📖 Summary of Ezekiel

God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against Gog, from the land of Magog.

Gog is presented as the leader of a coalition of nations coming to attack Israel.

Several peoples are mentioned as allies:

Persia → Iran

Cush → Sudan / Ethiopia

Put → Libya

Gomer → regions associated with Turkey

Togarmah → Armenia / eastern Turkey 👇

The attack takes place while Israel is living in safety. God declares that He will bring Gog against His people in order to reveal His glory before the nations. A great divine wrath will break out against the invaders.

God will send:

1) a great earthquake

2) confusion among the armies

3) pestilence and bloodshed

4) torrential rain

5) hailstones, fire, and brimstone

The chapter ends with the declaration that the nations will know that the Lord is God.

Central passage

Book of Ezekiel — Ezekiel 38:22–23 (KJV):

“And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

✝️ THE RAPTURE

What Is the Rapture?

Who Will Be Taken?

When Will the Rapture Happen?

Signs of the Rapture?

How to Prepare for the Rapture?

Can You Miss the Rapture?

What Happen After the Rapture?

🌍 END TIMES

Are We Living in the End Times?

Gog and Magog

Who Is the Antichrist ?

The Mark of the Beast (666)

The False Prophet

The 7 Seals of Revelation

The 7 Trumpets of Revelation

The 7 Bowls of Revelation

End Times Timeline

Armageddon

📖 UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE

Who Is Jesus?

Who Is the Holy Spirit?

How to Read the Bible

How to Pray

The Prayer of Faith

How to Recognize God’s Voice

Science and the Bible

Are Biblical Prophecies Reliable?

📖 1Thessalonians 4:16-17

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

In this passage, Paul clearly describes the Rapture of the Church. Jesus Christ will descend from heaven, the dead in Christ shall rise first, and then those who belong to Christ and are part of His Church who are still alive will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air. The Church is the Bride of Christ: she belongs to Him and will be united with her Bridegroom at the Rapture.

This event will take place before the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation. Jesus Christ will meet His Church in the air and take her to Himself. It is important to clarify that not all believers will be raptured: the Rapture concerns those who belong to Christ and are part of His Church. After the Rapture, other people will still be able to believe in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation, but they will not become part of the Church, because the Church will already have been raptured. The Church Age will therefore come to an end at the Rapture, after which God will continue His prophetic plan concerning Israel and the nations.

This passage is one of the clearest promises concerning the Rapture of the Church. It gives a special hope to those who belong to Christ and are part of His Church: they will be reunited with those who have been raised and will be with the Lord forever.

📖 1Corinthians 15:52

« In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. »

In this verse, Paul describes the miraculous transformation that will take place at the Rapture of the Church. In an instant, the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, while those who belong to Christ and are part of His Church and are still alive will be transformed. Their mortal bodies will become incorruptible and immortal.

The word “we” is especially important. Paul includes himself when he says, “we shall be changed.” He therefore places himself among those who could still be alive when the Rapture takes place. Paul faithfully served Jesus Christ and lived in expectation of His coming. This passage therefore does not simply refer to all believers, but to those who, like Paul, belong to Christ and are part of His Church.

This verse highlights God’s power over death and corruption. At the Rapture, Jesus Christ will transform those who belong to Him and are part of His Church, giving them incorruptible and immortal bodies so that they may be forever with their Lord.

📖 Revelation 3:10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

In this verse, Jesus Christ speaks to the church in Philadelphia and promises to keep it from the hour of temptation that will come upon the whole world. This worldwide period of testing corresponds to the seven-year Tribulation, during which the inhabitants of the earth will experience the judgments announced in biblical prophecy.

This promise does not refer to all believers in general, but specifically to the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ: it is made up of those who belong to Jesus Christ and form His spiritual body on earth. Its mission is to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, testify about Jesus Christ, and shine as a light in the world. It is this Church that Christ will come to take in the Rapture, before the period of worldwide testing described here.

After the Rapture, people will still be able to believe in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation, but they will not be part of the Church, because the Church will already have been raptured. The Church Age will come to an end at the Rapture, after which God will continue His prophetic plan concerning Israel and the nations.

📖 John 14:3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

In this verse, Jesus Christ tells His disciples that He will return to take them to Himself. This promise points to the Rapture of the Church: Christ will come for His Church, which is His Bride, so that she may be with Him.

