Rapture of the Church

We believe in the blessed hope which is the personal, bodily, physical return of Jesus Christ in the clouds for His bride, the Church (Titus 2:11–14). He will return before the seven year tribulation period also known as “Daniel's Seventieth Week” or “Jacob's Trouble.” He will appear in the clouds and the church will rise to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15). His return is imminent, “at any moment,” for no prophecy need be fulfilled prior to His return. The rapture is said to occur in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51–54), during which time the bodies of all spiritually born again believers will be changed into resurrection bodies and the dead in Christ shall rise first followed by the living believers. All unbelievers will remain on the earth to go into the tribulation period. Because Christ delivers His church at the rapture no believer will ever experience, participate in, or suffer any part or portion of the tribulation period (Revelation 3:10).