When Will the Rapture Happen?

by Dr. Gary Linton | Updated February 18th, 2023

The rapture is called the “blessed hope” of the believer (Titus 2:13) and is when Jesus returns for us as He promised in John 14:1-3. When Jesus returns for us is not nearly as important as the fact He will return. Our personal view of the rapture is peripheral theology. We don’t have to agree, but believing He will return is fundamental to the Christian faith.

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The tribulation is a seven year period that is referred to as a “time of trouble” in Daniel 12:1, the “time of Jacob’s trouble” in Jeremiah 30:7, the “great tribulation” in Matthew 24:21, the “hour of trial” in Revelation 3:10, and “the great tribulation” in Revelation 7:13-14.

Major Views of the Rapture

1. Pre-tribulation

This is the belief that all true born again believers will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord prior to the beginning of the seven year tribulation period (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Much of this is based on the fact that “God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

This view believes when the voice says “come up hither” to the Apostle John in Revelation 4:1, the church will be raptured into the presence of the Lord. Revelation 2-3 deals with the seven churches and the church age. Chapter 4 and following deals with the seven year tribulation period and beyond. Therefore, the church will be raptured out prior to tribulation.

2. Mid-tribulation

This view believes the church will be raptured somewhere near the middle of the tribulation period. The best scripture for this is probably Revelation 7:13-14, “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of (the) great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

“Great tribulation” refers to the second half of the seven year period when it is most intense. In this view believers will go through the first half of the tribulation, then be raptured just prior to the worst part. Most who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture say that Revelation 7 is dealing with those who were martyred, but that was in Revelation 6:9-11. Chapter 7 is an entirely different group which “came up out of the great tribulation.”

3. Post-tribulation

This refers to the church being taken out or raptured near the end of the seven year tribulation period. The post-tribulation view is nothing new. Throughout history the church believed in a post-tribulation rapture. It wasn’t until 1830 when a 15 year old Scottish girl had a dream that the church would be raptured prior to the tribulation that the pre-tribulation rapture view was thought of or even considered. It was at this time that J. M. Darby, founder the Plymouth Brethern, grabbed onto the pre-tribulation view and ran with it. As a result, many Christians believe this today.

Lets face it, all of us would rather be taken out of this world before the beginning of the tribulation. Until 1830, all of the church fathers and reformers (John Calvin, Martin Luther, etc.) believed we would see the antichrist and be delivered from him and the tribulation at the return of Jesus. The reformers believed the papacy was the antichrist and that they were in the tribulation. If they believed they were in the tribulation, they obviously didn’t think they would be taken out before it.

In Matthew 24:15, Jesus refers to one of the signs prior to His return as “The abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (Daniel 9:24-27 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). Matthew 24:29-31 says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days… shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 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.”

The key here is, “After the tribulation of those days.” Compare this passage with 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which most use to describe the pre-tribulation rapture. Both of these passages are identical. The only difference is Matthew 24:29-31 specifies, “After the tribulation of those days.” The only argument used to differentiate between the two is that Matthew 24:29-31 refers to Israel and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 refers to the church. If that was true, Paul or one of the other writers would have clarified the difference, but nowhere in the Word do they differentiate between the two. The only logical conclusion is that they are speaking of the same event. Therefore, the rapture would be at the end of the tribulation period.

In 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Paul is talking of believers who were going through a time of trouble and/or affliction. God promises to bring relief/rest to them while simultaneously judging those who are causing the trouble. This happens in one simultaneous event “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9). Paul goes on in chapter two:

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

Here, Paul makes it clear he is talking about “The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him.” He says, “Let no man deceive you by any means.” Paul says two things must happen before Jesus returns for us:

Apostasy or falling away. We see this happening more and more today. The church is drifting away from the fundamentals of the faith like at no other time. We see people walking away from the Lord that we once thought never would. There’s a deception over our world today like at no other time. People are falling away and being deceived by alarming numbers.
The man of sin or lawlessness must be revealed. He will oppose God by sitting in the temple and claiming to be God (Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:15). Both of these things must take place before Jesus returns for His church. It is clear that Jesus’ return for us cannot happen until after the antichrist sits in the temple demanding worship and claiming to be God. In John 16:1-4 Jesus told the disciples some of the things they would go through and declares His reasoning for warning them about the difficulties they would face. “These things I have spoken to you that you should not be offended or kept from stumbling.”
“What if I said you would be raptured before the tribulation period then you found yourself in the midst of the tribulation. Not only would you be devastated, you would also think that either myself or God let you down and deceived you. I would rather prepare you for the worst and hope for the best. In this way you might be kept from stumbling if you find yourself facing overwhelming difficulties (John 16:1). Let’s hope for a pre-tribulation rapture, but be prepared for a post-tribulation rapture.

4. The Last Trumpet

Most prophetic scholars believe the primary “pivotal event of all human history to which the Feast of Trumpets points is the Return of Christ.” This feast has its fulfillment with the blowing of the trumpet and Christ followers everywhere will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

Let’s look at these passages:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Matthew 24:29-31 – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days… shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 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.”

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 – “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

“The last Trump!” What does this refer to? Which is the last or are all these one and the same? As stated above concerning the first two references, they give every appearance of being the same event. However, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 sheds new light on this event.

In Revelation we have three sets, segments, or divisions of judgments: 1. Seven Seals, 2. Seven Trumpets, and 3. Seven Vials or Bowl judgments. The seventh one of each opens the next segment or division of judgments. The “Last Trumpet” opens up the vials of God’s wrath. These are the final and most severe of the judgments.

Revelation 11:15 – “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.”

This “Last Trumpet” opens up the vials or bowls of God’s wrath in Revelation 17. Just prior to God’s wrath Jesus returns for us “at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Thus, “God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

5. The Father Knows

Accordingly, the “Last Trump” is highly probable when the rapture will happen and we will be gathered together to meet the Lord in the air. However, only the Father knows for sure. Jesus said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). If Jesus doesn’t know the hour of His return, how can we think we have it all figured out?

What we do know is that Jesus promised to return for us and receive us unto Himself (John 14:1-3). Only the Father knows the hour of His return. We can, by observing the signs of the time, know Jesus’ return is near. Jesus will return for us – Glory to God!

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44).

The most important thing is, are we ready for His return? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, you can right now by trusting Him and His finished work on the cross, as your only hope of salvation. “Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Call on Him today. Let Him cleanse you of your sins and invite Him into your heart (Revelation 3:20).

Maybe you’ve already trusted Jesus as your Savior, but at present things are not right between you and God. He is not first in your life. There may be things you’ve done or are currently involved in that you know aren’t pleasing to God. You can make things right with Him today and be assured you’re ready when Jesus returns. (Revelation 3:20).

Prayer: “Lord Jesus forgive me of all my sins, let Your blood wash them away. Come into my heart and be my Lord. I confess you as Lord of my Life. I want to be ready for You when You return. I choose to forgive all who have let me down or offended me. Help me to live for You from this day forward all the days of my life. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen!”