Dear Conrad -- Will the rapture happen before or after the tribulation? – Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

There are three main views of the end times – the breadth of which are too large to carry here. But I will list out the major views and some relevant passages.

- Pre-Tribulation believes that the order of events is: Rapture, seven years of tribulation, Second Coming of Christ.

- Mid-Tribulation (not as common as the other two views) believes: Tribulation for three and a half years, Rapture, three and a half more years, then Second Coming of Christ.

- Post-Tribulation believes the Tribulation is first and the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ are the same event.

Key terms to look up in the Bible would be “Last Days” and the “Day of the Lord”.

This area of study is called Eschatology.

Relevant passages are - Matt 24; Ac 2:17-18; 3:24; 2 Ti 3:1; Heb 1:2; 2 Pe 3:3; 1 Jn 2:18; The book of Revelation.