Rapture: Who was the first to reveal this?
What is called the Rapture is NOT the same event as that which is called the Second Coming of Christ. If you want to see a list of the many differences, you’ll find them in my article that addresses this—
Rapture: How is this different from the Second Coming?
One extremely important thing to realize about the Rapture is that this “coming” of Christ is said to have been a “mystery” until it was revealed through the apostle Paul. This means there’s not one trace of it anywhere in Scripture until it was revealed by him.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery [MUSTERION = secret]; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [Emphasis added]
It is on this occasion that every believer who has ever been a part of this present Dispensation of Grace will get their promised resurrection body.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation [POLITEUO = citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. [Emphasis added]
The most referred to passage concerning the Rapture is found in the apostle Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [believers who have passed away], that ye sorrow not, even as others [unbelievers] which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [speaking of our gospel message], even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him [those of our age who previously died].
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord [speaking of the special revelation our Lord gave to him], that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
Since the time when Paul had given them this information, some believers had died. The concern was that those believers may miss this event. Here Paul assures them that they will not.
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:
Here he assures these people that those who had died will actually get their resurrection bodies first, then all the other believers who are then alive will get theirs.
17 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.
Please notice that they will meet Him in the air. Christ does NOT come back to the earth on this occasion. Unlike Christ’s Second Coming, it is a quiet and secret event.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [Emphasis added]
It is no wonder that there are Bible readers who don’t believe in this event called the Rapture. This and the Second Coming are at times run together in Scripture as though they are one and the same event. But the Second Coming is not the “mystery” Paul wrote about in this passage. The prophets of old wrote lots about the Second Coming, but not one word about the Rapture. If they had, how could it be rightly called something that had been a secret?
There’s nothing about the Rapture anywhere in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John or anywhere else in the Old Testament writings. Again, this event is not revealed until it was given by our Lord to the apostle Paul.
Again, Paul speaks of the Second Coming, even in his writing to the Thessalonian church. In fact, he goes right into talking about that next in this same passage, but it is an entirely different event.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
1 But [a conjunction used to show contrast between the Rapture and the Second Coming] of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
The “times and the seasons” is a technical phrase used to refer to the time before Christ’s return, His actual return to the Earth to establish His earthly Kingdom, and/or the time afterward. The context determines its usage.
Acts 1:6-7
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. [Emphasis added]
1 Thessalonians 5 continued
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
How did they know this? They knew it from the Scriptures they had, Old Testament Scriptures.
“The day of the Lord” is another phrase Paul uses concerning Christ’s Second Coming and things that follow. It refers to a time when God will forcibly exercise His authority over the earth. There are many examples of that—
Acts 2:20
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: [Emphasis added]
The meaning of the word “day” is also generally determined by the context in which it is found. It may refer to one 24-hour day or to many days. It is even used in connection with Christ and His thousand-year Millennial reign over the earth. But our passage is talking about the time frame leading up to Christ’s Second Coming.
1 Thessalonians 5 continued
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren [fellow believers], are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath [speaking of His judgment in the days of the Tribulation period], but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. [Emphasis added]
Things pertaining to Christ’s Second Coming are found throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But there’s not one word anywhere in these about the Rapture. Again, that’s because it was a mystery to all until it was later revealed to Paul and then to us through his writings. However, sometimes passages in these books are misunderstood and thought to be about the Rapture. We’ll now note an example of that—
Matthew 24:37-42
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
This is a reference to when Christ returns to the Earth to establish His earthly kingdom.
38 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,
In other words, life went on as usual right up to the time when the judgment suddenly came upon them.
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Then we have that event which is also called the Baptism of Fire when all unbelievers living then are suddenly removed from the Earth and baptized [permanently identified] with fire.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Verses forty and forty-one here are sometimes thought to be about the Rapture. However, unlike the occasion of the Rapture, here we have unbelievers that are taken, not believers. Furthermore, they’re taken for judgment, not blessing.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. [Emphasis added]
What is called the Rapture is NOT the same event as that which is called the Second Coming of Christ. If you want to see a list of the many differences, you’ll find them in my article that addresses this—
Rapture: How is this different from the Second Coming?
