The Different Views on the Rapture
There three major views on the topic of the rapture:
- Pre-Tribulation Rapture: this view teaches a secret rapture of God’s people will occur before the beginning of a seven-year tribulation and that the return of Christ will happen at the end of this time.
- Mid-Tribulatioin Rapture: this view teaches a secret rapture of God’s’ people will occur three and a half years into a seven -year tribulation period, interpreting the time period in Daniel 7:25 in a literalistic way. The antichrist will commit the “abomination desolation” in a literal Jerusalem temple.
- Post-Tribulation Rapture: this view teaches that the believers are caught up (the living and the dead) to heaven at the conclusion of the great tribulation. And it holds that living Christians will go through a final tribulation period.
The Biblical View
The idea, that all the righteous will be caught up out of the world just before the tribulation and that the wicked will be left behind to endure seven difficult years, is appealing. And that is why this view has gained such widespread acceptance. But the Bible teaches otherwise. The phrase “seven year of tribulation” does not even appear in the Scripture.
The Post-Tribulation Rapture is the view that is supported by the Scriptures. Jesus taught that the saint will go through the great tribulation: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21,22).
The Savior prayed for His disciples, “I don’ not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). Likewise, the apostle Paul declared, “Yes, and all who desire to live oddly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution“ (2 Timothy 3:12). And he also told a group of disciples, “we must through many tribulation enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 13:22).
Also, John in Revelation 7:14 confirmed that the saints will go through the end time tribulation, “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
But the good news is that God will be with the saints all through the tribulation and will bring them out of it pure as gold. The Psalmist wrote:
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the [a]fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and [b]buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall [c]bear you up,
Lest you [d]dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will [e]set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With [f]long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation” (Psalm 91).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
