Page 50 - Eschatology - Student Ebook

Differing Views regarding the Timing of the Rapture

Unfortunately, there are differing views on the timing of the Rapture. In other words, when will the
rapture of the church occur in relation to other prophetic events?

Those who hold an amillennial view of prophetic history believe there will not be a literal Millennial
kingdom here on earth. They expect the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to occur while the church is still
here on earth. Therefore, they do not interpret these passages to be a rapture of the church to meet
Jesus Christ in the air.

Likewise, those who hold to a postmillennial view of prophetic history also do not interpret these
passages to be a rapture of the church to meet Jesus Christ in the air. They teach that we, the church,
are now in the kingdom on earth which will improve until Jesus Christ comes back to earth.

Only those who are premillennialists and interpret prophetic passages literally believe that Jesus Christ
will come back to earth before the Millennial Kingdom here on earth. They interpret these passages to
describe a rapture of the church. Almost all premillennialists agree that the rapture is to be
distinguished from the second coming in the sense that the former is when Christ comes for His own
people and the latter is His coming back to earth with them in triumph and glory.

But how far apart these two events are in time is the disputed question. Among premillennialists there
are five views of the time of the rapture.

Pre-tribulation View
This viewpoint holds that the Rapture of the church will take place before the entire seven-year
tribulation period begins. Therefore, the church will not go through any of the tribulation. At the
conclusion of the tribulation, the Lord will return with His saints to set up His Millennial Kingdom. The
following diagram illustrates this understanding of Scripture:

2 Coming
nd
Rapture
† Church Age Tribulation 1000 yr. Millennium Eternity

Mid-tribulation View
This viewpoint holds that Christ's coming for His people will occur at the middle of the tribulation period
after 3.5 years. They interpret Matthew 24 to be talking directly to the church. They believe the
“coming of the Son of Man” to mean the Rapture, and interpret the “one shall be taken and the other
left” verses (Matt. 24:36-41) as describing the Rapture when the righteous are taken off the earth while
the wicked are left. This suggests a mid-tribulation viewpoint. It would look like this:

nd
2 Coming
Rapture
† Church Age Tribulation 1000 yr. Millennium Eternity

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