The word "Rapture" holds a powerful place in modern Christian culture. Fuelled by popular books, movies, and constant speculation, the idea of believers being whisked away to heaven before a period of earthly suffering is widely known. With today’s global instability, many are asking "Is the Rapture coming soon?"
It’s a crucial time to look past the myths, address the widespread urgency, and ground our hope in the clear words of Scripture.
It’s Not a "Rapture," but a "Catching Up"
The English word "Rapture" is not found in the Bible. It comes from the Latin word raptura, which is derived from the Greek word harpaso used in
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV [16] 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. [17] 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. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (emphasis mine).
The word harpazo means "to seize," "to snatch away," or "to catch up suddenly and decisively." While the modern concept often emphasizes a secret departure, the biblical description is anything but quiet. The event is announced with a divine fanfare.
Notice the details: a loud command, the voice of an archangel, and the sound of a trumpet. This is a grand, undeniable, and loud public event—not a clandestine disappearance.
The Problem with Setting Dates
Every time there is a global crisis—wars, pandemics, political turmoil, or economic upheaval—social media and online prophecy circles explode with claims that “The Rapture will be (you pick a date)” This urgency is rooted in the natural desire to escape suffering and the mistaken belief that the Rapture must precede any major global trouble.
Jesus spoke about the reality of these troubling times, but framed them as something to expect before His return, not something that signals that the immediate, secret "escape hatch" is imminent.
Matthew 24:6-8 NIV [6] You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. [7] Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. [8] All these are the beginning of birth pains.
The temptation to assign a specific date or contradicts Christ’s own instruction.
Matthew 24:36-44 NIV [36] “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [37] As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. [38] For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; [39] and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. [40] Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. [41] Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. [42] “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. [43] But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. [44] So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
The problem isn't watching the signs, the problem is allowing fear and speculation to distract us from our core calling.
Our Priority is Watchfulness, Not Date-Setting
Regardless of the precise timing, the ultimate message of the Bible is to focus on holiness and readiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV [13] Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. [14] For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. [15] According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] 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. [17] 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. And so we will be with the Lord forever. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words. (emphasis mine)
The purpose of these prophetic words is to comfort and encourage, motivating us to live faithfully in the present—not to terrify us into hiding or to trigger a media frenzy every time the news is bad. The most important action we can take today is to ensure we are ready for His return whenever it comes.
It’s a crucial time to look past the myths, address the widespread urgency, and ground our hope in the clear words of Scripture.
It’s Not a "Rapture," but a "Catching Up"
The English word "Rapture" is not found in the Bible. It comes from the Latin word raptura, which is derived from the Greek word harpaso used in
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV [16] 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. [17] 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. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (emphasis mine).
The word harpazo means "to seize," "to snatch away," or "to catch up suddenly and decisively." While the modern concept often emphasizes a secret departure, the biblical description is anything but quiet. The event is announced with a divine fanfare.
Notice the details: a loud command, the voice of an archangel, and the sound of a trumpet. This is a grand, undeniable, and loud public event—not a clandestine disappearance.
The Problem with Setting Dates
Every time there is a global crisis—wars, pandemics, political turmoil, or economic upheaval—social media and online prophecy circles explode with claims that “The Rapture will be (you pick a date)” This urgency is rooted in the natural desire to escape suffering and the mistaken belief that the Rapture must precede any major global trouble.
Jesus spoke about the reality of these troubling times, but framed them as something to expect before His return, not something that signals that the immediate, secret "escape hatch" is imminent.
Matthew 24:6-8 NIV [6] You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. [7] Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. [8] All these are the beginning of birth pains.
The temptation to assign a specific date or contradicts Christ’s own instruction.
Matthew 24:36-44 NIV [36] “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [37] As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. [38] For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; [39] and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. [40] Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. [41] Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. [42] “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. [43] But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. [44] So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
The problem isn't watching the signs, the problem is allowing fear and speculation to distract us from our core calling.
Our Priority is Watchfulness, Not Date-Setting
Regardless of the precise timing, the ultimate message of the Bible is to focus on holiness and readiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV [13] Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. [14] For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. [15] According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] 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. [17] 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. And so we will be with the Lord forever. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words. (emphasis mine)
The purpose of these prophetic words is to comfort and encourage, motivating us to live faithfully in the present—not to terrify us into hiding or to trigger a media frenzy every time the news is bad. The most important action we can take today is to ensure we are ready for His return whenever it comes.
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