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⚡ 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓘𝓼 𝓝𝓸 𝓟𝓻𝓮‑𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓫𝓾𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓡𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮
- 2 hours ago
- 10 min read
Foreword
Many believers have been taught that Jesus can return at any moment in a sudden, pre‑tribulation rapture. This message challenges that claim by laying out a Scripture‑anchored case that Christ’s return is appointed by the Father, and that the rapture and the return are one unified event—the gathering of the saints occurring as Jesus appears and descends. My aim here is not to stir debate, but to call readers back to what Jesus and the apostles actually said, so we can watch, discern, and be prepared in truth.
The Rapture and Christ’s Return Are One Event (Not Pre‑Tribulation Imminence)
Years ago, the Lord spoke to me prophetically and made it clear that His return is not imminent. I later turned that revelation into a post on my website titled “The Midnight Cry.” This message is prophetic teaching from the Lord about the appointed hour of Christ’s return—set by the Father, not “any moment now,” as many claim. You can read the post here:
"The Midnight Cry"
To begin, let’s define what “imminent” means in Christian theology:
Imminent, when Christians use it to describe Jesus’ return, means this:
His coming could happen at any moment, without anything else needing to occur first.
If Jesus’ return is not described as imminent, then the only other biblical category that fits is this:
His return is certain, but scheduled by God for a specific future moment that is not “any‑moment” in the sense of imminence.
In other words, if you remove “imminent,” you don’t remove certainty — you remove timing. Let me break this down clearly and biblically.
🌩️ If His return is not imminent, then it is appointed
The Bible repeatedly uses the word appointed or set when speaking of God’s future actions:
“He has appointed a day” (Acts 17:31).
“At the appointed time” (Habakkuk 2:3).
“The Father has set by His own authority” (Acts 1:7).
This means:
✔ His return is fixed
There is a specific moment chosen by the Father.
✔ His return is guaranteed
It is not vague, symbolic, or conditional.
✔ His return is unstoppable
No human or demonic force can delay or accelerate it.
✔ His return is tied to God’s prophetic timeline
Not random, not floating, not “any moment” in the sense of unpredictability.
🌙 If His return is not imminent, then it is prophetically conditioned
This means His return is connected to:
The fullness of the gospel going to the nations
The rise of the final rebellion
The revealing of the man of lawlessness
The great tribulation
The cosmic signs Jesus Himself listed
Israel’s spiritual awakening
The final shaking of heaven and earth
This is not “imminent.” This is sequence.
Jesus Himself taught sequence in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and Revelation.
🔥 If His return is not imminent, then it is preceded by signs
Imminence says: no signs required. Non‑imminence says: signs precede the event.
Jesus said:
“After the tribulation…”
“Then the sign of the Son of Man…”
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming…”
“When these things begin to happen, look up…”
This is not “any moment.” This is recognizable timing.
🕯️ If His return is not imminent, then it is watchable
Imminence says:
“You cannot know anything about the timing.”
Non‑imminence says:
“You cannot know the day or hour, but you can know the season.”
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for not discerning the signs of the times. He told believers to watch, not guess.
Watching only makes sense if there is something to watch for.
🌅 If His return is not imminent, then it is near, but not unpredictable
This is the category the New Testament often uses:
“The day is approaching.”
“The Judge is standing at the door.”
“The end of all things is near.”
“The night is far spent; the day is at hand.”
These phrases mean:
Close, but not random. Near, but not any‑moment. Approaching, but not unannounced.
Today, the Lord confirmed again that the timing of His return is appointed by the Father and is not imminent. He bore witness to this through a fellow Christian sister, drawing attention to Jesus’ words in Luke 21:8. I’ll share a link to her message after this Scripture passage.
Luke 21:8 Living Bible {Paraphrased}
8 {Jesus} replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come {in my name} announcing themselves as the Messiah, and saying, ‘The time has come.’ But don’t believe them!
In the video below, the creator explains that when Jesus warns about people saying, “the time has come,” He’s referring to claims that His return is imminent—that it could happen at any moment. But Scripture shows otherwise: 2 Thessalonians 2:8 indicates that Jesus returns on the day the Holy Spirit exposes who the devil is.
That is the scheduled and appointed time of Christ’s return—not something that “could happen at any time.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 also teaches that before Jesus returns, the devil must first be revealed as the false Christ. In other words, what delays the Lord’s return is that this deception must come first—Satan must present himself as God before Jesus comes.
