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Did the Apostle Paul say the entire Church will be raptured?
Not long ago, I was discussing my view of the rapture with another fellow believer. I shared with him that I did not believe that all Christians would be ready when the Son of man appears. He said that he thought I was going against scripture. Then he cited 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 as his proof text. His understanding of that passage leads him to believe that Paul was saying that all living born again Christians (we which are alive and remain) will be raptured, but is that really what the apostle Paul meant? I believe he is taking that passage out of context. So let’s take a closer look at the text.
.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV) – But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
.
From what I gather from the passage above, Paul is telling the Thessalonians not to be sorrowful about those who are asleep (their dead loved ones). He’s teaching them that God will bring the dead with Christ when He comes. Then he goes on to tell them that the dead in Christ will rise first, then we which are alive and remain will be caught up together with them (the dead) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. In other words, Paul was merely comforting them about meeting their loved ones who had already passed away. Although there is some valuable information about the rapture in this text, Paul’s emphasis was not on the living, but rather, the dead; and that those who were still alive and remained at that time would meet them again in the clouds. Therefore, we should comfort those believers who have lost loved ones with these words.
.
Many have pulled verses 16 and 17 out of context for the purpose of discussing the rapture. These two verses are probably the most popular rapture scriptures, and I have often applied them myself. They contain some valuable information, no doubt, but we must not lose sight of Paul’s intent when he said it. They were never meant to identify which living believers would be raptured, or to say that all believers will be raptured. . Many also teach that the apostle Paul was the first one to reveal the mysterious rapture, but that is simply not true. The truth is that Paul was the one who first revealed this mystery to the Gentile believers. Christ had already taught this truth to His disciples years earlier (John 14:2-3, Matt. 24:30-31). So let’s take a look at what Christ said about this, which corresponds with Paul’s passage above. Let’s compare them both below.
.
(Paul) - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV) – 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: 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.
.
(Christ) - Matthew 24:30-31 (KJV) – 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. 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.
.
The two passages above are describing the very same event, though there are both similarities and differences. I’ll discuss the similarities first, followed by the differences. First, notice that in both passages Christ or the Son of man is descending from heaven or coming in the clouds of heaven. Notice that both are gathered or meeting in the clouds. And notice, too, that both gatherings are preceded by the blast of a trumpet. And finally, notice that neither one mentions a physical returning to the earth at that time. Now on to the differences.
.
Considering the context of both passages, there’s good reason for some differences as well. First, Paul was describing both, the resurrection of the dead and the rapture of the living, as he was comforting those whose loved ones had already passed away. Christ, on the other hand, did not even mention the dead, because He was telling His disciple’s about the sign of His coming, for those who will be alive at that time, and also the sign of the end of the age (Matt. 24:3). The dead will not need a sign, so there was no reason for Christ to mention the dead in His answer to their question. And let’s not forget the promise Christ made to His disciple’s.
.
John 14:2-3 (KJV) – In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
.
Christ was clearly the first to teach His Jewish disciple’s about the rapture. In fact, He also told them that He was the resurrection and the life as well. But the real question is: did He tell them that He would rapture the entire Church, as many pastor’s and teachers claim? And the unpopular, but true answer is: No, He did not say that or anything similar. He told them that He would send the angels to gather His elect (chosen). He further illustrated this by telling them parables, saying that His coming will be like it was in the days of Noah. Then He added that two will be in the field, one shall be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill, one shall be taken and the other left. He told them about the faithful servant and the unfaithful servant, who thought His Lord had delayed His coming. Next He told them about the parable of ten virgins. Five were wise and five were foolish. And finally, He told them the parable of talents, when He would return to reward His faithful servants.
.
He also told them a very telling parable on another occasion. In this parable, He said that those who are watching when He comes will be blessed, and that He, Himself, will be dressed to serve them, and will have them sit down and serve them meat at the wedding supper. He said that they will rule over His household and be given meat in due season. However, in that same parable, He also mentioned the believers that will be caught unaware of His coming, and they will be left with the unbelievers. Some of those who are not ready will receive a little punishment, and some will receive a severe punishment. Read it for yourself (Luke 12:35:48), and pay close attention to verses 46, 47 and 48. He made it very clear that the entire Church will not be ready when He appears.
