Evangelicals talk a lot about the rapture. Here’s how Latter-day Saint scripture describes Christ’s return, side by side with the Bible.
Latter-day Saints believe the righteous will be “caught up” to meet Christ when He comes in glory, just as Paul wrote (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Modern revelation says “the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him,” and the righteous dead rise with them (D&C 88:96–98). What Latter-day Saint scripture doesn’t teach is a secret rapture years before His visible return. Christ will come “in like manner” as He left (Acts 1:11), no one knows the day (D&C 49:7), and He will then reign on the earth for a thousand years.
The short versionYes, in the Bible’s sense of the word
If “rapture” means what Paul described, Latter-day Saints believe it: “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” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). The word “rapture” comes from the Latin translation of “caught up” in that verse.
Modern revelation repeats it almost word for word: “the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him. And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him” (D&C 88:96–98). What Latter-day Saint scripture doesn’t describe is a separate, secret coming years before the visible Second Coming. The catching up happens when Christ comes in glory.
The Second Coming“This same Jesus … shall so come”
As Jesus ascended, angels told the apostles, “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The Church’s Topics and Questions entry explains: “When the Savior comes again, He will come in power and glory to claim the earth as His kingdom. His Second Coming will mark the beginning of the Millennium” (Second Coming of Jesus Christ).
The Lord described it in 1831: “they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels … But before the arm of the Lord shall fall, an angel shall sound his trump, and the saints that have slept shall come forth to meet me in the cloud” (D&C 45:44–46). Paul taught the same order: “Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:23).
One taken, one left“Two shall be in the field”
Jesus said, “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:40–42). Joseph Smith’s inspired version of this chapter, in the Pearl of Great Price, keeps it and places it “in the last days”: “what I say unto one, I say unto all men; watch, therefore” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:44–46).
Latter-day Saints read these verses as part of the Second Coming itself. The point Jesus makes is to watch and be ready, not to work out a timeline.
No date-setting“The hour and the day no man knoweth”
Jesus said, “of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Modern revelation agrees: “the hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he comes” (D&C 49:7). The Church has never set a date.
The Lord has revealed signs, though. The Church lists among them the apostasy, “the Restoration of the gospel,” “the coming forth of the Book of Mormon,” “the preaching of the gospel throughout the world,” and “a time of wickedness, war, and turmoil” (Topics and Questions). The risen Christ taught the Nephites about all of it, “even until the elements should melt with fervent heat” (3 Nephi 26:3).
Then what?A thousand years with Christ on earth
After His coming, the earth doesn’t empty out; Christ reigns on it. John saw the faithful who “lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years … This is the first resurrection” (Revelation 20:4–6). The Lord said, “I will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory … and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years” (D&C 29:11). Our tenth article of faith says “that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory” (Articles of Faith 1:10).
Enoch saw Zion from above meeting Zion on earth: “Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there … and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest” (Moses 7:62–64). The Church says the righteous “need not fear the Second Coming.” See also Last-Days Prophecies Christians Should Be Concerned About.
Check the premiseThe presuppositions baked into the question
Before this question can be answered fairly, the person asking has to justify a few assumptions packed inside it:
- That Latter-day Saints don’t believe the righteous will be caught up. D&C 88:96 says “the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him.”
- That the Bible teaches a secret rapture years before Christ’s visible return. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 describes a shout, an archangel’s voice and a trumpet, and Acts 1:11 says He will come “in like manner” as He left. The teaching of a separate, earlier secret rapture spread in the 1800s.
- That someone can calculate the date. “The hour and the day no man knoweth” (D&C 49:7; Matthew 24:36).
- That the faithful leave the earth for good. Christ will “dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years” (D&C 29:11; Articles of Faith 1:10).
FAQQuick answers
Do Latter-day Saints believe in the rapture?
Yes, in the sense of 1 Thessalonians 4:17: at Christ’s Second Coming the righteous living and dead “shall be caught up to meet him” (D&C 88:96–97). Latter-day Saint scripture doesn’t describe a secret rapture before His visible return.
What happens at the Second Coming according to Latter-day Saints?
Christ returns “in power and glory,” the righteous dead are resurrected, the living righteous are caught up to meet Him, and the Millennium begins with Christ reigning personally on the earth.
Do Latter-day Saints believe in a pre-tribulation rapture?
No. Their scriptures place the catching up at the Second Coming itself (D&C 45:44–45; 88:96–98) and teach that the righteous should prepare to endure the signs before it.
Do Latter-day Saints know when Jesus will come back?
No. “The hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven” (D&C 49:7).
What is the Millennium in Latter-day Saint belief?
A thousand years of peace when Christ reigns personally on the earth and it is “renewed and receive[s] its paradisiacal glory” (Articles of Faith 1:10; Revelation 20:4–6).
What does 1 Thessalonians 4:17 say about being caught up?
“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” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Will Jesus return in person?
Yes. The angels told the apostles, “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
How do Latter-day Saints prepare for the Second Coming?
By living the gospel instead of setting dates. The Lord said, “stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come” (D&C 87:8).
SummaryKey takeaways
- The righteous living and dead are caught up to meet Christ at His coming (1 Thessalonians 4:17; D&C 88:96–97).
- There is no secret rapture before His visible, glorious return (Acts 1:11; D&C 45:44).
- No one knows the day; the Church has never set one (D&C 49:7).
- Christ will then reign personally on the earth for a thousand years (Articles of Faith 1:10).
Read D&C 45 alongside Matthew 24. For quick, sourced answers, open Galatians18, and follow me on X at @TraviXai.
Sources
- King James Bible (churchofjesuschrist.org): Matthew 24:36 · Matthew 24:40–42 · Acts 1:11 · 1 Corinthians 15:23 · 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 · Revelation 20:4–6
- Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 26:3
- Doctrine and Covenants: D&C 29:11 · D&C 45:44–46 · D&C 49:7 · D&C 88:96–98
- Pearl of Great Price: Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:44–46 · Moses 7:62–64 · Articles of Faith 1:10
- “Second Coming of Jesus Christ,” Topics and Questions, churchofjesuschrist.org
- Featured image and in-article graphic: original graphics by thebookofmormon.ai (painterly backgrounds; no photographs or likenesses of real people).
