Though the Rapture takes place in the New Testament, it is foreshadowed in the Old Testament.
The rapture is first foreshadowed in the story of Enoch. In Genesis 5:21-24 we read, “When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 Enoch lived 365 years, 24 walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.” In the same way that Enoch was and then suddenly was no more, so one day the church will be and then will be no more.
The rapture is secondly foreshadowed in the story of Elijah. In 2 Kings 2:11 we read, “As they [Elijah and Elisha] were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.” In the same way that Elijah was suddenly taken away up to heaven, so the church will one day be suddenly taken away up to heaven. In the same way that both Enoch and Elijah were snatched away suddenly, so Christ’s church will one be suddenly snatched away.
The stories of Enoch and Elijah foreshadow the yet future event where Jesus will return to take away his church (John 14:2-3).