That the rapture of the church will take place at some point in the future is an well-accepted idea among those of dispensational, premillennial views. Among them, however, the timing of this event is a matter of great debate. Several views as to when the rapture will take place, particularly in relation to the seven-year period known as the Tribulation, the seventieth week of Daniel 9.

1 Thessalonians 4.13-18 is a passage that teaches the rapture very clearly. In it, the Lord is seen as returning to the sky above the earth for the purpose of gathering the church, consisting of both those of the church who have died, and those who are alive at that time. The key thought of the rapture is that the church will be "caught up to meet the Lord in the air." 2 Thessalonians 2.1 also speaks of this event in referring to the coming of the Lord and the church's being gathered to him. The rapture of the church is an event distinct from the Second Coming of the Lord.

The Pretribulation rapture view is that the rapture of the church will take place at some point before the Tribulation period begins. This could happen at any moment; the event is imminent, meaning that there is no prophecy that must be fulfilled before this event takes place.

According to this view, the rapture of the church will occur at the mid-way point of the seven-year Tribulation, at the time of the Abomination of Desolation and the breaking of the covenant with Israel by Antichrist. The church thus escapes the Great Tribulation of the last half of the Tribulation period.

The Pre-wrath rapture view, similar to the Mid-tribulation view, holds that the rapture of the church will take place just prior to the outpouring of God's wrath. The tribulation is understood to consist of three, rather than two, parts. The outpouring of the wrath of God is the final of these three parts, occurring around the second half of the second half of the seven years.

This view of the timing of the rapture asserts that the rapture of the church will take place near or at the end of the tribulation, just prior to the time when Christ establishes his earthly kingdom. The rapture will either take place just before the Second Coming or as a part of it.

The Partial-rapture view holds that there will be several raptures throughout the Tribulation, and only the spiritual believers, the ones who are waiting and watching for the appearance of Christ, will be taken at these raptures.

The Pretribulation rapture view is the view that emerges from a careful study of the biblical text. The tribulation period, the seventieth week of Daniel 9, is a time period with purposes that do not pertain to the church. God is pouring out his wrath on the people of earth (Rev 14.14-20), and he is preparing Israel for her coming King (Ezek 36.16-32). The church is not to be the object of the wrath of God (1 Thess 5.9, Rev 3.10), and it does not seem fitting that God will allow the church to experience his wrath in the context of the Tribulation where he pours out his wrath in judgment on the whole world. The seventieth week of Daniel is a time of special emphasis on Israel and the world in relation to her (Dan 9.24, "for your people"; also the prophecies of Matt 24-25 are especially related to Israel, including those regarding the Tribulation).

It can be noticed also that there are special groups of God's servants in the Tribulation that will fulfill a function similar to what the church had fulfilled (the 144,000 Jewish servants, Rev 7; the 2 witnesses, Rev 11). This would be strange if the church is still functioning on the earth at this time. It is noteworthy that there is no mention of the church at all during the Tribulation period, as recorded in Revelation 4-19.

In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul encourages the church at Thessalonica because they had been told that they were in the Day of the Lord, and that they may have missed being gathered to him at the rapture. Paul implies in this passage that the gathering to the Lord, the rapture, will take place before the apostasy and the revealing of the Man of Lawlessness. Paul's point is that because the Beast had not yet been revealed, then they were not in the Day of the Lord, and thus had not missed the rapture of the church (what for them would be so unsettling if they were in the Day of the Lord, but were expecting the rapture after the Day of the Lord begins? If they expected the rapture after the Day of the Lord, i.e. the Tribulation, begins, then things would still be on schedule for them and there would be no need to worry).

The Midtribulation view of the rapture is weak because of its automatic association with "the last trumpet" at which the rapture will occur (1 Cor 15.52) with the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11.15, occurring at the mid-point of the Tribulation. Thus, having identified the last trumpet, you have identified when the rapture will occur. However, to associate "the last trumpet" with simply the last trumpet in the chronology of Bible prophecy is an exercise in error, because Paul's use of "last trumpet" exegetically does not have to refer to the last biblical trumpet; instead, it likely refers to the final call for the saints (a trumpet blast or series of blasts is used to signal events taking place). Also, there is a trumpet blast listed as part of the Second Coming of Christ (Matt 24.31); thus, if the "last trumpet" method of interpretation were valid, even then the last possible trumpet is not the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11, but the trumpet call at the Second Coming.

The Prewrath rapture of the church suffers from a weakness in that it identifies the wrath of God in the Tribulation period as only the second part of the last 3½ years. It is agreed that the church will escape the wrath of God, but the wrath of God does not really begin until late in the Tribulation. Thus the rapture does not take place until this time. However, all of the judgments and wrath of this time are the wrath of God. Revelation 6.17, "For the great day of [God's] wrath has come," does not necessarily refer to the fact that it is just now arriving. Rather, it could easily be a summary statement of the fact that the wrath has already arrived and continues on.

The Posttribulation view of the rapture suffers from a major weakness in that it allows the church to experience the fullness of the wrath of God upon the earth, one of the main purposes of the Tribulation period. The wrath of God is a central element in the seventieth week of Daniel, and it is demonstrated throughout all of Revelation 4-19, the description of the Tribulation. However, the church is not appointed to suffer the wrath of God (1 Thess 1.10, 5.9). Even though in its history it will often experience persecution at the hands of men, this is not the same as the wrath of God.

