Doulos. In 1 Thess 4, why didn't you just say rapture. Do you not believe the rapture is a true event in the Bible? Why not call it by its name?
Because the "rapture" is an insignificant event compared to the coming of the Lord, which it happens during. The idea of rapture comes from the Latin translation, the Vulgate.
Deinde nos, qui vivimus, qui relinquimur, simul
rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Christo in aëra, et sic semper cum Domino erimus.
Biblia Sacra juxta Vulgatam Clementinam. (2005). (Ed. electronica., 1 Th 4:17). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
The English word rapture comes from this Latin word (well the root), which means to snatch, grab or carry. I don't see why expressing it as the moment where we are caught up to the Lord is insufficient, Pre Tribers I believe have made the term far more popular since they place so much emphasis on an event that is described once.
Let's look at the whole text.
Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, thus also God will bring those who have fallen asleep through Jesus together with him. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord’s coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The Lexham English Bible (1 Th 4:13–18).
In v.13, Paul is giving the people hope for those who have fallen asleep (died) in Christ. That just as Christ rose from the dead, God will raise those who died to come with him at this second coming. Now in this framework, let's look at the text of v.15 in particular, keeping in mind that everything he is saying now is support for the main sentence of v.13.
"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord’s coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep."
Here also is the Greek text.
"Τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῖν λέγομεν ἐν λόγῳ κυρίου, ὅτι ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες οἱ περιλειπόμενοι εἰς τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ κυρίου οὐ μὴ φθάσωμεν τοὺς κοιμηθέντας·"
Nestle, E., Nestle, E., Aland, B., Aland, K., Karavidopoulos, J., Martini, C. M., & Metzger, B. M. (1993). The Greek New Testament (27th ed., p. 536). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.
The "this" is fronted in the Greek text, and is a forward pointing reference to the latter section, and he says that "this" is by the word of the Lord. Paul then qualifies the believers in two separate clauses, the believers ("we") who are alive, and who remain until the Lord's coming. Will not possibly precede; this phrase contains a double negative in the Greek (οὐ μὴ) which is very strong. Which he is saying that the living will not share in Christ's coming sooner than those who are asleep (dead). This was spoken to console the Thessalonians, as well as us today. That God's promise to raise those who are asleep in Christ is so strong that those who died will be the first to share in his coming.
Moving on to the next verse.
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first."
Jesus will descend and will have the shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. This coming of Jesus isn't some secret event where he zaps up the believers, but rather it is Jesus the conqueror coming to vanquish evil and arriving at the last trumpet which ushers in his reign. It is at his second coming where the dead in Christ rise first, and this is the first resurrection spoken of in Revelations 20:4. This happens prior to the "rapture" and already this is taking place at the end of the tribulation in the Revelation narrative.
Finally verse 17.
Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always.
The "then" is the temporal frame which distinctly puts this event after the coming of the Lord and the rising of the dead. We who are alive, who remain (same indicators as v.15), will be snatched away or caught up at the same time together with them, which this is the main clausal emphasis of the whole verse. Meaning that just after the dead in Christ are raised to be with the Lord, we too (or that Christian generation) will be caught up to be with them. This verse isn't to speak about deliverance, but rather about reconciliation with not only our Lord, but also those who have beforehand fallen asleep in Christ. That we will be up in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord, and forevermore together with the Lord, again this verse is meant to console. This is demonstrated by v.18, where he asks them to comfort one another with these words.
Not that you'll escape the tribulation, but rather that you'll be united with the Lord and with the believers who have fallen asleep in Christ. That they will be resurrected and changed at the same time when you are taken up to the Lord, though the text seems to indicate that their resurrection will happen
just prior.
Further evidence that this is talking about the second coming is that he continues to speak about the day of the Lord in the beginning of the next chapter.
"Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you, 2 for you yourselves well know that the
day of the Lord is coming in the same way as a thief in the night."
The Lexham English Bible (1 Th 5:1–2).
Since he gave them that comfort and teaching about the second coming, also known as the day of the Lord, he is now telling them to be cautious about trying to pin point an exact date. That they shouldn't think they have peace and security, but be prepared for his coming which will come in the same way as a thief in the night, which is an obvious reference to the words of our Lord.
So upon closer inspection of these texts, it is crystal clear that it does not teach Pre Tribulation Rapture, nor does any other text. In fact, it contradicts the pretribulation rapture position because it says that we will be caught up to the Lord at his second coming and this will be at the same time (or rather just after) when the dead in Christ rise to be with Him. Also, because the Lord comes not in a secretive way, but rather at the last trumpet which indicates the inception of his reign on Earth and comes as the conqueror. This is why I completely reject the position of Pre-Trib, and now you can ignore the clear teaching of Scripture on this matter, or you can seek the Holy Spirit to enlighten your heart to see the truth of what I have said.
Blessings,
DI