Here’s her YouTube short:
"No Sudden Pre-Trib Rapture" (444Apocalypse)
The following is my comment to her video:
“Yes—Luke 21:8, thank you. God has told me that His coming is not imminent, and that He returns when the world is asleep—during the darkness of night, when Satan is exercising control in his reign of terror, as described in 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
The rapture teachings in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 address a question the first-century church had: if the Lord returns with His saints to take the world back from the devil (Jude 14), how can the Church also be seen meeting Him in the sky if He’s coming to rescue His people on earth?
This is where Paul explains the “caught up” moment—in the blink of an eye—because the rapture happens after Jesus begins His return. Jesus describes this order in Matthew 24:29–31: He first descends, then gathers His elect to Himself, and then completes His descent back to earth with them.
So the rapture and the return are not two separate comings—they are one return with two parts: the first resurrection and the catching up of the saints, both occurring as part of Christ’s return.”
Further Scripture-Based Explanation of the Rapture / First Resurrection (Not Pre‑Tribulation)
Here is the rest of my teaching on why the pre‑tribulation rapture is false, for your understanding. In this section, I’ll explain the rapture—also called the first resurrection—by showing Scriptures that teach (1) Jesus returns to gather His people who are still on the earth, and (2) Jesus returns with His people (the Church). I’ll also walk through 1 Corinthians 15:35–58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 to show that this resurrection/rapture takes place on the very day Jesus returns.
Here is a clear, structured, Scripture‑anchored explanation of the Rapture / First Resurrection and how Jesus gathers His people on earth AND returns with His people on the Day He comes.
I’ll walk you through:
Scriptures saying Jesus comes to GET His people who are on earth
Scriptures saying Jesus returns WITH His people
How 1 Corinthians 15:35–58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 describe the mechanics of the resurrection/rapture
How all of this happens on the same Day—the Day of the Lord / Jesus’ return
1️⃣ Scriptures saying Jesus is coming to GET His people who are on earth when He returns
These passages describe Jesus descending, calling, raising, and catching up His people who are still alive on earth.
✦ 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
Paul says:
The Lord Himself will descend from heaven
The dead in Christ rise first
Then we who are alive and remain
Will be caught up (harpazō = raptured)
Together with them
To meet the Lord in the air
This is Jesus coming to get His people who are still alive on earth.
✦ Matthew 24:30–31
Jesus says:
The Son of Man appears
All tribes see Him
He sends angels with a great trumpet
They gather His elect from the four winds
From one end of heaven to the other (dead saints)
AND from the earth (living saints)
This is the same event Paul describes.
✦ John 14:3
Jesus promises:
“I will come again and receive you unto Myself.”
This is Jesus coming to take His people.
✦ 1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Paul says:
“We shall not all sleep” (not all believers will die)
“We shall all be changed”
“At the last trumpet”
“The dead will be raised”
“We shall be changed”
This is Jesus transforming living believers on the Day He returns.
✦ Isaiah 26:19–21
A resurrection occurs, then:
“Come, My people, enter your chambers… hide yourselves for a little while.”
This is God taking His people before wrath falls.
2️⃣ Scriptures saying Jesus is returning WITH His people
These passages describe Jesus coming with the saints, meaning the resurrected/raptured Church.
✦ 1 Thessalonians 3:13
Jesus returns:
“with all His saints.”
✦ Jude 14
Enoch prophesied:
“The Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints.”
✦ Revelation 19:14
When Jesus returns:
“The armies of heaven… clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him.”
Fine linen = the righteousness of the saints (Rev 19:8).
✦ Zechariah 14:5
When the Lord comes:
“The Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with You.”
✦ Colossians 3:4
When Christ appears:
“Then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
This means the saints have already been resurrected/raptured before He appears.
3️⃣ How 1 Corinthians 15:35–58 explains the resurrection/rapture
This passage explains what kind of body believers receive and how the transformation happens.
✦ Verses 35–49 — What kind of body?
Paul explains:
The resurrection body is glorious, immortal, spiritual, and heavenly
It is like a seed: the old body dies, the new body rises
We will bear the image of the heavenly Man (Jesus)
✦ Verses 50–53 — The moment of transformation
Key points:
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
A mystery: not all believers will die
But all will be changed
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye
At the last trumpet
The dead are raised incorruptible
The living are changed into immortality
This is the mechanics of the rapture.
✦ Verses 54–58 — Victory
When resurrection happens:
Death is swallowed up
The sting of death is gone
The resurrection is the final victory
This is the first resurrection (Rev 20:4–6).
4️⃣ How 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 explains the resurrection/rapture
This passage explains the order of the event.
