Verses in the bible about the rapture

A great deal depends on what you mean by the word “should.” If you’re asking whether Christians ought to believe in the rapture or have to believe in it in order to be saved, the answer is no. Despite everything that can be said in its favor, the doctrine of the rapture cannot be considered one of the indispensable essentials of the Christians faith. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” they replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

If, on the other hand, you want to know whether it’s reasonable, sensible, or biblically supportable to believe in the rapture, we would have to say yes. This teaching is based upon two important New Testament passages. The first and plainest is I Thessalonians 4:13-18:

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The second, I Corinthians 15:51-52, is similar in content:

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. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

In light of these passages, several other portions of Scripture have traditionally been understood as referring to the rapture. See, for example, Matthew 24:36-42, Luke 17:20-37, and John 14:3. But the two we’ve cited are the most significant. They provide the most solid biblical basis for the doctrine.

It’s important to add that scholars have interpreted these texts in a variety of ways. This in itself reflects the ambiguity of the scriptural teaching on the subject. This is obviously one of those issues which, in the words of The Westminster Confession, is “not alike clear unto all.”

We can relax with the thought that there is legitimate room for disagreement here.

Resources
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The Last Days According to Jesus

All About the Second Coming

Reasons For Faith

What Every Christian Ought to Know Day by Day: Essential Truths for Growing Your Faith

Basic Christianity

What the Bible Teaches: The Truths of the Bible Made Plain, Simple, and Understandable

Referrals
Christian Research Institute

Insight for Living

Most Relevant Verses

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.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Matthew 24:37

For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.

Mark 13:32

But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

Matthew 24:40

Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

Luke 17:34

I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.

Revelation 11:11

But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.

Matthew 24:29

“But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Matthew 24:27

For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:14

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Revelation 9:10

They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.

Matthew 24:36

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

Revelation 4:1

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”

Matthew 24:19

But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

Revelation 3:10

Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

2 Thessalonians 1:10

when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

Mark 13:25

and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.

Mark 13:18

But pray that it may not happen in the winter.

Revelation 16:15

(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)

Psalm 45:15

They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing;
They will enter into the King’s palace.

Matthew 24:33

so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.

2 Timothy 4:8

in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Corinthians 12:2

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

1 Thessalonians 5:2

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

John 3:29

He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

Revelation 12:7

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,

1 Thessalonians 4:15

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

Titus 2:13

looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

Mark 13:10

The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

Revelation 14:4

These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

1 Corinthians 15:52

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Matthew 24:8

But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Matthew 24:44

For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

Luke 21:23

Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people;

Revelation 20:13

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

Revelation 11:13

And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Luke 21:11

and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Revelation 16:4

Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood.

Revelation 1:10

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,

Matthew 24:38

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

Revelation 9:6

And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.

Topics on The Rapture

Date Of The Rapture

Acts 1:7

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

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