All this talk about a rapture BEFORE the tribulation, you’d think there’d be plenty of biblical evidence to support this purported assumption.

What exactly is The Rapture?

The rapture is supposedly the time just before the Tribulation when Christ returns for his people, those living at that specific time as well as for those dead during that same period. The dead in Christ will rise FIRST and then those who are alive will also be caught up together with them, where both parties will then meet the Lord in the air basically at the same time and therefore, miss out having to go through the Beast system- or The Great Tribulation period that’s about to take place on the earth.

1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.

1Thessalonoans 4:17 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 so we shall ever be with the Lord.

So since some of the dead will be raised during this period, a far more appropriate word for the rapture is- The Resurrection! Besides that, The Resurrection is biblical, The Rapture isn’t!

But when exactly does this rapture or resurrection take place, before or after the tribulation? Well, Christ Himself gives us the answer and please notice the similarities in blue from both Matthew and Thessalonians.

Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light; and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:31 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.

So Christ says this event takes place AFTER the Tribulation, NOT BEFORE!

This Rapture theory is often advocated by those who are putting all their hope in not having to suffer through the much dreaded period known as The Great Tribulation.

And though they claim there is scriptural evidence for such an event as the Rapture occurring BEFORE the Tribulation, Biblical scripture suggests otherwise.

In another post in regards to this topic, we covered a Bible passage that is always used to support the Rapture and of course, it is always assumed that it will occur before the Tribulation.

So in this post once again, we will explore another favorite passage that is often used as evidence supporting this theory. In this case however, we will go beyond the advocated evidence and get to the true meaning of that particular passage. So here is their evidence:

Matthew 24:40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.

Matthew 24:41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.

This passage found in Matthew, is supposedly evidence of the Rapture. Those being taken are being taken in the Rapture. Those left behind are the unlucky ones who are well, just left behind.

So is this really solid evidence? Some swear by it. Well, not so fast though. Let’s let the Bible tell us exactly where these individuals are really being taken to.

Where Matthew leaves off, Luke picks up:

Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.

Luke 17:35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”

Luke 17:36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

Luke 17:37 And they said to him, “WHERE, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

So, it is not the Rapture after all! These are actually Christians being dragged away from their places and being put to death during The Tribulation:

Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.

Once again, no evidence for a Rapture that is supposedly going to keep Christians from going through The Great Tribulation Period.

Thousands if not millions, believe that the Church- or rather Christians, will not go through the end-time period known as The Tribulation. This is the time when the beast system is in full force and reigns supreme.

They claim that all those that are dead in Christ and those Christians living just before this dreaded period known as the tribulation, will be whisked away together into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This event is known as The Rapture, or as it is sometimes referred to, The Secret Rapture.

Those advocating this theory claim that Christ will not allow Christians to suffer wrath during this coming dreaded period. Therefore, He will rapture them to Himself. But if that were truly the case, then why would there be a need to rapture or resurrect the dead? After all, they are completely oblivious to everything happening on the earth, heaven- or in the grave!

I am going to make this very simple. I will show you one Bible passage that completely destroys this theory. But before I do, let me show you the one that is always used as evidence to support it.

The primary evidence used is this one:

1Thessalonians 4:16: For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.

1Thessalonians 4:17: 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 so we shall ever be with the Lord.

Please realize that in order for the dead to be raised, a Resurrection must occur. So according to the evidence supporting this theory, a resurrection is involved to raise the dead. Then both the resurrected dead and those who were alive- will meet the Lord in the air.

And now the following passage that utterly destroys this theory:

Revelation 20:4: And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 20:5: But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:6: Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.

And there it is! If this is the FIRST resurrection, that means there could have been no other- secret or not, before it! So much for this theory.

Those advocating this theory are at a loss for words when trying to Biblically explain this away. It is clear that those in the first Resurrection will consist of some who are beheaded for not worshiping the Beast or its image during the period known as The Great Tribulation!

Be prepared! Christians, Church and all, will all go through this period the Bible calls, The Great Tribulation.