Eschatology in the New Testament

The New Testament divides Christ’s return into two phases, the first of which the Old Testament writers knew nothing. First, Christ will return and rapture the church to Himself in the air. Then at the end of the tribulation period, the church saints will return with Christ for His second coming to the earth. In the Old Testament, as it deals primarily with the nation of Israel and the second coming of Christ, as does the New Testament in passages such as Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 5, and Rev 6-20. In this look at Dispensational Eschatology, we will primarily look at the first phase of Christ’s return at the rapture of the church. A pre-tribulational rapture is one of the hallmarks of dispensational theology.

The Rapture of the Church

Though pre-millennialism was an early belief of the Church, the study of the rapture is more recent. Although there are two quotes of early church fathers that seem to indicate a pre-tribulational rapture belief in the early church.

Hermas in the Shepherd of Hermas: Go off, then, and explain to the Lord’s elect His wonders and tell them that this beast is a symbol of the great persecution that is to come. If you prepare in advance and repent to the Lord with all your hearts, you will be able to escape the persecution, provided your hearts become pure and sinless and you serve your Lord blamelessly the rest of the days of your life.

Irenaeus: And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this earth, it is said, ‘There shall be a tribulation such as has not been since the beginning neither shall be. For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome, they are crowned with incorruption.

Some have said that the doctrine of the rapture is a doctrine of escapism, but we must believe doctrine which is according to the word of God, and not discount it because of some other belief system.

The pre-tribulational rapture position gained a great following in 1875 and continues to the present. But there have been espoused many positions regarding when the rapture takes place. These include the pre-tribulational rapture, the mid-tribulational rapture, the post-tribulational rapture, the pre-wrath rapture, the partial rapture, as well as the no rapture position. Many have various reasons for concluding their positions, but taking the text literally leads to a a belief in a pre-tribulational rapture.

Any problem with a pre-tribulational rapture exists mostly due to the literature on the rapture of the church in the early 70’s to early 90’s. Many authors, who were not theologians, decided to interpret the Revelation of John as something other than what John had written. In other words, the locust-are-helicopters syndrome which we read in many books like The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey in the early ‘70’s and then eschatology fiction in The Left Behind Series. The interpretations were wild and often incredible. The authors strained to see the United States in Daniel/ Revelation, which is impossible, except for some great imaginations! Everyone from John Haggie to Jack Van Impe have attempted to see the United States in end times events, even using such things as the Mayan Calendar to promote the soon coming of Christ. These sometimes outrageous eisegetical interpretations have brought disparagement upon dispensational eschatology. People are trying to sell a story instead of the truth. John MacArthur, preaching a message on this topic, said:

Now, I know at this point somebody out there is going to say, “Oh boy, he’s into the Left Behind series.” No, I’m not in to Rapture fiction, and I’m not in to wacky charts—you don’t see me up here with a big chart and a stick.

And I’m not in to newspaper exegesis, where you – where everything that happens in the news fulfills some obscure Old Testament prophecy. And I’m not into all kinds of complex charts, and I’m not into all that is traditionally known as dispensationalism—seven dispensations, two kingdoms, two New Covenants, two ways of salvation, discontinuity between the Old Testament and the New—I’m not talking about that. Relax; set all that aside.

I reject the wacky world of newspaper exegesis and cartoon eschatology, and crazy interpretation like the locusts of Revelation 9 being helicopters, et cetera. Look, I reject all of those really abusive and bizarre kinds of interpretation; but frankly, they’re no more wacky then the interpretations of the amillennialists, who want to take the entire book of Revelation and stuff it into the events of 70 A.D. and a few years afterwards and come up with things that are just as ridiculous.

There are only four references to the event we refer to as the rapture (Latin rapturo meaning catching up). The church was hidden (mystery) in the Old Testament; so there are no teachings about the rapture in the Old Testament, since the Old Testament is about Israel and not the church. There are perhaps four references to the rapture in the New Testament: Jesus refers to it in John 14:1-3; and Paul in 1 Cor 15:50-58, Phil 3:20-21 and 1 Thes 4:13-18. Some believe 1 John 3:2-3 should also be considered. We know that these are references to the rapture, because in all other instances of eschatological teaching, either in the Old Testament or the New Testament, there are always signs and events given that suggest a time of wrath and judgment. This is almost always in reference to the second coming of Christ at the end of the 7 year tribulation period. Sometimes the judgment at the end of the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ is the subject. In the passages about the rapture, that distinguishes them from the second coming of Christ, there are no signs given and no judgment warranted.

Some have confused the last trumpet and shout of the archangel mentioned in the rapture passages as referencing times in the tribulation period, but this cannot be the case. Remember that the 7 year tribulation period is a part of the 490 years of God’s wrath being poured out on the Gentile nations and Israel. All 490 years refers to God’s wrath. If the first 483 years is God’s wrath, then the final 7 years must also be God’s wrath. 

