The rapture is the biblical event in which Jesus Christ will suddenly and visibly call His church, those who are born again, to meet Him in the air before the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the earth. This event is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)
The term “rapture” comes from the Latin word rapturo, which translates the Greek word harpazo in verse 17, meaning “caught up” or “snatched away.”
The rapture is distinct from the Second Coming. In the rapture, Christ comes for His saints; in the Second Coming, He returns with His saints to establish His kingdom (Revelation 19:11–14). The rapture is imminent, meaning it can happen at any moment, with no prophesied events needing to occur first:
“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2)
The purpose of the rapture is to remove the church before the wrath of God is poured out during the tribulation. Believers are not appointed to endure this judgment:
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
Paul referred to the rapture as a mystery, something previously hidden but now revealed:
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed… in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52)
At that moment, believers will receive glorified bodies:
“For our citizenship is in heaven… who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20–21)
The rapture is meant to be a source of comfort and hope for believers, not fear:
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
It is a promise that Christ will rescue His people before the final judgment falls. Believers are called to watch, be ready, and live in holiness as they await His return:
“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
