Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! [John 14:3; 1 Cor 15:52; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Col 3:4] |
Subject: Is the rapture biblically supported? |
Bible Note: Greetings Rowdy! As I mentioned to Mommapbs, my response was to a very limited question. Is there Biblical support for a 'rapture'. The Thessalonians passage certainly teaches a 'catching away', but doesn't say anything about the 'timing'. In fact, there isn't any specific statements in Scripture about the timing, but my understanding (which I am not dogmatic about at all) is as follows. 1) We are caught up with Christ at some point in time (1 Thess. 4:13-18). 2) I also believe that Rev. 4:14-20 is refering to the same event. Thus, the timing would be about half way through Daniel's 70th week. 3) Revelation speaks of the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, which I believe takes place during the second half of Daniel's 70th week. 4) Revelation also speaks of us coming back and reigning with Christ for a 1,000 years. So, my timeline would be: 1) Daniel's 70th week begins with persecution of believers. 2) The Church is raptured 3 1/2 years into Daniel's 70th week. 3) God begins to pour out His wrath upon the world for the remaining 3 1/2 years. 4) During that same final 3 1/2 years, we celebrate the Wedding Supper of the Lamb with Christ. 5) We return with Christ to reign for a 1,000 years. 6) Satan is released for an unspecified 'short time'. 7) The rest of the dead are raised and judgement day begins. 8) We live for ever in a new Heaven and new Earth. This is my basic understanding. As I mentioned, I am certainly not dogmatic about it. I would be willing to engage in limited discussions on the issues, but I am not willing to get into a 'big' debate over it. Scripture simply isn't clear enough on these points. :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |