Larry Ollison: The Imminent Rapture of the Church

Why the Church’s Blessed Hope Comes Next

Are we living in the last moments of the last days? In this message, we walk verse-by-verse through Scripture to show why a pre-tribulation rapture best fits the whole counsel of God. Learn the clear difference between the rapture and the second coming, why the church is not appointed to wrath, and how prophetic “days” (2 Peter 3:8) outline God’s timeline leading to the millennium.

What you’ll learn

• The next event on God’s prophetic calendar for the church
• Rapture vs. Second Coming—two distinct events, two destinations
• Why the church escapes the wrath to come (not “escape-ism”—good news!)
• The three people groups (1 Corinthians 10:31–32): Jews, nations, church
• How passages often used against the rapture are taken out of context
• The role of Israel’s rebirth (1948) and rising end-time alignments (Ezekiel 38)

Key Scriptures referenced

• John 14; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–6
• 2 Peter 3:8; Hosea 6:2; Daniel 12:2; Mark 13:24–32; Matthew 24:13–14
• Revelation 22:12, 20; Zechariah 14 (Mount of Olives); 1 Corinthians 10:31–32

Highlights

• “Caught up” (harpazō) = raptured—snatched away to meet Jesus in the air
• No sign must precede the rapture; many signs precede the Second Coming
• Comfort in grief: God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4)
• Rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Revelation 22:12) are based on works; salvation is based on His work

If this encouraged you, like, subscribe, and share to help others understand our blessed hope. Drop questions or prayer requests in the comments—we’d love to stand with you.

Maranatha! Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)

#Rapture #PreTribulation #BlessedHope #EndTimes #BibleProphecy #1Thessalonians4 #1Corinthians15 #SecondComing #GreatTribulation #Eschatology #Maranatha #JesusIsComing

The Imminent Rapture of the Church

Lift up the Word and repeat after me: I believe. I believe this is the Word of God. I believe what God says, because it is impossible for God to lie.

With everything going on in the world right now, I want to talk to you about the imminent rapture of the church. We are in a place like no other generation in history—on the brink of the last moments of the last days—when Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is coming back for the church.

There are groups in the church today, all around the world, who don’t believe in the rapture. Others believe the rapture will happen halfway through the great tribulation. And still others—even some well-known people—believe the rapture will happen at the end of the tribulation. Having studied this for decades (and I just revealed how old I really am), the only way Scripture fits together perfectly and seamlessly is to believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church.

What does that mean? It means the next event for the church is when Jesus appears in the sky and we are caught up with Him. We are raptured—that Greek word means “snatched away,” “caught away,” “taken.” The dead and the living who are believers will be raptured. We go to heaven for seven years. While we are in heaven for seven years, the earth goes through the great tribulation.

I could read you many verses about how the church of God—the believers—is not destined for the wrath to come. When the Bible talks about “the wrath to come,” it’s talking about the great tribulation. In fact, Jesus coined that phrase: the great tribulation. We are not appointed to the wrath that’s going to come. During the great tribulation, Jesus Christ pours out wrath—not upon the church (we’re with Him)—but upon the earth. He’s not going to torture His own body. We are snatched away—taken away.

Some people say, “You just preach escape theology.” Yes—that’s the good news: we escape the wrath to come. At the end of the seven years, we return with Jesus to the earth. That is what we call the second coming and the end of the age—the end of man’s days on the earth as prophesied in the Bible (the six days of man). At that point, Jesus’ feet touch down on the Mount of Olives—not Washington, D.C., Paris, or London (Zechariah 14 implied). There’s a great earthquake; the Antichrist is defeated; the false prophet and the beast are cast out; many events unfold. Jesus then sets up His kingdom on earth and rules and reigns for 1,000 years, and we rule and reign with Him in glorified bodies.

You can put other scenarios together, and you can use some Scripture to do it—but you must pull Scripture out of context, and you can’t use all Scripture. With a pre-tribulation rapture, all the Scriptures fit seamlessly.

I’ll give you some Scriptures today. There’s no way I can give them all in the time I have. (If you want to study deeper, my books A Place Called Heaven and The Paradise of God include many more verses.) But here are some realities.

Jesus was born in 4 BC. (Some ask, “How could Jesus be born four years before the birth of Christ?” Our Gregorian calendar is slightly off.) Most theologians agree Jesus was crucified in 29. Three days later He was resurrected and ascended. Hebrews tells us Jesus went into the heavenly holy of holies and put His blood on the mercy seat—the lid of the ark of the covenant. He became the firstfruits into the kingdom and the head of the church—the firstborn among many brethren—and the church came into existence.

To understand our future, remember 1 Corinthians 10:31–32: there are three groups of people on the earth. Paul says not to offend them, then names them: the Jews, the nations (Gentiles), and the church. Know which group you’re in to know your future. Jesus is not coming back for the nations; He’s coming back for the church. If you’re a born-again believer, you’re part of the church, and what I’m teaching applies to you. It’s the gospel—good news.

