Now Where Did I Put That Rapture?

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we encounter Paul's description of an event which has come to be called "The Rapture." The verses in Thessalonians are fairly straightforward in their description of a reunion in which the saints, both the living and "those who have fallen asleep," will meet the Lord "in the air" at His coming. The controversy surrounding this event has more to do with where to put it in a prophetic framework.

Among those who believe that the present age will culminate in a time of great turmoil ("The Great Tribulation") that is concluded by the return of Jesus to establish His Kingdom on earth ("The Millennial Kingdom"), the possible options are noted above. [A] represents the pre-tribulation view, that the rapture will be a relatively quiet event in which saints mysteriously disappear from the earth to meet the Lord in the air. [B] denotes the view that the rapture will occur in the middle of the tribulation. [C] positions the rapture at the end of the tribulation. Some prefer to label [C] the "pre-wrath rapture" because they believe it will be synchronized with an intense outpouring of divine wrath: The saints will hit to the skies right as all hell breaks loose on the earth.

Hal Lindsey's book, "The Late Great Planet Earth," popularized the pre-trib view as did the "Left Behind" series by Jenkins/LaHaye. This view has a compelling natural appeal. If I had to pick a view that I like best, this would be it. Descriptions of the tribulation are sobering, even frightening. View [A] proposes that the saints can avoid all the trauma of living through the Tribulation and go immediately into the presence of the Lord. No pain, all gain! What an encouraging prospect!!

Alas, liking view [A] does not make it true. So we must weigh the merits of each option to get at the truth. Three Views on the Rapture was published in 1996, is currently available from Amazon, and closely examines all three positions. The scholars who represent each view (Feinberg, Archer, and Moo) are not light-weights, so waxing dogmatic about whatever view we espouse is unjustified. Don't get cocky, kid!

Here are a few preliminary thoughts to assist you in your quest for the truth. First, let's make some observations about the nature of the Rapture based upon its description in 1 Thess. 4:13-18.

1. The key question that prompted this section is, "Have the dead somehow missed out?"
2. The terms, "shout," "voice of the archangel," "trumpet of God," all suggest that this is a very public event with a lot of fanfare.
3. There is evidence (albeit disputed) that the word translated "to meet" is a formal expression used of a delegation that receives an arriving magistrate. The other two places where this term is used in the New Testament (Matt. 25:6; Acts 28:15) show some correspondence to this idea.
4. Paul's key point is that death makes no difference in one's participation in the "coming of the Lord."
5. Paul's intention was for the believers to use this information as the basis of mutual encouragement.

Whatever view one takes, it must align with these observations. So, when the pre-trib view posits a secret rapture, the equivalent of an alien abduction en masse, there are questions about how well this fits with observation two. For the post trib view, I have to ask: How it is encouraging to be sentenced to seven of the worst years earth has ever known, even if those who survive till the end will be rescued before the final curtain falls?

Comments

[Jeff]

I've been trying to keep my preconceived notions behind me throughout this series (even having been through it once already!) and I think I have better understanding about the text for having done so. I'd just like to ask about a clarification regarding one of your assessments. Regarding [A], twice you mention or imply a "secret rapture." Is that meaning in the way that God calls those who are his up, or is that meaning in the ramifications on the world when all those people are called up?

[fairmack]

I ask everyone to read "Pretrib Rapture Secrecy" which I ran into on the net. Lord bless.