When is the Rapture? (believers, "saints" caught up to Christ in the air and then into heaven)?

Question

Alot of people say the Rapture occurs before the Great Tribulation but the Bible says it will occur on the last day! Check this:

Luke 17:26-30
! Corinthians 15:51-53
! Thess. 4:16-18
John 6:39
John 6:40
John 6:44
John 6:54
John 12:48
John 5:28-29
Matt. 13:30, 39

Who's right?
**I found this info in a book called "The End Of The Church Age And After" by Harold Camping

Answer 1

agree> the "Left Behind" version of the rapture is NOT biblical! the believers will join christ in the clouds on the last day>

Answer 2

There are many Christians who believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ will be in two phases. First He will come for believers, both living and dead, in the "rapture"; read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. In this view, the rapture—which is the transformation and catching up of all Christians, dead or alive, to meet Christ in the air—will be secret, for it will be unknown to the world of unbelievers at the time of its happening. The effect of this removal, in the absence of multitudes of people, will, of course, be evident on earth. Then, second, after a period of seven years of tribulation on earth, Christ will return to the earth together with His church, the saints who were raptured (Matthew 24:30, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:13, Revelation 1:7). He will be victorious over His enemies and will reign on the earth for a thousand years (the millennium) together with His saints, the church. After the thousand years, living unbelievers and the wicked dead now raised to life will be judged at the great white throne judgment. They will then be cast into the lake of fire, while the saved will live forever with Christ in a new heaven and earth (Revelation, chapters 19-22).

Many other evangelical Christians believe that Christ's return and the rapture will not occur until the seven years of the tribulation have ended. As far as the latter view is concerned, the rapture will not be secret, since it will be part of Christ's visible and triumphant return to end this present evil age (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). At this point, interpreters differ as to whether there will be a literal thousand year reign of Christ on earth or whether the white throne judgment and the new heaven and earth will immediately appear.

The crucial matter is not that all Christians agree on all details of what will occur in the final events of this world's history. Some of these events and their order of occurrence have simply not been made clear in the Bible. What is important is that all Christians hold in common that Christ will ultimately return bodily, visibly, gloriously, to reign and rule with His resurrected and transformed saints forever and ever. The details of this great event will be made known in God's own time.

Answer 3

I believe the rapture happens before the tribulation period begins. There is an interesting scripture that describes the antichrist (the man of lawlessness) and how his "coming forth" on the world stage is being held back by a hindering force. Some bible teachers have said this "hindering force" could be the work of the holy spirit alive in the millions of born again believers. Once we are removed, the antichrist can come upon the scene.

Not to say the holy spirit will be gone of course, but I mean, the en masse departure of so many born again Christians. I think it's an interesting point and it makes sense to me.

As far as I know...the rapture could happen any time.

Answer 4

The first resurrection is before the Age of Christ Reign (Names are in the Lamb's Book of Life.). The second resurrection is after the Age of Christ Reign. A the Great White Throne Judgment the Books of Life are opened). Revelation 20.

The second death has no authority over those in the first resurrection. They are born of God, saved by grace.

I believe the Christian Lady 2001 is right.

After the great white throne judgment, those names not found in the Books of Life are thrown into the Lake of Fire (The second death.).

I don't know when the 1st resurrection is fullfilled. It started when Jesus rose from the dead a new temple. When we see Him as He is, we will metomorph into a new everlasting temple. I do believe the rapture is similar to getting into the ark of safety, before antichrist rules by terror, claiming peace yet intimidates others to take the mark of the beast & to bow down to the beast. Yet afterward people are still on the earth & will believe in Jesus & not take the mark & be beheaded, etc. They metomorph, I guess, a new temple & the first resurrection is still in progress.

Those who are part of the first resurrection are saved by grace, & are refined according to the Holy Spirit & fire baptism. So stinking thinking gets fried & everlasting rewards are given.


Pastor preached this last Sunday night. He believes it is before the tribulation. He brought up many verses (OT & NT). Very powerful message that I recommend you to purchase a CD of it. My guess it is $4 + shipping. web site: riveroflifefellowship.org. The phone Number is: 253-859-0832. The sermon titled 'Hold Fast To The End #3465 8/20/06pm'. It talks about how we can be ready, etc... today.