One extremely important thing to realize about the Rapture is that this “coming” of Christ is said to have been a “mystery” until it was revealed through the apostle Paul. This means there’s not one trace of it anywhere in Scripture until it was revealed by him.
Again, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery [MUSTERION = secret]; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [Emphasis added]
It is on this occasion that every believer who has ever been a part of this present Dispensation of Grace will get their promised resurrection body.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation [POLITEUO = citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. [Emphasis added]
The most referred to passage concerning the Rapture is found in the apostle Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [believers who have passed away], that ye sorrow not, even as others [unbelievers] which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [speaking of our gospel message], even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him [those of our age who previously died].
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord [speaking of the special revelation our Lord gave to him], that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
Since the time when Paul had given them this information, some believers had died. The concern was that those believers may miss this event. Here Paul assures them that they will not.
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:
Here he assures these people that those who had died will actually get their resurrection bodies first, then all the other believers who are then alive will get theirs.
17 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.
Please notice that they will meet Him in the air. Christ does NOT come back to the earth on this occasion. Unlike Christ’s Second Coming, it is a quiet and secret event.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [Emphasis added]
It is no wonder that there are Bible readers who don’t believe in this event called the Rapture. This and the Second Coming are at times run together in Scripture as though they are one and the same event. But the Second Coming is not the “mystery” Paul wrote about in this passage. The prophets of old wrote lots about the Second Coming, but not one word about the Rapture. If they had, how could it be rightly called something that had been a secret?
There’s nothing about the Rapture anywhere in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John or anywhere else in the Old Testament writings. Again, this event is not revealed until it was given by our Lord to the apostle Paul.
Again, Paul speaks of the Second Coming, even in his writing to the Thessalonian church. In fact, he goes right into talking about that next in this same passage, but it is an entirely different event.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
1 But [a conjunction used to show contrast between the Rapture and the Second Coming] of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
The “times and the seasons” is a technical phrase used to refer to the time before Christ’s return, His actual return to the Earth to establish His earthly Kingdom, and/or the time afterward. The context determines its usage.
Acts 1:6-7
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. [Emphasis added]
1 Thessalonians 5 continued
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
How did they know this? They knew it from the Scriptures they had, Old Testament Scriptures.
“The day of the Lord” is another phrase Paul uses concerning Christ’s Second Coming and things that follow. It refers to a time when God will forcibly exercise His authority over the earth. There are many examples of that—
Acts 2:20
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: [Emphasis added]
The meaning of the word “day” is also generally determined by the context in which it is found. It may refer to one 24-hour day or to many days. It is even used in connection with Christ and His thousand-year Millennial reign over the earth. But our passage is talking about the time frame leading up to Christ’s Second Coming.
1 Thessalonians 5 continued
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren [fellow believers], are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath [speaking of His judgment in the days of the Tribulation period], but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. [Emphasis added]
Things pertaining to Christ’s Second Coming are found throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But there’s not one word anywhere in these about the Rapture. Again, that’s because it was a mystery to all until it was later revealed to Paul and then to us through his writings. However, sometimes passages in these books are misunderstood and thought to be about the Rapture. We’ll now note an example of that—
Matthew 24:37-42
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
This is a reference to when Christ returns to the Earth to establish His earthly kingdom.
38 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,
In other words, life went on as usual right up to the time when the judgment suddenly came upon them.
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Then we have that event which is also called the Baptism of Fire when all unbelievers living then are suddenly removed from the Earth and baptized [permanently identified] with fire.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Verses forty and forty-one here are sometimes thought to be about the Rapture. However, unlike the occasion of the Rapture, here we have unbelievers that are taken, not believers. Furthermore, they’re taken for judgment, not blessing.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. [Emphasis added]
Conclusion—
As I hope you see, all this is a part of why it is so important for people to learn and know how to apply the principle of the right division of Scripture. Studying the Bible otherwise leads to all kinds of false conclusions and beliefs, even regarding something as important as the means to one’s salvation. You can see more of exactly what I mean by that in my article about this—
Gospels: Did Peter and Paul preach the same gospel?
