Debunking The Rapture Myth – Wallace G. Smith tomorrowsworld.org

Many believe ‘the rapture’ refers to Christians being “raptured” into Heaven before Jesus Christ returns to rule and before the Great Tribulation. This belief suggests Christians will vanish, leaving the world to face the Tribulation. Three or seven years later, Jesus will supposedly begin His reign on Earth.

This idea often stems from the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, where he describes believers being caught up to meet the Lord. The Latin Vulgate translates “caught up” as rapiemur, from which the term “Rapture” is derived. However, is Paul describing a secret Rapture or something else?

God expects us to read His word carefully. Paul advised Timothy to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), and Isaiah said, “precept upon precept, line upon line” (Isaiah 28:9–10). We must do the same to understand the Rapture theory.

Three crucial questions arise:

1. Will Christians suddenly vanish without explanation?
2. Will Christians be caught up into the air years before Jesus returns?
3. Will Christians spend the Great Tribulation in Heaven?

Paul describes the resurrection at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:50–53). This will be a loud, public event, not a secret vanishing. The book of Revelation details a sequence of trumpets (Revelation 8:1–2), with the seventh trumpet signaling the resurrection and transformation of Christians (Revelation 11:15).

The Bible describes a resurrection at Christ’s return, not a secret Rapture. True Christians will meet Christ at the first resurrection, at the last trumpet, and will reign with Him on Earth (Revelation 5:10). This event will be visible and audible to all, disproving the Rapture myth.

There will be protection during the Great Tribulation for some Christians, but it will be on Earth, not in Heaven (Revelation 12:14–17). Zealous Christians will be protected, while others may endure trials, reflecting the different experiences of the Philadelphia and Laodicean churches (Revelation 3).

The idea of a secret Rapture is a misunderstanding. The Bible teaches that Christians will be resurrected to meet Christ and reign on Earth during His kingdom.

#RaptureMyth #BiblicalProphecy #EndTimes #Resurrection