What is the rapture? The Rapture refers to the sudden removal of God's people from the Earth. In the twinkling of a eye (a second of time) born-again Christians will suddenly have their bodies transformed and then they will rise up into the air to join Jesus. The phrase rapture (Greek word that is translated is harpazo) means to be caught up or taken away suddenly.

Of all the teachings of prophecy, the timing of rapture is the most controversial. Will it occur before, during, or after the tribulation period? Several different opinions exist amongst fundamentalist and evangelical Christians. Fortunately, when you believe the rapture will occur has no bearing on your salvation if you are saved. Regardless of when a person believes the rapture will occur or if he or she even believes in bible prophecy, one day everyone on Earth will die (some sooner than others) and be judged by Christ so we must always be ready.

Except for the rapture, the timing of most other end time events such as the rise of the Antichrist, the millennium of peace, and the wrath of God are not in dispute.

Depending on your interpretation of these questions determines when you feel the rapture will occur. No premillenial position of the rapture can be proven without a doubt.

1) IMMINENCY - Can Christ return to Earth at any time or are there certain signs that must occur first?
2) SATAN'S WRATH - Will God's elect undergo the wrath of Antichrist/Satan?
3) WRATH OF GOD - During God's wrath will the elect be protected by removal from the Earth or protected while on the Earth?
4) OLIVET DISCOURSE - Does Matthew 24 refer to Israel only or to everyone including the Church?
5) RETURN OF CHRIST - Is the time of Christ's return predictable?
The different answers to each of the questions and the effect on the four interpretations of the rapture will be discussed under each viewpoint.

Here are the four different views and links on when the rapture will occur based on its timing to the tribulation period:
Pre-Tribulation rapture - Christians are raptured before the persecutions of the Antichrist or the wrath of God upon the earth. This occurs before the 7-year period of Daniel (Tribulation period).
Post-Tribulation rapture - Christians undergo both the Antichrist's persecutions and the wrath of God and become raptured at the end of the 7-year period of Daniel (Tribulation period).
Mid-Tribulation rapture - The rapture occurs at the midpoint of the 7-year period of Daniel (Tribulation period). The elect undergo some persecutions but escape the wrath of God.
Pre-Wrath rapture - In this view Christians will endure the persecutions of the Antichrist but will be raptured before the wrath of God begins some time in the second half of the 7-year period of Daniel (Tribulation period).

©1998 The Sign Ministries

For more information on the different timings of the Rapture click on the links below:
1) Pre-Tribulational Rapture
2) Mid-Tribulational Rapture
3) Pre-Wrath Rapture
4) Post-Tribulational Rapture

My Opinion

We need to know and study all four of the different timings of the rapture. What if our view is wrong? We must always be prepared and vigilant. In my readings of scripture I feel that the almost allscripture readings favor the pre-tribulation rapture. Bible prophecy is not an exact science. Only when we are with Christ will we know the correct answers. Therefore,

You must always be ready to be raptured at anytime in case Christ comes before any other signs are given like a peace treaty with Israel because you may die at any moment and then you are judged. So you must be prepare as if you believe in a Pre-Tribulation rapture.