What is The Rapture?

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

The rapture is a real, future event revealed in Scripture when Jesus will catch up His people to meet Him in the air—are you ready to be part of it?

The rapture is a biblical event in which Jesus Christ will suddenly and supernaturally gather His people—those who truly belong to Him—to be with Him forever. Though the word “rapture” does not appear in English translations, it comes from the Latin rapturo, which translates the Greek word harpazō, meaning “to seize, snatch, or carry off by force.” This word is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to describe how believers will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord.

The apostle Paul referred to this as a “mystery” in 1 Corinthians 15:51—not in the sense of something

unknowable, but something previously hidden and now revealed by God.
This catching away of living believers, alongside the resurrection of the dead in Christ, is a sure and certain future event revealed by the Holy Spirit.
However, as to the precise way it will unfold—whether the world will descend into chaos, or how the unsaved will respond—Scripture gives us little detail. The focus is not on the spectacle, but on the promise.

1. What Is the Rapture?

a. Biblical Basis

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)

“Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52)

“I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2–3)

b. The Meaning of “Caught Up”

The Greek word harpazō means to seize suddenly or snatch away by force. It is used in multiple places in the New Testament:

“Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8:39)

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven… how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:2, 4)

“She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” (Revelation 12:5)

In all these instances, harpazō implies a sudden, divine removal for God’s purpose. In the rapture, it describes the real, physical catching away of believers to meet the Lord in the air.

c. What Are the Events Associated with the Rapture?

The Lord descends with a shout
A trumpet sounds
The dead in Christ rise first
Living believers are caught up
Believers are transformed
All meet the Lord in the air

“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31)

d. What Are the Purposes of the Rapture?

To rescue God’s people from coming wrath:
“I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world.”
(Revelation 3:10)
To reunite the saints with Christ and one another:
“And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:17)
To fulfill Jesus’ promise:
“I will come again and receive you to Myself.”
(John 14:3)
To transform believers for eternal glory:
“We shall be changed.”
(1 Corinthians 15:52)

2. When Will the Rapture Happen?

There are several views:

Pre-Tribulation: Rapture occurs before a seven-year tribulation.
Mid-Tribulation: Rapture happens at the midpoint, before God’s wrath.
Post-Tribulation: Rapture occurs at the end of the tribulation, coinciding with Christ’s visible return.

While each position offers scriptural reasoning, the Bible reminds us:

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)

“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

We must not be overly dogmatic about the exact timing. The emphasis is on being ready.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42)

3. Where Will the Rapture Happen?

The rapture will take place “in the clouds” and “in the air”:

“Caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

It is a real, spatial event where believers are gathered to Jesus, not merely symbolic.

4. Who Will Be Raptured?

Only those who belong to Christ—the dead in Christ and those alive who believe:

“And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up…” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)

Not all religious people or churchgoers, but those who have truly repented and trusted in Jesus Christ.

5. How Will the Rapture Happen?

Suddenly (“in a moment”)
Supernaturally (by the power of God)
With transformation (from mortal to immortal bodies)
With a divine summons (trumpet, shout, voice)

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet… we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52)

Many fictional depictions of the rapture—planes crashing, clothes left behind—are dramatic interpretations based on assumptions. The Bible does not give these details. What it tells us is that it will be real, sudden, and divinely orchestrated. We must focus on what is revealed.

Final Thought

“Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)

The rapture is not a myth. It is a revealed mystery, a future event, and a blessed hope.

But let me ask you—if the rapture were to happen today, or right at this very hour, would you be caught up with the other believers? Are you living in rejection of God, or have you surrendered to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

For Further Reading: “How Can I Get Saved?”

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