Frequently Asked Bible Questions

Does the Bible teach a secret rapture?

There has been a great deal of interest in end time events based on the Left Behind series of books and movies. What does the Bible teach about the rapture?

Millions have read the Left Behind books, which are based on a secret rapture. According to the most common version of the rapture theory, Christ will approach the earth (but not return all the way down to it), to secretly seize believers seven years before His actual return. Does the Bible teach this? The basis of the teaching is 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 where Paul says Christians "shall be caught up...to meet the Lord in the air."

Let's consider the context. The apostle Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 after the unexpected deaths of some brethren to remind the Thessalonians of the hope of the resurrection. Nothing in this passage justifies an understanding other than that it is referring to Christ's second coming. The "shout," "voice of an archangel" and "the trumpet of God" are anything but secret (verse 16).

Let's also consider some related passages. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul wrote that the resurrection would occur "at His coming" (verse 23) and at "the last trumpet" (verse 52). This is the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15-18, which announces Christ's second coming, the establishment of His Kingdom on earth.

Where will Christ be after meeting the saints in the clouds? "In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives" (Zechariah 14:4; compare Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 11:15; Daniel 7:13-14, 27).

Matthew 24:36-44 does talk of some being prepared for Christ's coming, and others left unprepared, but it doesn't say God's people will be taken to heaven. The Bible shows that the place where God protects His people is on the earth during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 12:13-17).

In spite of its popularity in some circles, the rapture theory is not supported by God's Word.

Related Online Resources

What's 'Left Behind' in the Rapture Theory?
Millions of people have read novels structured around the idea of the rapture of Christians. Why do people believe in a rapture? Is there any biblical validity to this teaching?

The Rapture: Who's Left Behind?
Why do many people believe a doctrine that has no biblical validity? Isn't it time you learned the real truth? A Beyond Today video presentation.

The Rapture—A Popular but False Doctrine!
The rapture, often called "the blessed hope," is sadly more hoax than hope, even though the man who started it had no intention of deceiving anyone. You need to know what the Bible actually says!

The Rapture Is Wrong: The Saints Don't Rise to Run Away
The Bible says the saints rise to meet Christ at His return. But they aren't snatched away to heaven. They rise in the air to perform a fitting salute to the King of Kings and then join Him, not in heaven, but on the earth. If this is different from what you have heard or believed, you need to prove what the Bible actually says!

Contact Us

Don't see your Bible FAQ here? Ask our team of caring, dedicated ministers for a personal answer. (Please allow a week or so for an e-mail response.)