Meeting the Lord: Rapture or Return?
Listen to this Article One of the most anticipated and, at times, controversial themes in Christian eschatology is the event often called the "rapture," the idea that believers will be caught up to meet the Lord. But what does the Bible really say? Is it about escaping the world or welcoming the King? Is it a secret rapture or the glorious return of Jesus? Let's look at it together. The Popular Picture: Escape and Fear For many modern believers, especially those influenced by dispensational teaching, the rapture is envisioned as a sudden, secret evacuation of the faithful from a doomed world. This view gained traction in the 19th and 20th centuries and was popularized through novels and films. The narrative goes like this: Jesus returns secretly to snatch away the Church, then tribulation and judgment fall upon the earth. But is this the biblical picture? The Biblical Language: Meeting the Lord Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 : “For the Lord himself w...
