But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.—Matthew 24:36 (KJV)
Jesus is coming! While all Christians believe this, the logistics of how and when it will happen have been hotly debated throughout Christian history.
My understanding of the end times (eschatology) is not set in stone. As the saying goes, I’m on the welcoming committee, not the program committee. In fact, the religious leaders of Jesus’s day thought they had the Messiah’s first coming all figured out and when it didn’t happen the way they expected, they crucified Him!
Biblical Perspectives
Yet my “welcoming committee” remark was certainly not intended to be flippant. While there are certainly pitfalls to avoid, the study of Bible prophecy is vital. Christ’s return is mentioned over 300 times in the New Testament. God would not have inspired these passages if He didn’t intend for us to engage with them.
As for the rapture, it is true that the word itself does not appear in English Bibles. Rather, it comes from the Latin rapturo (from the Greek harpazō, meaning “to seize, catch away”). And yes, the coming “catching away” of God’s people is very much taught in the Bible.
- “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
- “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 will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51–52
- “In my Father’s house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2–3
- “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20–21
Notice these passages describe Jesus coming for His saints to meet Him in the air. This seems to be a distinct event from the actual Second Coming, in which He returns with His saints (1 Thessalonians 3:13, Jude 14–15) and actually sets foot on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).
Historical Perspectives
One common objection to the rapture is that the notion didn’t exist until John Nelson Darby (1800–1882) systematized the modern doctrine of the rapture into his dispensational framework. However, that is not accurate. The early church held a diversity of eschatological views, many of which were no doubt informed by the severe persecution they were experiencing. While the idea of a rapture was by no means universally held, numerous sources throughout church history show that it was not a foreign concept, either. Consider the following:
- The Shepherd of Hermas (95–160 AD) “If therefore ye prepare yourselves beforehand, and repent (and turn) unto the Lord with your whole heart, ye shall be able to escape it, if your heart be made pure and without blemish, and if for the remaining days of your life ye serve the Lord blamelessly.”¹
- Irenaeus (130–202 AD)“Therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, ‘There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.’”²
- Cyprian (200–258 AD) “Do you not give God thanks, do you not congratulate yourself, that by an earlier departure you are taken away, and delivered from the shipwrecks and disasters that are imminent?”³
- Victorinus (270–303 AD) “For the heaven to be rolled away, that is, that the Church shall be taken away.”⁴
- Apocalypse of Elijah (3rd Century AD “Christ will take pity on His people by sending Angels from heaven… to remove them from the wrath and lead them to paradise. There raptured saints will receive white robes…& dwell in safety from Antichrist.”⁵
- Ephrem the Syrian (306–373 AD) “Because all saints and the Elect of the Lord are gathered together before the tribulation which is about to come and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.”⁶
- Brother Dolcino (1316 AD) “He taught, Antichrist was coming into this world and after he had come, the followers of Christ would be transferred into Paradise.”⁷
- Joseph Mede (1586–1639) In Clavis Apocalyptica, Mede made a distinction between the rapture of the saints and the Second Coming of Christ to earth.⁸
- Increase Mather (1639–1723) “That the saints would be caught up into the air beforehand, thereby escaping the final conflagration.”⁹
- Peter Jurieu (1637–1713) In 1687, he wrote that Christ would come in the air to rapture the saints and return to heaven before the battle of Armageddon.¹⁰
- John Gill (1697–1771) “Suddenly, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…by the power of Christ…and holy angels; and to which rapture will contribute, the agility which the bodies both of the raised and changed saints will have…in Christ.”¹¹
- Morgan Edwards (1722–1792) “The dead saints will be raised, ¹²
How and When?
Despite Jesus’s own words that no one knows when He will return, that hasn’t stopped many from trying to figure it out. Here are some examples:
- 1000 AD – Many in Europe believed the world would end at the first millennium.
- 1844 – William Miller predicted Christ’s return between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844, revised to October 22, 1844. The failure of this date became known as the Great Disappointment, leading to the rise of Adventist movements.
- 1914 – The Watchtower Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses) initially pointed to this year for Christ’s visible return (later reinterpreted as invisible).
- 1981 – Some prophecy teachers speculated that since Israel became a nation in 1948, adding a “generation” (about 40 years) would bring the rapture around 1981.
