The rapture is the moment Jesus gathers His Church to Himself. Believers who have died are raised, believers who are alive are changed in an instant, and together they meet the Lord in the air. Paul wrote about the rapture to comfort grieving Christians, and he ended with the words, “comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
This page explains what the Bible says about the rapture, where the word comes from, and the five main views on when the rapture happens. See where this fits on the interactive end times timeline.
What the Bible says about the rapture
Three passages are central. Jesus promised to come back and take His followers to be with Him (John 14:1-3). Paul described the dead in Christ rising first and the living being “caught up” with them to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Paul also wrote that “we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
- John 14:1-3: Jesus goes to prepare a place and will come again to receive His followers.
- 1 Corinthians 15:50-54: the living are changed and receive imperishable bodies in a moment.
- Philippians 3:20-21: Jesus will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: the dead in Christ rise first; the living are caught up to meet Him.
- 1 John 3:2: when He appears, we will be like Him.
Where the word “rapture” comes from
The English word rapture does not appear in most Bibles. In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the Greek word for “caught up” is harpazō, which means to seize or snatch away suddenly. The Latin Vulgate translated it rapiemur, and the English word rapture comes from that Latin root. So the word is a label for an event the Bible clearly describes.
When does the rapture happen? The five views
Christians who expect a literal rapture agree on what it is. They differ on when it happens in relation to the seven-year tribulation. Amillennial and postmillennial Christians (including Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran and most Reformed churches) see one return of Christ at the end of the age, with no separate rapture event.
| View | When the Church is taken | Key passages | Main question raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-tribulation | Before the seven years begin | 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Revelation 3:10 | Why was it not clearly taught before the 1800s? |
| Mid-tribulation | At the midpoint, three and a half years in | 1 Corinthians 15:52; Revelation 11:15 | Requires matching trumpets across books |
| Pre-wrath | During the second half, before the bowl judgments | Matthew 24:21-31; Revelation 6:12-17 | Requires fine timing distinctions |
| Post-tribulation | At Christ’s return after the tribulation | Matthew 24:29-31 | Who enters the millennium in natural bodies? |
| Partial rapture | Only watchful believers are taken | Luke 21:36 | Seems to divide the one Body of Christ |
Why so many Christians hold the pre-tribulation view
The pre-tribulation rapture is one of the most widely held views among American evangelicals. Its supporters point to several lines of Scripture:
- Christ could come at any moment. The New Testament tells believers to watch for Jesus, not for the Antichrist (Titus 2:13; James 5:8-9).
- Believers are not appointed to wrath. Paul says God has not destined us for wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1:10).
- Kept from the hour of testing. Jesus promised the church in Philadelphia to keep them from the hour of trial coming on the whole world (Revelation 3:10).
- The Church is absent from Revelation 4-19. The word church appears often in chapters 1-3 and not again until 22:16. Supporters admit this is an argument from silence.
- Two phases of one coming. Jesus comes for His saints in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17) and later with His saints to the earth (Zechariah 14:5; Jude 14; Revelation 19:14).
Other Christians answer that the gathering in Matthew 24:29-31 comes “after the tribulation,” and that believers have always been promised trouble in this world (John 16:33). Both sides love the same Lord, and the timing of the rapture is not a test of salvation.
What happens after the rapture?
In the pre-tribulation view, believers stand before the Bema Seat of Christ, where their works are evaluated for reward rather than salvation (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15), and celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). On earth, the seven-year tribulation begins, ending with the second coming of Jesus.
Watch: The Rapture, a sermon by Paul T. Barham
Preached June 17, 2026. Paul walks through the rapture passages and why readiness matters more than dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the word rapture in the Bible?
Not in English. The word comes from the Latin Vulgate, which translates the Greek harpazō (“caught up”) in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 with rapiemur. The event is in the Bible; the English word is a label for it, much as the word Trinity is.
Will the rapture happen in 2026?
No one can say. Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), and every date predicted so far has passed. What Scripture asks of you is readiness, not a date (Matthew 24:42-44).
What happens to people left behind after the rapture?
In the pre-tribulation view, the seven-year tribulation follows. The door of salvation stays open: Revelation 7:9-14 describes a great multitude from every nation who come to faith during those years, many at the cost of their lives.
What happens to children in the rapture?
Scripture does not answer this directly. Many Christians believe young children who die are with the Lord (2 Samuel 12:23) and expect them to be included in the rapture, but this is an inference rather than a stated teaching.
Is the rapture the same as the second coming?
Pre-tribulation teachers see two phases of one coming: Jesus comes for His Church in the air at the rapture, then with His saints to the earth seven years later. Post-tribulation, amillennial and postmillennial Christians see one return of Christ. Read more: The second coming of Jesus
How can I be ready for the rapture?
By trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior today. Salvation is a gift received by faith, not earned (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10). Paul’s book Salvation 101 explains the gospel step by step.
The book behind this guide
This guide draws on Paul T. Barham’s upcoming book, The Bible’s Prophetic Timeline: A Beginner’s Guide to the End Times, the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Tribulation, and the Book of Revelation. The book walks through every event and every major person in Bible prophecy, sets out what each Christian tradition believes, and gives the pre-tribulation view a full chapter.
Join the email list on the home page to hear when the book releases. Until then, Paul’s book For the Love of God includes a Scripture-based appendix on the signs of the end times, and Salvation 101 explains how to be ready to meet Jesus.