One of the most prevalent teachings on the rapture is that it can happen anytime, even now. Interestingly, this new month, September 2022, has been considered as one of the most likely years for the rapture of the church, with many or at least some looking for a very possible rapture during the Jewish new year celebration (Rosh Hashanah; feast of trumpets), some time between September 25-27, 2022. How does this line up with Scripture?
First of all, the idea that the rapture can happen just about any time is strongly refuted in Scripture. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Paul wrote that “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4). In this text, Paul begins by directly stating what He is addressing in the very first verse: “the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him” (2 Thessalonians 2:1). This directly refers to Jesus’ appearing, the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and the rapture of the church, which Paul had already mentioned to the Thessalonian church in his first letter to them (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). Therefore, we cannot ignore or reject what Paul himself said he was addressing in the text above and replace that with something else. That will be an error. Additionally, it will make no sense for Paul to directly state what he is going to talk about in his opening statement, and then immediately refrain from addressing the very subject he said he was going to address when he starts making his address (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4) or for the rest of the chapter or entire epistle If Paul indeed did that, then Paul and the Scriptures would have lied, and we will have no basis to absolutely trust the Bible. However, the Bible says, “let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4) and “God cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Thus, if the Bible said it was going to address the subject of Jesus’ coming and our being gathered together to Him in the text above (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4), then that is exactly what the Scriptures addressed.
Paul continued his message by saying that the appearing of Jesus and the rapture of the church will not happen unless there is first the apostasy (Greek word translated “apostasy” is “apostasia”, meaning a falling away or apostasy; defection or renunciation of faith—not a departure or catching away from the earth). The second sign he gave, which will precede the rapture, is the man of lawlessness or the anti-Christ being revealed, and he added that to think otherwise is to be deceived (2 Thessalonian 2:1–4). In other words, without the anti-Christ being revealed first, the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture will not happen (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4). Yet, this chapter of the Bible is read and used to teach that the church must be raptured before the anti-Christ can be revealed. But the Bible actually says the direct opposite! So contrary to the popular teaching that the rapture can happen anytime, we find the Scriptures giving us two main signs that ought to happen first, without which there can be no rapture (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). If these sings must happen first, then the rapture indeed cannot happen any time, according to the Scriptures.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:7–8, the Bible continues to say that “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8). It is worth noting that 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 makes no mention of the “Holy Spirit” or “the removal of any entity from the earth”. Rather, the text simply says that there is someone preventing or hindering the anti-Christ from being revealed but when he is removed from the way, the anti-Christ will be revealed. This text, and entire chapter, does not expressly tell us who the hindrance is. But even before we can attempt to find out who the hindrance is, the Bible specifically tells us early on in this same chapter what the hindrance is not. In the first four verses, the Bible specifically states that the appearing of Jesus and the rapture cannot and will not happen until the anti-Christ is first revealed, and to think otherwise is to be deceived. Thus, the Bible emphatically says that it is not the presence of the church on the earth that is hindering the anti-Christ from being revealed, and also refers to any escathological view which teaches that the church must be raptured before the anti-Christ can show up as deception (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).
Not only will the church be on earth to see the revelation of the anti-Christ but the Scriptures expressly say in multiple places that the church will go through the entire duration of the anti-Christ’s reign in the great tribulation. For example, in Revelation 20:4-6, the Bible teaches that the FIRST resurrection, which happens with the rapture of church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15; Revelation 20:4-6) will also bring to life those who died for refusing to take the mark of the beast. According to the Scriptures, the mark of the beast is enforced during the great tribulation (Revelation 13). This means that the great tribulation has to necessarily happen first for there to be faithful believers who will die through it for refusing the mark of the beast. And these believers will only come to life again at the FIRST resurrection, which happens with the rapture (Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). In other words, the great tribulation is a prerequisite for the rapture to occur. For without the great tribulation happening first, there cannot be any FIRST resurrection or the resurrection of the dead in Christ (Revelation 20:4-6). And without the first resurrection there is no rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). So not only must the apostasy and revelation of the anti-Christ precede the rapture, but the great tribulation as well.
From the time the anti-Christ is revealed to the time he commits the abomination of desolation and sets in motion the great tribulation is three and half years (Matthew 24: 15-21; Daniel 9:27). And the great tribulation is also prophesied to last for another 3 and half years or 42 months or 1260 days, not seven years (Revelation 13:5, Daniel 9:27, Revelation 12:6). So in total, from the time the anti-Christ comes on the scene till the end of the great tribulation is seven years. After this seven-year period, the Bible gives us a time frame of months to even years before the first resurrection and the rapture can happen so that no one is able to indeed predict the exact day or hour of Jesus’ return and the rapture (see Chapter 8 of my book: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09M7CQHN9). Therefore, even if the anti-Christ should arise on the global scene today or the great tribulation were to “miraculously” start today, it will be after exactly 7 years or 3.5 years, respectively, before we can expect the rapture to take place. Thus, there is absolutely no possibility or likelihood of the rapture happening anywhere in September 2022 according to the Scriptures.
Therefore, instead of waiting for a false hope of escaping what we have been forewarned to adequately prepare for, let us actively get into the Scriptures and learn how we are admonished to survive and thrive in the last days. For lack of knowledge, My people perish (Hosea 4:6). But if we are filled with the knowledge of what God says, we shall survive, thrive and triumph even through the great tribulation.
Kwadwo Omari, PhD.
September 1, 2022.
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.