When Will the Rapture Be?

Will the Rapture Happen Pre-Trib, Post Trib, or Mid-Trib?

Why I am “Mid-Trib”

There is an ongoing debate about eschatology (The study of the end of the world)  that has been raging for decades. When are Christians going to be raptured? Are we even going to be raptured? Will we be raptured before the tribulation, sometime during the tribulation, or after?
Interest in the rapture has trickled down from Bible scholars to the common people. Even the ordinary person senses that the end times are drawing near. People want to know.

What is the Rapture?

At some undetermined point in the future, Jesus promised that believers would be taken out of the world.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:21 KJV)

This is also described by the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17

What do pre-trib, mid-trib, and post-trib mean?

Most scholars in modern times are “Pre-trib”. They believe that believers will be raptured before any of the events of the great tribulation occur (The Great tribulation is described in the biblical book of Revelation and elsewhere) It will be a time of great suffering worldwide. People who believe that Christians will be raptured before the tribulation are nicknamed “pre-trib” (for pre-tribulation). This is the mainstream belief. If you listen to Hal Lindsey or read Tim LaHaye, and most preachers who preach on the subject, this is their point of view.

Mid-trib: believe that Christians will have to suffer along with the rest of the world until some point in the middle of the tribulation, then will be caught up in the air to be with the Lord.

Post-trib: believe that believers will have to suffer the entire tribulation.
There are also people who do not believe in the rapture at all.

When will the rapture Happen?

Several times through the Bible, we are told that no man knows the day or the hour. But we are given signs to watch out for, and a specific sequence of events that must happen. These are laid out in Matthew chapter 24 as well as 2 Thessalonians.

1. The day will not come until the man of sin is revealed (2 Thessalonians Chapter 2)
2. Believers will be arrested, persecuted and killed. (Matt. 24:9)
3. The abomination of desolation will be in the Holy place (Matt. 24:15)
4. False prophets and false messiahs will be rampant (Matt. 24:23-24)
5. There will be great wonder in the heavens, such as the sun darkened. (Matt. 24:29)
6. Then Jesus will come and take the chosen ones. (Matt. 24:31)

Notice that there are going to be some serious events before the elect are taken out of the world.

So, why mid-trib?

It boils down to when you think the Tribulation starts. There is a seven-year period specifically laid out in Revelation. Leading up to that time, the biggest part of the misery in the world is going to be inflicted by worldly powers. God will not be inflicting generalized judgment at that time.

• Daniel 7:25 says the Saints will be handed over to the fourth beast for a time, times, and half a time. We cannot be handed over to the beast if we are already raptured!
• And the verse that really cinches it is when the Lamb of God opens a scroll sealed with seven seals. As each seal is opened, something tragic happens on the earth. There is going to be famine, pestilence, and death. But if you notice, in Revelation, there are martyrs in heaven who ask God how much longer this can go on, and: “they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters–their fellow servants of Jesus–had been martyred.” (Revelation 6:9-11 NLT)

Summary

So, whenever you mark the time that the Tribulation begins, believers are clearly going to be severely persecuted before the rapture takes place. Take heart, though. It is pretty clear that the believers are gone before the horrible “Trumpet” judgements (beginning in Revelation 8:6) and “Bowl” judgements (Beginning Revelation 15:5) begin. When God pours out the bowls of wrath. Nobody wants to be here for those! Things are going to get bad very quickly.

Find Jesus if you have not already. Then go get baptized right away if possible (you do not have to be baptized for eternal life, but it sure helps down here on earth).

Note that there are also very good reasons why people are “Pre-trib”. Ultimately, we need to wait and see! Nevertheless, come Lord Jesus!