Is it possible the rapture has already happened?
The rapture has not yet occurred. For one, I am still here. Joking aside, Paul wrote the letters to the Thessalonians for the express purpose to explain that the rapture had not yet occurred. One of the greatest treasure trove’s in the New Testament is why he tells the Thessalonians it hasn’t happened yet.
Paul gives a specific description of what the rapture will look like. That is how we know it has yet to happen even in our time. Paul left the Thessalonians abruptly before completing all of his teaching that he gives to the churches he founded.
He was afraid they would lose their salvation and walk away from the faith because of persecution in their city. They asked him if the rapture happened and they had missed it. Many were afraid that they would not be caught up into heaven with the rest of the saints.
The question was brought on by the extreme persecution they faced. They figured that this persecution checked the boxes for the end times. Indeed, it did check the boxes for the beginning of the last days, which began at the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17).
So we are living in the last days, and I believe we are entering the end times as we see many things happening around us. But here are the requirements for the rapture to happen, described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
- Jesus will descend in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
- There will be a cry of command and a trumpet sound (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
- The dead in Christ will rise and join the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
- We who are alive in Christ will join him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
- We as Christians will always be with the Lord forever more after that (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Although I was joking earlier when I said that since I am still here the rapture has not happened, this fulfills the final sign of the rapture. If you are believing Christian in Jesus Christ, and you are alive and still on this earth, you have not missed the rapture.
We have not heard the trumpet with a cry of the Lord. We have not seen him come in the clouds. Therefore, the rapture has yet to happen. We’ll wait for his return and to see this wonderful thing, especially to be with our Lord forever more in person.
Because Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians, we do not have to fear that we will miss this event. We know all of the signs and what will happen when the rapture occurs. And we will be part of it. There is no need to be concerned that we will miss it.
