David Guzik: God’s Plan for the Ages – The Rapture of the Church

Dive into 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and a clear, Scripture-first case for the pre-tribulation rapture. In this teaching, we read the text, define “caught up,” compare rapture vs. Second Coming passages, and walk through why many believe Jesus gathers His church before Daniel’s 70th week (the seven-year Tribulation). We also tackle common objections and end with a practical call to live ready for Christ’s return.

What you’ll learn

• What “caught up” means (1 Thess 4:17) and where the word “rapture” comes from
• How the Bible presents two phases of Christ’s coming: to meet His church in the air vs. to return in judgment (1 Thess 4; Rev 19)
• Why the Tribulation’s purpose matters (Luke 21:22; Matt 24:21) and what “not appointed to wrath” means (1 Thess 5:9; Rev 3:10)
• The case for imminence—why “Jesus can come today” (Matt 24:44; Mark 13:35–37)
• Answers to “escapism,” “late doctrine,” and “Antichrist deception” claims
• How to watch, stay sober, and encourage one another as the Day draws near

Outline (no timestamps)

• Prayer & series context (Creation, Covenants, New Covenant & 70th week)
• Reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
• The doctrine of the rapture explained
• Where does it fit in the 7-year timeline? (pre/mid/pre-wrath/post views)
• Reasons for a pre-trib rapture
• Bad reasons to reject it & better biblical reasoning
• Living ready: worship, holiness, hope

Key Scriptures

1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13–18; 5:6, 9 • 2 Thessalonians 1–2 • Daniel 9; 12:11 • Matthew 24–25 • Luke 21:22, 36 • John 14:1–3 • Revelation 3:10; 6; 7; 8–9; 16; 19

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#BibleProphecy #Rapture #PreTribulation #1Thessalonians #Eschatology #GreatTribulation #SecondComing #NotAppointedToWrath #JesusIsComing

God’s Plan for the Ages – The Rapture of the Church

Good evening, everybody. Let’s open our Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 4.

Father, thank You for this time together. We’re grateful for Your blessing on these Wednesday nights. Teach us by Your Word and by the presence of Your Spirit. Do it, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God’s Plan of the Ages (Series Recap)

We’ve been tracing God’s plan of the ages: creation, the fall, and the covenants—the Abrahamic, the Sinai/old, the Davidic, and then the new covenant. The new covenant is complete in substance, yet some of its promised outcomes are not yet fulfilled—particularly those tied to a future national turning of Israel to Jesus. Scripture repeatedly points to a final seven-year period in which many of these promises come to completion (cf. numerous OT/NT passages).

One event closely connected to that seven-year period is our focus tonight: the catching away of believers—commonly called the rapture. The debate among Christians centers not on if it happens, but when it occurs in relation to that final seven years.

The Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Let’s begin at 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17 (reading context from v. 15):

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 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 thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

A quick (bad) joke you’ve heard: “Did you know the [insert any denomination] will be taken first in the rapture? Because ‘the dead in Christ will rise first.’” (No offense intended—insert any group there.)

But pause and let the wonder land: living believers are caught up with resurrected believers to meet the Lord in the air. The verb “caught up” means to seize, snatch, carry off by irresistible force—a sudden, sovereign “swoop.”

In Greco-Roman usage, the word “to meet” can describe officially welcoming honored guests. That’s us. The Latin Vulgate uses rapiemur (from rapturo), from which “rapture” derives. You won’t find the English word in your concordance, but the doctrine comes straight from this text.

Note the clarity. This is not figurative language. As Dean Alford observed, Paul’s tone here is strict matter-of-fact. Either we receive it as practical expectation, or we deny apostolic authority.

Also notice the comfort: “And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Whatever our state at His coming—dead or alive—we will be with Him forever.

Where Does the Rapture Fit?

Many Christians see a final seven-year period (Daniel’s 70th week). Views differ on where the rapture falls:

1. Pre-tribulation: before the seven years begin.
2. Mid-tribulation: at the midpoint.
3. Pre-wrath: in the latter half, before God’s final wrath.
4. Post-tribulation: at the end.

Brothers and sisters hold these in good faith. We don’t break fellowship over it. That said, I’m persuaded biblically that the pre-tribulation rapture best fits Scripture. Here’s why.