The Partial rapture view is based on passages that refer to believers who are watching for the Lord; these believers will in their view be the ones who are raptured and rewarded (Luke 12.37-40, 21.34-38). Indeed it is incumbent upon all believers to be watching and praying, but these verses do not indicate that these will be the only ones who will be raptured. Instead, there are only two groups of church saints who will be raptured, according to 1 Thessalonians 4.16-17: the dead in Christ, and those who are still alive at the time of the rapture. Also, 1 Corinthians 15.51-52, written to Christians who are less than mature saints, speaks of the fact that all will be changed at that time, the time of the rapture.

The Tribulation period is that time which God will make preparation on the earth for the coming of the Messianic Kingdom reign of Jesus. Revelation 4-19 is prophecy particularly related to this period. God will deal in a special way with the nation of Israel, particularly preparing them for their coming King. During this time, the gospel will go forth to all the world (Matt 24.14) through the preaching ministry of the 144,000 Jewish servants (Rev 7) during the first half, and the ministry of the two witnesses (Rev 11) during the second half. God will also move to bring Israel to repentance and faith in him, preparing them for restoration in the land that he gave to them. God will also deal in great judgment upon the ungodly Gentile nations, which were used to bring judgment upon Israel (Isa 26.21, Rev 6 et al).

The Tribulation will last for seven years, being the seventieth "week" (seven years rather than seven days) of Daniel 9. This period begins with the confirmation of a treaty with Israel guaranteeing her protection (Dan 9.27), and will culminate with the return of Christ to earth. The first half of the Tribulation will have a political focus and will be somewhat calm in comparison to the intensity of God's outpouring of wrath during the second half, known as the Great Tribulation. Revelation 19.11-21 speaks of the physical appearing of Christ, who will come in great power and destroy his and Israel's enemies in a final battle before the establishment of the Kingdom.

At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will physically return to this earth to establish his literal kingdom rule forever and ever. The first one-thousand years (Rev 20.1-7) of this kingdom will be on this present earth. This is known as the Millennial reign of Christ. At this time, the covenant promises made to Israel will have their fulfillment.

The Millennium will begin after the Second Coming of Christ to this earth. He will appear in Israel at a time in which it looks like Israel is about to be destroyed by the gathered armies of the nations of the world. However, the Messiah will protect his people and destroy her enemies (Rev 19.11-21). The Lord will then judge all of the remaining people of the earth to determine their fitness for entry into the Millennial Kingdom of God (Matt 25.31-46). It is also at the beginning of this time that Satan will be bound for the one-thousand years, to keep him from deceiving the nations (Rev 20.1-3).

Only saved people will enter the Millennial kingdom. Of those humans who survive the Tribulation, only those who are saved will remain alive to enter the kingdom (Matt 7.21-23, 25.31-46). These people, who will have yet unglorified bodies, will repopulate the earth (Ezek 36.10-11). Because they will have unglorified bodies, they will still have the sinful nature, which will of course be passed on to their descendants. These descendants will themselves have to place their faith in the work of Christ for salvation, but many of them will refuse to do so. While open wickedness will not be tolerated, at the end of the Millennium, many will be deceived by the released Satan into trying to overthrow the King (Rev 20.7-10).

Jesus the Messiah will be the sovereign ruler of the kingdom (Isa 9.7, Rev 19.15-16), sitting on the throne of David (Lk 1.32-33). The rule of the King will be with complete justice, wisdom, and righteousness (Isa 11.1-5). The kingdom will include in its administration the twelve apostles ruling over the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt 19.28), as well as other saints from the ages being given various positions of authority (Rev 20.4).

The time of the Millennial Kingdom on the earth will be a time of great blessing and peace. The New Covenant with Israel will be fulfilled, so that people will know the Lord and his word (Jer 31.31-34). The Holy Spirit will be poured out so that it will be a time of great spiritual blessing (Joel 2.28-32). Everyone will have the enablement to live obediently to the King (Ezek 36.27). Thus, it will be a time of universal righteousness and obedience. Because Satan and his allies will be in bondage during most of this time, he will not be able to tempt and deceive the people of the earth (Rev 20.1-3). It will also be a time of peace and prosperity between nations and individuals (Isa 2.4, Zech 14.16-18). Also, good health and long life will be a part of the kingdom, including peace with the animal kingdom (Isa 33.24. 35.5-6, 11.6-9).

At the close of the one-thousand years, Satan will be released from his imprisonment and he will deceive the unsaved people of the earth who will rise up in rebellion against the King. This great multitude will gather at Jerusalem to wage war against the King and his people, evidently expecting to be successful in their campaign (this may be the heart of the deceit); but they will be destroyed by fire coming down from heaven, and their leader Satan will be cast alive into the lake of fire (Rev 20.7-10). This bears witness to the fact of man's sinfulness. Even in a perfect environment without temptation to sin, many will refuse to trust the Savior for deliverance and thus will be open to the deception by Satan at the end of the Millennial Kingdom.

Following this revolt, the Great White Throne judgment will occur, where God will judge all of those of all the ages who failed to put their faith in Christ for salvation (Rev 20.11-15). These will need to be resurrected for this judgment. These are judged according to what they have done in their earthly existence, which is recorded in certain books (Rev 20.12). They will have to answer to the Judge of the universe for the way they conducted their lives on this earth. The Judge will weigh their works and find them guilty. They will experience the torments of the lake of fire eternally (Rev 20.15).

After the unsaved are judged and cast into the lake of fire, the present heaven and earth will pass away (Rev 21.1, 2 Pet 3.10), leading to the newly created (or recreated) universe, including heaven and earth (Rev 21.2, 2 Pet 3.13). The New Jerusalem will descend from the new heaven to the new earth (Rev 21.2, 10), and God will dwell among his redeemed forever (Rev 21.3), and Christ will rule the universe on the throne of David forever.