revelation.
Before I continue, if you don't understand what the Rapture is, you may want to read the web page below:
To quickly summarize, the Rapture is the incredible moment when Jesus returns to earth to gather all believers who will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
The most detailed passage about the Rapture is found in 1 Thessalonians which says:
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.—1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
The Rapture is the first phase of the "two-phase" return of Jesus Christ with the second phase of His return occurring at the very end of the Tribulation period.
People who believe in a "pre-tribulation" Rapture have no need to fear the future because they know that Jesus will evacuate believers before the Tribulation. Those who believe in a "post-tribulation" theory see all believers going through the Tribulation. With a post-tribulation view we would have a very good reason to fear the future and this is not what God desires for us.
2 Timothy 1:7 says that "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
You can see why this important distinction needs to be made...
Escape The Tribulation
Would God really describe the Tribulation in such horrendous detail for no other reason than to terrify us about the horrible suffering we will soon have to experience? Or is it more logical to see that God told us about the Tribulation ahead of time so we will turn to Him to escape the wrath that is coming?
Let's take a closer look...
As mentioned above, the first-phase of Christ's two-phase return occurs before the terrible time of judgment that comes upon the earth, while the second phase occurs at the end of the Tribulation.
In the verse above we also see that the Rapture is a comforting hope (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Why? Because believers will not be here to experience the terrible judgment of the Tribulation! We can be comforted by this fact, and in turn, comfort others with this glorious knowledge.
The Hour of Trial
Jesus promised to keep us out of the hour of trial that will come upon the whole earth.
"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."—Revelation 3:10
The word "from" in this verse is the Greek word "ek" which literally means "out of." God does not want us to experience suffering and pain, so it only makes sense that He would keep us out of the Tribulation.
So Jesus promises to keep us from the hour of trial, which is the horrible seven-year period that the entire world will experience. This is the main purpose of the Rapture. Those who have trusted in Jesus by faith will be saved from what will essentially be hell on earth.
Most bible-believing Christians believe that there will be a Rapture, but some disagree on exactly when it will happen. It's ok that we may disagree on the timing because we all believe that Jesus Christ is coming back.
God's Plan For The Future
The second phase of Christ's return is His visible appearance and return to earth. Everyone who is still alive on earth at this time will see Him coming with great power and glory to rule and reign. Jesus will put a stop to the evil of the world and set up His millennial kingdom.
The next event in God's plan for the ages is the Rapture, nothing needs to occur before this can happen. Jesus could very well return at any moment, in this very generation!
How do I know this?
Through the unchanging, spine-tingling, miraculous Word of God!
Will you be included in the Rapture? If you are not positive that you will not be left behind to experience the Tribulation visit the website below. Don't wait! Nothing is more important than your eternal destiny!
Praise God!