✦ Verses 13–15 — The dead in Christ are not forgotten
Paul says:
Believers who died will rise
They will not be left behind
They will actually rise first
✦ Verses 16–17 — The sequence
The Lord descends
A shout, voice of archangel, trumpet of God
Dead believers rise
Living believers are transformed
All believers are caught up together
We meet the Lord in the air
We will always be with Him
This is the first resurrection and the rapture.
5️⃣ Putting it all together: How Jesus gathers His people AND returns with His people on the same Day
✔ Jesus descends
✔ Raises the dead
✔ Transforms the living
✔ Catches all believers up
✔ Meets them in the air
✔ Takes them to Himself
✔ Immediately returns with them in glory
✔ Judges the world
✔ Establishes His kingdom
This is why Scripture shows both:
Jesus coming to get His people
Jesus coming with His people
Because the resurrection/rapture happens at His appearing, and then the saints accompany Him as He completes His return.
6️⃣ The First Resurrection = The Rapture = The Day of the Lord = The Return of Jesus
Scripture never separates these events.
They are one single event:
The resurrection of the righteous
The transformation of the living
The gathering of the saints
The appearing of Jesus
The Day of the Lord
The return of Christ
The beginning of His kingdom
All occur on the same Day.
Conclusion (For Clarity)
Taken together, these passages show a consistent, unified timeline: Jesus appears and descends, the dead in Christ are raised, the living are instantly changed, and the saints are gathered to meet Him in the air—and then He completes His return in glory with His people. This is why Scripture can truthfully describe Christ as coming to gather His saints and also coming with His saints: the gathering (rapture/first resurrection) happens at His appearing, as part of the same Day—the Day of the Lord, the Return of Jesus, and the beginning of His kingdom.
Epilogue
If Scripture shows anything clearly, it is that the Lord’s coming is not a vague, “any second now” event detached from prophecy, but an appointed Day in which Jesus appears, raises the dead in Christ, transforms the living, gathers His elect, and returns in glory with His saints. This is the blessed hope: not escape through a separate pre‑tribulation event, but victory through Christ at His appearing. May the Holy Spirit lead you into truth, strengthen your faith, and keep you ready—steadfast in repentance, watchfulness, and obedience—until the Day the Lord Himself has appointed.
🔥 YouTube Playlist (8 Songs)
“THE APPOINTED DAY: THE RETURN, THE RESURRECTION, THE REVEALING”
1. “Refiner” – Maverick City Music
Purification before the Day. A call to be made ready, not removed.
2. “Spirit Lead Me” – Influence Music
Yielding to the Spirit in the hour of deception and false signs.
3. “Even So Come” – Passion (Kristian Stanfill)
Not escapism—expectation. “Let every heart prepare a room.”
4. “The Ancient of Days” – CityAlight
The sovereignty of the Father over the appointed hour of Christ’s appearing.
5. “Days of Elijah” – Robin Mark
A prophetic declaration of the visible appearing of the Son of Man.
6. “The King Is Coming” – Newsboys
Triumphant, public return—no secret rapture, no hidden event.
7. “Resurrecting” – Elevation Worship
The first resurrection: the dead raised, the living changed.
8. “All Hail King Jesus” – Jeremy Riddle
The saints returning with Him in glory as He establishes His kingdom.
✍️ YouTube Description
This playlist carries the prophetic message of Scripture: There is no pre‑tribulation rapture, no sudden escape, no “any‑moment” return.
The Lord’s coming is an appointed Day—set by the Father—when Jesus appears, descends, raises the dead in Christ, transforms the living, gathers His elect, and returns in glory with His saints.
These songs follow the arc of that Day: purification, watchfulness, the revealing of the man of sin, the appearing of Christ, the first resurrection, and the establishment of His kingdom.
May the Holy Spirit anchor you in truth, strengthen your discernment, and keep you steadfast until the Day the Lord Himself has appointed.
“𝓣𝓗𝓔 𝓐𝓟𝓟𝓞𝓘𝓝𝓣𝓔𝓓 𝓓𝓐𝓨: 𝓣𝓗𝓔 𝓡𝓔𝓣𝓤𝓡𝓝, 𝓣𝓗𝓔 𝓡𝓔𝓢𝓤𝓡𝓡𝓔𝓒𝓣𝓘𝓞𝓝, 𝓣𝓗𝓔 𝓡𝓔𝓥𝓔𝓐𝓛𝓘𝓝𝓖”
𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝕬𝖒𝖊𝖓
All Scripture quotations are taken from the Authorized King James Version (AKJV) unless otherwise noted. This message may be freely shared for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.