Exploring the major Christian views
I first heard the term “rapture” in my 30s when I was reading the Left Behind series. This series of books follows a group of people who are “left behind” after believers are taken to heaven.
The series offers an interpretation of the Great Tribulation as written in the Bible with the events corresponding to the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments of Revelation 6, 8–11, and 15–16. They are a vivid illustration of how prophecy might unfold.
I found the novels especially intriguing as I was raised in the Catholic Church but don’t remember learning anything about the events mentioned in the last book of the Bible.
I do, however, remember teachings on the Second Coming of Christ, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
The word rapture does not appear in most English Bibles but comes from the Latin word rapturo, which was used to translate the phrase “caught up.” I wondered what the difference was between the Rapture and the Second Coming.
In my research, I discovered that Protestants and Catholics agree on the fundamentals of Christianity. That is, Jesus will return, there will be a resurrection of the dead, Christ will judge the living and the dead, and God’s kingdom will be fully established.
However, there are different views on whether believers will be swept up — or Raptured — before the 7-year Tribulation (Pre-Tribulation View), or around the midpoint of the Tribulation (Mid-Tribulation View) or that believers remain on earth through the Tribulation and meet Christ as He returns to establish His kingdom (Post-Tribulation View).
That question continues to divide Christians today. Many Baptist and Pentecostal churches hold the Pre-Tribulation view, whereas the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches view the Rapture and Second Coming as a single event.
After reading the Left Behind series, I attended a Bible study by Beth Moore called Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy. In this study, Beth discusses end-times prophecy, the Tribulation, and various Rapture views.
As the Great Tribulation is a future period of unprecedented worldwide suffering, deception, persecution, and divine judgment before Jesus returns (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 6–19), I personally prefer the Pre-Tribulation view because I do not want to endure the end-times turmoil and judgment.
Although I believe we are living in the last days, I would not go so far as to predict the exact timing of His return, since Jesus Himself said:
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24: 36, NIV)
Whether one holds a Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, or Post-Tribulation view, the central message remains the same:
Jesus is coming again. Live faithfully until He does.
“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:44 NIV)