What is the Rapture? Seven Elements of the Rapture in Scripture: 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians and Matthew

The rapture as defined by Scripture:

The rapture is the ascent of the saints, to meet Jesus in the clouds, at the voice of the archangel, in the last trumpet, on the last day, the timing of the last day being unknown by Jesus, but known only by the Father.

"...we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

1 Thessalonians 4:17

Seven elements of the rapture are revealed in the scriptures. 

The first four elements are designated in the following verse by superscript numbers 1-4.

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel² and with the trumpet¹ 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 together with them in the clouds⁴ to meet the Lord in the air³. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

So, here are four elements of rapture prophecy from this passage:

1) Trumpet
2) Archangel speaks
3) Jesus is in the clouds
4) Ascent of saints to Jesus in the clouds

At the resurrection, the trumpet will sound, the archangel will speak, Jesus will descend to the clouds and the living believers will ascend with the resurrected dead believers to meet Jesus "in the clouds". 

Another passage tells us that the resurrection will occur at the last trumpet:

"Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed."

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

The first element of the rapture which we observed from 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 was that the rapture will occur "with the trumpet call of God". Here in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 we see that the rapture occurs "at the last trumpet". So, I will amend our initial list of the first four elements to reflect that the rapture occurs at the last trumpet. Here are the amended first four elements:

1) Last Trumpet
2) Archangel speaks
3) Jesus is in the clouds
4) Ascent of saints to Jesus in the clouds

Now, please observe the fifth, sixth and seventh elements of the rapture, from the scriptures below:

"The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels" 
Matthew 13:39

6) Another passage tells us that Jesus doesn't know when the end of the age will come. Only the Father knows:

Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only." 

Matthew 24:35-36

7) Other passages tell us that the resurrection occurs on the last day. Jesus said,

"This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day"  (John 6:40)

Jesus also said,

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day. "

(John 6:44)

See also John 6:39, 54 and 11:24 for other passages where Jesus repeatedly says that the resurrection comes on "the last day". Well, the rapture and the resurrection are the same event (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 above). So, the rapture and the resurrection occur on THE LAST DAY! 

Some say that the tribulation occurs after the rapture. But how can that be? The rapture occurs on "the last day", the last day of the current age. But, more on that later.

I have combined all of the above scriptures to organize the rapture prophecies into seven elements. I have changed the order to make them easier to explain. Here they are:

Seven Elements of Rapture Prophecy

• Last trumpet
• Jesus in the clouds

• Ascent of saints to Jesus in the clouds
• End of the age
  
• Voice of the archangel
  
• Only the Father knows the day
• The last day

These are the seven elements of the rapture prophecies that I see. Some of the seven elements have additional details attached to them by scripture. But it is easier to organize and understand if we view them as seven elements, with some elements having additional identifying details. 

In recent times, many have taught that the rapture comes before the great tribulation which was foretold in the book of Revelation. But is that what the scriptures teach? To answer that question, we must answer two questions: 

1) Is there is a passage in the book of Revelation which is consistent with all seven elements of the rapture prophecy? 

2) If Yes, does the rapture fulfillment passage occur before or after the tribulation?

The answer to the first question is yes. As to the second question, the rapture passage occurs after the tribulation. It is simple to see once you understand where the rapture occurs in the book of Revelation. Please prayerfully read on and you will see.

Revelation 14:14-16 is Consistent with All Seven Prophesies

Now is the time to pray. Keep praying as you read. Where ever you are, I have prayed that you will come into the intimate presence of your Lord right now... Please ask Him to open your ears to hear. Ask Him to open your eyes to see.

There is only one passage in the book of Revelation which is consistent with all seven elements. That passage is the key to understanding whether the rapture comes before or after the great tribulation.

CLICK HERE to see how Revelation 14:14-16 shows exactly where the rapture takes place in the book of Revelation. That page will review the seven elements and then explain the timing of the rapture.