Kenneth Copeland has not taught extensively on the subject of the Rapture of the Church. However, through his personal study of God’s Word, he adheres to the doctrine of Jesus coming to catch away His Church before the Great Tribulation.

Here’s how the Apostle Paul describes it: “For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16-17).

What this tells us is that in the Rapture, the bodies of those saints who have died will be resurrected, and the bodies of believers who are alive at that time will be changed from mortal to immortal. We will be “caught up together” to meet Jesus in the air.

The Rapture is likened to a thief coming in the night because it is not known exactly when it will happen (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4). But like Noah escaped before the Flood, we will escape before the Great Tribulation and be with Jesus in heaven. No born-again believer who is watching for the Lord’s return will have to go through the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:36-41). God isn’t going to pour out His anger on us (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Now that’s good news!

We encourage you to study God’s Word to gain understanding of end time events. The ministries of Charles Capps, Hilton Sutton and Billye Brim provide excellent teaching material on the end times. Here is how you can contact them:

Charles Capps
www.charlescappsministries.org

Hilton Sutton World Ministries
www.hiltonsutton.org

Billye Brim Ministries
www.billyebrim.org