51. When will the Rapture happen...

... in relation to the tribulation?

This is a very complicated issue. It is worthy of a second topic, "Why must there be a tribulation?" -- which is a very good question that will be answered later in still another post.

Yes, I realize I have said that about a lot of topics, but I've addressed a number of those already. So sometimes we'll need to continue diving right into the middle of a subject before all the preparatory or introductory information has been posted.

So I ask again, when will the rapture happen in relation to the tribulation? Will it be before the tribulation begins (pre-trib), at the midpoint of the tribulation (mid-trib), or at or near the very end (post-trib) -- or at some other time, like right before God accelerates the destruction of the earth by man and beast and angel and God himself (pre-wrath).

By way of reminder, I have mentioned a couple of times that the tribulation appears to be for a 7-year period, and also, there seems to be a conglomeration of events that happen at or near the halfway point -- at the 3 1/2 year point. There are many premillennialists that say that this last half should be called the Great Tribulation.

Matthew 24:21 says "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not occurred on the earth until now, nor ever will be"

Below I have pasted part of the condensed version of the Future History, showing many of the events during and surrounding the tribulation (from Post #29).

You can see that I (and most premillennialists) hold to the view that the rapture (at A.) occurs before the tribulation begins (at C.). But some premillennialists hold the the rapture occurs only before the Great Tribulation -- at the midpoint (at E.). And just a few premillennialists place the rapture at or near the end of the tribulation (at H.)

A. The Great Disappearance/The Rapture of the Church
B. The Russia Coalition War/Anti-Israel Coalition Devastated
C. Global Leader-Antichrist emerges/makes 7 year peace pact to protect Israel
D. Catastrophic events on earth and in the heavens/Israel builds temple
E. Global Leader-Antichrist profanes the Jewish Temple, breaks peace pact after 3 1/2 years.
F. Terrible persecution is increased against Jews and Christians, since they are not aligned with OneWorldFaith.
G. Disasters from the heavens and from the abyss ravage earth/world prepares for war against Israel.
H. Armies come together at Armaggedon, bloodbath occurs on 7th anniversary of peace pact.

So I won't be answering the question here -- that will take many posts into the future. But here I have given an overview of the various possibilities.

I tend to agree with the vocal majority, that the rapture of the church will occur before the tribulation, which happens before the millennium begins. So I hold to a pre-mill pre-trib position, and future posts will discuss why I do so.
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