Joel M Bradshaw

17Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.–1 Thessalonians 4

There are two main rapture positions:

1. The rapture will happen before the end-times tribulation and before the final return of Jesus and so will be secret.
2. The rapture will be after the end-times tribulation and will occur at the return of Jesus and so will be very public.

If you hold to option 1, your end-times timeline looks like this:

TODAY….SECRET RAPTURE……TRIBULATION…SECOND COMING

If you hold to option 2, your end-times timeline looks like this:

TODAY…TRIBULATION…SECOND COMING

To help you with your decision, I have a theological question and a biblical one.

THEOLOGICAL: As you understand Scripture, will Jesus return once or twice? Because our text today in 1 Thessalonians is the main rapture text, and it describes believers meeting Jesus as He arrives. So is this happening once or twice? Because Jesus definitely comes riding on a white horse and ready for war in Revelation 19. So is Jesus spiritually coming here just to collect believers secretly? Is He hovering over earth in a way that nobody can see? Or does this text describe the only return of Jesus at the very end? If you believe that Jesus will only return once, then 1 Thessalonians 4 cannot replace Revelation 19! If you believe that Jesus returns twice, is that theological position directed by Scripture?

BIBLICAL: But what about the tribulation? If you hold to option 1 you believe that Jesus will be protecting the entire church FROM the tribulation. If you hold to option 2 you believe you believe that Jesus will be preserving His church IN and THROUGH the tribulation. Option 1 holds to Revelation 3:10. Option 2 looks to Matthew 24:30-31. Matthew 24 is the great end-times prophecy of Jesus. Before the ‘rapture’ moment in verse 31 there are these verses earlier in the chapter…

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14)

So did Jesus say that the church will be present THROUGH the tribulation there before He collects them? Did He say that the church must endure to the end?

Both rapture positions honor God and they do not disqualify anyone from Heaven. There are those who make FAR too much about what position they hold. Option 1 looks to the secret rapture next and says, “Come Lord Jesus and get us out of here!” Option 2 sees the tribulation happening next and says, “This world just keeps getting worse. Help us to stay true to you Jesus no matter how dark these days get. We wait for you.” I personally see Jesus preserving His church through unimaginable torment gives Him the most possibly glory. Although what husband would not want to protect his bride from trouble? I used to be number 1 and now I hold to number 2. But if you believe number 1, I love you and will see you in Heaven one day!-JMB