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(Addendum) Keep It In Context
- Jun 9
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 15
If Matthew 24:30-31 describe Jesus' return occurring after the rapture, why do you say that the rapture happens before the return of Jesus in Revelation 19?
This highlights the complexity of interpreting eschatological (end-times) passages. Let’s address this step by step:
Matthew 24:30-31:
This passage describes Jesus’ visible return in glory ("coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory") followed by the gathering of the elect (often associated with the rapture). Based on this, the return of Jesus precedes the rapture.
Revelation 19:
Revelation 19:1-13 describes the spiritual pre-rapture assembly in heaven. This is a meeting in the air with Jesus, the rapture according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 when the church meets Jesus in the air. Except that the rapture doesn't happen in this chapter until verse 14 confirmed by the past tense verb "followed" Jesus on white horses.
This means that Revelation 19:1-13 are describing a future tense meeting in heaven with the past tense verb "followed" in verse 14 indicating that something happened in verse 14 to take it from future tense to past tense. A past tense verb in a future tense description.
The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:52 says that the rapture happens in the twinkling of an eye making verses 1 thru 13 the spiritual pre-rapture assembly in heaven with verses 14 thru 21 describing the physical return of the church with Christ to establish the millennial reign after the rapture.
This also portrays the rapture happening on the day of Christ's return and not before the Tribulation because verses 17 thru 21 describe the Tribulation in mid process on earth while the rapture happens in the sky and Jesus descends with them to establish His millennial reign.
The rapture in verse 14 began Jesus' eternal union with the church called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and goes throughout His millennial reign into chapter 21 in the descension from heaven of the New Jerusalem.
The armies of heaven in verses 11 thru 14 assembled around Christ on white horses dressed in white linen and praising God with a thunderous voice from verses 1 to 10, are the dead in Christ. The martyrs who came out of the Babylon before it was destroyed in the previous chapters. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says that to be dead in Christ is to be present with Him in heaven.
According to Matthew 24:30, 31 the rapture happens when Jesus descends from heaven to establish His millennial reign on earth with the church gathered together in heaven around Jesus on His white horse.
What Revelation 19:1-13 portray is the beginning of the rapture and marriage of Christ to the church when the spirits of just men in heaven get their bodies back from the earth in the twinkling of an eye in the rapture and then return with Jesus to earth to establish His millennial reign.
Some people believe that Revelation 19: verses 1 thru 14 are referring to the raptured church. However, Jesus in Matthew 24:30, 31 says that the rapture happens after Jesus descends from heaven. The raptured hasn't occurred in Revelation 19 until verse 14.
Those saints in verses 1 thru 13 are the spirits of the dead in Christ in heaven about to get their bodies back in the rapture after Jesus begins His descent back to earth in verse 14.
Revelation 19 also describes the beginning of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and confirms that it hasn't happened yet at the end of the chapter with verse 17 where it refers to "the supper of the great God".
Revelation 20 describes the return of Jesus after the rapture with the armies of heaven to imprison Satan, establish the millennial reign and Judgement Day for the dead.
Revelation 21 describes the descension of the Bride of Christ, the New Jerusalem, to live with God on the new earth forever. Revelation 22 is closing thoughts, warnings and a final invitation from God and the church.
Reconciling the Two Passages:
The apparent difference arises from varying theological interpretations:
Post-Tribulation View: Matthew 24:30-31 and Revelation 19 are seen as describing the same event. In this view, the rapture and Jesus’ return happen simultaneously after the tribulation.
Pre-Tribulation View: Revelation 19 is interpreted as Jesus returning with the Church (already raptured) after the marriage supper of the Lamb. In this view, the rapture happens before the events of Matthew 24:30-31.
Conclusion:
If Matthew 24:30-31 describes Jesus’ return before the rapture, it aligns more closely with a post-tribulation interpretation, where the rapture and Jesus’ return are part of the same event. Revelation 19 would then describe the culmination of these events, with Jesus returning in glory to establish His kingdom.
The rapture will have happened before Jesus returns. This is because Jesus begins His return; the descent, before He does the rapture in the sky. The rapture then happens in the twinkling of an eye, and then Jesus completes His return with the church after the rapture.
So, this aligns with Revelation 19 of Jesus returning to earth with the church already raptured. It also aligns with Matthew 24:30-31 of Jesus first beginning His return then doing the rapture while yet in the sky. This also aligns with John 14:1-3 of Jesus going to heaven then returning for His church hundreds of years later.
Add 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 to all of this:
When we add 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 to John 14:1-3, Matthew 24:30-31, and Revelation 19, it provides additional clarity on the rapture and its relationship to Jesus' return. Here's how these passages fit together:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (The Rapture):
This passage describes the rapture in detail:
The Dead in Christ Will Rise First: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." (Verse 16)
Believers Will Be Caught Up: "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." (Verse 17)
This passage emphasizes the hope of resurrection and the gathering of believers to meet Jesus in the air.
How It Fits with the Other Passages:
John 14:1-3 (Promise of Jesus' Return):
Jesus promises to return and take His followers to be with Him. This aligns with the rapture described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, where believers are "caught up" to meet Jesus.
