When Is the Rapture?

There has been a debate for a long time on whether the rapture happens before, during, or after The Tribulation. I’m not going to die on this hill, but I thought I’d share my perspective. We are not supposed to argue, especially over the timing of future events, but it’s good to see if what we believe lines up with Scripture. Let me start with some definitions to get us all on the same page.

Millennium: This refers to the thousand-year reign that Jesus will establish from Jerusalem when He returns.

• Most people I know, including me, believe this is an actual 1,000 years, though some believe it is only

Tribulation: A seven-year period in which the Antichrist seeks world domination and persecutes Christians.

• Pre-trib: This view expects Jesus to pull His Church out of the world (Rapture) before the Tribulation starts.
• Mid-trib: This view expects Jesus to rapture His Church when the Antichrist proclaims himself to be God halfway through the Tribulation.
• Post-trib: This view expects the Church to go through the Tribulation, and the Rapture occurring simultaneously with the Lord’s second coming.

The most popular view in America is that the Rapture takes place just before the Tribulation takes place (Jerry Jenkins wrote the entire Left Behind series based on it). Quite the opposite, I personally believe the Church will go through the Tribulation. Here are my reasons.

1. The Bible never says that there will be a secret pre-trib rapture. Based on their theology, some people hope and assume that to be the case. They read their assumption into the text of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
2. Often, a pre-tribber says that the Lord will remove His people before persecution against them becomes worldwide. Americans like comfort, but I say, “God has not removed any of His followers from persecution in other countries before, so why would He do it now?”
3. Daniel 7:21-22 and Revelation 13:7 say that the Antichrist will make war on the saints and kill many of them.
4. In the most detailed vision of end times (Matthew 24), Jesus never mentions a secret pre-trib Rapture. He only speaks of His second coming, which won’t be secretive at all.
5. There are many similarities between Matthew 24:15-31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
   1. This fourth chapter is based upon “the Lord’s own word.” That must refer to Matthew 24.
   2. The Lord returns after the Tribulation
   3. Jesus descends visibly from Heaven
   4. There is a loud cry from the archangel
   5. There is a trumpet blast
   6. The angels are sent to gather Christians from around the world (Matthew 13:38-39)
   7. The dead in Christ rise first, then the living saints are raptured
   8. We meet the Lord in the air

The Greek word “meet” is only used three times in Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Matthew 25:6, and Acts 28:15. In Matthew and Acts, it is clear that people leave where they are in order to go out and welcome someone. Then they turn around and accompany him to his destination. It would seem like we meet the Lord in the air and accompany Him to the earth instead of going to Heaven for seven years.

There are godly men and women who hold positions other than mine. But it’s not worth arguing about or being divisive over. We should be able to question each other and discuss our differences in a spirit of humility. It is not as important to know when the Rapture takes place as knowing whether you are one of His. Tell God you repent of your sins, thank Him that Jesus died for you, and ask Jesus to lead the rest of your life.

Revmar51@gmail.comChurch,