What About The Rapture?

By F. D. Adkins

In my continuance to study the Book of Revelation, I dug into chapter six only to find myself backpedaling through the scripture to refine my thoughts on the rapture because I believe, at this point in Revelation, that the rapture has already occurred. The Bible does not specifically use the word, ‘rapture’, and I have heard different views and interpretations on this event. So, I want to clarify that the following is my belief based on my reading and studies of God’s Word.

As I mentioned, I went back through the scriptures to shed light on the rapture and its timing. In doing so, I began with these verses spoken by Jesus to His disciples in the book of Matthew. In verse 31, Jesus explains that “…He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31 KJV). I believe this verse describes the rapture of those who are in Christ because a few verses later, He goes on to detail, “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left” (Matthew 24:40-41 KJV). If some are left, this coming does not signify the end of the world but rather the gathering of God’s children.

Then I looked at Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians where again the word “trumpet” is used to announce this coming of the Lord, where the followers of Christ will meet the Lord. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul 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” (KJV), and in 1 Corinthians 15:52, Paul states, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (KJV).

As for the tribulation, I conclude from Revelation 3:10 and Revelation 4:1 that the rapture will happen before the tribulation begins. First, in Jesus’ message to the church in Philadelphia, He says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Revelation 3:10 KJV). Then, in Revelation 4:1, John is in Heaven and hears a voice like a trumpet. This voice lets John know that he is going to see the things that are to come. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1 KJV). I believe this verse is symbolic of the rapture. The same sound of the trumpet used to describe the coming of the Lord in Matthew, 1 Thessalonians, and 1 Corinthians is present here. In addition, John is now in Heaven in the presence of the Lord about to see the coming events… the events of the tribulation.

Again, this is my interpretation of the scripture based on my study. But regardless of the different views on the rapture, we know without a doubt that Jesus is returning. So, let’s be ready!