Jack Hibbs: Defining the Rapture

Defining the Rapture — Pastor Jack Hibbs unpacks what the Bible teaches about the Rapture: why the English word doesn’t appear in most translations, how the Latin raptus (from Greek harpazō—“caught up/snatched away”) informs our term, and why the New Testament presents it as a distinct event for the Church. We’ll connect Jesus’ promise in John 14:1–3 to Paul’s teaching in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and explore Revelation’s imagery (the seven lampstands) to frame the Church’s role in the end times. Be encouraged to live watchfully and faithfully in a turbulent world.

You’ll learn

• The biblical basis for the Rapture (Greek harpazō, Latin raptus)

• Why the doctrine is Church-specific in the New Testament

• How John 14:1–3 undergirds the hope of being “received” to Christ

• What the seven lampstands in Revelation signify for believers today

• Practical ways to live ready for Jesus’ return

Key Scriptures: John 14:1–3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 1–3

Defining the Rapture

Hey, you guys! We’re going to start today by responding to questions we received when we asked, “What do you want to hear about?” People said, “We want to hear about the Rapture. We want to know if it’s real. Where is it in the Bible? If it is, define it, place it, describe it.” So stay tuned—we’re diving into that right now.

Real Life presents the Jack Hibbs Podcast—with intention and boldness to proclaim truth, equip the saints, and impact our culture today. If this podcast lifts you up and encourages you to live a more fulfilled life in Christ, then make sure you leave us one of those five-star ratings. To us, that’s like saying “amen” or “yes.” That rating will encourage others to listen.

Now open your hearts to what God’s Word has to say to you. Here is Jack Hibbs.

Hey, everybody! Welcome to today’s installment of our Jack Hibbs Podcast. First of all, we’re very excited and delighted by how many of you have been subscribing and listening. I was just briefed on the data—the listenership has been amazing. We’re encouraged. The greatest thing you can do for us is not only listen but also subscribe and share. You can do that by going to jackhibbs.com and telling others about the content—because that’s how these things spread.

We asked on Facebook the other day for the topics you’re most concerned about—what’s coming up in your conversations. Overwhelmingly (and understandably) the questions were about last-days events: the Millennium (great questions there), the Rapture (what is it?), who the Antichrist is, whether the Bible really predicts the future, and what we should do if it does. We’re not going to cover it all in one session.

For those of you watching, do you see this really awesome little mic flag that says “Real Life”? You know how the pros have cool setups that say things like “Turning Point USA.” That’s what we’re doing here. If you’re only listening, you have no idea what I’m talking about—but this is Real Life, and we’re excited.

Here’s the deal—let’s dive in. Over the next several podcasts, let’s start by defining the Rapture. Then, in following episodes, we’ll walk through the biblical chronology of end-time events. Why that order? Because once we define the Rapture, it covers several views. Laying the foundation of a biblical definition lets us place it properly—or argue why it belongs in a particular place. Some of you will disagree, and that’s totally fine—but let’s know why we disagree. We’re going to have some fun, because I have to tell you: I was saved at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa under Chuck Smith, and he taught a pre-tribulation Rapture. I believed it as a new believer because he taught it. Then I studied other things and drifted away from a pre-tribulation Rapture view for about three to five years. But the more I studied, the more I returned to a pre-tribulation Rapture view—this time with a bit of sanctified passion. I understand both sides. One view takes a lot of faith and discipline; one takes a burden off your shoulders; one sets a fire under you to be ready and obedient every day; the other has you waiting for other things to happen first. What you believe about the Rapture translates into how you live day to day.

So, if you’re taking notes, here we go. One of the big questions was: “How can you believe in the Rapture if the word ‘rapture’ isn’t in the Bible?” I understand the question. If you read Latin, the term raptus (from which we get “rapture”) appears in the Latin Bible. In Greek, the word is harpazō. In many English translations, it appears as “caught up”—two English words representing the one idea. Harpazō means to be suddenly and forcibly removed—snatched away. Picture someone grabbing you off train tracks just before the train hits—that’s the idea.

