Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 169:675 (Jul 2012)
Article: The Day Of The Lord And The Rapture
Author: Craig A. Blaising

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The Day Of The Lord And The Rapture*

Craig A. Blaising

* This is the third article in a four-part series, “The Day of the Lord,” delivered as the W. H. Griffith Thomas Lectureship, March 29–April 1, 2011, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas.

Craig A. Blaising is Executive Vice President, Provost, and Professor of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.

This article examines the relationship of the day of the Lord to the rapture of the church and its implications for the longstanding question of the relationship of the rapture to the tribulation. Pretribulationists commonly admit that the Scriptures include no explicit statement on the timing of the rapture with respect to the tribulation. As John Walvoord often noted, this is a matter of inference.1 However, Paul in his correspondence to the Thessalonians did relate the rapture to the day of the Lord. Depending on the relationship of the day of the Lord to the tribulation, the timing of the rapture in relation to the tribulation can be inferred.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Both topics, the rapture and the day of the Lord, are clearly addressed in 1 Thessalonians 4-5. First Thessalonians 4:13-18, of

BSac 169:675 (July-September 2012) p. 260

course, addresses the rapture as an event related to the coming (the παρουσία) of the Lord. This event will include the descent of the Lord, the resurrection of dead believers, and the rapture of living believers together with the resurrected to be with the Lord. Then in 5:1-11 Paul addressed the coming of the day of the Lord. The coming of the Lord and the coming of the day of the Lord are related concepts in a number of texts.2 It is not unusual to find the two topics juxtaposed.

Paul’s particular concern for the day of the Lord is related to its beginning, its onset. The question is, When will it begin?

Paul posited the question generally in 5:1 as a concern for “the times and seasons,”3 which typically carries an eschatological sense.4 In response to the disciples’ question, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6), He said, “It is not for you to know times or seasons [