Imminent Hope: Why the Rapture Could Come Now

The return of Jesus Christ is not a side note in Scripture—it is the great, blazing hope of the church. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible points us forward to a day when the One who came first as the Lamb of God will come again as the Lion of Judah, to receive His own and to reign over the nations.

In this post, we’ll consider:

1. The rapture of the church for watchful believers
2. The return of Christ to earth as the Lion of Judah to prepare for the millennium
3. The purposes of these events
4. What it means for us today and how we can prepare

1. The Blessed Hope: Christ’s Coming for His Church (The Rapture)

Many Bible-believing Christians understand Scripture to teach that before Christ returns in glory to judge the world, He will first come for His own—to catch up (or “rapture”) His people to Himself.

Key Passages

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (ESV)

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

The phrase “caught up” is from the Greek harpazō, translated in Latin as rapturo—from which we get the term “rapture.”

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (ESV)

“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

Here Paul reveals a “mystery”: not all believers will experience physical death; some will be instantly transformed and glorified at Christ’s coming.

Jesus Himself spoke of this expectation:

John 14:2–3 (ESV)

“In my Father’s house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

This is not Christ coming to the earth to set up His kingdom, but coming for His own to bring them where He is.

Watchfulness and Readiness

The New Testament repeatedly ties Christ’s coming for His people to watchfulness:

Matthew 24:42 (ESV)

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

Titus 2:13 (ESV) calls this expectation

“our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The rapture is thus:

• A comfort to believers facing sorrow and death (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
• A purifying hope that motivates holy living (1 John 3:2–3)
• A call to watchfulness, not speculation (Matthew 24:36, 42–44)

“I never preach on the second coming without sensing that the topic may be fulfilled before I finish the sermon.”
— Vance Havner

If you’d like to explore why many believers today see the rapture as imminent and fast-approaching—and how that heightens our call to readiness—see this companion article, Living on the Edge of Eternity. It unpacks the biblical reasons for living on the edge of eternity, with hearts awake and lives aligned for His soon return.

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2. The Triumphant Return: The Lion of Judah Comes to Reign

After Christ comes for His church, Scripture presents a future time of great tribulation and judgment upon the earth (see Matthew 24; Revelation 6–18). Then Jesus will return with His saints, in visible glory, to judge and to reign.

The Lion of Judah

Jesus is first introduced in the New Testament as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” in a powerful heavenly scene:

Revelation 5:5 (ESV)

“And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’”

At His first coming, He came as the Lamb of God, meek and lowly, to bear sin. At His second, He returns in majesty and power, vindicating righteousness and defeating evil.

The Second Coming in Glory

Revelation 19:11–16 (ESV) describes this climactic return:

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems…
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses…
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

This is Christ’s public, visible return to earth, fulfilling His own words:

Matthew 24:30 (ESV)

“…they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

This return is associated with:

• The defeat of the Antichrist and gathered nations (Revelation 19:19–21)
• The binding of Satan (Revelation 20:1–3)
• The establishment of Christ’s reign (Revelation 20:4–6)

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3. The Millennium: Christ’s Reign on Earth

Scripture speaks of a future reign of Christ upon the earth, often referred to as the millennium (from Latin mille, “thousand,” and annus, “year”), based on Revelation 20.

Revelation 20:4, 6 (ESV)

“…and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years…
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

This period is portrayed as:

• A time of peace and justice, when Christ rules the nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:7–9; Revelation 19:15)
• A fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and the nations (Isaiah 2:2–4; 11:1–10; Zechariah 14)
• A demonstration of God’s righteous rule, even in a world still capable of rebellion, before the final eternal state (Revelation 20:7–10; 21–22)

While sincere Christians differ on some details and timing, many understand the flow like this:

1. Christ comes for His church (rapture)
2. A period of tribulation and judgment
3. Christ returns with His saints as the Lion of Judah
4. Christ reigns for a thousand years (the millennium)
5. Final judgment and the new heaven and new earth

