Did Jesus Christ Teach the Rapture in Matthew 24?

Many Christians today believe that Jesus taught about the rapture in Matthew 24—a moment when believers will suddenly disappear and be taken to heaven, while unbelievers are left behind to face judgment. This view has been popularised through books, movies, and sermons, often portraying those who are “taken” as saved and those who are “left” as lost. However, when we read Matthew 24 carefully, especially verses 36 to 41, we see that Jesus was not speaking about escaping the world. Rather, He was issuing a serious warning about coming judgment and urging His followers to stay alert and spiritually prepared for His return.

Jesus compared His return to the days of Noah. People were living ordinary lives—eating, drinking, marrying—until the flood came and swept them away (Matthew 24:39). Then Jesus said, “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left” (vv. 40–41). Many readers assume that being “taken” means being saved, but in the story of Noah, the ones who were taken were those who faced judgment. Noah and his family, who remained, were the ones saved. In this context, then, being “taken” refers to being removed in judgment. Being “left” means being spared—to remain and enter the blessings of the coming Kingdom.

The idea of a rapture—where believers are taken away from the earth before a period of tribulation—was neither taught by Jesus nor found in the teaching of His apostles or the early Church. For over 1,800 years, Christians did not hold this view. The concept was first introduced around 1830 by John Nelson Darby, a British preacher, and later gained wider influence through the Scofield Reference Bible. Its popularity grew even more through fictional books and films like Left Behind. However, this idea does not come from Scripture. Jesus never told His followers to expect a sudden escape from the earth. Instead, He called them to remain faithful and watchful as God’s plans unfold.

Even the common Christian saying, “This world is not our home,” though partly true, can be misleading if it causes us to think that heaven is our final destination and that the earth no longer matters. This view misses the bigger picture of the Bible’s message, which points toward the renewal of all creation and the coming of God’s kingdom on earth.

Well-respected New Testament scholars agree that Matthew 24:36–41 is not about a secret rapture but about God’s judgment and the final separation between the faithful and the unfaithful. N.T. Wright explains that those who are “taken” are like the people swept away in the flood—they were not rescued, but judged. G.K. Beale highlights the link to the story of Noah and points out that the ones “left” are actually the faithful who are preserved. Craig Blomberg emphasizes that Jesus is not describing people disappearing, but a sudden moment of judgment. R.T. France also notes that this is not about being taken to heaven, but about remaining to inherit the renewed world. These scholars agree that Jesus is describing the arrival of God’s kingdom and the separation that will come—not an escape from the world.

Jesus came to earth not just to save souls for heaven, but to restore all of creation. In the beginning, God created the earth and called it “very good.” He made humans to live with Him, care for creation, and enjoy His presence. Though sin broke that harmony, God’s plan never changed. Through His death, Jesus defeated sin; through His resurrection, He launched a new creation; and when He returns, He will complete the restoration of everything. That is why Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). His goal is not to take us away from the earth forever, but to bring God’s rule fully into it.

Although believers who die now go to be with the Lord, the Bible teaches that our final hope is not to live in heaven forever, separate from the earth. Instead, we will dwell with God in a renewed creation—a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21). That will be our eternal home—a world free from death, pain, and sin. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Many scholars agree that this promise of inheriting the earth reflects the Jewish hope for God's kingdom to be fully realized on earth. It points to the restoration of the promised land and ultimately to the new earth, where God's people will live forever. In that future world, we will live with glorified bodies and walk in perfect fellowship with God.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say we will live eternally in heaven. The phrase “eternal heaven” is not used in Scripture. What the Bible promises is “eternal life,” and that eternal life will be enjoyed in the new creation—where heaven and earth are made one. This is not about fleeing the world, but about receiving it back—restored and made new.

When we understand that Jesus is coming to renew the world, it changes how we live today. We are not simply waiting to escape life’s struggles. We are called to live now as faithful citizens of God’s Kingdom. This doesn’t mean just doing a few good deeds—it means offering every part of our lives to God: our work, our worship, our relationships, our words, and our service. As Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Unfortunately, many Christians today are so focused on going to heaven that they neglect their mission on earth. Because of this other-worldly mindset, we often fail to make a real impact in society. Faith becomes something private and personal, but not something that shapes the world around us. As Os Guinness points out, for many believers, our faith is “privately engaging but publicly irrelevant.” We retreat into church life or spiritual activities, but forget that Jesus also calls us to be salt and light in the world—to influence culture, serve our communities, seek justice, and live out the gospel in public life.

We are not called to ignore the world while waiting for heaven. Instead, we are invited to join God in His mission of renewal, here and now. We don’t try to save the world by ourselves or earn our way to heaven. Rather, we participate in what God is already doing through Christ—loving others, living righteously, sharing the good news, and standing firm in hope.

So, did Jesus teach the rapture in Matthew 24? No, He did not. He spoke of a day of separation, like in Noah’s time, when some would be removed in judgment and others would remain to enjoy the blessings of the Kingdom. The ones “taken” are not rescued—they are judged. The ones “left” are those who belong to Jesus and will remain with Him in the world He is making new.

Our ultimate hope is not to escape the earth, but to be with Christ when He returns and reigns. Even though Paul expressed a desire to depart and be with Christ (Philippians 1:23), he also looked forward to resurrection and sharing in the life of the new creation. Let us not merely long to leave, but to be found faithful—ready to live and reign with Him. And when Jesus comes again, may He find us watching, working, and waiting—not to flee, but to take part in the world He came to restore.

Liba Hopeson