It is my conviction, from simply taking Scripture literally, that the Rapture of the Church occurs at this point, between Matthew 24, verses 8 and 9 (see 1 Thess. 4:13–5:11; 2 Thess. 2:1–8; esp. Rev. 4:1). Jesus does not deal with it here, because the Church is still an unrevealed “mystery” (see Eph. 3:1–10).

There are many today who reject the teaching of the Rapture of the Church (1 Thess. 4:13–18), because they think it is a “cowardly” hope of weak Christians to escape the Tribulation. In light of the past 2,000 years of church history, this is a foolish notion. It has been the portion of believers throughout world history to suffer affliction and severe persecution, even to horrible torture and execution. The Church has surely paid her dues. Furthermore, we do not know what trials await us, even in the times of increasing birth-pangs ahead.

This message, especially as recorded in Matthew, is very precise in its presentation. Jesus is giving us a very clear, detailed account of how history will unfold prior to His Second Coming. The Tribulation is the time Jeremiah called, “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7).

Note seven reasons the Rapture occurs before His “revelation” to the world (2 Thess. 2:1–8):

1. Because the coming of Jesus Christ and our gathering to Him is cause for comfort from all fear, vv.1–2.

2. The “departure” (better rendering of “falling away”) or Rapture, must precede Antichrist’s coming, v. 3.

3. Antichrist will stand in the rebuilt temple (v. 4), which will not be built until after the Church is gone.

4. Paul refers them back to what he has already taught them about the Rapture, v. 5, see 1 Thess. 4:13–18.

5. The “restrainer” (vv. 6–7) can only be the Holy Spirit indwelling the Church. When the Church is removed, the restraining power departs also.

6. Only “then” (remember, a key word in the Olivet Discourse) will “the lawless one” be revealed, v. 8. This verse accords with Revelation 13, the coming of Antichrist and the false prophet.

7. These points all agree with Paul’s statement in Rom. 11:25 that “blindness in part has happened to Israel until [time limitation] the fullness of the Gentiles has come in [i.e., the Rapture of the Church].”