When Does The Rapture Occur?

1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980) wrote these words concerning the pretribulation rapture:

When does the rapture occur? 

The rapture of the saints pictured in 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 is to be expected at any moment. We do not know when. Paul himself hoped to be alive until that time and said, “Then we which are alive and remain . . . . ” So that rapture is the first thing on God's program, and the tribulation time will come afterward. The order of events, I think, is this: 

First, the rapture described there. Second Daniel's seventieth week will begin with the rise of a Prince or Antichrist to restore the Roman Empire, make a covenant with the Jews for one seven-year period. Then in the midst of that week of years, he will enter into the Temple that they will build at Jerusalem, will claim to be God and will set out to kill all the Jews who do not worship him, the Antichrist. So the last three and a half years of the seven-year period will be the Great Tribulation. Then the events following the Great Tribulation are told in Matthew 24:29 and following. Christ will appear, coming with saints and angels, The angels will be sent to gather out of every country the Jews and bring them back to Palestine. The battle of Armageddon will occur and Christ will destroy all the armies of the Antichrist. Then he will set up his throne at Jerusalem, will judge the living people who are left on the Earth, and then have the thousand-year rain on earth. —Evangelist John R. Rice, “Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...,” pp. 198-199; 1973

If we take the Lord's exhortation seriously in Mark 13:32-33, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is,” then we can only conclude a pretribulation rapture. Any later doctrinal position concerning the timing of Christ's return simply doesn't fit the puzzle of Bible prophecy.

Pastor Steven Anderson's New IFB (New Independent Fundamental Baptist) movement are so corrupt doctrinally regarding Bible prophecy that they have set a date for Christ's return at 1,335 days into Daniel's seventieth week. They claim that this will happen 75 days after the Abomination of Desolation. This is strange doctrine not found in God's inspired Word.