Rapture

If you spend time researching end-times prophecy on YouTube or diving into biblical scholarship, you’ll quickly realise that many of the signs pointing to the pre-tribulation Rapture appear to have been fulfilled. Current global events, technological advances, and prophetic alignments suggest we could be living in the final moments before Christ calls His church home. However, there’s one significant piece of the prophetic puzzle that particularly strengthens my belief in a pre-tribulation Rapture: the identity and role of the one who restrains the man of lawlessness. But before we dive deep into this topic, let me be clear about something crucial: I could be wrong. That’s why I want to remind you to be a student, not merely a follower. Don’t take everything I say at face value. Study the Scriptures yourself, pray about these matters, and feel free to engage in constructive criticism. However, I ask that our discussions be rooted in and backed up by biblical truth. Personal opinions without scriptural foundation won’t advance our understanding of God’s prophetic timeline. Biblical Foundations for Pre-Tribulation Rapture Before examining the restrainer, let me briefly revisit some key biblical foundations that support the pre-tribulation view, which I’ve touched on in previous posts. Christ’s Promise of Preparation: In John 14:2-3, Jesus declared: “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” This speaks of a specific coming to take us to His Father’s house, distinct from His return to establish His earthly kingdom. Deliverance from the Hour of Trial: Revelation 3:10 contains Christ’s promise: “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” The Greek phrase “keep you from” (tereo ek) suggests complete removal from, not just protection during, this worldwide testing. The Mystery of the Restrainer However, the most compelling evidence for my pre-tribulation belief centers around 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, where Paul writes about the man of lawlessness: “And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” This passage reveals that someone or something is currently restraining the full manifestation of the Antichrist. Many scholars believe this restrainer is a person, possibly a political leader or governmental system. However, I believe the restrainer is the Holy Spirit Himself, working through the church. The Holy Spirit as the Restrainer Consider what we know about the Holy Spirit’s role in our current age: He Convicts the World: John 16:8 tells us that “when he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” The Holy Spirit’s convicting work through believers acts as a restraining force against absolute evil. He Indwells Believers: 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that “your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God.” The Holy Spirit’s presence within every believer creates a collective restraining influence on earth. He Is the Comforter: Jesus promised in John 14:26 that “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” This Comforter has been given to the church as our helper and guide. He Empowers the Church: Acts 1:8 records Jesus’ promise: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Spirit-empowered church serves as salt and light, preserving and illuminating a dark world. When the Church Goes, the Restrainer Goes Here’s the crucial connection: If the Holy Spirit is the restrainer, and He indwells every believer, then when the church is raptured, the restraining influence of the Spirit goes with it. This doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit ceases to exist or work entirely – He is God and omnipresent. Rather, His specific role as the indwelling restrainer through the church would be removed, allowing the man of lawlessness to be fully revealed. This interpretation aligns perfectly with the pre-tribulation timeline: The Identity of the Man of Lawlessness Scripture uses several titles for this coming world leader: the Antichrist (1 John 2:18), the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3), the little horn (Daniel 7:8), and the beast (Revelation 13). While we cannot identify him specifically until he is revealed, we know his characteristics: The fact that this figure cannot be revealed until the restrainer is removed strongly supports the pre-tribulation view. A Sobering Reminder: Are We Focusing on the Wrong Thing? While studying prophecy is important and biblical, let me present a sobering thought: Are we perhaps focusing on the wrong thing altogether? Who among us has the guarantee that we will live to see either the Rapture or the tribulation? James 4:14 reminds us: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Death could claim any of us before prophetic events unfold. The cemetery is filled with people who were certain they would live to see Christ’s return. This reality should humble us and refocus our priorities. Whether we’re raptured, face tribulation, or meet our Savior through death,

