Annually, in the month of September, there are predictions that the Rapture could and would come at the time of the Jewish feast of Trumpets. (a trumpet is connected with the Rapture event in 1 Thessalonians 4). There is, however, no solid exegetical tie between the Feast and the Rapture. It is a view that is basically speculative, comparing events in the church with Jewish feast days. If the Rapture were tied to the Feast of Trumpets, then it would be assumed that the N.T. writers will tell us so. Also, that would require that the Rapture could not occur at any other time on the calendar; thus, eliminating the doctrine of imminency (that Jesus could come at “any moment”). Of course, Jesus could come for His bride, the Church, in September. But we believe that October through August is also possible.
There have been many in these past few weeks who claim to have Rapture visions and dreams in which they were told when the Rapture will occur. A number say it will be September 23 or 24 (the Feast of Trumpets). However, several other days in September 2025 are given as the day of the Rapture. Despite these claims, it becomes obvious that someone is wrong, and therefore, fit into the false teacher category. With all the various dates suggested, it does seem that September is fairly “booked up”. Of course, the Lord Jesus could come on any day in September of 2025. What is troubling is that these “prophets” did not go to the Scriptures and allow them to be their guide. Instead, their authoritative declarations were their dreams or visions. Some of these people asked Jesus to clue them in to the timing of the Rapture and believe He did just that. We will see in a few weeks whether their prophecies come true. If not, we could continue this discussion in heaven (but probably will be occupied with other things). But, to help us recall Rapture truth and to help evaluate many claims, let’s review some basic Rapture facts. The key scriptures: John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; and 1Thessalonians 4:13-17.
The Rapture Event and the Second Coming of Christ Are Different Events. At the Rapture believers from the church age (those who are “in Christ”) are taken from the earth and meet Jesus Christ in the air. Jesus does not return to the earth itself but rather takes these believers back to the “Father’s house” (John 14). At the Second Coming, Jesus returns to planet earth and there is no mid-air stop.
Life is the emphasis at the Rapture, while judgment is the emphasis of the Second Coming. The Rapture is when resurrection bodies are given, whether the church age believer has previously died or was still alive at the Rapture (1 Cor. 15:51-53). The Rapture is a life-giving event. However, at the Second Coming the emphasis is not on life but on judgment. When Jesus returns at His Second Coming, He will come with power and destroy His enemies and then He will sit on His glorious throne and rule all the nations of the earth (Psalm 2; Zechariah 14; Matt. 25:31).
At the Rapture, Jesus will take His bride (the Church) back to heaven where two very important events occur (Rev. 19:7-9). These events are (1) the Judgment Seat of Christ (where the bride receives her beautiful garments which are given because of her righteous deeds), and (2) the marriage of the Lamb where Jesus and His bride are forever united. When these two events occur, in Revelation 19, the church is already in heaven, and this is prior to the Second Coming. For these two events to have meaning to the church, they should not be sandwiched into an instantaneous moment in time when the church meets Christ in the air and immediately returns to the earth (the untenable position of Post-tribulationalism). After those two events, the Church is then seen returning to the earth with the Lord Jesus at His Second Coming and, in some way, participating in the final battle on earth (Rev. 19:14).
The Purpose of the Rapture is to Bring Jesus and His Bride Together. At the Rapture, for the very first time, the entire Church will be together in one place. Not since a brief moment on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) has the entire Church been together. With all the Church there in heaven, the marriage can then take place. It has got to be an event that is very important to Jesus and one that He looks forward to. The Rapture is about us seeing and being with the Lord Jesus. It is not primarily about escaping the trials and troubles of this life. All too often when believers speak about the Rapture, they seem to emphasize escaping their problems and difficulties. “Oh, that Jesus would come and I could get rid of this disease, or the terrible pain of my broken relationships, or the pressures of debt and finances, etc.” To some extent, that is understandable. After all, who likes pain and stress? But shouldn’t the real focus be on seeing Jesus Himself. Paul spoke of believers “loving His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8) and that ought to be the main reason for us anticipating the Rapture. Shouldn’t it? No bridegroom would like his bride to come to the marriage simply because she could avoid her problems elsewhere.
There Are No “Signs” for the Rapture. Despite many teachings that have appeared in recent days about the “final signs before the Rapture”, there are no signs that indicate when the Rapture will occur. Granted, the “great sign” prophetically is the fact that national Israel has returned back to the Land promised to Abraham. This return was necessary for many prophecies to eventually be fulfilled. The nation of Israel was to return to their land in unbelief, and then God would bring Israel back to Himself spiritually in the Tribulation. That first physical return has taken place. However, their spiritual return back to the Lord has yet to happen.
What is given today as “signs” for the Rapture, are often events that will take place during the Tribulation period, which takes place after the Rapture. For example, many earthquakes, famines and wars that are taking place in our world today are used as “signs.” They are not signs of the Rapture. The earth has always experienced those things. But it must be kept in mind that when they do take place in the Tribulation period, they are extraordinary in their magnitude and even their location. They will be uniquely intense. For example, the earthquakes will be so great that “every island and every mountain will be moved out of their place” (Rev. 6:14; 16:18). In other words, these are not earthquakes that take place on the usual fault lines but move the crust of the entire earth. None of that has taken place today. And this unique magnitude of events would apply to famines, diseases and warfare. There will be an unprecedented display in all these areas, so much so that earth dwellers will acknowledge that these are the judgments of God. There are 7 years full of “signs” for the Second Coming but there are no Rapture signs.
The Rapture is a Unique Event Involving Just the Church. The Church and national Israel are separate in God’s dealings. One of the major interpretive points in understanding biblical prophecy is this point that the Church of Jesus Christ and the nation of Israel are separate in God’s dealings. The Church is not the “new Israel”. God made an eternal, unconditional covenant with the nation of Israel, and with no other nation. The United States is not a covenant nation mirroring Israel’s covenant with the Lord. The Rapture ends God’s dealings with the Church on the earth, and the Second Coming will wrap up His dealings with Israel. Believers from both will then enter the coming kingdom of Messiah.
Our Response to September. All this Rapture talk could be an important reminder for us to search our own hearts and minds concerning where we are in our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. If He chooses not to come for His Bride in September, then He is giving us additional time to serve Him actively and energetically. Jesus does not waste lives but has eternal things for us to do: praying, encouraging, evangelizing, and using our resources to honor Him.
All this Rapture talk should also cause us to ask the all-important question: “do I love His appearing”? Do we want to see Jesus, or do we simply want to escape this life with all its problems and difficulties? Great days are ahead of us, whether they are many or few. But “even so, come Lord Jesus.”
