WHEN IS THE RAPTURE?

When is the ecstacy?

The mental transport of extreme delight?

No. That's not what I mean.

What I am referring to is the Bible prophetic use of the word. The Rapture is the name given to the moment when all the righteous are taken away at the last trumpet. In the study of prophetic events relating to the 'last days' the Rapture is one such event. It will be the moment when all good believers living on earth are gathered together. More specifically, snatched away or, seized from the earth and away from the destruction of remaining wicked inhabitants.

The word rapture is an adaptation of the Latin word 'rapere', to seize. Indeed, there is a bird of prey called a raptor which is identified as a snatcher of its quarry. With strong talons and fierce ability to take away its victims. This Latin word 'rapere' was used in the Latin Bible to translate the Greek word 'harpadzo' in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This has been translated in English as 'to take away' or 'to catch away'. To seize or, snatch is also a good translation. It is the word used by Jesus when He says:

So this snatching, this Rapture, is mentioned by Paul in Thessalonians:

It is not the first mention of this prophetic event, but it is an important one. There are other mentions of this 'seizing', the Rapture, the gathering together of the good guys. Jesus said:

The trumpet is mentioned as an announcer of set moments in the prophetic stages of the last things. Paul mentions it with this event in a discussion of what happens to our bodies at the Resurrection. He is discussing death and what happens afterwards. Which is also part of the context of the Thessalonians passage. Both mention death and the Rapture.

Paul is using the word 'sleep' as part of his discussion about what happens after we die. He uses it this way in the Thessalonians passage we have begun to look at.

So, at the second coming of the Lord the dead believers will arise then, the believers alive at the time will be snatched away to gather with them and the Lord in the air. This is what is known as the Rapture. Mark mentions the event like this:

This snatching will be so quick that,

The Tribulation
First, we need to look at another prophetic event called the Tribulation. The reason for this is that the timing of the Rapture is in general understood as one of three possibles: pre-trib, mid-trib or, post-trib. That is, before the Tribulation, in the middle of it, or after it.

What is the Tribulation? And, how long is it?
The length of time is important to the understanding of when the Rapture occurs. If it is understood that it is a fixed period of time and that it is not split in two then there is no mid-trib to consider. If it is split in two then there is. The Tribulation is a time of great persecution against the saints. Jesus said:

Both in Matthew and Mark Jesus is recorded as specifying an event which must be looked for as a sign of this tribulation starting. It's beginning point. Both Matthew and Mark also make an added note:

This event as spoken by Daniel the prophet is helpful to see when the Tribulation occurs. The event is the removal of the daily sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem and, at the same time what is described as an 'abomination of desolation' which will stand in the temple. This is what the person known as the Antichrist will do. Daniel was told this person, this 'prince' shall:

Also,

And,

How long?
We have the same time period given to us in three different ways and repeated in more than one place. The two principal books being Daniel and Revelation. Not forgetting that Matthew and Mark were written before Revelation and they mention the importance of Daniel. The three ways shown above are 1290 days, 42 months and 3½years. The latter being shown us as 'time and times and half a time' as well as 'the middle of the week'. The word for week in the Hebrew is literally 'a sevens' and it is understood as a prophetic reference here to seven years (cf. my Article The Year of The Lord's Return . . . A Possible understanding). The 1290 days make up slightly more than 3½ years, but it can be seen there is a link to a clear limit for this time of tribulation as well as a definite starting point. 1260 days is mentioned in Revelation 11:3 - exactly 3½ years. Knowing this period of time the believers alive then will be able to comfort one another in the midst of persecution. Looking ahead to this time Jesus said:

When is the Rapture?
We know what the Rapture is, why it is called that and that it is to happen next to the Tribulation. What we need to know is are there specific statements relating to these two events to help us see when they occur in relation to each other? I believe there are several. Jesus said,

Paul is equally clear. Having made his first mention of the Rapture to the Thessalonians in the letter quoted above, when he wrote a second letter he warned the believers,

So, when he says 'our gathering together to Him' he is clearly referring to the Rapture. He then says,

What the angels said to Lot helps to see the timing here:

Jesus said,

What now?
In the knowledge that God is in control and that He has a plan let us seek out what His plan and calling is for our own lives. Not forgetting that the fields 'are already white for harvest!' (John 4:35) and 'therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.' (Luke 10:2).