In our previous post, we looked at What Rapture is, today we want to answer the million dollar question. “Will the Rapture happen on September 23rd and 24th, 2025?” Social media feeds are flooded with videos, prophetic declarations, and countdown timers. Everyone is having rapture dreams and speaking out. Some taking it to the extreme, selling their belongings and quitting jobs. The one that amazed me the most was a Pastor in South Africa who bought a new suit and shoes in preparation for Rapture. But before we get swept away by the excitement or anxiety, we must examine what Scripture actually says about such claims. God Is Not a Man That He Should Lie The foundation of our faith rests on the unchanging character of God. Numbers 23:19 declares: “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he not do what he says? Does he not fulfill what he promises?” When God speaks, His word stands forever. And what has God said about the timing of Christ’s return? The answer is crystal clear and unwavering: no one knows the day or hour. This isn’t a suggestion or a riddle to be solved – it’s a divine declaration that has stood for over two thousand years. Jesus Himself, speaking with absolute authority, stated in Matthew 24:36: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32 reinforces this same truth. If our Lord, during His earthly ministry, acknowledged that this knowledge belonged exclusively to the Father, how can any human claim to possess what even Jesus said He did not know? The Pattern of Failed Predictions History is full of failed prophecies and date-setting attempts. Each generation has had its self-proclaimed prophets declaring the imminent return of Christ, and each has been proven wrong. Harold Camping gained international attention by predicting the Rapture would occur on May 21, 2011. When that failed, he adjusted the date to October 21, 2011. Both dates passed without incident, leaving thousands of followers disillusioned and financially devastated after selling their possessions in preparation. Edgar Whisenant wrote a book titled “88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988,” selling 4.5 million copies. When 1988 passed, he adjusted his prediction to 1989, then 1993, and finally 1994. Each failed prediction damaged the credibility of the church and wounded the faith of believers who trusted his calculations. The Y2K predictions had many Christians convinced that the year 2000 would bring about the end times. Ministries sold survival kits, believers stockpiled food and water, and some even went into debt preparing for societal collapse that never came. William Miller in the 1800s calculated that Christ would return on October 22, 1844. When it didn’t happen, the event became known as “The Great Disappointment,” leaving thousands of followers devastated and questioning their faith. The pattern is always the same: confident predictions, elaborate calculations, failed outcomes, and damaged faith. As Proverbs 27:1 warns: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” The Rapture Could Happen Before, During, After, or Years From Now The truth about the Rapture’s timing is beautifully simple and frustratingly mysterious: it could happen at any moment. This doctrine, known as the “imminency” of the Rapture, means that nothing prophetically needs to occur before Christ returns for His church. It could happen before September 23rd and 24th. As you read these words, Christ could appear in the clouds and call His bride home. There’s nothing preventing it from occurring this very moment. It could happen during those dates. Not because any prophet predicted it, but simply because those days are possibilities within God’s sovereign timing. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and if someone happens to guess correctly, it won’t validate their method of prediction. It could happen after those dates. When September 25th dawns and believers are still on Earth, life will continue, and we’ll still be called to faithfulness and watchfulness. It could happen years from now. God’s timing is not limited by human impatience or prophetic speculation. Peter reminds us that : “with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness” (2 Peter 3:8-9). The Principle of Constant Readiness Jesus taught us a crucial principle through multiple parables: we must always be ready. In Matthew 24:43-44, He said: “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Consider how you protect your earthly possessions. You don’t guard your house only on specific dates when you think thieves might come. You lock your doors every night. You install security systems that work 24/7. You remain vigilant because thieves don’t announce their arrival. Similarly, Jesus calls us to spiritual vigilance every single day. In Luke 12:35-37, He teaches: “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.” What True Readiness Looks Like Being ready for Christ’s return is not about calculating dates or preparing for specific calendar events. True readiness involves: Spiritual Preparation: 1 John 3:3 tells us that “all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” Are you living in holiness, confessing sin, and walking in the light? Faithful Service: Jesus told His disciples to “occupy until I come”

