Revelation: WEEKEND RECHARGE!

November 23, 2025

Monday, November 17—Revelation 4:1-11
Tuesday, November 18—Revelation 5:1-7
Wednesday, November 19—Revelation 5:8-14
Thursday, November 20—Revelation 6:1-8
Friday, November 21—Revelation 6:9-17

See discussion of the rapture and an end-time timeline following the Reflective Applicational Questions.

REFLECTIVE APPLICATIONAL QUESTIONS: REVELATION 4:1—6-17

1. How does the image of the open door in Revelation 4:1 encourage you about your access to God through Christ today?
   
   
2. Jesus’ blood ransomed people from every tribe and nation. How does this truth shape the way you view the global mission and unity of the Church?
   
   
3. In times of fear and global unrest, how can remembering that God is on his throne strengthen your faith and give you confidence in your current circumstances?
   
4. Where do you find your security? When everything around you is shaking, are you standing on the unshakable foundation of Christ, or are you relying on temporary things like wealth, success, or status?
   
   
5. How do you respond to injustice or suffering? Like the martyrs, do you trust God’s timing and justice, or do you grow weary and impatient when you don’t see immediate answers?

What is the rapture? Is it biblical?

In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul says that “we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” The word “caught up” is the Greek term harpazo. It means to “take up” or “snatch away” and appears thirteen times in the New Testament. The word is used to describe how the Spirit took Philip from Gaza, and immediately he was in Azotus, a city about thirty miles away (Acts 8:39-40). Paul also uses the term to explain how he was caught up to the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2-4). The Latin translation of harpazo is rapturo, from which we derive the word “rapture.”

Let’s consider five aspects of the rapture. I will summarize these from Charles Ryrie’s book What You Should Know About the Rapture.[1]

FIVE ASPECTS OF THE RAPTURE

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Return of Christ
Jesus will return for his people. Paul says, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God” (1 Thess. 4:16a). Jesus will “descend from heaven,” and this isn’t going to be a quiet appearance!

Resurrection
When Christ returns, “the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16b). Paul describes the dead in Christ as having fallen asleep. When one falls asleep, it is normally expected that one will wake up again.

There is debate and differing interpretations about whether “the dead in Christ will rise first” includes believers from the time of Adam or only those after Pentecost when Christians were placed “in Christ” by the Holy Spirit. Ryrie adopts the latter view. I tend to believe the rapture will include all believers from the beginning of time. 

But this we know for sure from our passage—priority will be given to those who have died, and their bodies will be transformed into resurrected bodies “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:52). What a sight as all believers throughout history are raised from their graves!

Let’s pause here for review. We understand that the moment we close our eyes in death, our souls go to heaven (2 Cor. 5:8). Therefore, I believe that the souls of all believers who have died will return with Jesus, and their resurrected bodies—raised from the grave—will join their souls in the air.

Rapture
Paul states that those who are alive at this time “will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17). Like Enoch and Elijah, believers alive at this time will bypass death. That’s why Paul calls it a mystery.

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 imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Ryrie notes:

“Strictly speaking, the word rapture relates only to the experience of living believers who are caught up into the Lord’s presence. However, theologically speaking, rapture is used to label the entire event, including the resurrection of believers who have died as well as the translation of believers who are alive.”[2]

Now, here is another aspect to consider: Will the rapture happen before the tribulation (pretribulational view), in the middle of the tribulation (midtribulational view), or after the tribulation (posttribulational view)?

I adhere to a pretribulational and premillennial view. Therefore, I believe that those alive at the time of the tribulation will be raptured before it begins. While the tribulation is taking place on earth, we will be judged and rewarded in heaven, and then Christ and his Church will return at the end of the tribulation to establish the millennial kingdom. 

Reunion
Paul explains that when Jesus appears, countless reunions with loved ones will take place. We will be gathered with faithful friends and family in the clouds, and then we will meet the Lord in the air. Imagine it! This will be the most amazing reunion with those we love, followed by our glorious face-to-face with the Lord! 

Reassurance
After the rapture, we will “always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17b). Paul concludes with, “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18).

What could be more encouraging than that?!

Timeline of the End Times (Premillennial, Pretribulational View)

1. The Present Church Age (Acts 2 → Rapture)

• Began at Pentecost (Acts 2) with the coming of the Holy Spirit.
• Characterized by the worldwide spread of the gospel and the growth of the Church.
• Ends suddenly with the Rapture of the Church.
• Christ’s message to the seven churches in Revelation 2–3 outlines the spiritual history of the Church Age.

2. The Rapture of the Church (1 Thess. 4:13–18; 1 Cor. 15:51–53; John 14:1–3)

• Timing: Before the Tribulation (“pretribulational”).
• Event: Christ descends in the air to catch up (Greek harpazō, “snatch away”) believers, both living and dead.
• Purpose:
• Deliver the Church from “the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9).
• Unite the Church with Christ in heaven.
• Begin the Bema Seat of Christ (Judgment Seat) and the Marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7–10).
• Result: The Church is in heaven before the judgments of Revelation 6–18 begin.

3. The Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th Week – 7 Years)

References: Dan. 9:24–27; Matt. 24:4–31; Rev. 6–18.

A. First Half – “The Beginning of Sorrows” (3½ Years)

• The Antichrist (the Beast) rises to power and confirms a covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27).
• Peace and false security initially prevail.
• The Seal and early Trumpet judgments occur (Rev. 6–9).
• The 144,000 of Israel are sealed (Rev. 7).
• The Temple is rebuilt; sacrifices resume.

B. Midpoint – “The Abomination of Desolation” (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4)

• The Antichrist breaks the covenant with Israel.
• He sets himself up as God in the Temple.
• Satan is cast out of heaven (Rev. 12).
• Israel is persecuted and flees into the wilderness.

C. Second Half – “The Great Tribulation” (3½ Years)

• The False Prophet enforces worship of the Beast (Rev. 13).
• The Mark of the Beast (666) is required for commerce.
• The Bowl judgments pour out intensified wrath (Rev. 16).
• Global chaos, demonic deception, and war climax at Armageddon (Rev. 16:16; 19:19).

4. The Second Coming of Christ (Rev. 19:11–21)

• Timing: At the end of the seven-year Tribulation.
• Event: Christ returns with His Church (Rev. 19:14; Jude 14–15).
• Purpose:
• Defeat the Antichrist and False Prophet.
• Destroy their armies at Armageddon.
• Bind Satan for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1–3).
• Establish His literal kingdom on earth.

5. The Millennial Kingdom (1,000 Years) — Rev. 20:1–6

• Christ reigns physically from Jerusalem.
• Satan is bound in the abyss.
• The saints (Church, OT, and Tribulation martyrs) reign with Christ.
• Israel is restored and receives its promised kingdom (Isa. 2; 11; Zech. 14).
• Perfect peace, righteousness, and prosperity prevail.

6. The Final Rebellion and Great White Throne (Rev. 20:7–15)

• Satan is released briefly after the Millennium.
• Final rebellion crushed by fire from heaven.
• Satan cast into the lake of fire forever.
• The Great White Throne Judgment:
• All unbelievers judged according to their works.
• All whose names are not in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire.

7. The Eternal State — The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 21–22)

• The old heaven and earth are destroyed (2 Pet. 3:10–13).
• The New Jerusalem descends from heaven.
• God dwells with His people; no more death, sorrow, or pain.
• The eternal kingdom of God and the Lamb endures forever.

SUMMARY CHART