Rapture – Key Verses for Easy Understanding and Faith

Source of our Belief

Our understanding of and belief in the ‘pre-Tribulation Rapture’ comes from the word of God. Many scripture verses allude/speak to the second coming of Christ and the removal of believers from the earth. In addition, some verses also address the timing of the Rapture as being before the Tribulation.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 – Rapture

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

This is the clearest verse that speaks to the Rapture, and Christ taking believers to be with him to heaven, which includes those who have died in Christ, those who were believers.

John 14:1-3 – Rapture

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

This is a critical passage, for here, Christ speaks to taking his believers to be with Him, in His Father’s house. 

As PreTR believers, we understand that Christ’s second coming takes place in two parts, both linked to the Tribulation; one before and the other after the Tribulation. 

Two Part Return of Christ – Part 1

The first part is when Christ comes in the clouds and calls all believers to him, which we call the Rapture. 

This is when these believers (both those who have died in Christ and those alive at the time) are taken to heaven, to the house Christ has prepared, as Jesus stated in John 14:1.

It is here that believers come before the Judgment Seat of Christ and are judged and possibly rewarded (Crowns of Heaven) for how they lived their lives on earth. This judgment/reward happens during the Tribulation period on Earth.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

This can only happen after the pre-Tribulation Rapture (PreTR) of believers, while they are in heaven.

Two Part Return of Christ – Part 2

The second part takes place at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns with his saints and angels to conquer Satan and his armies. The battle of Armageddon culminates the Tribulation period of seven years.

When Christ returns to the Earth after the Tribulation, and defeats Satan, He remains on the Earth and establishes His Millennial Kingdom. There is no time to go to heaven, and to stay in His Father’s house.

HOUR OF TRIAL

Revelation 3:10

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

Returning to our belief that Jesus removes his followers from the earth, and our basis in scripture, the above passage confirms that promise of John 1, above. Revelation 3:10, speaks of Christ’s promise to remove His followers, those who believe in Him, have called Him Savior, and comprise His CHURCH – “keep you from the hour of trial”.

The hour of Trial, cannot be anything, else but the Tribulation period of the final seven years spoken of in Daniel 9:24-27.

Although other verses speak to the Rapture and resurrection (See Appendix A following), these three are viewed as the pillars on which our belief in pre-Tribulation Rapture are built, plus all the supporting verses of scripture that speak to this. We believe that Jesus promises to keep his followers from God’s wrath that He pours on the earth during the Tribulation. He saves the ‘elect’ and the ‘children of God’ through the Rapture and does so before the start of the Tribulation.

Completion of Christ’s Second Coming

We also believe that upon Christ’s “Glorious Appearing” at the end of the Tribulation period, he returns to earth, standing on the ground (no longer just in the clouds). His return is fully visible to all humanity, both believers and unbelievers. Believers will rejoice for their trials are over, while the unbelievers will groan and mourn, for they will understand that they’ve been wrong. This second part of Christ’s return is accompanied by his saints (those who were Raptured) and his angels. 

The angels then gather the ‘elect’ from the four corners of the earth to bring them to Christ, in Israel. I believe the ‘elect’ in this case is the remnant of Jews remaining on the earth, who have finally recognized Christ as the long-awaited Messiah. They have, therefore, become believers as well. Christ brings them back to Israel, their promised land. 

Believing Jews

The reference to the believing Jews as the elect comes from Isaiah 65:9.

I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess my mountains; my chosen people will inherit them, and there will my servants live. Isaiah 65:9

So, the Rapture is the first part of Christ’s second coming. It carries out the removal of believers from the earth before the Tribulation. The Tribulation is specifically for the Nation of Israel, to bring them back into faith and recognize Jesus Christ as their Messiah. However, God leaves the door open for any unbeliever to also repent and come to faith.

I encourage you to seek Christ prior to the Rapture of the church, which we don’t know when it will happen. My personal belief is, that our time is running short. Events of the future are casting shadows into today. Those shadows are shortening and the End-Times events are increasing in both intensity and frequency. I have written a number or articles related to this. You can begin here.

So, be prepared. Accept Christ as Savior and Lord. To help you, you can pray this prayer.

As children of God, we long for Christ’s return. May you be among us!

