This is a topic that many Christians wonder about when studying biblical end times prophecy. The Antichrist is a key figure that will arise in the end times, and his coming seems to be preceded by the rapture of the church. So will believers in Jesus see the Antichrist come to power before they are taken to heaven in the rapture? Or will the rapture occur first, sparing Christians from experiencing the tribulation and reign of the Antichrist? Here is an in-depth look at what the Bible says about the timing of the rapture in relation to the revealing of the Antichrist.
The Identity and Timing of the Antichrist’s Coming
The Antichrist is described in several books of the Bible, including Daniel, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 John, and Revelation. He will be the ultimate fulfillment of the “man of lawlessness” who will deceive many and set himself up as God, demanding the world’s worship (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). This will occur during a 7 year period called the Tribulation, which begins when the Antichrist makes a peace covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27). The midpoint of this 7 years will see the Antichrist break the covenant, desecrate the temple, and begin severely persecuting Jews and Christians (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15-22). So the Antichrist’s true evil nature will be revealed halfway through the 7 year Tribulation.
The Bible gives many details about the Antichrist, like he will come from among the 10 kings of the restored Roman Empire (Daniel 7:8), he will suffer a fatal wound that is miraculously healed (Revelation 13:3), and he will implement a worldwide economic system requiring his “mark” to buy or sell (Revelation 13:16-17). He will ultimately face judgment when Jesus Christ returns in power and glory to defeat him at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:19-20).
So in summary, the Antichrist will be revealed at the start of the 7 year Tribulation when he makes a peace covenant with Israel. His true satanic nature will be displayed at the midpoint of the Tribulation as he breaks the covenant, attacks Jews and Christians, and requires loyalty and worship of himself.
The Rapture – When Will It Take Place?
The rapture is the event where Jesus will gather believers, both living and deceased, into the clouds to meet him in the air. Their bodies will be transformed into imperishable, glorified bodies and they will go to dwell with Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54). There are differing views among Christians regarding when the rapture takes place in relation to the Tribulation period and revealing of the Antichrist:
- Pretribulation – believes the rapture happens before the Tribulation and rise of Antichrist
- Midtribulation – believes the rapture happens at the midpoint of the 7 year Tribulation
- Posttribulation – believes the rapture will occur at the very end of the Tribulation period right before Jesus returns
Each view uses various scriptures and arguments to support why the rapture must take place at that particular timing. So which view does the Bible support when all scriptures on the end times are considered together?
The Case for the Pretribulation Rapture
There are several key biblical reasons to believe that the rapture of the church is most likely to occur before the Tribulation and the Antichrist’s coming:
- In Revelation 4:1, there is a vision of a door standing open in heaven and a voice like a trumpet calling, “Come up here!” Many believe this represents the rapture of the church, and since it is before the Tribulation judgments begin (starting in chapter 6), it supports a pretribulation rapture.
- The Tribulation seems to be a time focused on Israel more than the church. Jeremiah 30:7 calls it the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” God’s primary purpose seems to be bringing Israel to faith in Jesus as their Messiah (Zech 12:10, Romans 11:25-27). The church and Israel have different purposes in God’s end times plan.
- Jesus promised to keep believers from the “hour of trial” in Revelation 3:10. The context is the end times Tribulation, so a pretrib rapture would fulfill this.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 implies that Jesus can’t come back to gather believers at his second coming until the Antichrist is first revealed. So this supports a rapture before the Tribulation when the Antichrist will be unveiled.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 and Revelation 3:3 state that the Day of the Lord will overtake unbelievers as a thief in the night. But for believers, it should not come as a surprise. A pretrib rapture allows for this distinction between believers and unbelievers.
- John 14:1-4 records Jesus saying he would go prepare a place for believers and then come back to take them to be with him. He wouldn’t need to prepare a place if believers were simply meeting him on earth after his second coming.
These key passages seem to indicate that Jesus will fulfill his promise to take believers to be with him before he pours out judgment during the Tribulation. A pretribulation rapture best lines up with what the Bible teaches about the end times and the revealing of the Antichrist.
Alternative Views on the Timing of the Rapture
Those who hold to a midtribulation or posttribulation rapture point to other scriptures that they believe support their view. Here are some of their key arguments:
- In Matthew 24:29-31 and Mark 13:24-27, the gathering of the elect seems to happen right after the Tribulation distress.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 indicates believers will get relief when Jesus returns and judges the wicked, implying a posttrib rapture.
- Revelation 20:4 mentions saints who were resurrected after being beheaded during the Tribulation, so they say believers must go through it.
- Matthew 24:15-22 records Jesus telling believers to flee from the abomination of desolation by the Antichrist in the middle of the Tribulation.
However, those holding to a pretribulation rapture respond by saying:
- The elect gathered in Matthew 24 may refer to Jewish believers or Tribulation saints who became believers after the rapture.
- Relief coming at Christ’s return in 2 Thessalonians 1 does not exclude a pretrib rapture.
- The beheaded saints in Revelation 20 does not mean the church could not have been raptured earlier.
- Warnings in Matthew 24 to flee from the Antichrist are for Jewish believers who were not part of the church age which ends with the rapture.
So while the midtribulation and posttribulation views try to account for those passages, the pretrib view has reasonable explanations for why they do not contradict a rapture before the Tribulation.
Conclusion – Likely a Pretribulation Rapture Before the Antichrist
When all the evidence is considered together, the pretribulation rapture view seems most faithful to what the Bible reveals about the end times. It best lines up the pieces of the prophetic puzzle in a way that harmonizes the various passages on the rapture, Antichrist, Tribulation judgments, second coming, and more. While the midtribulation and posttribulation views try to reconcile a few difficult verses, the pretrib view accounts for the broader context.
Of course, Christians can differ on this and still agree on the core of the gospel. But it does affect how one views end times prophecy unfolding. A pretribulation rapture means believers in Christ will not be present to see the Antichrist arrive, make a peace covenant, or portray himself as God midway through the 7 year Tribulation. While the Scriptures indicate no one knows the day or hour of the rapture, the signs of the times certainly make Christ’s return feel more imminent. Titus 2:13 describes believers who are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” So whether it is before the Tribulation or some other timing, all believers cling to the promise of Christ’s return and the salvation he provides by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).