Are you looking forward to the Rapture? If so, there’s one big mistake you might be making.

What the Bible Says About the Rapture

In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, Paul writes:

We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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 (raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

This sounds straightforward, right? Many Christians believe we’re living in the Church Age, waiting for Christ to return and establish His kingdom on Earth. Some believe this will happen after a seven-year tribulation, when the Antichrist rises to power, makes a false treaty with the Jews, and declares himself God in a rebuilt temple. This leads to a period of great persecution, disasters, and unrest, followed by Christ’s thousand-year reign and the resurrection of the dead.

But what if this view is missing something? Let’s uncover the mistake many people make.

The Big Mistake

Many think Paul was talking about us in 1 Thessalonians 4, but he wasn’t. Paul was speaking to the first-century Christians who were enduring intense persecution and martyrdom. They were the ones who would experience the events Paul described, including the first resurrection and the Rapture.

This shifts the timeline: the tribulation Paul referred to already happened during the Jewish-Roman War (66-70 AD), not in our future. Let’s explore why this makes sense.

Prophecies in Context

Daniel’s Vision of Four Kingdoms

In Daniel 7, the prophet saw a vision of four empires that would rule over the Jews:

  1. Babylon
  2. Persia
  3. Greece
  4. Rome

Daniel predicted that during the reign of the 11th king of Rome, counting from the time Rome gained dominion over the Jewish people, there would be a war with the Jews. While this war raged on Earth, one “like a Son of Man” (Jesus) would receive an eternal kingdom in Heaven. Dominion (or influence) would shift from Rome to those serving the Son of Man.

History confirms this. The 11th Roman king to arise was Vespasian, who led Rome during the Jewish-Roman War. He came to power after humbling three other emperors—Galba, Otho, and Vitellius—in the chaotic “Year of Four Emperors.”

Jesus’ Words About His Kingdom

Jesus also spoke about His kingdom and the judgment coming to His generation:

  • Matthew 16:28: “Some standing here will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
  • Matthew 24:34: “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”

These events happened within a 40-year generation after Jesus’ ministry. The Jewish-Roman War and the destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD) marked the fulfillment of these prophecies.

Matthew 24 and Poetic Language

In Matthew 24:29-34, Jesus described events like the sun being darkened, the stars falling, and the Son of Man coming on the clouds. These are symbolic phrases, common in Old Testament prophecy, used to describe national judgment and the end of an era. For example:

  • Isaiah 13:10 used similar language to describe the fall of Babylon.
  • Joel 2:31 spoke of the “sun turned to darkness” before a day of judgment.

These symbols were to depict the destruction of nations, not an actual world-ending event.

What About the Rapture?

In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul spoke of the Rapture and the first resurrection. But he wasn’t describing floating bodies or a future event for us. Instead:

  • The “we” Paul mentioned referred to first-century Christians.
  • The resurrection was directly into glorified, spiritual bodies, as described in 1 Corinthians 15:44.

Paul wasn’t talking about our physical bodies being lifted into the air. He was referring to an event where first-century Christians would join Christ in His kingdom in heaven to reign with Him.

Revelation and the Two Resurrections

Revelation 20 describes two resurrections:

  1. The first resurrection at the fall of Jerusalem, when the faithful were raised to reign with Christ for a symbolic thousand years.
  2. The second resurrection at the Great White Throne Judgment, when all humanity will stand before God to be judged.

The first resurrection already happened. We are now in the kingdom, awaiting the second resurrection and final judgment.

Putting It All Together

The popular view of the Rapture as a future event misreads the timeline. Many prophecies—including those in Daniel, Matthew, and Revelation—were fulfilled in the first century:

  • The tribulation refers to the Jewish-Roman War.
  • The Rapture and first resurrection were for first-century Christians.
  • We now live in Christ’s kingdom, awaiting the final resurrection and judgment.

This perspective clears up many misunderstandings and aligns scripture with historical events.

Conclusion

Understanding the Bible in its historical context changes everything. The Rapture isn’t something we’re waiting for—it already happened, just as Jesus and the prophets foretold. Now, we live in the kingdom Jesus established, looking forward to the final resurrection and judgment.