“There is a day coming when God will crown the history of the world by the return of His Son. It is the only hope of this struggling, sin-weary world.”
— G. Campbell Morgan

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4. Why These Two Aspects of His Coming Matter

A. Purpose of the Rapture

1. To rescue and comfort His people
   • To bring believers into His immediate presence: “that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3)
   • To comfort those grieving: “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
2. To complete our salvation and glorification
   • Our bodies will be transformed: “we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52)
   • We will fully bear the image of Christ (Philippians 3:20–21; 1 John 3:2)
3. To prepare the bride for the Bridegroom
   • The church is presented as a bride prepared for her Husband (Ephesians 5:25–27; Revelation 19:7–8)

B. Purpose of the Second Coming in Glory

1. To vindicate God’s name and justice
   • He judges and makes war in righteousness (Revelation 19:11)
   • He brings retribution on those who do not know God (2 Thessalonians 1:7–10)
2. To fulfill God’s promises to Israel and the nations
   • The throne of David is established in fullness (Luke 1:32–33; Isaiah 9:6–7)
   • The earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14)
3. To inaugurate His righteous reign
   • He rules the nations (Psalm 72; Revelation 20:4–6)
   • Creation experiences renewal and peace (Isaiah 2:4; 11:6–9)

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5. What It Means for Us Today

1. A Call to Holiness

1 John 3:2–3 (ESV)

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

The hope of His coming is not an excuse for apathy; it is fuel for purity.

2. A Call to Watchfulness and Faithfulness

Jesus repeatedly emphasizes readiness:

Matthew 24:44 (ESV)

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Luke 12:35–37 (ESV)

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home…
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.”

To be “watchful” is to live in continual, practical faith:

• Walking in daily fellowship with Christ
• Obeying His Word
• Serving others in His name
• Holding this world loosely

3. A Call to Gospel Urgency

If Christ is truly returning:

• People need to hear the gospel now (2 Corinthians 5:20; 2 Peter 3:9)
• Our time, gifts, and resources must be invested with eternity in view (Matthew 6:19–21)

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
— C. T. Studd

4. A Comfort in Suffering

For believers under pressure, persecution, or pain, Christ’s return guarantees:

• Justice will be done (2 Thessalonians 1:5–10)
• Tears will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4)
• Our present suffering is temporary and purposeful (Romans 8:18–25)

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6. Recommended Books for Further Study

For deeper study on Christ’s return, the rapture, and the millennium, here are three widely respected resources from an evangelical, premillennial perspective:

1. “Things to Come” by J. Dwight Pentecost
   • A classic, comprehensive study of biblical prophecy, covering the rapture, tribulation, second coming, and millennium in detail.
2. “The Second Coming” by John F. Walvoord
   • A clear, accessible exploration of the doctrine of Christ’s return, including distinctions between the rapture and the second advent.
3. “Revelation: Four Views” edited by Steve Gregg
   • A helpful overview of major interpretive views on Revelation, allowing you to compare perspectives and test all things by Scripture.

(When reading any human author, remember Acts 17:11—search the Scriptures to see whether these things are so.)

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7. An Encouraging Word and a Challenge

Hebrews 10:23, 25 (ESV)

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful…
and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Encouragement:
Jesus will return. The One who loved you enough to die for you will not forget you. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). No tear, no hidden act of faithfulness, no uncelebrated obedience is wasted. The Lion of Judah will reign, and you will be with Him.

Challenge to Prepare:

1. Examine your heart. Are you in Christ? Have you repented and trusted Him alone as Savior and Lord? (2 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 10:9–10)
2. Confess and forsake known sin. Don’t cling to what Christ died to set you free from (1 John 1:9; Romans 13:11–14).
3. Live as a watchful servant. Order your time, priorities, and relationships as if He could come today—because He can (Matthew 24:44).
4. Encourage and exhort one another. Talk about His coming. Pray for readiness. Build up His people (Hebrews 10:24–25; 1 Thessalonians 4:18).

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

May you be among those who love His appearing, prepared as part of His own people, ready to meet the Lamb who is also the Lion of Judah.