The Rapture and the Great White Throne Judgment

The Rapture and the Great White Throne Judgment

The concept of the rapture has been widely debated among Bible believers, particularly regarding its timing in relation to other end-times events. While many hold to a pre-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture, there is a perspective that places the one and only rapture at the Great White Throne Judgment, occurring after the Millennial Reign rather than before or immediately after the tribulation.

The Timing of the Rapture

According to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, believers will be "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air. This passage is often used to support a pre-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture, but a closer examination of Scripture shows that the event most in line with this "catching up" occurs at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:11:

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Since the earth and heaven flee away, there is no physical place left for believers. This aligns with 1 Thessalonians 4:17, where believers are "caught up"—not to return to the old earth, but to transition into the new heaven and new earth, as described in Revelation 21:1.

The First Resurrection and the Millennial Reign

Many believers are already in heaven before the White Throne Judgment. These include the martyrs who died during the tribulation. Their presence in heaven is shown in Revelation 6:9-11, where they are seen under the altar, crying out to God.

Later, in Revelation 20:4-6, these tribulation saints experience the first resurrection, where they reign with Christ for 1,000 years:

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:5-6)

These believers do not need to be raptured, because they die, go to heaven, and are later resurrected to rule with Christ in the Millennium.

The One and Only Rapture at the White Throne Judgment

Since the tribulation martyrs and other resurrected saints are already with Christ, the only ones left who would require a rapture are the believers who are still alive at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. When the old heavens and earth are destroyed, these remaining faithful ones are "caught up" to be with the Lord, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

This one rapture event is distinct from the resurrection of the dead for judgment, which occurs in Revelation 20:12-13, where both the righteous and the wicked are raised. The wicked are cast into the lake of fire, while the righteous enter the new heaven and new earth.

Conclusion

This perspective clarifies that there is only one rapture, and it occurs at the Great White Throne Judgment, when the old earth is destroyed and believers are taken up to meet Christ as they transition into the eternal state.

It also distinguishes between:

- The first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6), which includes tribulation martyrs who reign with Christ during the Millennium.

- The rapture at the White Throne Judgment, which happens when the earth and heavens "flee away," leaving no place for believers except to be caught up to Christ.

This view avoids the problems associated with multiple raptures and maintains consistency with the order of events in Revelation. It upholds the biblical teaching that the faithful will be gathered to Christ, not before the tribulation, but at the very end of time when God ushers in the new creation.