When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation?

Response

The timing of the rapture concerning the tribulation is a contentious topic in the church today. The main viewpoints are pre-tribulational (rapture before the tribulation), mid-tribulational (rapture at or near the mid-point of the tribulation), and post-tribulational (rapture at the end of the tribulation). Another perspective, known as pre-wrath, is a slight variation of the mid-tribulational stance.

Firstly, it is crucial to understand the purpose of the tribulation. According to Daniel 9:27, there is a seventieth “seven” (seven years) yet to come. Daniel’s complete prophecy of the seventy sevens (Daniel 9:20-27) focuses on the nation of Israel. It is a period when God specifically deals with Israel. The seventieth seven, the tribulation, is a time when God’s attention is on Israel. While this does not necessarily mean the church cannot be present, it raises the question of why the church would need to be on earth during that time.

The key Scripture passage on the rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It explains that all living believers, along with those who have died, will meet the Lord Jesus in the air and be with Him forever. The rapture is God’s removal of His people from the earth. A few verses later, in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Paul states, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The book of Revelation, which primarily addresses the tribulation period, prophesies how God will pour out His judgment.Out His wrath upon the earth during the tribulation. It seems inconsistent for God to promise believers that they will not suffer wrath and then leave them on the earth to endure the wrath of the tribulation. The fact that God promises to deliver Christians from wrath shortly after vowing to remove His people from the earth seems to connect those two events together.

Another crucial passage on the timing of the rapture is Revelation 3:10, in which Christ promises to rescue believers from the “hour of trial” that is going to come upon the earth. This could mean two things. Either Christ will shield believers in the midst of the trials, or He will rescue believers out of the trials. Both are valid interpretations of the Greek word translated “from.” However, it is important to acknowledge what believers are promised to be kept from. It is not just the trial, but the “hour” of trial. Christ is promising to keep believers from the very time period that includes the trials, specifically the tribulation. The purpose of the tribulation, the purpose of the rapture, the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 5:9, and the interpretation of Revelation 3:10 all provide clear support to the pre-tribulational position. If the Bible is interpreted literally and consistently, the pre-tribulational position is the most biblically-based interpretation.