The words “I will come again, and receive you unto myself” are especially important. Jesus was speaking directly to His disciples, men who had chosen to follow Him, serve Him, and devote their lives to proclaiming His message. This promise therefore concerns those who truly belong to Christ and are part of His Church, not simply everyone who considers themselves a believer. The Church’s mission is to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, testify about Jesus Christ, and serve Him in the world.

This promise will be fulfilled before the seven-year Tribulation. Jesus Christ will come for His Church and take her to Himself. After the Rapture, people will still be able to believe in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation, but they will not be part of the Church, because the Church Age will have ended with the Rapture.

This verse reveals Jesus Christ’s desire to be forever with His Church. The Rapture is therefore not merely a deliverance from the Tribulation; it is the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to His Bride that He will come to take her to Himself so that she may be with Him forever.

📖 What Is the Church?

The Church is made up of all who truly belong to Jesus Christ—those who have placed their faith in Him, have been born again, have a personal relationship with Him, are filled with the Holy Spirit, and remain faithful until His return. According to this understanding, the Rapture does not include everyone who claims to be a Christian, but only the true members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

📖 The Last Trumpet

The “Last Trumpet” of the Rapture and the Seven Trumpets of Revelation

A common confusion when studying the Rapture is that Paul speaks of a “last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52, while the Book of Revelation describes seven trumpets during the Tribulation. Some therefore conclude that Paul’s “last trumpet” must necessarily be the seventh trumpet of Revelation. However, the context of the two passages shows that they describe different events.

The Last Trumpet Announced by Paul

Paul writes:

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

(1 Corinthians 15:52)

Let us look carefully at what this trumpet announces. Paul is not speaking about a judgment on the earth, a catastrophe, or an event that will strike the nations. He is speaking about the transformation of the Church.

At this trumpet, the dead in Jesus will be raised with incorruptible bodies, and then the members of the Church who are still alive will be transformed. This event corresponds to what Paul also describes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17: the dead in Jesus will rise first, and then those who are still alive will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

The “last trumpet” is therefore directly associated with the Rapture of the Church and the transformation of its members. It announces victory over death and corruption, not a judgment directed at the world.

The Seven Trumpets of Revelation

The seven trumpets described in Revelation 8–11 have a completely different purpose. They occur during the Tribulation and announce a succession of God’s judgments upon the earth.

When the angels sound the trumpets, terrible events take place: part of the vegetation is destroyed, the seas are struck, the waters become bitter, darkness affects the heavenly bodies, and increasingly severe judgments fall upon humanity.

The seventh trumpet, in Revelation 11:15, announces another major stage in the unfolding of God’s prophetic plan. It does not describe the transformation of the members of the Church or their being caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

Why Does “Last” Not Mean “Seventh”?

This is the essential point to understand.

Paul says “the last trumpet,” but he does not say “the seventh trumpet of Revelation.” His statement appears in a different context, addressed to the Church and focused on the resurrection and transformation of the body.

The simple fact that two passages mention a trumpet is therefore not enough to conclude that they describe the same event. The Bible can use similar images or expressions in different contexts.

We can compare this to two events that both use the word “judgment” without necessarily referring to the same judgment. It is the context and what each event accomplishes that allows us to understand its true meaning.

An Essential Difference

The difference becomes very clear when we compare the results:

The Last Trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15:

1) concerns the Church

2) accompanies the resurrection of the dead in Jesus

3) transforms the members of the Church who are still alive

4) gives them incorruptible and immortal bodies

5) leads to their meeting with Jesus in the air.

The Seven Trumpets of Revelation:

1) occur during the Tribulation

2) announce God’s judgments

3) strike the earth and its inhabitants

4) progressively intensify the suffering in the world

5) form part of the sequence of prophetic judgments.

It would therefore be difficult to consider these two series of trumpets as one and the same event, since their context, purpose, and consequences are different.

Why This Distinction Matters

This distinction also helps us understand why the Rapture of the Church should not be confused with the judgments of the seven trumpets. In 1 Corinthians 15, the trumpet announces a glorious transformation: death is defeated, and the members of the Church receive incorruptible bodies.

In Revelation, by contrast, the seven trumpets announce judgments that strike the world during the Tribulation.

