The term 'rapture', as it may be rendered into English, is used a grand total of one time in the entire Bible;
namely, Jerome's Latin Vulgate. It is used by Paul to describe the events within the universal resurrection of the dead. In this context there is nothing about a hidden rapture. There is nothing hidden about it. It is nothing less than the Epiphany, the Manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Appearance in Glory.
There is nothing about him ever coming back to earth after this. There is nothing about any other believers who might become believers after this time. There is nothing about any of this because both Christ and all the resurrected of all ages will have been 'raptured' to Heaven to be with the Lord Jesus forever. There is no coming back, either of Christ or the resurrected.
I don't know how Dispensationalists craft their wares, but however they do so regarding some notion of a Pre-tribulation Rapture, they cannot exegete it out of this passage. It isn't there. Nor is such a notion any part of Paul's eschatology. It is simply foreign to anything Paul ever wrote or even hinted about in his epistles.
namely, Jerome's Latin Vulgate. It is used by Paul to describe the events within the universal resurrection of the dead. In this context there is nothing about a hidden rapture. There is nothing hidden about it. It is nothing less than the Epiphany, the Manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Appearance in Glory.
There is nothing about him ever coming back to earth after this. There is nothing about any other believers who might become believers after this time. There is nothing about any of this because both Christ and all the resurrected of all ages will have been 'raptured' to Heaven to be with the Lord Jesus forever. There is no coming back, either of Christ or the resurrected.
I don't know how Dispensationalists craft their wares, but however they do so regarding some notion of a Pre-tribulation Rapture, they cannot exegete it out of this passage. It isn't there. Nor is such a notion any part of Paul's eschatology. It is simply foreign to anything Paul ever wrote or even hinted about in his epistles.
13 nolumus autem vos ignorare fratres de dormientibus ut non contristemini sicut et ceteri qui spem non habent 14 si enim credimus quod Iesus mortuus est et resurrexit ita et Deus eos qui dormierunt per Iesum adducet cum eo 15 hoc enim vobis dicimus in verbo Domini quia nos qui vivimus qui residui sumus in adventum Domini non praeveniemus eos qui dormierunt 16 quoniam ipse Dominus in iussu et in voce archangeli et in tuba Dei descendet de caelo et mortui qui in Christo sunt resurgent primi 17 deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus
13But 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. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For 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. 16For 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: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [raptured] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
So, there you have it--the sole usage of 'rapture' in the entire Bible. No 1000 year reign on earth. No Tribulation. No hidden raptures, No second chances. No dispensation of the Jews in a Temple in Jerusalem. No Tribulation Forces. No Nicolai Carpathias. No signs. No wonders. And never to return to this world again--both Christ and the ransomed of all ages. Just the universal bodily resurrection and rapture to heaven in the clouds with Jesus Christ, both of the dead and the living at the Trumpet of God with the voice of the archangel.13But 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. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For 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. 16For 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: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [raptured] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.