What will happen to babies and young children at the rapture? Will children be raptured?

from the old testament

• Other portions of Scripture suggest that God likely takes those too young to confess faith in Jesus Christ to be with Him in heaven upon death. For example, when David's infant son died, he said, "But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23). David does not have in mind the grave or death in general since he takes comfort in the fact that he will one day join his child. Instead, David believed he would be with his son again in the Lord’s presence. Based on this same principle, it is likely that babies and young children will leave earth to be with Jesus in heaven at the rapture.

from the new testament

• There are three clear biblical passages that speak of the rapture of the church in which believers will be taken directly to heaven to be with Jesus (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), but none of these passages states what will happen to babies and young children at the rapture.
• Though children may not have yet expressed faith in Jesus Christ, He is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all, including those unable to place faith in Him (1 John 2:2).

implications for today

An issue related to this question is the view held by some that only the children of believers will be taken in the rapture. This view is based on the faith of the parents rather than the grace of God. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not dependent on others but on Jesus alone. A parent's faith cannot save a child so a parent’s lack of faith can’t determine whether a child is taken in the rapture.

Another related issue is what some call the age of accountability. While all children are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5), Jewish tradition held that a child became an adult at age thirteen. In other biblical passages, men were not counted as members of the nation of Israel until the age of twenty. Scripture doesn’t mention a specific age of accountability , and many people have come to faith in Jesus at a young age. Yet at times in the Bible, God treats young children differently from adults (Mark 9:42).

As parents, grandparents, family, and friends of children, we must teach young people the importance of believing in Jesus Christ at an early age. Samuel worshiped the Lord as a boy. David and King Josiah also obeyed the Lord in their youth. While the Bible offers hope for babies and young children to be with Jesus, it is also essential to, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

Ultimately, while we trust in God's justice and mercy regarding the fate of children in the rapture, our responsibility remains clear—we must point them to Christ. Throughout Scripture, we see God working through the faith of the young, and it is our privilege to guide them toward a personal relationship with Jesus. Rather than speculating on matters not fully revealed, we should focus on sharing the gospel, nurturing faith, and praying that every child comes to know and trust in the Lord.