When discussing the Rapture happening before the second coming of Christ, 1 and 2 Thessalonians are familiar letters that find their way into the conversation. The word “rapture” itself is not in the English Bible. It comes from the Latin Vulgate’s translation of the Greek verb “harpazô” found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and commonly taught as a time when God will secretly rescue his people from the great tribulation. Chapter 2 of 2 Thessalonians begins with an encouragement to not be upset that the day of the Lord is at hand. However, in this event, every eye will see him and know that he is God.
When these books were written, the new followers of Jesus were expecting him to return in his divine authority to conquer Rome and establish his kingdom forever. They accepted the Day of the Lord was when the trumpet would sound and Christ would appear on a white horse with the armies of heaven following him to establish his kingdom. But Paul does not mention a rescue before this event. If the writer believed Christians would be removed from the Earth years before the Day of the Lord, surely this event would have been mentioned.
Within the entire books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, where is a pre- or mid-tribulation Rapture? The context of both Books is generally about believers living in a way that is pleasing to God and making sure they are ready for his glorious coming. This is not to say there is no such thing as the saints being transported up to meet him, but only the one coming is mentioned.
Verses 16-18 of 1 Thessalonians 4 offer a clear explanation of when all saints living and dead will be caught up: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, the living will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will forever be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
Unlike when Jesus was born, his return will be a universally witnessed occurrence establishing divine authority and judgment. As Matthew 24:27 tells us, “For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines to the west: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”