Answer 5

There are three views in the church, pre-trib, mid-trib and post trib. The reason most pre tribs believe it's before is after Chapter 3 of Revelation when all hell breaks loose, the church is no longer mentioned. There are a lot of good books, The Late Great Planet Earth, by Hal Lindsey was written 25 years ago but is still relevant. He has a website and a very interesting show on once a week where he compares todays news with the Bible. It's on TBN on Wednesday. Dr. Tim LaHay wrote books about the subject before they started doing the "Left Behind" series. Dr. David Jeremiah, the pastor of Shadow Mountain church in San Diego has a real good book called "Approach the Coming Night" I hope this helps. I believe in pre-trib

Answer 6

There is no "secret rapture"

Where in the Bible does it say 7 yrs of tribulation?
No where

What does the Bible say about the Secret Rapture?

“No single verse specifically states Christ will come before the Tribulation.”
Tim LaHaye (author of “Left Behind”)

Friends the belief in the SECRET RAPTURE is a dangerous doctrine because it is not Biblical. Please read with an open mind. Nowhere in the scriptures does it make any reference of a “SECRET RAPTURE”. Many people reference I Thessalonians 4 but they don’t actually read the whole chapter read verse 16.

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.

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. I Corinthians 15:52

These are some of the nosiest verses in the Bible how can it be a secret?


Where is the scripture that says “7 years of Tribulation”?

It cannot be found, because it is not in the Bible

Did God save Noah from the flood or through it

Did God save Israel from the plagues or through them

Did God save Daniel from the lions den or through it


But doesn’t the Bible say that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night?

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which THE HEAVENS SHALL PASS AWAY with a GREAT NOISE, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be BURNED up. II Peter 3:10

He comes as thief because it catches people by surprise, but when he comes everything is destroyed.


What does the Bible say will happen when Jesus comes back

For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matt 24:27

Everyone will see it you can’t miss it


Our God shall come, and shall NOT KEEP SILENT; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
Psalms 50:3

I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; And the heavens, they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, And all the hills moved back and forth. I beheld, and indeed there was no man, And all the birds of the heavens had fled. I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, And all its cities were broken down At the presence of the LORD, By His fierce anger. Jeremiah 4:26

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And 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 24:30,31
since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Thessalonians 1:6-8

1 angel rolled away the stone and 100 Roman soldiers collapsed in fear like dead men.

1 angel killed almost 200,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night

Jesus is coming with all his angels who will take flaming fire vengeance how can this be a secret?


But doesn’t the Bible say 1 shall be taken and 1 shall be left?


Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Matt 24:28

Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”
So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” Luke 17:36, 37


Notice how Jesus answers where the body and the vultures are gathered. The vultures devouring the flesh because those “Left Behind” will be dead.

The secret Rapture was created by a Catholic monk named Ribera. It was supposed to be used in the Counter Reformation, but no one believed it.

There is no Secret Rapture when Jesus comes he comes in glory the world does not go on for 7 years. When Jesus comes probation for sinners is over. We need to be ready now. Life does not continue on Earth after Jesus comes.


This video explains it
http://prophecycode.org/Resources/Video/PCVideo/ProphecyCode_2.asx

more topics here
http://prophecycode.org/meeting-list.asp

Answer 7

Eastern Orthodox do not believe in a rapture.
We do believe in the Second Coming of Christ, which is not taking anyone out of this earth.

The rapture theory is only been around since about 1820. It was put out because of a woman named Mary MacDonald who had a trance.

Dispensationalists, called because they took the bible to mean what they want...tried to fit scripture to this trance/vision, thus twisting scripture. It is only in America that this belief has been so widely spread. It has never been a part of the church's beliefs.

No one is getting out of any kind of tribulation.

Many will be decieved, because they will expect to be taken out of the earth, so when the antichrist does show up....they won't believe that he is the antichrist, after all they were supposed to be taken out of here right? So they will follow allow with the antichrist. It is so sad to see so many people who are concerned about the last days, to be putting themselves in danger, because of this heresy of the rapture.

Answer 8

Many blind themselves to revelation because it says noone knows they day or hour. And too many go along with it because they don't want to deal with the Word, when it says they will
suffer.
I have found at least three references that say the Rapture will
take place at the time the Seventh angel blows his trumpet.
It says Christ will return "on a cloud." In a verse it says with the "shout of an archangel." And Paul says we will be "changed in
the twinkling of an eye. At the LAST TRUMP!"
All these occur in Revelation after the Seventh angel sounds,
and it says the Mystery of God is Finished!

Answer 9

Different religions believe different things about the end times. I prefer to believe the rapture will occur before the tribulation simply because I don't want to suffer as those who don't believe will suffer.

The Bible says we must always be prepared because we never know when He will return.

Answer 10

There will be no rapture. Rapture was just a made up story by a 15 year old girl to impress the preacher she had a crush on.