- 1988 – Edgar Whisenant’s booklet 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988 was widely distributed. When it didn’t happen, he wrote a follow up on why it would be 1989 instead.
- 1994 – Radio preacher Harold Camping predicted the rapture in 1994, then again for May 21, 2011, then shifted it to October 21, 2011. I overheard someone saying that he had gone to the website of a church of this persuasion and posted a contribution for the day after the predicted date. They accepted it, so apparently they weren’t fully convinced either.
- 2000 – Y2K fears led some to believe the new millennium would coincide with the rapture. This time was especially significant as it was being promoted by many respected Bible scholars, not just fringe groups.
- 2017 – Some tied “Revelation 12 sign” astrology interpretations to September 23, 2017.
- 2022 – Pastor Ade Abraham (Nigeria) claiming God revealed the Rapture was imminent set up a “Rapture camp” and charged fees.April 25, 2024 – Pastor Metuh (Nigeria)
Claimed a divine revelation andet a specific date. Again, no Rapture happened. - September 23–24, 2025 – Joshua Mhlakela (South Africa) claimed a vision from Jesus linking the rapture to Rosh Hashanah and calendar signs. Although it was widely shared online, it was obviously another failed prediction.
Nonetheless, Jesus did speak of signs to watch for as His coming draws near. While it is true that no one knows the day or the hour, we can know times and seasons. He warned of false christs and widespread deception (Matthew 24:4–5), wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6), famines, earthquakes, and other natural disasters (Luke 21:11). Wickedness would increase, and love would grow cold (Matthew 24:12).
He further compared that day to the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37–39; Luke 17:26–27) which were characterized by tremendous violence and wickedness (Genesis 6:5–13). Similarly, He compared it to the days of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:28–29) which were earmarked by sexual debauchery (Genesis 19, Jude 1:7) and cruelty (Ezekiel 16:49-50).
Even a brief viewing of the news will show that not only are these things happening, they are all practically daily occurrences. That being said, excessive speculation does more harm than good, hence the repeated occurrences of this “rapture fever.’
The Cure? Live Ready!
Whenever a projected rapture date comes and goes, the response is often mockery. While this is understandable to a degree, we must never allow ourselves to be desensitized to the fact that it will happen.
The above mentioned signs notwithstanding, Jesus also indicated that at the time of His return, life would largely be “business as usual.” People will, eat, drink, get married and conduct their affairs just like they always had and many will be caught off guard (Matthew 24:38). This is why we must always stay alert and vigilant.
Through parables like the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1–13) and the faithful servant (Mark 13:33–37) Jesus repeatedly warns against spiritual complacency in light of His return. Similarly, Paul encourages believers to “awake out of sleep” because “our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11), and Peter reminds the church to be “sober and watchful in prayer” (1 Peter 4:7). Revelation promises a blessing to those who “keep their garments” and remain alert (Revelation 16:15).
So, be ready but not restless. Be watchful. but not worried. Live as if Christ could return today but plan as if you’ll be here to bless countless future generations. It’s a win/win either way.
Keet It Real,
James
NOTES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. The Shepherd of Hermas, trans. Alexander Roberts, Early Christian Writings, https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/shepherd-lightfoot.html.
2. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.29.1, Early Christian Writings, https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus5.html.
3. Cyprian, Epistulae, 51, New Advent, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/050707.htm.
4. Victorinus, Commentary on Revelation, New Advent, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0712.htm.
5. Apocalypse of Elijah, 3rd Century, Early Christian Writings, https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/apocalypsee.html.
6. Ephrem the Syrian, Commentary on the Diatessaron, Early Christian Writings, https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ephrem.html.
7. Brother Dolcino, Letters, 1316, Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/pretrib_arch/1046.
8. Joseph Mede, Clavis Apocalyptica (1630), Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/pretrib_arch/1113.
9. Increase Mather, Remarkable Providences (1684), Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/pretrib_arch/1113.
10. Peter Jurieu, Observationes Sacrae, 1687, Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/pretrib_arch/1113.
11. John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible, 1748, Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/pretrib_arch/1113.
12. Morgan Edwards, Millennial Survey, 1788, Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/pretrib_arch/1113.
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