Will Christians live through the Tribulation?

With the popularity of the Left Behind series, the subject of the Tribulation has become a hotly debated issue among Christians who believe that Jesus will return to establish the Millennium Kingdom (a theological view called premillenialism) (Revelation 19:11- 20:5-6). This Tribulation refers to the seven year period of intense distress and suffering inflicted by God on the unbelieving world prior to Jesus’ return to rule and reign over the earth (Revelation 7:14).

The exact point of contention has to do with the time of the Rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) and its relationship to the start of the Tribulation. Since the Tribulation symbolizes God’s wrath upon unbelievers, many believe that the Rapture will occur before the conflagration. Jesus will come secretly for His bride and take her up to be with Him before the horrific seals, trumpets and bowls of the book of Revelation are manifested (chaps 7-16). This is known as the pre-tribulational rapture.

A few have interpreted the secret rapture of the Church as occurring in the middle of the seven year tribulation. This view believes that the intensity of the wrath of God will only last 3 ½ years and allows the Church to experience some persecution and distress associated with God’s judgment but not the full brunt of His wrath which is aimed at unbelievers. This view is called the mid-tribulational or pre-wrath rapture.

The last view is called the post-tribulational rapture. From this perspective, the rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Jesus are one and the same event. That means that the Church will go through the Tribulation, not as a judgment from God, but as a test of faithfulness and an opportunity to witness for the Gospel while anticipating the blessed hope of Jesus’ appearing (Titus 2:13).

There are conservative theological scholars that support all three positions. No one doubts the promise of Jesus that He will come back for His bride (John 14:2-3). However, the exact timing of His return remains a mystery. All three views have strengths and weaknesses and no one has been able to come up with an explanation that ties up all of the loose ends.

With the pre-tribulationalist, we can hope that we will be raptured out of this cursed planet prior to that day of God’s wrath. However, a post-tribulationalist view means we must be willing follow Jesus’ example, even to be prepared to walk into the midst of trial, persecution, and martyrdom. If anything is achieved from the debate about the Lord’s return, it should be to spur us on with the work of the Gospel, because the time is short.