If you're interested in End-times Prophecy, feel free to visit my End-Times Blog: http://roberthunt.tateauthor.com/end-times-blo/
Not long ago, I was discussing my view of the rapture with another fellow believer. I shared with him that I did not believe that all Christians would be ready when the Son of man appears. He said that he thought I was going against scripture. Then he cited 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 as his proof text. His understanding of that passage leads him to believe that Paul was saying that all living born again Christians (we which are alive and remain) will be raptured, but is that really what the apostle Paul meant? I believe he is taking that passage out of context. So let’s take a closer look at the text.
.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV) – But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
.
From what I gather from the passage above, Paul is telling the Thessalonians not to be sorrowful about those who are asleep (their dead loved ones). He’s teaching them that God will bring the dead with Christ when He comes. Then he goes on to tell them that the dead in Christ will rise first, then we which are alive and remain will be caught up together with them (the dead) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. In other words, Paul was merely comforting them about meeting their loved ones who had already passed away. Although there is some valuable information about the rapture in this text, Paul’s emphasis was not on the living, but rather, the dead; and that those who were still alive and remained at that time would meet them again in the clouds. Therefore, we should comfort those believers who have lost loved ones with these words.
.
Many have pulled verses 16 and 17 out of context for the purpose of discussing the rapture. These two verses are probably the most popular rapture scriptures, and I have often applied them myself. They contain some valuable information, no doubt, but we must not lose sight of Paul’s intent when he said it. They were never meant to identify which living believers would be raptured, or to say that all believers will be raptured. . Many also teach that the apostle Paul was the first one to reveal the mysterious rapture, but that is simply not true. The truth is that Paul was the one who first revealed this mystery to the Gentile believers. Christ had already taught this truth to His disciples years earlier (John 14:2-3, Matt. 24:30-31). So let’s take a look at what Christ said about this, which corresponds with Paul’s passage above. Let’s compare them both below.
.
(Paul) - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV) – 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: 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.
.
(Christ) - Matthew 24:30-31 (KJV) – 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. 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.
.
The two passages above are describing the very same event, though there are both similarities and differences. I’ll discuss the similarities first, followed by the differences. First, notice that in both passages Christ or the Son of man is descending from heaven or coming in the clouds of heaven. Notice that both are gathered or meeting in the clouds. And notice, too, that both gatherings are preceded by the blast of a trumpet. And finally, notice that neither one mentions a physical returning to the earth at that time. Now on to the differences.
.
Considering the context of both passages, there’s good reason for some differences as well. First, Paul was describing both, the resurrection of the dead and the rapture of the living, as he was comforting those whose loved ones had already passed away. Christ, on the other hand, did not even mention the dead, because He was telling His disciple’s about the sign of His coming, for those who will be alive at that time, and also the sign of the end of the age (Matt. 24:3). The dead will not need a sign, so there was no reason for Christ to mention the dead in His answer to their question. And let’s not forget the promise Christ made to His disciple’s.
.
John 14:2-3 (KJV) – In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
.
Christ was clearly the first to teach His Jewish disciple’s about the rapture. In fact, He also told them that He was the resurrection and the life as well. But the real question is: did He tell them that He would rapture the entire Church, as many pastor’s and teachers claim? And the unpopular, but true answer is: No, He did not say that or anything similar. He told them that He would send the angels to gather His elect (chosen). He further illustrated this by telling them parables, saying that His coming will be like it was in the days of Noah. Then He added that two will be in the field, one shall be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill, one shall be taken and the other left. He told them about the faithful servant and the unfaithful servant, who thought His Lord had delayed His coming. Next He told them about the parable of ten virgins. Five were wise and five were foolish. And finally, He told them the parable of talents, when He would return to reward His faithful servants.
.
He also told them a very telling parable on another occasion. In this parable, He said that those who are watching when He comes will be blessed, and that He, Himself, will be dressed to serve them, and will have them sit down and serve them meat at the wedding supper. He said that they will rule over His household and be given meat in due season. However, in that same parable, He also mentioned the believers that will be caught unaware of His coming, and they will be left with the unbelievers. Some of those who are not ready will receive a little punishment, and some will receive a severe punishment. Read it for yourself (Luke 12:35:48), and pay close attention to verses 46, 47 and 48. He made it very clear that the entire Church will not be ready when He appears.
If you're interested in End-times Prophecy, feel free to visit my End-Times Blog: http://roberthunt.tateauthor.com/end-times-blo/
