The rapture teaching is not in the Bible.
Rapture teaching says Christians will instantly go to heaven in their physical bodies but 1 Corinthians 15:50 says that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom.
Believing Christians will go to heaven but would have to die first rather than be instantly resurrected as a Spirit creature in order to enter the spiritual realm of heaven.
Rapture believers look forward to not dying. That’s impossible. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. See Hebrews 9:27-28.
There is no pre-tribulation Rapture taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, the only direct text that is relied on by many, for any direct support. The word for “caught up” is “harpásō” in the Greek. Same word Paul used when he was “caught up” into 3rd heaven to see visions (2 Corinthians 12:2).
However this verse simply teaches what all Christians have taught about the events at the second coming namely: resurrection of all the dead, the translation of the living into spirit beings, judgement, heaven and hell… all in a twinkling of an eye at the last trump.
There is no Rapture taught in John 5:28, in fact it teaches the opposite! False teachers of the Rapture say that only Christians are raised, then after 1000 years, the wicked are raised. This verse clearly teaches that in the same “twinkling of an eye” Pauline teaching (an hour, not 1000 years) all the dead will be raised.
There is no Rapture taught in Daniel 12:2, just that all the dead, both righteous and wicked will be raised to judgment at the last day.
There is no Rapture taught in 1 Corinthians 15:21-28, in fact it teaches the opposite–the second coming will be the end. Paul wrote that Christ is reigning now, but will give up his reign at the second coming and hand it over to the Father. Rapture teaches that Christ is not reigning now, but will begin to reign at the second coming.
There is no Rapture taught in John 14. In context, John 14:3 says that Jesus will come again for the disciples but it does not say anything about a rapture. Jesus gave a profound promise and assurance to the disciples. Jesus was about to leave them but not for long. Jesus was encouraging them to prepare to endure hardship. They will experience many days of fear and loss. Then at the appointed time he will come to take then to be with him forever where he is. then in verse 23 Jesus said to them, All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.
But note John 17:15. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. God wants his people in the world, being salt and light and working for cultural change in every area of life. (compare with Matthew 28:17-18).
Also John17:23. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
See also my article at https://ianthomsonian.org/2025/11/10/rapture-three-greek-words/
and at https://ianthomsonian.org/2024/11/26/they-eagerly-awaited/
and at https://ianthomsonian.org/2023/01/31/jesus-return-when-what-do-you-expect/
I invite your refutation!
Ian Thomson 