Blessings,

Jana

Appendix A:

• Other Scripture Verses that speak to End Times and the Rapture

Romans 8:18-19

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

• Looks forward to the resurrection of the body
• When Christ returns for the children of God… for only after the Rapture, will the true Children of God be revealed
• All the rest will remain on the earth

1 Corinthians 1:7-9

• Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Christ, through his Holy Spirit, helps us to remain firm in our faith to the end… blameless… for the day of our Lord, Jesus Christ
• The Day of our Lord Jesus Christ, relates to Jesus’ return, or second coming

We need to keep in mind, that the second coming has two parts

1. Is the Rapture, where Christ comes for his believers in the clouds, he does not come to the earth, and calls us to be with Him; where we go to heaven to the house His father has prepared for us (John 14: 1-3).

2. Is the Glorious Appearing of Christ at the end of the Tribulation, when Christ returns to earth, his feet planted on solid ground, and vanquishes Satan. 

• Here the angels then gather the elect, which is the Jews, descendants of Israel from all corners of the earth to bring them to him.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

• Paul teaching about the Rapture
• those alive, will not sleep (die) but will be changed into immortal bodies

Philippians 3:20-21

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

• Rapture changes our bodies to imperishable or immortal bodies

Colossians 3:4

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

• We will appear with Christ in Glory
• This happens at His Glorious Appearing at the end of the Tribulation, when Christ along with His angels and Us, returns to conquer Satan

1 Thessalonians 1:10

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead —Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

• Rapture of believers, where Jesus promises to rescue his followers from the wrath to come
• 1 Thessalonians 2:1 (Jesus Bible commentary) – Those who believe in and follow Christ can face life confidently despite their surrounding circumstances, and they can most assuredly wait in joyful expectation for his second coming.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Again, we are told that we, as believers in Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, and our savior, are not to suffer God’s wrath.
• That wrath is meant for Israel, during the time of Tribulation.
• For it is during the Tribulation, that God’s wrath is poured out.
• Therefore, those who believe in Jesus, who comprise the Church, will be removed from the earth, before the time when God will punish all unbelievers, and specifically the nation of Israel.
• Note: that punishment is to wake Israel and return the nation and people to God.

The Man of Lawlessness: The Antichrist

2 Thessalonians 2:1

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,

• Paul promises that Christ’s followers will be gathered to Christ, at the appropriate time, which had not yet come.

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

2 Thessalonians 2:4

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

2 Thessalonians 2:7

For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one[The Holy Spirit] who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. (brackets added)

• This part of scripture addresses the time when the Antichrist will come
• It has not happened and will not happen until certain conditions are met
• It may be, that he will appear before the Rapture
• However, he will not rise to his power until after the Rapture

Titus 2:12-13

It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

• Christ’s imminent appearance to call us to him, teaches us to live godly lives, as we wait for his coming
• The blessed hope is Christ’s return for his followers

Hebrews 9:28

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

• Christ will appear a second time, to bring salvation to all believers from the Tribulation time
• This appearance will be in two parts surrounding the seven-year Tribulation period, once in the air during the Rapture, and the second time at the Battle of Armageddon, where He will return to the earth, will vanquish Satan and his demons, and bring in His Millennial Kingdome.

James 5:8

You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

• James confirms that Jesus will return… that it is near

1 Peter 5:4 – Judgment of Believers

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

The Crown of Glory

• received at the Judgment Seat of Christ, during the seven years of tribulation.
• Jesus will give crowns to those who have served him well
• done after the Rapture and while we are in heaven for seven years
• only for believers; the rest remain on earth to suffer through the tribulation

Luke 14:14

and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

• The resurrection of the righteous is the Rapture, where the dead will rise and be taken to heaven along with the live believers.

Psalms 17:15

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

• Even David believed that he would be resurrected
• In this case, sleep is used in place of death; and when he awakes can only mean upon his resurrection during the Rapture

1 John 3:2

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:1

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

• ‘Children of God’ – are all those who have accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord, who’ve been adopted into the family of God… ‘Sonship’
• God’s chosen people, also often called the ‘elect’ – are the Jews, Israelites
• God chose them to represent Him on earth and bring the whole earth to recognize Him as God
• However they failed, and are therefore are under punishment; a time of national blindness;
• During the Tribulation, however, God will work to restore them to himself; 
• Despite the horrible time of difficulty, many Jews will finally call upon Christ as the long awaited Messiah

1 John 2:28

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

• Speaks to Christ’s second coming
• Unashamed before him – possibly speaks to the Judgment Seat of Christ, when all believers shall be judged
• Happens in heaven, while the Tribulation is raging on earth

Jude 1:21

keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Revelation 2:25

except to hold on to what you have until I come.

• Christ speaking about his return, to be strong and not give up
• This is especially for those who are living through the Tribulation, for all believers will suffer and be persecuted. 
• The Antichrist will try to destroy all believers and God will punish all unbelievers on earth.