2 Peter 3:8 says, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing: with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” From the time Adam was kicked out of the garden (not counting how long he was in it; the Bible doesn’t say) until now is 120 jubilee years—6,000 of our years—six days if a day is as a thousand years. The creation template given to Moses was six days—then a seventh day when the Lord rested—His day. Likewise, after 6,000 years of man’s time, there will be another 1,000-year period—the millennium. Between man’s days and the millennium, a seven-year sliver of time is inserted. Picture seven books between bookends: on one end is the rapture of the church, and on the other end is the second coming of Jesus.

Luke 13:32 hints at this pattern: “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall be perfected.” If a day is a thousand years, Jesus is saying two days will pass (2,000 years of church ministry—His body casting out demons and healing), and on the third day He will be perfected—the next thousand years, the millennial reign.

Hosea 6:2 (to the Jews): “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.” Daniel 12:2 promises a resurrection of the righteous Jews—at the second coming, when Jesus touches down on earth. God’s promises to Israel are yes and amen. If He could back out on them, what would that say about His promises to us?

In the late 1800s/early 1900s, many couldn’t envision Israel returning as a nation. Yet on May 14–15, 1948, Israel was reborn—fulfilling prophecy, regaining language, land, leadership, and strength. Back then, the rapture and second coming looked like one distant event. But as we near fulfillment, the Holy Spirit has clarified the imminent rapture of the church. It’s close. There is not a single Scripture that must be fulfilled before the rapture. (Many verses used to claim otherwise are pulled out of context.)

At the Last Supper (John 14), Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled… I go to prepare a place for you… I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” The disciples didn’t yet understand the church.

1 Corinthians 15:20–23: “Christ… has become the firstfruits… each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” We will be made alive when He comes.

Acts 1:6–11: The disciples asked, “Will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons…” Then He ascended, and angels said He will come in like manner—in the clouds.

As for timing: Matthew 25—“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour…” Mark 13:32—“Of that day and hour no one knows… but only the Father.” He’s speaking to Jews about His return after the tribulation—the second coming. Just back up a few verses (Mark 13:24–26): “After the tribulation… they will see the Son of Man coming… with great power and glory.” That’s not the rapture.

Some say, “Then people can count seven years from the rapture to know the day of the second coming.” Scripture implies a gap between “the dead in Christ will rise first” and “then we who are alive” (1 Thessalonians 4). We’re told the dead rise first for a reason—it may not be instantaneous. We don’t know how long—minutes, hours, a day—but we won’t be shaken. The church should not walk in fear.

Others say, “He’ll come like a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1–3: the day of the Lord comes as a thief to them—“they” say peace and safety, and sudden destruction comes upon them. But verse 4 says, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief.” We are of the day, not the night.

Some claim Jesus won’t return until the gospel is preached to all the world—Matthew 24:13–14: “He who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world… and then the end will come.” He’s speaking to Jewish believers asking about the kingdom. The gospel of the kingdom (distinct from the church age emphasis) will be preached during the tribulation—by 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe), by angels, and by us ruling and reigning with Him—calling people to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. Those who endure to the end (of the tribulation)—refusing the mark of the beast and false worship—will be saved from judgment and enter the millennial kingdom in natural bodies. The church will rule and reign with Jesus over them, while Satan is bound in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52: “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” The “twinkling” refers to the rate of change—from mortal to glorified—not necessarily the speed of our ascent.

Paul addressed concerns about believers who had died (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18): “I do not want you to be ignorant… For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus… 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. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” When Jesus comes, our loved ones in Christ come with Him. Then we’re reunited—forever—in resurrected, glorified bodies.

Revelation 22:12: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” Salvation is a gift based on what He has done; rewards are based on what we have done (at the judgment seat of Christ, shortly after the rapture).

Revelation 22:20: “Surely I am coming quickly.” John replies, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

There are mountains of Scriptures confirming this. Read your Bible. If you want the Scriptures to fit together seamlessly, be watchful and waiting for Jesus’ return—knowing you’ll escape the wrath to come, because Jesus will not pour out wrath on His own body. We are taken away.

Some say, “The word ‘rapture’ isn’t in the Bible.” Neither are “computer” or “automobile,” but we have those. “Rapture” comes from the Latin in the Vulgate (related to harpazo, the Greek word meaning “caught up,” “snatched away,” “caught away”). Whether we say “caught up,” “snatched,” or “raptured,” we’re out of here—and that’s good news. Who’s excited about receiving a resurrected, glorified body? It could happen today.

Most Scriptures people cite as prerequisites for the Lord’s return refer to events during the tribulation before He comes to set up His kingdom—not to the rapture of the church. There’s nothing left to be fulfilled for the rapture except the fullness of time.

If you want to think literally: if Jesus’ resurrection and the start of the church age were in 29, and if a day is as a thousand years, then 2,000 years would be 2029. I’m not setting dates; I’m just talking. If 2029 were the setup of the kingdom, the rapture would be roughly seven years prior. Again, I’m not setting dates—just noting that everything is converging. Ezekiel 38 factors (a nation to Israel’s north—Moscow; armies from the east; Persia, now Iran) are aligning now, pointing to the eminent rapture of the church.

Father, in the name of Jesus, we give You all the glory. Father, send Your Son now. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. We’re ready.

Thank You, Father.

We love You, in the name of Jesus.

Amen.