Paul makes it particularly clear that God has not destined His church for His wrath in 1 Thes 5:9: For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, John also indicates that the church would be spared from God’s wrath or “the hour of trial” in Rev 3:10: Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.  Therefore, you don’t see a reference to the church after Revelation 3 once the tribulation of God’s wrath commences in Revelation 4.

There are at least four purposes for the rapture in God’s redemptive program. First, so the church can escape the wrath of God (1 Thes 5:9). Second, so the church can be physically brought into Christ’s presence (John 14:3). Third, so the dead in Christ can be resurrected (1 Thes 4:16-17). Fourth, so that the church might be changed, made incorruptible, and imperishable (1 John 3:2-3). 

Some have misinterpreted 2 Thes 2:3 as a reference to the rapture. But this is speaking of Christ’s Second Coming, not the rapture. The Greek word translated “falling away” in the King James Version is  which is transliterated into English as “apostasy” in the New American Standard Bible. The English Standard Version has “rebellion.” This is not a reference to the rapture. According to Baur, Danker, Ardent and Gingrich, the word “apostasy” means: a defiance of established system or authority, rebellion, abandonment, breach of faith. This is found twice in the New Testament. It is used in Acts 21:21 of the accusation against Paul that he taught Judeans to abandon Moses, or to apostatize from the Law of Moses. This was a false accusation against Paul, but the use of the word is clear. 

The context of 2 Thes 2 is the second coming of Christ. The use of the word apostasy in this context, as the King James Version has “falling away,” is in keeping with a departure away from God and His word. But there are theologians who have interpreted this as a reference to the rapture. They say that in the rapture, we “fall away” from the earth to meet Christ in the air. Unfortunately this is not how the word is used. It refers to apostatizing from something. We don’t “fall away” or rebel in the rapture. We are caught up to be with Christ in the air.  In 2 Thes 2, the antichrist leads an apostasy away from correct church teachings. It is a “falling away” from the truth. That is rebellion or apostasy, not the rapture.

The four rapture passages in the New Testament

John 14:1-3

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

The disciples had been on an emotional roller coaster. They had gone from the highs of Jesus triumphal entry on Monday, April 6 to the casting out of the moneychangers from the temple and the teachings of Jesus that He was going to die. They had come to the Passover supper confused and emotionally drained. They wanted to eat and relax, but that wasn’t Jesus’ plan. He first washed their feet after they were arguing over who would be the greatest in God’s kingdom. They were still looking for a Messiah who would be a conquering king rather than a Lamb being led to the slaughter.

The words of Jesus are emphatic: Μὴ ταρασσέσθω ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία· Literally in position of emphasis, “Do not be troubled your heart.”  literally means “to shake or stir up.” It is used elsewhere of mental or spiritual anguish (Matt 2:3; 14:26; Luke 1:12; 24:38; John 11:33; 13:21; Acts 15:24). Notice also that the verb and noun are singular. It is as if Jesus is speaking directly to each of the individual hearts of His disciples rather than to them as a group. This makes sense in light of each of them having troubled hearts.

Then He tells them to believe. This message He gave to Nicodemus at the beginning of His ministry and now He says the same thing at the end of His ministry. He tells them to believe equally in the Father and the Son as God. Later He will tell them of the Holy Spirit who they are to believe in as God also (John 14:16-18).

Then in verses 2-3 Jesus references the rapture, even though the church still didn’t yet exist. But since the disciples would soon be the apostles of the newly formed church at Pentecost (just over 50 days away), Jesus begins to reveal “His coming” to take His apostles back to heaven with Him. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

This is a clear reference to the rapture of the church. Jesus said He would come again and He would take them to Himself, that where He was, there they would be. This is not speaking of Jesus coming to set up His kingdom on earth. It is speaking of Him coming and taking them back to a place prepared for them.

Jesus tells His disciples that he was leaving them to prepare a place for them. He was leaving them, but He would be back! He assures them that this is the truth. His Father’s house is another name for heaven, but Jesus may be referencing the New Jerusalem which will come down out of heaven after the final rebellion at the end of the Millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ. 

The rooms or dwelling places referred to here are not separate houses. The picture is that of a father building additional rooms onto his house for his sons as they marry and have their own families, as was more often the case in Israel. Jesus’ emphasis is clearly on intimacy. Truly this would be Immanuel, God with us (Rev 21:3). This “New Jerusalem” (Rev 21:16) will be a 1,500 mile cube equal to half of the present USA.

Finally, in verse 3, Jesus promises to come again and take them to where He is going. This is a reference to the rapture of the church. John MacArthur writes:

The absence of any reference to judgment indicates that the Lord was not referring here to His second coming to earth to judge and establish His kingdom (Matt. 13:36–43, 47–50; 24:29–44; 25:31–46; Rev. 19:11–15), but rather to the catching up of the believers into heaven (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13–18; 1 Cor. 15:51–57). Further differences between the two events reinforce that truth. At the second coming angels gather the elect (Matt. 24:30–31), but here Jesus told the disciples He would personally come for them. At the second coming the saints will return with Christ (Rev. 19:8, 14) as He comes to set up His earthly kingdom (Rev. 19:11–20:6); here He promises to return for them. Between the rapture and the second coming, the church will celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7–10), and believers will receive their rewards (1 Cor. 3:10–15; 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10). When He returns in judgment and kingdom glory, the saints will come with Him (Rev. 19:7, 11–14).

