The word "rapture" is not directly mentioned in the Bible. The term is taken from Latin and simply means “a carrying off” or a “snatching away.” This concept, however, is clearly taught in Scripture and refers to the event primarily described in both 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. According to these passages, all Believers will experience a bodily transformation at Christ's return. This bodily transformation will also involve a supernatural resurrection for many. Believers who have died in Faith will rise first, followed by those of us who are still alive. Together, we will meet Jesus in the air as He returns with the heavenly host to subdue the world and reclaim authority from Satan:

 

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Cor 15:52).

 

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thes 4:16–17).

 

So when exactly will this important event occur? According to most Bible scholars, the rapture of the Church hinges on the timing of the tribulation period. Christians believe the rapture must happen either before (pre-tribulation), during (mid-tribulation), or after (post-tribulation) the Great Tribulation. In this article, I will proceed to show clear evidence for the post-tribulation rapture.

 

The New Testament mentions the tribulation period approximately four times (Mat 24:21; 29; Mark 13:24; Rev 7:14). It is alluded to, however, in other places also. The tribulation is simply a time of global crisis unlike any other in human history (Mat 24:21). It will consist of horrific judgments and a massive decline in humanity's population due to God’s wrath.

 

In the following scripture passages we will discover clear evidence for the rapture occurring “immediately after the tribulation” or post-tribulation. As you will see, the Bible places this event at the “last day” of human history or the “last trumpet”:

 

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Mat 24:29-31).

 

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven (Mark 13:24-27).

 

And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day (Jn 6:39; 40; 44; 54; 11:24).

 

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God (Job 19:25-26).

 

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call (Joel 2:30-32).

 

Based on the evidence in the above passages, we can confidently conclude that the rapture will occur immediately after the Great Tribulation—not before or during—and on the last day of human history. 1 Corinthians 15:52 further corroborates this fact by informing us that the rapture will be signaled by the blast of the "last trumpet." This clue is significant because it helps us place the rapture at the very end of human history, or at the close of the Great Tribulation. We can be certain of this because the last trumpet is also mentioned in Revelation 11, where it is used to herald the end of all things and the return of Christ:

 

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever (Rev 11:15).

 

But the Scriptures also describe another kind of “rapture” that is very different than the one Christians look forward to. This rapture will only involve unbelievers:

 

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares [unbelievers], and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat [Believers] into my barn (Mat 13:30).

 

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body [or carcass] is, thither will the eagles [or vultures] be gathered together… For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles [or vultures] be gathered together (Luke 17:34-37;  Mat 24:28).

 

Notice in Matthew 13:30, the wicked are removed from the earth before the righteous are gathered. The passages from Luke 17 and Matthew 24 describe a similar judgment. What we see is the systematic elimination of up to half of humanity—one in every two people will perish, their bodies left for the vultures during the tribulation. Contrary to popular belief, these verses do not describe the blessed rapture of Believers. Instead, those who are "taken" are taken to their death.

 

The “Thief in the Night” Scenario

The doctrine of a secret rapture, which most Christians are familiar with, teaches that the Church will be taken away suddenly, like a thief in the night. However, this teaching is both flawed and unscriptural as demonstrated by the following verses:

 

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief (1 Thes 5:1-4).

 

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (2 Thes 2:3-4).

 

In the above passages, Paul advises Believers not to be ignorant of the timing and signs that will precede Christ’s return. Christians are not to be caught off guard by this important event—"you are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief." Paul, then, outlines two pivotal events that must take place before Christ’s return, giving us clear guidance on what to watch for: 1) the "falling away" (or apostasy of Believers), and 2) the revelation of the "man of sin" (the Antichrist), who will set himself up in the temple of God, claiming to be God. These signs are essential precursors to Christ's return and must unfold prior to the rapture of the Church.

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The Plagues of Egypt

The account of the Hebrews in the land of Goshen provides a compelling pattern that aligns well with the view of a post-tribulation rapture. It is interesting that despite the devastation unfolding across Egypt, God preserved His people right in the midst of judgment rather than removing them out of it. As Exodus 8:22-23 demonstrates, God set apart the land of Goshen, sparing the Israelites from the plagues that ravaged the rest of Egypt. Notice again that while the Hebrews were supernaturally sheltered by God’s hand, they were not taken out of Egypt entirely. This leads us to conclude that just as God shielded His Old Testament people from the effects of the plagues, He will likewise sustain and protect His Church through the judgements of the Great Tribulation that will befall the entire world.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope the case for a post-tribulation rapture has been clearly presented in light of the Biblical evidence. As demonstrated, this significant event will not happen unexpectedly or without signs, contrary to what many teachers claim. Instead, we should anticipate the coming of Christ on the final day of human history, which will be marked by the sounding of the last trumpet. Finally, Christians should expect to witness the unfolding of two key events leading up to the rapture, namely the widespread apostasy of many Believers and the incarnation of Satan as Antichrist. By staying alert to these signs, we can better equip ourselves for the future that lies ahead.