There are four common sets of beliefs regarding end-times prophecy: amillennial and three pre-millennial beliefs which are post-tribulational rapture, mid-tribulation rapture, and pre-tribulation rapture.

On the other hand, the belief of Amillennialists is in complete opposition to the word of God when it comes to end-time events. Amillennialists reject the idea of a literal rapture and the belief in a future tribulation period. The amillennialists’ view calls God a liar.

Important Note:

The timing of the rapture is a hot topic among believers. Unfortunately, some believers can let their pride and emotions get the better of them, which is not in line with what God wants for us. However, it’s important to remember that there are many believers who have faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but interpret the timing of the rapture differently, such as a post-tribulation or mid-tribulation rapture. They are still part of the body of Christ and should not be considered anything but, just because they have a different interpretation of the timing of the rapture. We have to be able to sit down and demonstrate how we come to our conclusions on the timing of the rapture from scripture.

The Rapture Revealed to Paul

Before exploring the various perspectives, let’s first examine the Bible passages where the Apostle Paul describes the rapture. This event was a secret, known only to God, until it was revealed to Paul. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, Paul provides a clear explanation of the rapture.

‘Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”’

I Corinthians 15:51-55

‘But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.’

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

The catching up of the body of Christ into the clouds that Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is the event that is commonly referred to as “the rapture”. At some future time, the trumpet will sound, and we who are alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet those who have died in Christ and our Lord Jesus Christ in the air. The dead in Christ will be resurrected into their immortal bodies first immediately followed by believers that remain alive. Then we all shall be with our Lord forever. What an amazing hope…Our Blessed Hope!

Now let’s look at the different viewpoints about the rapture and end times prophecy:

1. Amillennialists believe that God’s promises regarding the end times are figurative and will not be literally fulfilled, particularly the 1000-year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth.
2. Pre-millennialists believe that Jesus Christ will return to the earth prior to His literal reign on the earth for 1000 years. Three groups of pre-millennialists include the following:

a. Post-tribulationists believe that the rapture will not occur until the end of the seven-year tribulation, just prior to the beginning of the millennial kingdom.

b. Mid-tribulationists believe that the rapture will occur three and one-half years into the tribulation, at the beginning of the three-and-one-half-year great tribulation.

c. Pre-tribulationists believe that the rapture will occur prior to the seven-year tribulation, but not necessarily immediately before the tribulation.