Therefore, even though both passages use the image of a trumpet, they do not describe the same event. Paul’s “last trumpet” is connected with the Rapture and the transformation of the Church, while the seven trumpets of Revelation belong to the judgments of the Tribulation.

This distinction is essential for understanding the place of the Rapture of the Church in the unfolding of prophetic events and for avoiding confusion between the promise given to the Church and the judgments that will subsequently come upon the earth.

📖 The Church = the Bride

The Church as the Bride of Christ

In the Bible, the Church is presented as the Bride of Christ. This image draws on the marriage customs of biblical times and helps explain why the Rapture is presented as the moment when Christ comes to take His Bride to Himself.

The Marriage Picture in the Bible

In the marriage customs of ancient Israel, the father of the bridegroom had an important role in the marriage arrangement. After the engagement, the bridegroom would leave to prepare a place for his future bride.

He would later return at the appointed time to take her to himself. The bride therefore had to remain ready and wait for the bridegroom’s arrival. This imagery helps us understand the words of Jesus:

“I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” — John 14:3

Jesus is the Bridegroom, and the Church is His Bride. It is therefore significant that He says He will return to receive His Bride to Himself.

The Role of the Father

Jesus also spoke about the exact timing of His coming:

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” — Matthew 24:36

Within the marriage imagery, this corresponds to the traditional role of the father in determining when the son would go to receive his bride. The Son knew that He would return, but the exact timing was in the Father’s hands.

However, an important distinction should be made: the Bible does not explicitly state that Christian marriage reproduces every detail of an ancient Jewish wedding ceremony. Rather, these similarities help us understand the biblical imagery surrounding Christ and His Church.

Why This Concerns the Church

This picture also explains why it is important not to simply use the expression “all believers” when speaking about the Rapture.

The Church is the Bride of Christ. Jesus will come to take His Bride so that she may be with Him. People who turn to Jesus Christ during the Tribulation can still be saved, but they will not become part of the Church that has already been raptured.

The Rapture can therefore be understood as the moment when the Bridegroom comes to receive His Bride. The Church Age then comes to an end, while God continues His prophetic plan concerning Israel and the nations.

This also gives special meaning to Revelation 19:7:

“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.”

The picture is therefore consistent: Christ is the Bridegroom, the Church is His Bride, the Rapture is the gathering of the Bride to her Bridegroom, and the marriage of the Lamb follows.

✝️ THE RAPTURE

What is the Rapture of the Church?

What Does the Bible Say About the Rapture?

Meeting the Lord

This meeting marks the final gathering of the Church with her Lord. It is not the visible Return of Jesus to the earth, but a coming in which Jesus takes His Church to be with Him and prepares her for the heavenly events that will follow.

1 Thess 4:16-17

An Instant Transformation

At the moment of the Rapture, the members of the Church (The Bride of Christ*) will experience a miraculous transformation. Their mortal bodies will be changed into incorruptible bodies instantly, according to God’s power.

1 Corinthians 15:52

Kept from the Hour of Trial

Jesus promised His Church that He would keep her from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world. This promise is connected with the future events of the Tribulation, a period of judgment when the nations will experience an unprecedented time of trouble.

According to the prophetic chronology presented on this site, the Rapture of the Church takes place before the Tribulation begins. The Church will therefore be with Jesus before the judgments described in Revelation are poured out upon the earth.

Revelation 3:10

A Place Prepared

Before His departure, Jesus promised that He would prepare a place for those who belong to Him and that He would return to take them to Himself. This promise reveals His love for His Church and announces an eternal relationship with Him.

After the Rapture, the Church will be reunited with Jesus in heaven. She will then participate in heavenly events, including the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, before returning with Jesus at His glorious Second Coming to establish His Kingdom.

John 14:3

❓ FAQ

Want to Understand What is the Rapture of the Church?

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Who Will Be Taken in the Rapture?

What Happens After the Rapture of the Church?

The Bible teaches that the Rapture concerns the members of the Church who truly belong to Jesus. The members of the Church who have died will be resurrected first, and then those who are still alive on earth will be transformed and caught up to meet Jesus in the air.

When Will the Rapture Take Place?

Continue Reading

1. When Will the Rapture of the Church Take Place?

2. Signs the Rapture Is Near

3. Who Will Be Taken in the Rapture of the Church?

4. What Happens After the Rapture of the Church?

5. The Judgment Seat of Christ

6. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb