The timing of the Rapture can be found through the application of the Lesson of the Fig Tree, which was first explained to the disciples as they were leaving the Temple grounds in Jerusalem. On that occasion, the disciples called the Lord’s attention to the magnificent buildings, to which Jesus replied that the day would come when not one stone of the Temple would be left standing upon another.[1] Alarmed by this statement, the disciples asked Him, “When will this happen?” and, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” In answer to their questions, the Lord did not give a time or date of when these events would take place but told the disciples to learn the Lesson from the Fig Tree.
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.” Matt. 24:32-33
The Lesson from the Fig Tree states that when we see the leaves of the fig tree begin to bud, we know that summer is soon to follow. With this simple lesson, the Lord explained how we can know the timing of an event (i.e. the start of summer) based on where if falls in the order of events (i.e. the start of summer comes after the blooming of the fig tree). Under the Lesson from the Fig Tree, anticipating when an event is going to occur is simply a matter of watching for the events that must take place before it. In the case of the Destruction of the Temple, the disciples were, later, told that the Temple would be torn down after they saw the Abomination that Causes Desolation standing at the Temple and the city of Jerusalem being surrounded by armies. By watching for these two events, the disciples could know, beforehand, when the Temple was going to be destroyed. (See: Is the Attack on Jerusalem a Past Event?)
The Lesson from the Fig Tree and the Rapture
When we apply the Lesson from the Fig Tree to the passages that describe the Rapture, we find that this event will be preceded by the Resurrection of the Dead and the sounding of the Last Trumpet.
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up (the Rapture) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thess. 4:13-17
In these verses, we read that the Rapture will take place after the trumpet is sounded and the dead are raised. In addition, we read that the trumpet that will be sounded will be the Last Trumpet.
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. 1 Cor. 15:51-52
From the above passages, we learn that the catching up of Believers will be preceded by 1.) the sounding of the Last Trumpet, and 2.) the Resurrection of the Dead. Accordingly, we can determine the timing of the Rapture by finding out when these two, preceding events will take place, beginning with Resurrection of the Dead.
The Resurrection of the Dead
The timing of the Resurrection of the Dead can be found throughout the Scriptures and is something that has always been known by God’s people. This is demonstrated in the conversation that Jesus had with a Jewish woman named Martha. When Jesus told Martha that her brother, who had just died, would rise again, she responded by saying that she knew that the resurrection would take place on the last day.
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jhn. 11:23-24
When Martha spoke of the resurrection that would take place on the last day, she was not speaking of a symbolic last day, or of the last day of the church, as the church did not yet exist. Instead, she was referring to the literal Last Day of events on earth. Martha’s statement that the Resurrection of the Dead would take place on the Last Day reflects how it has always been the belief by God’s people that the earth would have a final day, and on that day the dead would be resurrected. When we examine the Scriptures, we find that Martha’s response was correct as confirmed by the following passages.
“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” John 6:39
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:44
The above verses also state that the Resurrection of the Dead will take place on the Last Day, which tells us that the Rapture will occur on the Last Day as well, as it will immediately follow this event. A description of the Last Day, itself, is given to us in Peter’s account of the Return of Christ when the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire.
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised…?” But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? …That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 2 Pet. 3:3-4, 10-13
According to the Apostle Peter, when the promised coming of the Lord takes place, a great fire will engulf the earth, which will cause the heavens to disappear with a roar and the elements to melt in the heat. Obviously, this will be the Last Day on earth, as no other events can take place on an earth that has been melted by fire. Before the earth is destroyed by fire, the dead will be raised to meet the Lord in the air, and the living will be caught up together with them in the clouds. In this way, the Rapture will be the Last Event to take place on the Last Day.
The Sounding of the Last Trumpet
In addition to taking place when the dead are raised, we read that the Rapture will take place after the sounding of the Last Trumpet, as repeated below.
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. 1 Cor. 15:51-52
In the Revelation, we read of the Seven Trumpets that will announce the judgments of God, including the Seventh Trumpet that will announce the Reign of Christ on Earth.
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Rev. 11:15
In order to be the Last Trumpet, the trumpet blast that will announce the Rapture must occur after all other trumpets have been sounded, including the Seventh Trumpet, which will announce the 1,000 Year Reign of Christ. This, again, places the Rapture as occurring after all the other events on earth have passed, including the 1,000 Year Reign of Christ.
NOTE: Contrary to the above, the Rapture is frequently associated with the Great Tribulation, rather than the Resurrection of the Dead and the Last Trumpet. Specifically, the question is often asked if the Rapture will take place before, during, or after the Great Tribulation occurs. However, in the Scriptures, the Great Tribulation is never used to describe the timing of the Rapture and is not related to this event.
To read more about the order of events that will take place in the Last Days, click here: The Order of the Events of the Last Days.
[1] Matt. 24:2
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