In recent teaching, Benny Hinn addressed one of the most debated topics in eschatology: the rapture of the church, and who will actually qualify for it.
“I want to talk to you about the rapture of the church and show you what the Bible really says about the rapture of the church,” Hinn said. He emphasized that while critics argue that the word “rapture” does not appear in Scripture, the event itself clearly does.
“The Bible talks about the great catching up of the church in Thessalonians,” Hinn explained, adding that supernatural “raptures” have already occurred in biblical history. “Enoch was raptured… so was Elijah… and John himself in Revelation went to heaven because he heard the words, ‘Come up hither.’”
Turning to 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17, Hinn pointed out that the rapture is not speculation but “the word of the Lord.” He quoted the passage describing how “the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ shall rise first,” followed by living believers being “caught up together with them in the clouds.”
“This is not our opinion,” Hinn said. “We are giving you the word of the Lord.”
Hinn also pointed to 1 Corinthians 15, where the apostle Paul describes a mystery in which believers will be changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” He stressed that this transformation is central to Christian hope. “Some of us will not experience death, but we shall all be changed,” he said.
But the message went beyond describing the event—it addressed preparation.
Jesus’ warning in Luke 21:34–36 played a central role. “Take heed to yourselves,” Hinn quoted, warning that hearts weighed down by “the cares of this life” could cause believers to miss that day. “Which means if they’re not living a holy life, they will miss that day,” he said plainly.
According to Hinn, Scripture consistently shows that God separates the righteous from judgment. He referenced Noah, Lot and Abraham’s intercession for Sodom, noting, “God will not destroy the righteous and the wicked together.”
Hinn also emphasized that believers are “not appointed unto wrath,” quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:9, and that Christ promised to keep faithful believers “from the hour of temptation” in Revelation 3:10.
Still, Hinn warned that not everyone who claims faith will qualify. Citing 1 John 2:28, he said, “If you abide in Him, you won’t be ashamed when He returns.” Abiding, he explained, requires surrender. “The price is death to self and the world.”
Paul took this very seriously. Hinn quoted 1 Corinthians 9:27, where Paul admitted the danger of becoming “a castaway” if he failed to discipline his body. “It’s not how you start the race that matters,” Hinn said. “It’s how you finish it.”
Ultimately, Hinn ended his message on a hopeful note. Quoting Jude 24, he reminded believers that God is “able to keep you from falling” and to present them “faultless… with exceeding joy.”
“The Christian life is simple,” he said. “Once you give your life to Jesus… it doesn’t say try harder. It says yield.”
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
