The Most Absurdly Preposterous Doctrine in All of Christianity part 2
The New Testament teaching on the Harpazo (Rapture)
Hello brothers and sisters.
Last time we talked about the Harpazo, why it’s so absurd, and what it has going for it.
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New Testament Explicit Teaching—The Word Harpazo (ἁρπάζω)
Now we turn to the Greek New Testament, where the word harpazo appears 14 times. Not all of these refer to the rapture, but understanding the word’s range of meaning helps us grasp what Paul meant in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
The Meaning of Harpazo (ἁρπάζω)
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines harpazo:
To seize, carry off by force
To seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly
To snatch out or away
HELPS Word-studies (726 /harpázō): “Properly, seize by force; snatch up, suddenly and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize); to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly).”
Key Insight: Harpazo implies sudden, forceful, decisive action. This is not a subtle or gradual process but an instantaneous seizure.
The 14 Uses of Harpazo in the New Testament
Let me list all 14 occurrences, then we’ll examine the ones most relevant to rapture theology:
Matthew 11:12 – “The violent take it [the kingdom] by force”
Matthew 12:29 – “Plunder his goods” (spoil his house)
Matthew 13:19 – The evil one “snatches away” the word
John 6:15 – They would “take Him by force” to make Him king
John 10:12 – The wolf “catches” the sheep
John 10:28 – No one can “snatch” them from My hand
John 10:29 – No one can “snatch” them from the Father’s hand
Acts 8:39 – The Spirit “caught away” Philip
Acts 23:10 – Commander ordered soldiers to “take him by force”
2 Corinthians 12:2 – Paul “caught up” to the third heaven
2 Corinthians 12:4 – “Caught up” into Paradise
1 Thessalonians 4:17 – “Caught up” together in the clouds
Jude 23 – “Snatching them out of the fire”
Revelation 12:5 – The child “caught up” to God and His throne
Let’s examine the key passages:
Acts 8:39 – Philip’s Mini-Rapture
“Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away (hērpasen) Philip, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.”
Significance: This is a literal, physical, instantaneous transportation. One moment Philip was there; the next moment he wasn’t. The eunuch “saw him no more.” Philip vanished. Later (verse 40), Philip was found at Azotus, miles away.
Pattern: This demonstrates that harpazo can describe sudden, miraculous, bodily translocation, exactly what’s described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 – Paul’s Experience
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago— whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows —such a one was caught up (harpagenta) to the third heaven. And I know such a man— whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows —how he was caught up (hērpagē) into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
Significance: Paul uses harpazo twice to describe his experience of being caught up to heaven. Notably, he’s unsure whether this was “in the body” or “out of the body,” suggesting that harpazo can involve bodily translation, though in Paul’s case he couldn’t determine if it did or not.
Pattern: Harpazo can describe being caught up to heaven, to the realm of God’s presence.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 – The Rapture Passage
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpagēsometha) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
This is THE rapture passage. Let’s break it down:
Context (verses 13-18): Paul is comforting believers who are worried about Christians who have died. He assures them:
v. 14 – Jesus will bring the dead in Christ with Him when He returns
v. 15 – Living believers won’t precede the dead
v. 16 – The Lord will descend with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God; the dead in Christ will rise first
v. 17 – Then living believers will be harpazo‘d to meet the Lord in the air
v. 18 – Therefore comfort one another with these words
Key Observations:
“Caught up” (harpagēsometha): Future passive indicative, first person plural: ”we shall be caught up.” This is something done to us, not something we do. It’s passive voice, therefore God is the actor, we are the recipients.
“Together with them”: The dead in Christ rise first, then immediately afterward, living believers are caught up together with the resurrected saints. This is a corporate event, not individual deaths.
“In the clouds”: This echoes Daniel 7:13, where “one like the Son of Man” comes “with the clouds of heaven.” It also recalls Acts 1:9-11, where Jesus ascended in a cloud and angels said He would “come in like manner” as He went.
“To meet the Lord in the air”: The word “meet” (apantēsin, ἀπάντησιν) is significant. It was used in ancient times for a city’s delegation going out to meet an arriving dignitary, then escorting him back into the city. Some scholars argue this means believers meet Christ in the air, then escort Him back to earth for the Second Coming, thereby denying a separate rapture event.
But notice: the text says we will “always be with the Lord“ after this meeting. If we immediately return to earth for the Second Coming, why use “always”? The language suggests a permanent relocation to be with Christ, not a brief mid-air greeting.