1 Corinthians 15:50-54

 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Benjamin Franklin wrote:

The hope of the Christian is expressed by the epitaph Benjamin Franklin wrote for himself, engraved on his tombstone in the cemetery of Christ’s Church in Philadelphia: “The body of Franklin, printer, like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stripped of its lettering and gilding, lies here food for worms. But the work will not be lost, for it will appear once more in a new and more elegant edition, revised and corrected by the Author.”

Paul tells the church at Corinth a mystery. A mystery in the Bible is not something that requires guess-work or sleuthing. It simply refers to something that was hidden, which had never been revealed before, but now is revealed. As believers are resurrected and raptured, they will all be changed. We will be glorified with a body fit for heaven. It will happen in the flash of light from the naked eye! “In a moment” is from the Greek words , from which we get the transliterated English word “atom.” In the smallest fraction of a second, with an atomic blast of epic proportions, all believers will be changed.

This will happen at the last trumpet. It will bring about the end to the church age. We do not know how much time will take place between this rapture of the church (the end of the church age) and the signing of a covenant between antichrist and Israel. It could be many years or just days. Not until this covenant is signed does the last 7 years of the 490 years of Daniel take place. Believers will finally gain their glorified bodies when their perishable bodies are transformed into their imperishable bodies. The picture Paul uses here is the changing of clothes, taking off the decaying clothes for the eternal clothes of our glorified bodies. Everyone who has ever suffered any physical malady will rejoice in that moment! Paul quotes Isaiah 25:8:

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

Death is swallowed up in victory! Death comes from breaking God’s Law. Death is the result of our sin nature. Death is the result of our terminal depravity. Man has no hope. It is impossible for man to do anything about it. But what is impossible for man, is possible with God. God is able and makes redemption a possibility. For those who believe and are committed to the Lord Jesus Christ, death is viewed as “sleep.” We close our eyes and open them in glory. If we die before the rapture, Paul says in Phil 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. And 2 Cor 5:6-9:

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

This concerns those believers who have died. So if we are absent from the body because of death, we are present with the Lord. Dead believers’ glorified spirits and souls are in His presence. Those who have died are awaiting their resurrected glorified bodies, but what makes them a living person and created in the image of God is in His presence until the rapture.

Philippians 3:20-21

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Once again, there is nothing about judgment in these passages. Here Paul emphasizes the church’s focus for its present status and for its future redemption. We are no longer citizens of the earth or of humanity. We are citizens of heaven. We belong to Jesus Christ and are His bride. 

But while we are alive on earth, we await a Savior. Literally means we ourselves await eagerly or we are made to await eagerly.  Paul uses this word six times of the eight occurrences of the word. Three times in Romans 8 (vv. 18, 23, 25) 1 Cor 1:7; Gal 5:5 and here in Phil 3:20. It is also found in Heb 9:28 and 1 Pet 3:20. Rom 8:23 tells us that believers groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 1 Cor 1:7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait (eagerly) for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gal 5:5b we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. Heb 9:28 so Christ . . . will appear a second time, . . . to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Paul then tells us that Christ will transform our bodies to be like His own glorious body. The word we would expect Paul to use here is the word he uses in Romans 12:2. When he speaks of our transformation by the renewing of our minds, he uses the term  From this word we get the English word metamorphosis. Instead, Paul uses , which is usually used negatively, of Satan and his false apostles disguising themselves as angels of light in 2 Cor 11:13-15 where is used three times and in 1 Cor 4:6. Paul uses as he would use  in this context of Phil 3:21. Christ will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. He then tells us that Jesus is able to do this as He has the power (from) to subject all things to Himself. Paul’s inference is this: If He has the power to subject all things to Himself, surely He can transform us.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

As stated earlier, back in the ‘70’s, everyone was into eschatology. Most in the USA were of a pre-tribulational rapture position, because of books like The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey; What On Earth Is God Doing? by Renald Showers; the Left Behind books and movies; etc. Now people like John Hagai and cults like Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mormons, the 7th Day Adventists, and the Charismatics are telling us what to believe regarding the end times. 

John MacArthur writes:

The study of the end times is the consuming passion of many in the church today. Sensational best-selling authors argue that current events fulfill their often dubious interpretations of biblical prophecy. Some claim to have figured out the secret that even Jesus in His Incarnation did not know—the time of the Second Coming (cf. Matt. 24:36). Tragically, some people get so caught up in the study of eschatology that they neglect the basic principles of spiritual growth and evangelism that the Second Coming is designed to motivate.

Unfortunately, the other extreme is often the case today. People neglect to study and share the books concerning the end times like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, the minor prophets, 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Revelation. The result leaves Christians and the church without hope because they fail to hear and know what God has planned for the church.