Understanding the Rapture of the Church: 8 Questions and Answers

The rapture of the Church is an end-time event. Jesus will instantly take his Church (both living and dead believers) out of the world (1 Cor. 15:51-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; cf.; Job 19:25-27; Isa. 26:19; John 11:25-26; 14:1-3; Rev. 20:4). There are several features of the rapture. For example, it:

  • Could occur at any time (imminent) (Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:50-54)
  • Could occur before or with Jesus’ Second Coming
  • Is likened to a “snatching away” or a “carrying off” to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17)
  • Results in the resurrection and transformation of believers (1 Cor. 15:50–57; Phil. 3:20–21; 1 Thess. 4:13–18 cf., John 14:1–3; Rom. 8:23; Rev. 3:10)
  • Is necessary because our human bodies cannot dwell in heaven eternally (1 Cor. 15:50)

What Happens When Believers are Transformed?

When the rapture of the Church occurs, resurrected and living believers are transformed. Their transformed bodies are:

  • Wholly united with Jesus (Rom. 6:5)
  • Spirit-dominated, meaning the Holy Spirit directs them (1 Cor. 15:44)
  • Imperishable and immortal (1 Cor. 15:42, 51–52)
  • Physical because God created us in his image (Gen. 1:27; 9:6; Heb. 1:3)
  • Glorious being perfect and permanently righteous (Phil. 3:20-21)
  • Able to see God face-to-face (i.e., the “Beatific Vision”) (Matt. 5:8; 1 Cor. 13:12; Rev. 22:4)

The Three Millennial Views

All Christians agree on Jesus’ Second Coming. However, there is debate on when Christ’s return occurs in relation to the 1000 years or millennium (Rev. 20:2-7). The three main views of the millennium are:

  1. Premillennialism: Premillennialists believe that Jesus’ Second Coming is before the millennium. The millennium is a literal 1000-year reign over the world from Jerusalem. The rapture of the Church occurs before his second coming.
  2. Postmillennialism: Postmillennialists believe Jesus returns to earth after the Church has Christianized the world. A long time (“millennium”) of peace and prosperity follows.
  3. Amillennialism: Amillennialists interpret the “millennium” as occurring now. It is the long period between Jesus’ first and Second Coming.

The Three Premillennial Views of the Rapture

In premillennialism, the rapture of the Church precedes Jesus’ return and is intimately related to the seven-year tribulation (Rev. 6-18). There are two ways to classify premillennialism: firstly, as either dispensational or historical views; and secondly, according to whether the rapture occurs either before (pre-), during (mid-), or after (post-) the tribulation.

Dispensational Premillennialism

Pretribulational premillennialists: Jesus secretly returns before his Second Coming. He will resurrect dead believers and transform living Christians. He then takes them to heaven before the tribulation (Matt. 24:36, 50; 25:13; Rom. 11:25). The rapture of the Church removes all believers from the earth before the tribulation (1 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 3:10; 6-18).

Midtribulational premillennialists: The rapture of the Church occurs three- and one-half years (mid-way) into the seven-year tribulation (Matt. 24:1-9; 2 Thess. 2:3; 2 Tim 3:10). Jesus delivers believers from the last half of the seven years. This period is called the “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:15–28; Rev. 16–18).

Historical Premillennialism

Posttribulational premillennialists: This view holds that the rapture occurs after the tribulation period.

Scriptural Context and Interpretational Differences

The verses in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 state: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, 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.”

A large portion of non-Catholic Christians understand these verses to refer to that moment when Christ comes at the end of time to “transport” the faithful from earth “up” into heaven. However, others suggest this represents a misreading of biblical texts like Matthew 24:40: “Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.” The one who is left behind in verse 40 is the one in good standing, set to enjoy eternity with God in a newly cleansed and restored creation, while the other is taken away to judgement and separation from God.

Many Catholics talk about something called the “beatific vision” which the faithful will enjoy at the end of all things—that perfect communion with God, in which we get to behold him in his essence; as he truly is. Catholics concentrate less on how we get there (being “raptured away”), and more on the dwelling place itself, and on the conditions of it—beautifully blissful and blessed (hence ‘beatific’).