Reasons for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture

1) Two Phases of Christ’s Second Coming

Scripture presents different conditions and scenes surrounding Christ’s return that are best harmonized by two phases separated by an appreciable interval:

• World conditions
  • Business as usual: Matthew 24:37–44—“eating, drinking, marrying,” unaware until judgment falls.
  • Global catastrophe: Matthew 24:21—“great tribulation” unparalleled; Revelation 6:15–17—the mighty hide, crying out from the wrath of the Lamb.
• Direction and purpose
  • To the air for His church: 1 Thessalonians 4:17—we “meet the Lord in the air.”
  • To the earth in judgment: Revelation 19:11–21—He comes with heaven’s armies, judges, and makes war.
• Position of believers
  • Going up to meet Him: 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
  • Coming with Him in glory: Revelation 19:14 (clothed in fine linen).
• Date-expectation
  • Unknown hour: Matthew 24:36—“no one knows the day or hour.”
  • Countable interval: Daniel 12:11—1,290 days from the abomination of desolation.

These tensions dissolve if Christ first comes for His church (rapture) and later returns with His church (Revelation 19).

2) The Purpose and Nature of the Tribulation

The Tribulation is characterized as divine wrath and vengeance upon a Christ-rejecting world, while also awakening Israel and purifying a remnant:

• “Days of vengeance” (near/far pattern): Luke 21:22.
• “Great tribulation” unmatched: Matthew 24:21.

While a multitude is saved during that time (Revelation 7:9, 13–17), the judgments (seals, trumpets, bowls—Revelation 6; 8–9; 16) are global and universal in scope (e.g., a third of vegetation, sea life, fresh water, and celestial light). That is not easily squared with the church remaining yet being fully insulated.

Jesus likened His return not to the Exodus (Goshen protected) but to Noah and Lot: God removed His people, then judgment fell.

3) The Imminence Passages

The NT repeatedly calls us to watchfulness and readiness because He can come at any time:

• Matthew 24:44; 25:13
• Mark 13:35–37
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6

If mid-trib, pre-wrath, or post-trib are correct, then the rapture cannot happen today—it would be at least 3.5 to 7 years away, preceded by unmistakable markers (e.g., covenant confirmations, Daniel 9:27; the abomination of desolation). But Scripture emphasizes imminence.

Textual Reinforcements from 1 & 2 Thessalonians

• 1 Thessalonians 1:10—They were waiting for His Son from heaven, “who delivers us from the wrath to come,” not for the Tribulation or Antichrist.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18—Paul comforts them that the dead don’t miss out; if anything, if the church must endure the Tribulation, the dead would be “better off”—but that’s not Paul’s comfort.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:3–10—He promises rest to the afflicted and judgment to persecutors. If the church must face the severest time in history, “worse is coming” would be the message—but it isn’t.
• 2 Thessalonians 2—They feared they were already in the Day of the Lord. Paul calms them: you’re not; certain events (e.g., abomination, the man of sin) haven’t occurred. That’s only comfort if Paul had taught they would not pass through that day.

Common Objections (and Responses)

1. “Pre-trib is escapism.”
   We’re not claiming personal worth; we’re trusting God’s promises:
   • “Not appointed to wrath” — 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
   • “Pray to be counted worthy to escape all these things” — Luke 21:36.
   • “I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” — Revelation 3:10.
     Also, the church has not been short of suffering. More believers were martyred in the 20th century than in all prior centuries combined.
2. “Pre-trib sets people up for Antichrist’s deception.”
   We don’t accept or reject doctrines based on how the deceived might abuse them. If we argue that way, any view that delays Christ’s coming could likewise “set people up.” Our standard is Scripture, not hypothetical misuse.
3. “Pre-trib is too new.”
   Our authority is Sola Scriptura, not how early a view was formalized. Historically, God has clarified different doctrines at different times (Scripture, Trinity, Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology). It’s not surprising that eschatology received sharper definition closer to the end. The early church still lived with imminence, which best fits pre-trib.

Exhortations

1. Prophecy matters, but don’t break fellowship over non-essentials. Hold convictions with humility and love.
2. Don’t inherit your theology. Be a Berean. Test everything by Scripture.
3. If you object, object biblically, not merely historically or emotionally.
4. Be ready. However detailed your charts, if you aren’t ready to meet Jesus, you’ve missed the point.

There will be a generation that hears the trumpet of God, the shout, and the voice of an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and in “the twinkling of an eye” is caught up to meet Him in the air. May we be found watching and faithful.

[Closing Prayer]

Father, make us ready for Your Son’s return. Readiness begins with what You accomplished at His first coming—the cross, the empty tomb, and our ascended Lord. As we worship now, show us what to confess, what to lay down, and what to embrace. We want to be ready. In Jesus’ name, Amen.