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The term 'rapture' comes from the Latin rapturo, translating the Greek harpazo ('caught up') in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The concept describes believers being caught up to meet Christ at his coming. While all Christians affirm that Christ will return and believers will be transformed, there is significant debate about the timing of the rapture relative to the tribulation — pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation views all have serious biblical defenders.
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet."
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
"Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left."
"While we wait for the blessed hope — the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
The word 'rapture' is not in most English translations, but the concept is drawn from 1 Thessalonians 4:17 where believers are 'caught up' (Greek: harpazo; Latin: rapturo) to meet Christ. The event is also described in 1 Corinthians 15:51–52. Whether this is a separate event from the Second Coming is the point of debate.
Pre-tribulationists distinguish between the rapture (Christ coming for his church before the tribulation) and the Second Coming (Christ coming with his church after the tribulation). Post-tribulationists see them as a single event. Mid-tribulationists place the rapture at the midpoint of the tribulation. All views are held by serious Bible scholars.
Matthew 24:36 records Jesus saying 'about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.' Acts 1:7 similarly says it is not for us to know 'the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.' Scripture consistently discourages date-setting while encouraging readiness.