Is the ‘Rapture’ part of Jesus’ return?

I had never heard about the Rapture until I got married. My late father-in-law was an old-style Elim Pentecostal who had a Scofield Reference Bible with all of the End Times mapped out, including the idea that there will be a sudden evacuation of all believers from earth ahead of Christ’s return. I’d never met somebody expounding that idea before. If they did read 1 Thessalonians 4, most people I knew would roll their eyes and think: “I have no idea what that’s about!”

In the passage Paul has been told that some people in the community had died, which confused the church. He responds in a way that says: “Yes, grieve, but don’t grieve hopelessly.” People were worried that Jesus would return and the people who were dead would stay dead, so would miss out. But this is not the case.

Paul explains that the Lord will descend from heaven, the dead will rise first, then those left alive will meet them on the clouds to join their Messiah. Some have taken that literally, and talked about the dangers of being ‘left behind’. That’s not what this passage is about. Paul is awfully good at mixed metaphors that frequently invoke Old Testament imagery – but modern readers can be unfamiliar with them. Little did Paul know how his colorful metaphors for Jesus’ second coming would be misunderstood.

First, he describes the Lord coming down from heaven in words taken from Moses’ descent of the mountain with the Law in Exodus — hence the blast of the trumpet. Then, “we being caught up on the clouds” is actually a reference to Daniel 7 — the vindication of God’s people after their suffering. 

Finally, when he talks about “meeting the Lord”, the word ‘meeting’ is the word you’d use if you were a Roman citizen and Caesar was making a state visit to your city. The leading citizens would go out to meet Caesar, in order to escort him back into the city. Paul is saying that the only way we can talk about these ultimate events is by bringing together lots of different images from scripture to talk about God’s ultimate purpose.

When Jesus comes back, it isn’t to snatch people away from earth. He is coming back to heal the world and to heal and transform his people.

Reflect: How does Tom’s explanation change your understanding of End Times?