When does the rapture happen? Can we prove that the rapture takes place before the tribulation? Yes! 1st Thessalonians 5:1-10, “Concerning the times and seasons … ” – this is biblical language for dispensations – “… you have no need that I should write to you, because you yourselves know perfectly …” How amazing is this? Before Jesus was resurrected, His disciples said, “Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And what is His answer? “It is not for you to know the times and the seasons.” There was something that they couldn’t know that Paul now says we should have full understanding of.
“You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord…” – that is Old Testament code language for the tribulation period – “…the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night.” Have you ever heard Christians say to you, “Well, you know the Lord’s coming as a thief in the night?” You know what my answer always is? Not for me He’s not. Why would I say that? Because of what Paul says here. Look. “You yourselves know perfectly the day the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For when they say…” (unbelievers) “… peace and safety, then a sudden destruction comes on them as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (hint,hint: tribulation period.) “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so this day will overtake you as a thief.” It’s not going to happen. Why? “You are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as others do.”
Wait a minute. He just used the word “sleep” in chapter four for “death,” and now he’s saying, “don’t sleep.” Does that mean we’re supposed to try not to die? Here, again, two different words used for “death.” The word is used in 1st Thessalonians Four is koimaō, and it means to lay down and take rest. It’s a positive word here. The word is katheudō because katheudō means, “don’t be ignorant; don’t be unconscious and unaware of what’s going on.” “Let us not sleep as others do,” he says, “but let us watch and be sober.” What are we watching for? Coming of the Bridegroom.
“For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk or drunk at night. But let us who are of the day,” – that is believers – “be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” Get ready for this. “For God did not appoint us to wrath” – hint, hint – Old Testament term used about 20 some times for the tribulation period, the Day of wrath. “… God did not appoint us for wrath.” What did He appointed for? “… He appointed us to obtain salvation (deliverance) through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us.”
Here’s another sacred cow that we’re going to demolish if you’re ready. “When Jesus comes, you get to go and if you’re not ready, you stay behind and you go through the tribulation.” Have you ever heard that one? What’s Paul say about it? “… Who died for us so that whether we’re awake or asleep,” in other words, whether we are scripturally instructed or wander around not even knowing what’s going on? There are a lot of believers like that. But you know what? Here’s a grace of God. “… whether we are awake or asleep, we will all live together with Him.” Does anyone get left behind of the family of God when Christ comes? No. What if I’m sinning when He comes? Do I get left behind? No. Why? He already paid for the sin.
What does all of that mean? Titus chapter two, verse 13. Keep “looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Not just to expect it could be today, but to pray that it will be today!
The original lesson was derived from here:
https://basictraining.org/scriptural-proof-of-the-pre-tribulation-rapture/