In recent months, social media platforms and pulpits across the globe have been buzzing with prophecies and proclamations. Various preachers and self-proclaimed “men of God” are boldly declaring that the Rapture will occur on September 23rd and 24th, 2025. Videos go viral, conferences are organised, and believers find themselves caught between excitement and anxiety. But amidst all this noise, we must ask ourselves a crucial question: What does the Bible actually say about the Rapture and its timing? Understanding the Rapture: What Scripture Teaches The term “Rapture” comes from the Latin word “rapturo,” which translates the Greek word “harpazo” meaning “to catch away” or “to snatch up.” This biblical concept is primarily derived from 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where the Apostle Paul writes: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” This passage describes a supernatural event where believers, both living and dead, will be suddenly taken up to meet Jesus Christ in the air. The dead in Christ will be resurrected first, followed by those who are alive at His coming. This divine “catching away” represents the church’s removal from Earth before the period of great tribulation that will precede Christ’s millennial reign. The Mystery of Divine Timing While many are setting specific dates for this glorious event, Scripture is abundantly clear about one fundamental truth: no one knows the day or hour of Christ’s return. Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 24:36: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” This statement should give us pause. If Jesus, during His earthly ministry, acknowledged that He did not know the specific timing, how can any mortal claim to possess this divine knowledge? The Father has kept this timing as His sovereign prerogative, hidden even from the angels and, at that time, from the Son in His human nature. Furthermore, Jesus compared His coming to that of a thief in the night. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, Paul reinforces this imagery: “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” A thief doesn’t announce his arrival or send advance notice. He comes unexpectedly, when people are least prepared. This metaphor emphasizes the sudden, unannounced nature of Christ’s return for His church. Pre-Tribulation Rapture: A Biblical Foundation The Bible presents compelling evidence that the church will be “caught up” before the period of great tribulation. This pre-tribulation view is supported by several key biblical principles and passages. In Revelation 3:10, Jesus promises the church in Philadelphia: “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” The Greek phrase “keep you from” (tereo ek) suggests complete removal from, not just protection during, the coming hour of trial. Additionally, the church is notably absent from Revelation chapters 6-18, which detail the tribulation period. After the letters to the seven churches (chapters 2-3), the church is not mentioned again until Revelation 19, where we see the marriage supper of the Lamb. This silence is significant, suggesting the church’s removal before the judgments begin. The tribulation period, also known as Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:24-27), is specifically designated for God’s dealings with Israel and the Gentile nations. It represents a return to God’s focus on national Israel, from which the church, as the body of Christ, is distinct. The Danger of Date Setting Throughout church history, numerous individuals have attempted to predict the exact date of Christ’s return, and every single prediction has failed. From Harold Camping’s multiple failed prophecies to the Y2K fears, date-setters have consistently been proven wrong, often causing spiritual damage to believers who placed their faith in human calculations rather than biblical truth. When preachers claim divine revelation about specific dates, they essentially position themselves as having knowledge that surpasses what Scripture reveals. This is not only presumptuous but potentially harmful to the body of Christ. Such predictions can lead to: Our Proper Response: Watch and Be Ready Rather than focusing on specific dates, Scripture calls us to a posture of watchfulness and readiness. Jesus repeatedly emphasized this theme: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42). This watchfulness is not passive waiting but active preparation. We are called to: Conclusion: Anchored in Truth While the excitement surrounding Christ’s return is commendable, we must anchor our hope in biblical truth rather than human speculation. The Rapture is indeed a blessed hope (Titus 2:13), but its timing remains sovereignly hidden with the Father. As we navigate these last days, let us reject date-setting and embrace the biblical call to watchfulness. Let us live each day as if Christ could return today, while planning and serving as if He might tarry. Most importantly, let us ensure that our understanding of end-times events is grounded firmly in Scripture rather than the shifting sands of human prediction. The Lord will come for His church – this is our blessed assurance. But He will come as a thief in the night, when we least expect it, catching away His bride before the storm of tribulation breaks upon this world. Until that glorious moment, may we remain faithful, watchful, and ready. Check out this video to learn more about Rapture. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen.