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Rediscovering the Hebrew Origins of the Rapture
Could the Apostle Paul’s Thessalonian letters have contained more than what we read in our Bibles today?
That’s the question explored in a powerful Prophecy Watchers episode featuring Gary Stearman and Dr. Ken Johnson. In The Hebrew Origins of the Rapture, Johnson uncovers newly translated Hebrew manuscripts of Paul’s epistles—texts that restore lines and phrases lost in translation for nearly 2,000 years.
Ancient Hebrew Clues About the Rapture
These manuscripts offer compelling Pre-Tribulation rapture evidence:
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Where the Greek text speaks passively of Christ’s resurrection, the Hebrew reveals a future, causative role of Jesus: He will raise the dead and catch up believers.
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The Hebrew word natzal (“to snatch”) mirrors the Greek harpazo—the very word from which we get “rapture.”
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Phrases about the “Moed” (appointed feast times) suggest the rapture aligns with God’s prophetic calendar.
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Even Paul’s “restrainer” (2 Thess. 2) becomes clearer: the Hebrew identifies the church as the “highway” of gospel-bearers removed before Antichrist is revealed.
Why This Discovery Matters
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The Hebrew manuscripts trace back as early as 180 AD, confirming that early Christians anticipated a Pre-Tribulation rapture.
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They reinforce Paul’s encouragement: “Comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18).
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They demonstrate that believers across centuries looked at the rapture not with fear, but with expectant hope.
Different Views of the Rapture
Throughout church history, Christians have held differing views:
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Pre-Tribulation – Christ raptures His church before the seven-year Tribulation begins.
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Mid-Tribulation – The rapture occurs at the midpoint, before the Great Tribulation.
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Post-Tribulation – The rapture happens at Christ’s second coming, after the Tribulation.
While these perspectives differ, they share one unshakable truth: the rapture’s timing is not a salvation issue. Our eternal destiny is secure in Christ. Whether pre-, mid-, or post-Trib, every believer will be resurrected to glory with Jesus. Our unity rests in Him—not in prophetic charts or debates.
A Message of Hope for the Church
Ken Johnson’s new book, Proof of a Pre-Trib Rapture: Paul’s Ancient Hebrew Thessalonian Epistles, dives deeper into these discoveries. Drawing from early Hebrew manuscripts, he uncovers prophetic insights hidden for centuries.
For Christians today, the Hebrew origins of the rapture are more than just a debate about timing. They are a reminder to watch, encourage, and stay ready for the return of Christ—our Blessed Hope.
