Is pretribulationism right? Will the church be raptured before the tribulation?

TL;DR:

Pretribulationism teaches that Jesus will rapture the church before the seven-year tribulation, sparing believers from God's wrath. Knowing that the rapture can happen at any time, we are called to continue reaching the world for Christ while we are still here.

what does the bible say?

Christian denominations that take a literal view of end-times prophecy generally agree that the end times will include the rapture of the church, a seven-year period of tribulation, and the second coming of Christ, when He will establish His kingdom on Earth. Some liturgical denominations (like Lutherans and Reformed) and Christian-like religions (like Roman and Orthodox Catholicism) identify the rapture with a more general resurrection before judgment. But even stricter dispensationalists disagree as to when the rapture will take place in relation to the tribulation.

The discussion has practical implications because the answer will determine if Christians of the church age will experience any of the tribulation. Pretribulationism says no — the church will be raptured before the tribulation, although more will be saved during those seven years. Pretribulationism is the teaching that at some point before the tribulation, Jesus will come to the sky, but not touch the Earth. His followers, both living and dead, will meet with Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17) and be taken from Earth. Some time after this event, the seven-year tribulation will begin. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus will return to Earth — the second coming — destroy the armies of the Antichrist, and reign as King during the millennial kingdom. Thus, believers of the church age will not experience any of the tribulation. However, there will still be many people who come to a saving relationship with Christ after the rapture; these people are known as tribulation saints.

The Bible doesn’t reveal the date of Christ’s return, but it does instruct believers to make the most of our time now, sharing the gospel with others (Matthew 28:19-20).

from the old testament

Pretribulationism aligns with Daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks. For sixty-nine weeks of years, between the year King Artaxerxes allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and the year Jesus was crucified, God prepared the world for the church age. When the time of the Gentiles (see Luke 21:24; Romans 11:25) is complete, the seventieth week will begin — the tribulation.

from the new testament

Placing the rapture before the tribulation matches many Scripture passages, particularly those referring to the time of God's wrath. In 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul exhorts the church in Thessalonica to await "Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
First Thessalonians 4:13-18 describes the rapture itself; the next chapter explains that no one knows when the rapture will occur, so we must remain ready at all times. But we do know it is coming, because "God has not destined us for wrath" (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Revelation 3:10 also promises deliverance from "the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth." It is possible that "God's wrath" only encompasses the last half of the tribulation and the rapture will occur at the midpoint. But it is telling that in the prophecies of Revelation, the term "church" is completely absent from the description of the tribulation. Instead, it is Israel that is to be purified and restored. It is more likely the church is not mentioned because there is no church during the tribulation.

implications for today

Pretribulationism is a relatively new interpretation. It was only in the early 1800s that the rapture of the church was contemplated to be a separate event from Jesus' second coming. The many passages that seem to describe both distinguish the events only vaguely. The rapture is to come like a thief in the night — with no prior warning and no prerequisites. Christ's second coming heralds the Battle of Armageddon, which cannot occur until sacrifices are reinstated in Jerusalem and the tribulation is at an end.

Unfortunately, a pretribulational view of the rapture opens itself up to false prophets who claim to be able to identify when the rapture will occur. In fact, Wikipedia lists 650 predictions of the biblical and secular end of the world, the first occurring in AD 66. Jesus was very clear that the date of the rapture is both imminent (nothing, not even the establishment of Israel, must occur before hand; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54) and unknown (Matthew 24:36).

The specifics of the end times are vague, purposefully so (Daniel 12:8-9), and Bible scholars and denominations disagree as to the specifics. A straight-forward reading of the Bible indicates that the rapture will occur before the tribulation begins. Until then, believers should continue to reach the lost world for Christ while we're still here.

understand

Pretribulationism teaches that the church will be raptured before the tribulation.
Pretribulationism aligns with Daniel’s prophecy, placing the tribulation after the church age.
New Testament passages indicate believers are spared from God’s wrath.

reflect

How does a pretribulational view challenge or encourage you?
What role does personal faithfulness and mission in sharing the gospel play in your understanding of Christ’s return and the end times?
How are you currently preparing for Christ’s return, and how can you stay more focused on living on mission despite uncertainties about timing?

engage

What aspects of God’s character does pretribulationism emphasize?
What are the essentials we can unite on regarding the end times?
How can we remain faithful and focused on the gospel even when faced with the tension of differing views on when and how Christ will return?