Previews of the Rapture Throughout the Bible

Discussing current events and how they relate to Biblical prophesy. What are some critical signs are pointing to the imminent Rapture of the Church?

Then we who are still alive 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Is the Rapture really in the Holy Bible?

The concept of the rapture has been a topic of interest for many believers throughout history. The word rapture comes from the Latin rapere, meaning, “to seize” or “to abduct.” It is translated from the Greek word that is rendered “caught up” in English Bibles today.

The idea that believers will be caught up in the air to meet the Lord at His coming has been a source of both hope and controversy. While the rapture is not mentioned explicitly in the Bible, there are several passages that provide a preview of this event.

The first passage that we will examine is Genesis 5:24, which states, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” This verse provides a preview of the rapture in that it describes a man who was taken up by God without experiencing death. This is significant because it suggests that believers may be caught up to meet the Lord without experiencing physical death.

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Hebrews 11:5 also provides a preview of the rapture. This verse states, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” This verse confirms that Enoch was taken up by God without experiencing death, and it emphasizes the importance of faith in being caught up to meet the Lord.

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Another passage that provides a preview of the rapture is 2 Kings 2:11, which states, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” This verse describes the prophet Elijah being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, and it suggests that believers may be caught up to meet the Lord in a similar manner.

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Psalm 27:4-5 provides another foreshadowing of the rapture. These verses state, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” These verses suggest that believers will be hidden and protected by God during the time of trouble, which is often associated with the end times.

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Zephaniah 2:2-3 also provides a harbinger of the rapture. These verses state, “Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” These verses suggest that believers who seek the Lord and live righteously may be hidden and protected by Him during the day of His anger.

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Isaiah 26:19-21 provides another indication of the rapture. These verses state, “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” These verses suggest that believers will be raised from the dead and hidden in chambers during the time of God’s wrath.

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1 Thessalonians 1:10 – 4:15-18 provides one of the clearest pictures of the rapture in the New Testament. These verses state, “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come… For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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.” These verses confirm that believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and they emphasize the importance of comforting one another with this hope.

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1 Corinthians 15:50-53 also provides a preview of the rapture. These verses state, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” These verses emphasize the transformation that believers will undergo in preparation for meeting the Lord in the air.

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Matthew 24:36-44 provides a clue of the rapture in the context of the end times. These verses state, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” These verses suggest that believers will be taken up to meet the Lord while the unbelievers are left behind.

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Finally, John 5:24-29 provides a preview of the rapture in the context of the resurrection. These verses state, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” These verses confirm that believers will be raised from the dead in preparation for meeting the Lord in the air.

Our Blessed Hope

.While the rapture is not mentioned explicitly in the Bible, there are several passages that provide a preview of this event. These passages emphasize the importance of faith, righteousness, and transformation in being caught up to meet the Lord. They also suggest that believers will be hidden and protected by God during the time of trouble, and that they will be raised from the dead in preparation for meeting the Lord in the air. Ultimately, these passages offer hope and comfort to believers, and they encourage us to live in anticipation of the day when we will be caught up to meet the Lord.

For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13)

The “blessed hope” is not seven years of hell on earth during the Tribulation. Aren’t you glad Christ could come at any moment?

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10)  

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“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”

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