Related Passage – 1 Corinthians 15:51-52:
“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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Connection: This describes the same event, the resurrection of the dead and transformation of living believers. The “last trumpet” likely refers to the eschatological trumpet (the final trumpet of God’s plan for the church age), not necessarily the seventh trumpet of Revelation.
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”: Greek: en atomō, en rhipē ophthalmou, in an indivisible moment, in the blink of an eye. This is instantaneous.
That definition, an “indivisible moment” carries interesting connotations. Although we have measured a unit of time as small as 247 zeptoseconds, which is the time it takes a photon to cross a hydrogen molecule, the shortest theoretical measurement of time is Planck’s Time, which is 1.3×10−44 seconds. This is the time it would theoretically take a photon to cross one Planck Length, which is the smallest possible measure of length. It is approximately 1.616x10-35 meters. However, the measurement that interests me, the one that seems to be in view here, is the amount of time it takes for light to pass through the lens of a human eye, which is approximately 200 picoseconds or 2x10−10 seconds.
This matches the meaning of harpazo rather well; sudden, forceful, decisive.
Revelation 12:5 – The Controversial Verse
“She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up (hērpasthē) to God and to His throne.”
The Debate: Most commentators identify the male child as Jesus Christ. The “woman” is Israel (clothed with the sun, moon under her feet, crown of twelve stars = twelve tribes). The child who will “rule all nations with a rod of iron” quotes Psalm 2:9, clearly messianic.
So far, so good. But here’s where it gets both fascinating and a little controversial:
Traditional View: This refers to Christ’s Ascension (Acts 1:9).
Problem: The word used for Christ’s Ascension is not harpazo. Acts 1:9 uses epairō (ἐπαίρω, “lifted up”) and verse 11 uses analambanō (ἀναλαμβάνω, “taken up”). These words suggest a gradual rising, like climbing a mountain.
Harpazo, by contrast, means a sudden, forceful snatching away; rescued from imminent danger.
Alternative View: This refers to the rapture of the Church.
Evidence for this view:
The word harpazo is used, the same word as 1 Thessalonians 4:17
The context is danger—the dragon (Satan) stands ready to “devour her child as soon as it was born” (v. 4). The child is rescued at the last moment. This fits the rapture, with believers rescued before the dragon’s final assault (the Great Tribulation).
The child is called both teknon (τέκνον, informal “child”) and huios (υἱός, “son”) in verse 5. Interestingly, Jesus is exclusively called huios in Scripture, except once by Mary (Luke 2:48). But the Apostle John uses teknon to refer to believers as “children of God” (1 John 3:1-2, 10; 5:2) and uses huios exclusively for Christ in his Gospel and epistles.
The “manchild” is described as a collective singular: ”a male child” that is actually plural (the Church, Christ’s mystical body). Elsewhere, Paul calls the Church a singular “man”: Ephesians 2:15 (”one new man”), Ephesians 4:13 (”a perfect man”), Galatians 3:28-29 (”you are one in Christ”).
Counter-argument: The child “will rule all nations with a rod of iron” is clearly Christ (Psalm 2:9, Revelation 19:15).
Response: But believers also will rule with Christ (Revelation 2:26-27: “He who overcomes… to him I will give power over the nations—’He shall rule them with a rod of iron’”; Revelation 20:4-6 describes believers reigning with Christ).
My Take: I believe Revelation 12:5 has a dual reference:
Primary/Historical: Christ’s birth, life, and Ascension (telescoped together, as prophecy often does)
Secondary/Typological: The Church’s rapture, foreshadowed by Christ’s own “catching up” to heaven
Revelation frequently uses multilayered imagery. The “woman” is both Israel (historically, giving birth to Messiah) and the faithful remnant of Israel (eschatologically, persecuted during tribulation). Similarly, the “male child” can be both Christ (primarily) and the Church (typologically), since the Church is Christ’s body.
The use of harpazo (rather than the Ascension terminology) and the context of rescue from the dragon’s mouth suggest John may have intended a prophetic double meaning.
Whether you agree or not, it’s worth noting that harpazo is used here in an eschatological context involving heaven, divine rescue, and Satan’s fury.
The Body of Christ Taken from Earth
Ephesians 5:23-32 – The Church as Christ’s Body
“For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body… For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones… This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
1 Corinthians 12:27 – We Are Christ’s Body
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
The Logic:
If the Church is Christ’s body, and Christ’s body ascended to heaven, then it’s entirely consistent that Christ’s body (the Church) would be “caught up” to heaven at the appointed time.