Let’s define the Rapture biblically. We’re not talking about timing yet; just what it is. The Rapture is presented in Scripture—specifically in relation to the Church in a New Testament setting. (There are individual “translations” in Scripture: Elijah was taken up; Enoch walked with God and was not; Philip in Acts was suddenly transported to another location.) Isaiah 26:19–21 is also interesting. But the Rapture of the Church is the removal of the Church. That’s its function.

Now, write these verses down. The number-one, overwhelming Rapture passage for you and me comes from Jesus Himself. He’s the first to tell us about it: John 14:1–3. Jesus said to His disciples, just before His ascension back to heaven:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Walk through that: Don’t let your heart quake (the Greek is seismos) with worry and fear. If you believe in God, believe also in Me—that’s the gospel. “In My Father’s house are many mansions.” We’ll talk about what that means in another podcast. Whatever they are, Jesus says, “I go to prepare a place for you… and I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” He’s leaving to the Father’s house; He will return to receive us to Himself and take us where He’s been preparing. That’s the promise.

If you hold a post-tribulation view (as I once did), this creates a problem. In that view, at the end of the Tribulation, the Church goes up to meet Jesus in the air and immediately comes back down to earth to establish the Kingdom. How does John 14 get fulfilled if that’s the case? It doesn’t fit. I did all the interpretive gymnastics—you tie yourself in knots.

We’re still defining the Rapture—not placing it—so here’s another key: Revelation 3:10. Jesus says to the church at Philadelphia, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” He promises to keep a group entirely from a global hour of testing. That’s significant. (We’re not earth-dwellers; our citizenship is in heaven. We’re here on assignment to spread the gospel—and then we plan on getting out of here.)

Now Revelation 4:1. The Book of Revelation gives its own outline: “Write the things which you have seen, the things which are, and the things which will take place after this” (1:19). Chapter 1 is the revelation of who Jesus is (“things you have seen”). Chapters 2–3 are the letters to the seven churches (“things which are”). Then 4:1 begins “the things which will take place after this”—meta tauta.

Revelation 4:1–2: “After these things (meta tauta) I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’ Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne…”

From that point on, John’s vantage point is heaven as he records what happens on earth. You also read in Revelation 1–3 about Jesus walking among the seven golden lampstands—the lampstands are the seven churches. That imagery connects back to the menorah revealed to Moses (Exodus/Leviticus). If you read Genesis to Malachi, then skip the New Testament and go straight to Revelation, you’d still recognize much of the imagery. Revelation expects you to know your Old Testament—the dragon, kingdoms, heavenly and demonic beings—all anchored in Old Testament revelation.

Back to Revelation 4: around the throne are 24 thrones, and on them 24 elders, clothed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. (We’ll identify them later.) From the throne proceed lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire burn before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God (see Isaiah 11:1–2 for that sevenfold description). Before the throne is a sea of glass, like crystal. In and around the throne are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and back. The first is like a lion, the second like a calf, the third has a face like a man, the fourth is like a flying eagle. Each has one head with four faces—imagery long associated with the four Gospels (for example, Luke emphasizes Jesus as the Son of Man).

As usual, I didn’t get through as much as planned! We’re going to keep going because you’ve asked great questions. We’re still working on defining the Rapture. Next time we’ll continue: where it’s placed in Scripture and why it has to happen.

In the meantime, please hit subscribe, tell people about this, and make it a small-group thing—play it, talk about it, and open your Bibles together. More than ever, it’s time to live out what you believe. That’s why we say: It’s time for Real Life.

Go to jackhibbs.com to subscribe and leave a rating. It helps signal to the platforms that people care. We don’t do this for numbers—but it does help us keep the truth out there.

Next time: Part 2 of “Defining the Rapture”—where it fits in Scripture and why it must happen. God bless you!