When Will the Rapture Occur?

I Thessalonians 5:1-11

“The Lord will return before 1960.”

I was just a little child when I heard the “Evangelist” make that claim, and it really frightened me. A large billboard proclaimed that the lord would return November 6, 1974. I wasn’t nearly as concerned. There have been hundreds of such predictions. My dad said one time that if enough “prophets” predict it often enough and long enough, one of them will probably guess within a year. Many no longer believe that there will be a literal resurrection.

Most of these prognosticators depend on various “signs of the times” to identify when we can expect the Lord’s return and the rapture. Unfortunately they ignore some clear statements in scripture about the events. Mark 13:312 gives an expanded quote of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24:36. “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” It seems somewhat arrogant for men to proclaim they know more than Jesus Christ knew.

After his resurrection, the apostles asked Christ about the times of his establishing his kingdom, and he told them that it was not for us to know the time or even the season. “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” (Acts 1:6-7) Since we are not to know. Paul did not waste our time trying to give us some timetable, stressing that the lords return would be unannounced, like a thief’s coming.

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (I Thessalonians 5:1-3)

Matthew 24:36-46 stresses the idea that the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly to everyone. Life will go on just as normal, even for those who are Christians. The ones who live prepared will be ready when the time comes, but there will be no early warning for others to get ready.

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Matthew 24:36-46)

We are to obey God, regardless of what is happening around us. We are not to wait until we think the Lord is coming, and try to get busy, nor are we to live constantly worrying about what if he returned today. II Thessalonians 2:1-2 warns not to let ourselves to be upset by claims that the rapture is about to happen. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” Our service is to be a consistent way of life as a result of love, not a response to fear of judgment.

False teachers will frequently use predictions of the rapture to manipulate people’s actions. Matthew 24:4-6 warns us not to fall for such deceptions, even though many signs may be exhibited to convince their hearers of their accuracy. “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” The signs simply indicator the approach, not timing of the rapture. Paul advises us to be busy about obeying God’s commands, so that we are not caught unawares.

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.” (I Thessalonians 5:4-7

Mark 13:32-37 gives very similar advice. “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”