17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 (ESV)
Questions concerning the exact timing and nature of the “rapture” of believers in Christ at the coming (Parousia) of the Lord continues to this day. Primarily, this discussion is an intermural debate among Christians. It remains one of many subjects the Scriptures provide inferential information, but not exaltedness.
However, there are some who take the issue, as to the characteristics and timing of the rapture, to the next level. They indicate any disagreement with their proposed view of the rapture, whatever it may be, amounts to error or heresy. This creates no small amount of contentiousness and discontentedness within the church.
How are believers in Christ to approach this discussion, especially when individuals take a hardline as to their particular perspective concerning the rapture in particular and New Testament prophecy in general? To begin with, it is helpful to know the church has held several differing views of the rapture throughout history. In fact, the most popular view is the most recent.
Believers in Christ are in union with Christ by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Rom. 3:21-26). United to Him, we have died, we are raised, and we have ascended in the Spirit to heaven and are seated with Him in His rule (Ephesians 2:1-10). This is already true of the individual’s soul, and it will someday be true of the physical body (I John 3:1-2). The future ascension of the saints into heaven is spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
However, this verse has been primarily used to teach the doctrine called “the Rapture,” which is less than 200 years old. To understand it, we first of all have to look at four perspectives of understanding New Testament prophecy.
Today, we examine the four primary ways of interpreting New Testament prophecy in general, and the Book of Revelation in particular. Regardless of which of the four views you hold, there must be fundamental agreement regarding justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
The first perspective is called Preterism. Preterism says that most of the predictions in the New Testament concerning the return of Christ find their explicit fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and in the fall of Rome. The preterist says that the principles still apply, but the events are past.
Preterists interpret the Book of Daniel to events from the seventh century BC until the first century AD. Preterists interpret the prophecies of the Book of Revelation, as well as Christ’s predictions within the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24-25), as events in the first century AD. Preterism teaches Ancient Israel finds its continual fulfillment in the church since the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Preterists see the destruction of Jerusalem as being allegorically portrayed in the Book of Revelation. The term preterism comes from the Latin praeter, which is a prefix referring to something being ‘past’ or ‘beyond’. Preterism teaches that either all (full preterism) or a majority (partial preterism) of the Olivet Discourse came to pass by AD 70. Preterists appeal to the visions contained in Revelation as historical because they will be occurring “soon” because “the time is near” (Rev. 1:1-3; 22:6-10).
Historically, preterists and non-preterists have generally agreed that the Jesuit Luis de Alcasar (1554–1613) wrote the first systematic preterist exposition of prophecy Vestigatio arcani sensus in Apocalypsi. This was published during the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation (1545-1563).
Historicism, once the most common view, says New Testament prophecy predicts all the major events of the church age. Historicists see the fall of Rome, the tyranny of the popes, the advance of Islam, and the rise of the Enlightenment all predicted in the book of Revelation (6:1-18:24). This European-centered interpretation has largely been abandoned since Christianity has spread well beyond Europe.
Idealism says the visions and prophecies contained in the New Testament, and in the Book of Revelation, represent trends and forces in the historical and ongoing battle between good and evil.
Futurism, which is currently in favor in most churches, says that most New Testament prophecy concerns events immediately prior to the final return of Jesus Christ to the earth. For most futurists, the Great Tribulation of Matthew 24-25, and the Book of Revelation, does not refer to the fall of Jerusalem or to the continuing problems of the church in all ages. Rather, it is a period just prior to Christ’s return, seven years in length.
The futurist doctrine says that Christ will “rapture” His saints from the earth before the outbreak of this seven-year tribulation, or at least before the last three-and-a-half years (Mid-Tribulation Rapture View). Adherents teach Christ will not let His people go through these events. The problem with this popular opinion is not only that 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says nothing about such a tribulation as the context for the ascension of the saints, but also the fact that many Christians have suffered horribly in the past without being “raptured.”
Many biblical scholars, and interpreters of Scripture, hold to a combination of all four viewpoints. They maintain the imagery in the Book of Revelation can apply not only to Preterism but also to a Historicism, Idealism and Futurism interpretation.
Linked with the rapture question, is how it relates to the biblical doctrine of the Millennium? Will the rapture occur before or after the millennial reign of Jesus Christ? Is the church currently experiencing the millennial reign of Christ? These questions are considered when next we meet.
Application point. Where is your faith? In what, of whom, is your trust, commitment, dependence and worship focused? Is it on the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ? Or, is it in a hope, or wish, you will be “raptured” out of suffering and tribulation?
Believers in Christ must remain faithful in the eternal plan and purpose of God. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete until the day of Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1-10; Eph. 2:10; Phil. 1:1-6; I Peter 1:1-9).
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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