The Ascension was Christ the Head; the rapture is Christ’s body following.
Related to Harpazo: While “body of Christ” language doesn’t use harpazo, it establishes the theological foundation for why the Church would be removed from earth. We are organically united to Christ. Where the Head goes, eventually the body follows.
Addressing Common Counter-Arguments
The word apantēsin (meeting) implies we return to earth immediately
Response: While apantēsin was used for meeting a dignitary and escorting him into a city, context matters. In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul says after meeting the Lord in the air, “thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
“Always” (pantote, πάντοτε) means “at all times, constantly.” If we immediately return to earth, why emphasize “always”? The emphasis suggests a permanent state of being with Christ, not a momentary mid-air meeting before continuing to earth.
Moreover, the “comfort” (v. 18) is not “don’t worry, you’ll be back on earth soon for the Second Coming,” but rather “you will be with the Lord always.”
Nowhere does Jesus explicitly teach the rapture
Response: This is partly true. Jesus doesn’t use the word harpazo or describe the rapture in the same explicit terms Paul uses. However:
John 14:1-3 – “I go to prepare a place for you… I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” This describes Christ coming to take believers to the Father’s house (heaven), not to earth for the millennium.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 – Paul says he’s writing “by the word of the Lord.” He’s not inventing this; he’s conveying revelation from Jesus.
Isaiah 26:19-21 – If Paul is drawing on Isaiah’s prophecy (which seems likely given the parallels), then Jesus implicitly endorsed it by affirming all the prophets.
There’s only one ‘gathering’ at the Second Coming
Response: This conflates two different Greek words:
Matthew 24:31 uses episynagō (ἐπισυνάγω, “gather together”) – angels gather the elect
1 Thessalonians 4:17 uses harpazo (ἁρπάζω, “catch up, snatch away”) – believers are raptured
These are different events described with different vocabulary. Matthew 24:31 describes angels gathering scattered believers on earth (from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other, idiom for global scale), not snatching them into the sky. This implies that what’s at work here in Matthew is that those few tribulation saints who manage to survive will be gathered up at this time.
Additionally, Matthew 24 is addressing Israel during the tribulation (note the references to Judea, Sabbath, Daniel’s prophecy), while 1 Thessalonians 4 addresses the Church.
Early church fathers were amillennial; they didn’t believe in a rapture
Response: This is historically inaccurate. Many early church fathers were premillennial (believing in a literal thousand-year reign of Christ after His return):
Papias (c. 60-130 AD) – taught premillennialism
Justin Martyr (c. 100-165 AD) – taught premillennialism
Irenaeus (c. 130-202 AD) – taught premillennialism and wrote about the church being “caught up” before final tribulation
Tertullian (c. 155-240 AD) – taught premillennialism
Hippolytus (c. 170-235 AD) – taught premillennialism
Amillennialism became dominant later, especially after Augustine. But the early church was predominantly premillennial, and several fathers taught that believers would be removed before the final tribulation.
Conclusion
Having examined the evidence, here are the main scholarly positions:
1. Pretribulation Rapture
The Church is raptured before the seven-year tribulation
Supported by: Imminency passages (Christ could return at any moment); 1 Thess 5:9 (not appointed to wrath); the Church is absent in Revelation 4-18; the restrainer (2 Thess 2:7) is the Holy Spirit in the Church
Challenges: Some see the “restrainer” differently; timing of the “last trumpet”; whether tribulation = wrath
2. Midtribulation Rapture
The Church is raptured halfway through the tribulation
Supported by: The “last trumpet” of 1 Cor 15:52 is the seventh trumpet of Rev 11:15 (midpoint); Daniel’s 70th week divided into two 3.5-year periods; church experiences first half (tribulation) but not second half (Great Tribulation/wrath)
Challenges: The seventh trumpet is a judgment trumpet, not a rapture trumpet; identity of the 24 elders in heaven; church is not in view after chapter 3 of Revelation; Revelation’s structure may not be chronological
3. Prewrath Rapture
The Church is raptured after the midpoint but before the worst judgments
Supported by: Matthew 24:29-31 places gathering after tribulation; distinguishes between Satan’s wrath (tribulation) and God’s wrath (day of the Lord); cosmic signs precede the rapture
Challenges: Requires complex redefining of “tribulation” vs. “wrath”; timing issues with Revelation’s seals, trumpets, and bowls; requires conflating Matthew’s “gathering” with the Rapture
4. Posttribulation Rapture
The Church goes through the entire tribulation and is raptured at the Second Coming
Supported by: Matthew 24:29-31 (”immediately after the tribulation,”); 1 Thess 4 and Matt 24 describe the same event; church has always suffered; no explicit “pre-trib” promise
Challenges: Hard to reconcile with “not appointed to wrath”; has the same problem of conflating the gathering in Matthew 24 with the Rapture; the language used makes it pretty clear they are different; what about the church of Philadelphia who was explicitly promised they would not go through the Great Tribulation? And why use harpazo if we just return to earth immediately; what about the marriage supper?