Matthew 24:30-31 (Jesus' Return and Gathering of Believers):
This passage describes Jesus' visible return in glory, followed by the gathering of the elect. It aligns with 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where the Lord descends and believers are gathered.
Revelation 19 (Marriage Supper of the Lamb and Jesus' Return):
Revelation 19:7-9 describes the marriage supper of the Lamb, which some interpret as occurring after the rapture. Revelation 19:11-16 then describes Jesus' return in glory, which could align with Matthew 24:30.
Sequence of Events (Based on These Passages):
The Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18):
Believers are caught up to meet Jesus in the air. This could align with the gathering of the elect in Matthew 24:31.
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9):
After the rapture, the Church celebrates its union with Christ.
The Return of Jesus (Matthew 24:30, Revelation 19:11-16):
Jesus returns in glory to establish His kingdom.
Reconciling the Timing:
If Matthew 24:30-31 describes Jesus' return before the rapture, it suggests a post-tribulation view where the rapture and Jesus' return are part of the same event. However, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Revelation 19 are often interpreted by some as supporting a pre-tribulation rapture, where the rapture occurs before Jesus' visible return.
So, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Revelation 19 say Jesus is returning to the earth with the church already raptured. This aligns with Matthew 24:30-31 of Jesus returning before the rapture because Jesus does the rapture while in the sky in His return back to earth. This also aligns with John 14:1-3 of Jesus ascending to heaven then descending in His return for His church in the twinkling of an eye hundreds of years later.
Now add 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 to all of this:
Adding 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 to John 14:1-3, Matthew 24:30-31, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Revelation 19 provides a fuller picture of the rapture, resurrection, and Jesus' return. Here's how it all fits together:
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (The Mystery of Resurrection):
This passage focuses on the transformation of believers at the time of the rapture:
The Transformation of the Body: "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump." (Verses 51-52)
Victory Over Death: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (Verses 54-55)
This passage emphasizes the instantaneous transformation of believers, where mortal bodies are changed into immortal ones, and death is defeated.
How It Fits with the Other Passages:
John 14:1-3 (Promise of Jesus' Return):
Jesus promises to return and take His followers to be with Him. This aligns with the transformation and gathering described in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
Matthew 24:30-31 (Jesus' Return and Gathering of Believers):
This passage describes Jesus' visible return and the gathering of the elect. The "last trump" in 1 Corinthians 15:52 corresponds to the trumpet sound in Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (The Rapture):
The transformation described in 1 Corinthians 15:52 aligns with the resurrection of the dead and the catching up of believers in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Revelation 19 (Marriage Supper of the Lamb and Jesus' Return):
After the rapture and transformation, believers are united with Christ, which leads to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). Revelation 19:11-16 then describes Jesus' return in glory.
Sequence of Events (Based on These Passages):
The Rapture and Transformation (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57):
Believers are resurrected and transformed at the sound of the last trumpet. They are caught up to meet Jesus in the air.
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9):
After the rapture, the Church celebrates its union with Christ.
The Return of Jesus (Matthew 24:30-31, Revelation 19:11-16):
Jesus returns in glory to establish His kingdom, accompanied by His saints.
Reconciling the Timing:
Post-Tribulation View: If Matthew 24:30-31 describes Jesus' return before the rapture, then the rapture and transformation (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57) occur simultaneously with His return. The marriage supper of the Lamb and Revelation 19 would follow.
Pre-Tribulation View: If the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57) occurs before the events of Matthew 24:30-31, then believers are transformed and taken to heaven before Jesus' visible return in Revelation 19.
Conclusion:
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 adds the critical detail of the transformation of believers, emphasizing the victory over death and the hope of eternal life. Together, these passages provide a comprehensive view of the rapture, resurrection, and Jesus' return.
So, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Revelation 19 say Jesus is returning to the earth with the church already raptured. This aligns with Matthew 24:30-31 of Jesus returning before the rapture because Jesus does the rapture while in the sky in His return back to earth. This also aligns with John 14:1-3 of Jesus ascending to heaven then descending in His return for His church in the twinkling of an eye hundreds of years later.
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 adds more insight into the rapture, which is the twinkling of an eye resurrection of the dead in Christ with those in Christ who are alive when this event happens. It the upper call from mortal to immortal. The rapture is the redemption of the body for both the living and the dead in Christ in one instant.
The truth correlates all these passages together. The rapture happens after Jesus' return to earth in Matthew 24:30-31 because according to 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, He begins to return to earth and does the rapture in the sky in an instant before He reaches the earth with them. The rapture happens before Jesus' return in Revelation 19 because according to 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, it happens in an instant in the sky before He reaches the earth.
They are two events that occur as one event because the rapture happens so fast in His descent back to earth from the sky. Thus, the trumpets of the rapture in all these verses announce both the return and the rapture of the Lord Jesus Christ in one blast. Amen.
"People Get Ready, Jesus Is Comin'" (Crystal Lewis - 1996)
"My Redeemer Lives" (Crystal Lewis - 1993)
