When Will the Rapture Take Place?

The short answer to the question "When will the Rapture take place?" is: Before the Great Tribulation. 

How do we know the Rapture of the Church takes place prior to the start of the Great Tribulation - that period in history Revelation 6-19 speaks of where God pours out his wrath against sinful man? Let me give you three reasons: 

1. The church is in heaven singing God’s praises before the Great Tribulation begins. 

The Great Tribulation begins with the breaking of the first seal in Revelation 6, yet in Revelation chapter 5 we see the church singing God's praises before the first seal is broken. 

Look at Revelation 5 with me, starting in v.9

Revelation 5:9-10, And they (this is a group of people - not angelic beings) sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." NKJV 

Look at that song. Look at the lyrics of that song (you have redeemed us to God by Your blood). Who can sing this to Jesus? Only the church can sing that song. 

• The nation of Israel can’t sing that song - they’re not redeemed from all the nations. 
• The angels can’t sing that song - they aren’t redeemed (Jesus redeemed humans, not angels). 
• This song is sung by the church, in heaven, before the first seal, which initiates the Great Tribulation period upon the earth, is even opened (that happens in Revelation chapter 6)
• The Bible teaches the church will not go through the Tribulation. 

The second reason we know the church won’t go through the Great Tribulation is...

2. The events of Revelation chapter five take place after the church age is over. 

The church has completed its ministry on the earth by Revelation chapter three. When Revelation 4:1 begins with "After these things..." that means that everything from Revelation 4:1 onward are future events. They haven't happened as of 9/9/12. 

Jesus told the apostle John in Revelation 1:19, Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. NIV This verse is the key to properly understanding the book of Revelation. It’s the table of contents of the book. Jesus tells John to write down...

“what you have seen” which refers to the vision John had of Jesus in Revelation 1 

“what is now” which refers to the church age in Revelation 2-3 

“what will take place later” which refers to events that will transpire after the church has finished its mission on the earth and has been removed. 

Again - Revelation chapter four begins with the phrase “after these things” to which we need to ask “After what things?” After the things of the church are completed. Beginning with Revelation 4:1 we are dealing with things that are future - things which have not yet taken place but will take place after the church’s work is finished on the earth. 

The third reason we believe the church will be spared from the Great Tribulation is...

3. The Bible clearly teaches that God’s children will be spared from the Great Tribulation. 

In Revelation 3:10 Jesus says to us who live in the church age, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. NIV The trial that is going to come on the whole world is a reference to the Great Tribulation, and Jesus here says “I will...keep you from the hour of trial” that’s coming. 

All this to say - we who believe in Jesus will be raptured (or snatched away) prior to God pouring out his wrath against sinful man on the earth in the seven year period known as the Great Tribulation. Followers of Christ who are raptured will be spared the trauma of death and the coming disasters that will occur when the Tribulation breaks out on the earth. As the Scriptures state...

I Thessalonians 5:9, For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV 

Romans 5:9, Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 

• In Exodus 10 God’s wrath was poured out on the Egyptians, but not the Israelites 
• In Genesis 6-7 God’s wrath was poured out on sinful man (those who rejected God), not Noah and his family 
• In Genesis 18-19 Lot was taken away before God’s wrath was poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah

In the same way - during the Great Tribulation God will pour out his wrath on the world (who is in rebellion against him), not on the church (we’ll have been taken up to heaven by then). Yes, as Christians we will have “light and momentary troubles” (2 Corinthians 4:17) but we don’t experience God’s wrath against sin. Jesus already experienced that for us - thank you Jesus! 

Christians are told repeatedly in the New Testament to be watchful for the Lord’s appearing (for the rapture). Never are they taught to watch for the Great Tribulation or the appearance of Antichrist. Believers are told to wait “for his Son from heaven,” not the Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:10). When the signs of the end of the age are evident, we are to look up and lift up our heads in expectation of our redemption, not the Great Tribulation (Luke 21:28). Why? Because we won’t be here! (thank God!)