Are these two verses speaking about the same event, or two different events?
Pre-Tribulation advocates claim that 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 is the rapture, and that Matthew 24:29-31 is the “glorious appearing.”
Applying two separate terms to these verses makes you believe it’s two separate events. But look at the similarities. If it’s two separate events, then this event happens twice. The word ‘rapture’ comes from the Latin, and means “caught up.” This word has always meant our being gathered into the clouds when Yeshua returns. And the word was around long before Darby introduced the pre-tribulation rapture in 1830. As we can see, the rapture happens in both of these verses. YHVH’s people are “caught up” into the clouds, by the angels, at the sound of YHVH’s trumpet. Another passage that is commonly referred to as a “rapture passage” is 1 Corinthians 15:52. Although I would agree that this is describing the same event, the rapture is not specifically mentioned here. The reason we connect the two is because similar events are mentioned.
Both passages mention a trumpet and the resurrection of believers. Because of this, we conclude that these are both the same event. However, as I already mentioned, Matthew 24:27-31 has much more in common with the one clear rapture passage.
Notice the similarities:
| Matt. 24:27-31 | 1 Thess. 4:15-17 | 1 Cor. 15:52 |
| 1. Called he parousia, “the coming” (27)2. Yeshua appears in heaven (30)3. Coming on the clouds (30)4. Angels present (31)5. Great sound of a trumpet (31)6. —7. Gathering of the elect (31) | 1. Called he parousia, “the coming” (15)2. The YHVH descends from heaven (16)3. . . with them in the clouds (17)4. Archangel present (16)5. Shout and trumpet of YHVH (16)6. Dead in Yeshua will rise (16)7. We are caught up to meet him (17) | 1. Called he parousia, “the coming” (23)2. —3. —4. —5. At the last trumpet (52)6. Dead will be raised (52)7. — |
But pre-tribulation rapture advocates must believe these are separate events, because the verse in Matthew clearly states it happens after the tribulation.
Some pre-trib rapture teachers say that the rapture is like a Thief in the Night. It sounds pretty good unless you realize that the Thief in the Night is the Day of the YHVH; the thief is NOT the rapture.
Let’s look at some passages:
Note, non-believers are living in ease and peace, they are not watching the signs, they are sleeping when the thief comes. To the contrary believers are told to watch and be sober. The thief doesn’t catch believers off guard, instead the thief finds believers faithful and watching for him when he returns.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the YHVH so cometh as a thief in the night.” I Thessalonians 5v 3 When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. (RSV) 1Th 5:4 But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. (RSV) 1Th 5:5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 1Th 5:6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 1Th 5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. (RSV)
Joel 2:31/Acts 2:20 and Matthew 24:29/Mark 13:24 place the same cosmic signs between the end of the tribulation and the beginning of the Day of the YHVH. The two cannot overlap, otherwise these verses could not be true.
2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the YHVH will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2Pe 3:12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of YHVH, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! (RSV)
No description of rapture there, only wrath and destruction?
Isaiah 34:8 “For it is the day of the YHVH’S vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” Joel 1:15 “Alas for the day! for the day of the YHVH is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.”
Acts 2:20 “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the YHVH come”
Joel had prophesied that these same celestial signs would occur BEFORE the Day of the YHVH: Matthew 24 teaches that the signs in heavens occur after the Tribulation and usher in the Day of the Lord.
Joel 2 v 31: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the great and the terrible day of the YHVH come
Matt 24 v 21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. . . . 29: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (Matt. 24).
So, does the rapture happen once or twice? And likewise, does the resurrection happen once or twice?
Thess 5:2-6 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the YHVH so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Look at how Paul copies Yeshua in Matthew 24
Paul even says As the Lord Himself said , and Jesus only described the end times in the private briefing of Matthew 24. In I Thess 4 v 15 Paul refers to Yeshua, According to the Lord’s word….Obviously, Paul was referring to Yeshua’ teaching! His reminding them of Yeshua’ “thief” illustration leads to the conclusion that he was confirming the chronology Yeshua gave.
The following table shows that Paul was using Yeshua’ teaching in the Olivet Discourse as the basis of his instructions to the Thessalonians. He was simply repeating Yeshua’ instructions to the disciples. In effect, he was applying the teaching of Yeshua to them, connecting their “watching” for the rapture with Yeshua’ instructions to be watching for His coming “immediately after the tribulation.”
