In the Twinkling of An Eye

At the end of The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, Pippen turns to Gandalf and says, “I didn’t think it would end this way.” Gandalf replies, “End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path – one that we all must take.” Gandalf then describes white shores and a far green country on the other side. “Well, that’s not so bad,” answered Pippen.

Someday our journey on this earth will end. As followers of Christ, signs of our Lord’s return should fill us with hope (Matthew 24:32; I Thessalonians 4:16-17). “Do not let your hearts be troubled…” John 14:1-3. 19 times the “church” is mentioned in Revelation 1-3, but the church is not mentioned as the 7-year Tribulation unfolds in Revelation 6-19.

Three Key Reasons for Believing the Rapture Happens Before the Tribulation:

Jesus could return at any moment.

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” —I Corinthians 15:51-52

Some believers won’t die, but will be instantly taken to heaven (Matthew 24:40-41).

Jesus commands us to be alert, continually watching for his return (Mark 13:32-37). Those who teach a post-tribulation Rapture must either say that Christ can’t return today, or that we could be in the Tribulation period now. Since neither option seems tenable, Christ must return in two phases.

After the mostly Gentile church is removed at the Rapture, God will turn his attention once again to Israel and the Jewish people.

“In that day…the Lord will reach out a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people…He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.” —Isaiah 11:10-12

The flag of Israel will be a rallying point for every Jew on the planet. Ezra and Nehemiah detail the first time God brought back the Jewish exiles to Israel. But the Jews were scattered once again after Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. God will bring them back to Israel a second time at the end of the age (Ezekiel 37).

“Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city.” —Daniel 9:24

69 sevens or 483 years have been fulfilled, but 7 years remain when the Lord will turn his focus again on the Jewish people. Today the age of the Gentiles is ending (Luke 21:24). God will cause the Jews to return to him (Romans 11:25) after the church is removed (II Thessalonians 2:6-8).

The church is promised that it will not endure God’s wrath when it is unleashed during the Tribulation.

“Wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath…For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” —I Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9

God’s wrath is referenced six times during the Tribulation (Revelation 6:16, 17; 11:18; 14:10; 16:19; 19:15). But the Lord makes this promise to his faithful church,

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” —Revelation 3:10

In Luke 17:26-36, Jesus teaches that the Rapture will occur during a time of normal living, unlike his return in Revelation 19:11. Suddenly God’s people will be removed from danger, just as Noah and Lot were.
Jewish wedding practices are a beautiful illustration of the doctrine of the Rapture. The groom presents a priceless object when he is betrothed to his bride, and both return to their homes where the groom prepares a home, and the bride prepares herself for marriage. Then at an unknown time, the groom appears to his bride and brings her to his home where they are married, followed by seven days of celebration ending with a feast.
When you trust in Jesus, you are ‘betrothed’ to him and accept his priceless gift of salvation. Someday soon, he will appear to bring his bride to his home where there will be a great celebration and feast (Matthew 25:1-13). Are you ready for the sudden return of your Lord?