The Rapture

The term "rapture" does not appear in the Bible but comes from a Latin word meaning “a carrying off.” It refers to the event when God "snatches away" all believers from the earth to prepare for His judgment during the tribulation. This concept is primarily taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50–54, where it is described that God will resurrect deceased believers, transform them and living believers into glorified bodies, and take them to meet the Lord in the air.

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The rapture differs from the second coming of Christ; during the rapture, He comes "in the clouds," while in the second coming, He descends to earth (Zechariah 14:3–4). Paul refers to the rapture as a "mystery" revealed in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:51–52). This event is one of hope and comfort for believers, as it signifies freedom from sin and eternal presence with God, as encouraged in 1 Thessalonians 4:18.