Expert: John of AllFaith - 4/14/2008

Question
When Christ returns to rule for His 1000 years, will the people who have been raptured come to earth with him or will they remain in Heaven?  Can you give me the scriptures that explain this?

Thank you,
Sharon

Answer
Hi Sharon,

As you know, Christians disagree on many points of doctrine and prophetic interpretation. In my opinion, the Bible does not teach the Rapture. I have studied these topics in detail however and I can share with you the general belief of those who accept this teaching. The answer to your question is based on the following (and other) scriptures:

Rev. 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne [ie in Heaven], and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

This "great multitude" are believed to include all the righteous who have died as well as those who were recently raptured.

Of the raptured ones specifically we are pointed here:

Rev. 6:10 And they [the raptured ones] cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? [ie during the seven year Tribulation period]
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Then, as Jesus is preparing to fight the coming Antichrist, the Christians, including those who were raptured, experience the following:

Rev.19:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

After the "Wedding" the Bride accompanies Her Husband to the earth:

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven [this would be the Angelic warriors as well as the Church, including those who were raptured and who were told to wait until their brothers were also killed in Rev 6:10] followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations [at the War of Armageddon]: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

According to those who believe the Church will be "raptured" in the pre or mid Tribulation period (ie Pre-Trib Rapture: just before the Antichrist rises to power, Mid-Trib Rapture: Once the Antichrist is assassinated and rises from the dead as Lucifer incarnate, ie 3 1/2 years after he takes his throne) the teaching is that there will not be two "comings" of Jesus, but three: first, 2000 years ago, second when he descends into the Earth's atmosphere to rapture his Church, and then third as the armies of the world are amassed at Megiddo for their attack on Jerusalem and the Rex Mundi (the Antichrist) at the War of Armageddon he will come along with his saints and conquer the planet and begin his 1000 year reign.

As I said at the outset, while I am familiar with the scriptural case made for this view, in my opinion it is not what the Bible teaches. If you are interested in my view on this topic feel free to write back. This however is the standard understanding of those who accept the teaching.

Hope this helps,
Maranatha: The Lord is coming soon!

~John of AllFaith