Coming on the Clouds
The Rapture Question Part 1
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds…
- 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17
This week we're beginning a recurring series exploring one of the more hotly debated topics in Bible prophecy: The Rapture. The debate revolves around whether the Rapture happens before or after the final seven years of this age (The Tribulation).
The two primary (and opposing) views then, are the pre-tribulational and the post-tribulational rapture. The pre-tribulational view promises an escape before the final period of testing, while the post-tribulational view sees Jesus coming after, implying the need for endurance.
In this first installment, we’ll take a look at the Old Testament context to see how a first century audience would have understood the Rapture, which will in turn inform us how they would have interpreted Paul's writings on the subject. We'll start by exploring the most common theme found amongst rapture passages: The Messiah coming on the clouds of heaven.
The Cloud Rider
There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your help, and through the skies in His majesty.
- Deuteronomy 33:26
The first appearance of the Lord arriving on the clouds is found in the Song of Moses, which is located in the final chapters of Deuteronomy.1 Moses foresees a time when Israel will be refined by being brought to the end of her strength. It's at the conclusion of this final travail (The Tribulation) that the Messiah makes His appearance on the clouds to rescue His people.2
He bowed the heavens also, and came down with thick darkness under His feet. And He rode on a cherub and flew; And He appeared on the wings of the wind...
- 2nd Samuel 22:10-11
As we move forward through the Old Testament, the prophet Samuel takes his turn describing the advent of the Cloud Rider. He adds to Moses' apocalyptic description, complete with smoke, fire, thunder, lightning, and earthquakes, coinciding with the post-tribulational Day of the Lord.3
And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming... to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom…
- Daniel 7:13-14
Later, in the major prophets, Daniel sees a final “beast” empire which will be used to refine the saints during the final period of testing (the Tribulation). It's at the conclusion of this period that Messiah arrives on the clouds to rescue His people while simultaneously rendering judgement on the nations.4
The Trumpet Blast
In that day the Lord will start His threshing… and you will be gathered up one by one… It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown...
- Isaiah 27:12-13
The prophet Isaiah also describes the arrival of Messiah at the end of the Tribulation, which is heralded by the sounding of a great trumpet. This last trumpet blast not only brings about the resurrection of the dead, but also the gathering up (i.e. rapture) of God's people one by one.5
Then the Lord will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning; And the Lord God will blow the trumpet, and… will save them in that day as the flock of His people.
- Zechariah 9:14,16
Finally, Zechariah sees the Lord making His triumphant appearance in the sky at the end of the Tribulation while sounding the war trumpet. He then proceeds to march forth in battle array to render recompense on the nations.6
As we conclude the Old Testament, we find the description of Messiah's arrival to be consistent throughout. The advent of the Cloud Rider, resurrection of the dead, last trumpet blast, and gathering of the saints are always post-tribulational.
Cloud Riding in the New Testament
But immediately after the tribulation of those days… they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds… He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect…
- Matthew 24:29-31
Moving to the New Testament, we find that Jesus also taught on the end times. In His Olivet prophecy, He reiterates the same timeline outlined by Daniel. He concludes with the promise of His return on the clouds to gather the elect at the conclusion of the Tribulation, heralded by the sounding of a great trumpet.7
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds…
- 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17
Based on what we've seen, a first century audience would have had no issue with Jesus' post-tribulational teaching. It's consistent with what they would have been taught by over fifteen hundred years of Hebrew Scripture.
What then should we conclude about Paul's first century letter to the Thessalonians?8 It would seem the only way that we could fit a pre-tribulational view into the epistle would be to suggest that he was introducing a new concept. But if his intent was to introduce his audience (and us) to a pre-tribulational view, he did a rather poor job of doing so.
Not only does he describe the advent of Jesus using well known post-tribulational language, he also alludes to one of Isaiah's many Day of the Lord passages.9 Most importantly though, he nowhere actually says that this gathering, ressurection, and trumpet blast are pre-tribulational. This means that a pre-tribulational view would have to be inserted by the reader, as it isn't found in the text itself.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord…
In conclusion, I think it's safe to say that Paul is not introducing anything new here, but instead confirming what had already been taught down through the history of inspired Scripture, which is why he cites it as his source.10
Practical Implications
Given that the practical implications of each of the two popular views are significantly different, it's critical for the Church to have an understanding of which view the Bible teaches. Knowing whether to prepare for escape or to prepare for endurance will have a dramatic effect on how we walk out our testimony.11
In the next installment, we'll take a closer look at Paul's “last trumpet” in his epistle to the Corinthians.
Deuteronomy 31:19 - 33:29
Deuteronomy 33:2,26
2nd Samuel 22:7-19
Daniel 7:1-28
Isaiah 19:1-25, 26:16-21, & 27:1-13
Zechariah 9:11-17 & Isaiah 42:13-15
Matthew 24:4-31
1st Thessalonians 4:13-18
Isaiah 4:3, 1st Thessalonians 4:15b
1st Thessalonians 4:15a
Matthew 24:13