5. No Rapture (Amillennial/Postmillennial)
The “catching up” is symbolic or refers only to believers meeting Christ at His one return
Supported by: Simplicity; avoids complex tribulation timing debates; many passages are apocalyptic/symbolic
Challenges: Doesn’t account for the literal, physical nature of harpazo in Acts 8:39; ignores the pattern of Enoch, Elijah; struggles with 1 Thess 4’s plain meaning
If you’ve found this exploration helpful, enlightening, or even challenging, please share it with a friend who needs to hear it.
My Position (And Why I Hold It)
I am convinced of the pretribulation rapture, that is, the Church will be caught up to meet Christ in the air before Daniel’s 70th week (the seven-year period that includes the three-and-a-half-year tribulation) begins.
Why?
The Church is not mentioned in Revelation 4-18, which describes the tribulation. The word “church” (ekklēsia) appears 19 times in Revelation 1-3 (the letters to the seven churches), then disappears until Revelation 22. In its place, we see “saints” and “those who keep the commandments of God.” These descriptions are more fitting of tribulation believers who come to faith after the rapture.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 – “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The “wrath” (orgē, ὀργή) is God’s eschatological wrath poured out during the Day of the Lord. While Christians suffer persecution and tribulation (from humans and Satan), we are not appointed to experience God’s wrath.
The pattern of Noah and Lot – Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah… as it was also in the days of Lot…” (Luke 17:26-30). In both cases, the righteous were removed/sheltered (Noah in the ark, Lot removed from Sodom) before judgment fell. Similarly, God will remove His people before pouring out wrath.
The “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13) – Paul calls the rapture “the blessed hope.” If believers must endure the tribulation first, it’s not much of a “blessed hope.” The hope is that Christ could return at any moment.
The restrainer (2 Thess 2:7) – “He who now restrains” the Antichrist will be “taken out of the way.” Many scholars identify the restrainer as the Holy Spirit (and by extension, the Church, since the Spirit indwells believers). When the Church is raptured, the restraint is removed, and the Antichrist is revealed.
However— and this is a vital point —I hold this position humbly. I could be wrong about the timing. Perhaps it’s mid-trib. Perhaps it’s pre-wrath. Perhaps post-trib.
But I am not wrong about the event itself. The harpazo will happen. Believers will be caught up to meet the Lord. Whether that’s before, during, or after the tribulation, I leave to God’s sovereign timing.
What I am certain of: One day, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the trumpet, the dead in Christ will rise and we who are alive will be changed and caught up to be with the Lord forever.
And that, my brothers and sisters in Christ, is the most absurdly preposterous truth in all of Christianity.
The Deep Dive Is Coming
This survey has only scratched the surface. We’ve examined the key passages, but there’s so much more to explore:
The Greek verb tenses and their implications
The relationship between the “Day of the Lord,” “Day of Christ,” and “Day of God”
Daniel’s 70 Weeks and how the rapture fits into that timeline
The Olivet Discourse and its parallels with Paul’s epistles
The seven trumpets of Revelation vs. the “last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15
The two witnesses of Revelation 11 (might they be Enoch and Elijah returning?)
The marriage supper of the Lamb and where it fits chronologically
The “restrainer” in 2 Thessalonians 2 and the revealing of the Antichrist
Detailed comparisons of every MT/LXX divergence in relevant passages
If you want me to go deeper— and I mean much deeper —into the exegetical details, stay tuned. At some point in the future I’ll be producing a comprehensive series that will examine every jot and tittle of these passages, comparing Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, interacting with scholarly literature, and building the most thorough biblical case for the harpazo that I’m capable of producing.
For now, I’ll leave you with the words of Paul:
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Maranatha. The Lord is coming.
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