We have seen who will be caught up in the snatching away, but also why and for what purpose we will be taken up. In short, that is to take up our heavenly position in Christ. For this purpose, we are united with Christ; after all, we are His body and are one with Him. But we can also consider the same questions of why we are being raptured and for what purpose from a different perspective, namely in relation to events here on earth. For there is much to say about that as well.
Thessalonian Epistles
The Thessalonian epistles primarily mention this extensively. Paul had been in Thessalonica for a short time (Acts 17) and later wrote them two letters because he had heard that some matters were still unclear to them. Therefore, he wanted to encourage them with the truth so they could stand firm in it (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 18:2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).
Soon Return
The Thessalonian epistles were written in the Acts period, when the door had not yet been definitively closed for Israel. The question raised and answered in Acts is whether Israel would reflect and repent as a nation (Acts 1:6; 3:19-21). Throughout the account of Acts, it becomes clear that this would not happen, that Israel would be temporarily set aside and salvation would be sent to the nations (Acts 13:46-47; 28:28). But the Thessalonians still lived in expectation of the Lord’s soon return. Later, Paul, but also Peter, would announce that the Second Coming and the restoration of Israel would be delayed and that the days spoken of by the prophet Hosea, for example, should be understood as days of a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8).
current again
We now live almost 2,000 years later, and therefore the message in these letters is more relevant than ever. At that time, God made a detour, hidden in Scripture and revealed by Paul. But now the time is soon to come when God will definitively fulfill these promises!
1 Thessalonians 4
13 But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve, as the rest do who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we will by no means overtake those who are asleep, the living who remain until the parousia of the Lord…
parousia
Paul informs his readers about the parousia (literally: presence) of the Lord. Usually translated as (second) coming. This will begin with the snatching away (1:15). The Thessalonians are encouraged by Paul regarding their fellow believers who have already fallen asleep. They apparently did not (anymore) know that these who have fallen asleep also share in the rapture. Moreover, Paul says, the dead in Christ will rise first.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a command, with the voice of the chief of the messengers and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
The Archangel
We find three things mentioned here around the time of the snatching away: in a command, the voice of the chief of the messengers (> the archangel), and in the trumpet of God. These could all be indications of the same thing. The Lord will, through the archangel, by means of a trumpet, give a command to the dead in Christ to rise.
The word rendered here as chief of the messengers is one word in Greek: archaggelos, and is rendered as archangel in the Statenvertaling and NBG. The archangel is the first angel in rank and hence also the chief. The word angel is originally a Greek word that has been “Dutchified” and means messenger. According to the Bible, there is only one archangel, and we also know his name.
Jude 1
9 But Michael the archangel (…)
Michael is the archangel. There is only one chief of the messengers, but the definite article also indicates exclusivity. It is precisely this Michael whom we encounter several times in Scripture and who marks a specific point in time.
Daniel 12
1 And at that time Michael will stand up, the great chief who stands over the sons of your people. And there will be a time of trouble such as has not occurred since there was a nation until this time. And at this time your people will escape, everyone who is found written in the scroll.
Israel’s Trouble
Michael here marks the period of Israel’s trouble. Jeremiah calls this the time of Jacob’s trouble (30:7). In Matthew 24, Jesus gives a speech to His disciples, which is sometimes called “the sermon on the last things”. In it, He refers to Daniel (1:15) and also alludes to the prophecy in Daniel 12.
Matthew 24
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Great Tribulation
The time of Israel’s great tribulation, which will be a time of trouble such as has never occurred nor ever will be, is marked by the appearance of the archangel Michael. The faithful part of Israel will be able to flee the land before the tribulation begins. We find this described in Daniel 12:1 and also in Matthew 24:15-21. This great tribulation will last 1260 days (Revelation 12:6; 11:3), or time, times, and half a time (Daniel 12:7; Rev. 12:14), which is 3 1/2 years. Or, in other words: 42 months (Revelation 11:2; 13:5).
Revelation 12
Several times in this series on the snatching away, we have already referred to Revelation 12, the rapture of the son of man. Later, we will discuss this passage in its entirety. We also find Michael there.
Revelation 12
7 And there was war in heaven; Michael and his messengers wage war against the dragon, and the dragon and his messengers wage war.
8 But they are not strong enough for him, and their place is no longer found in heaven.
9 So the great dragon was cast out, the serpent of the beginning, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast out to the earth, and his messengers were cast out with him.
The Male Son
At the same time that the male son is caught up to God and His throne (v. 5), war breaks out in heaven. This war is led by Michael as prince of the angels and is directed against Satan and his angels. Satan loses the battle, is cast out of heaven, and lands on earth. There, for the relatively short time he has (v. 12), he will direct his wrath against the woman, Israel (v. 13, 17). What is remarkable is that Satan is cast down from heaven to earth and the ecclesia is taken from earth to heaven to assume dominion.
Conclusion
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Michael marks the moment of the snatching away. He will signal this with a command, a trumpet blast. In Revelation 12, this described as the rapture of the male child, after which a period of 1260 days of great tribulation immediately begins. For this period, not only the ecclesia will be brought to safety, but the faithful part of Israel will also have the opportunity to flee to a place prepared for them by God (Revelation 12:6,14). In Daniel 12:1 and Rev. 12:7, we also see how Michael stands up at the beginning of the period of trouble for Israel. The snatching away will therefore take place just before the onset of this great tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 4
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be together with the Lord.
18 Therefore, encourage one another with these words.