What Are the Five Views of the Rapture?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "What Are the Five Views of the Rapture?"

Podcast: Grace in Focus
Hosts: Bob Wilkin & Philippe Starling
Published: December 2, 2025
Episode Length: ~13 minutes

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Episode Overview

In this episode of Grace in Focus, Bob Wilkin and Philippe Starling provide a clear, concise, and engaging overview of the major perspectives on the Rapture in Christian eschatology. The discussion not only unpacks at least five distinct views on the timing and nature of the Rapture but also contextualizes why these discussions matter—and what should matter most for both evangelism and discipleship. The conversation is approachable, filled with light humor, practical examples, and occasional personal anecdotes about theological debates.

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Key Discussion Points

1. What Is the Rapture?

• The Rapture is defined as the event when all "church age believers" (both living and the dead in Christ) are caught up to meet the Lord in the air (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
• This event precedes the final judgment and is distinct from Christ’s Second Coming.
• (02:07) Philippe Starling clarifies:

  "The rapture is all church age believers will be caught up, living will be caught up and meet the Lord in the end. Well, and also all dead church age believers."

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2. The Five Views of the Rapture

A. Pre-Tribulational Rapture (Pre-Trib)

• The most popular among dispensationalists.
• The Rapture occurs before the seven-year Tribulation described in Revelation 6–19.
• Jesus removes the Church before the full outpouring of God’s wrath.
• (02:54) Bob Wilkin:

  "That's the end of the church age, you know, basically occurs before the tribulation and the Great Tribulation…"

B. Mid-Tribulational Rapture (Mid-Trib)

• The Rapture takes place at the midpoint of the Tribulation (~3.5 years in), specifically before the most severe judgments (the Great Tribulation).
• Churches experience part of the tribulation, but are spared the worst.
• (04:11) Philippe Starling:

  “And the Mid Trib, I assume, says that the Rapture is going to occur about the time of the abomination of desolation at the end of three and a half years, Right.”

C. Post-Tribulational Rapture (Post-Trib)

• The Rapture happens after the full seven-year Tribulation.
• Believers live through the great calamities and many are martyred.
• (04:37) Philippe Starling:

  “Post tribulation means it's after all seven years.”

D. Partial Rapture

• The Rapture is experienced as a reward for “faithful” or “overcoming” believers, while others remain to endure some or all of the Tribulation.
• Multiple raptures may happen during this period as more believers become faithful.
• (05:14) Bob Wilkin:

  “Generally, they are the rapture more as a reward matter...those who've been faithful to the Lord are perhaps taken up...the unfaithful believers are left to go through the judgments...there may be some who become faithful...and then they are raptured.”

E. Pre-Wrath Rapture

• Developed by Marvin Rosenthal in the 1990s.
• The church goes through most of the Tribulation but is taken up just before the most intense phase of God’s wrath—the “bowl judgments” (e.g., enormous 100-pound hail, massive earthquakes).
• (07:15) Bob Wilkin:

  “But the final bowl judgments are especially wrathful...the church will go through the tribulation, but the final phase of it...believers, all we move just prior to that...”

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3. Other Perspectives

• No Rapture/Preterist View: Some theologians believe the Rapture as traditionally understood will not happen. Preterists believe prophetic events in Revelation have already been fulfilled (AD 70).
• Amillennialist & Postmillennialist Views: These also generally reject the idea of a future Rapture.
• (11:18) Philippe Starling:

  "And there are people like people we call preterists that believe, if they're a full preterist, they believe the whole book of Revelation has already been fulfilled..."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The “Baptist Joke” (02:27):
  Philippe, joking on denominational stereotypes:

  "You know the big joke on that where it says the dead in Christ shall rise first. A lot of People say that's the Baptist..."

• On the (Literal) Partial Rapture (04:58):
  Philippe quips:

  "...does it mean then that like an arm goes up or a leg goes up, but you don't get your whole body isn't raptured, just part of you goes, no, that's not what it means. What is a partial rapture?"

• On Pre-Wrath Judgment Imagery (07:44):
  Philippe asks in disbelief,

  "Hundred pound hail? What's hundred pound hail? Well, does the book of Revelation say that at the very end there's going to be hail that weighs a single hail ball will be a hundred pounds?"
  Bob confirms and relates the judgments to the Egyptian plagues.

• Evangelism vs. Eschatology (08:59):
  Philippe:

  “I find they become evangelists for the pre wrath position rather than evangelists for the free gift of everlasting life...The idea of the Rapture is very important...But having said that, we evangelize people about the free gift of eternal life. John 3:16, John 5:24. We don't evangelize people about the Rapture.”

  Bob follows:

  “It's just a comforting hope, you know, that we have in the Rapture. But... we want to prepare people for to be with the Lord forever everlasting life. That's our primary mission. And not to prepare people to prepare for the tribulation and to have a bunker and provisions and all of that.” (09:51)

• On Present World Trajectory (12:10):
  Philippe reflects,

  "It's hard to look at the trajectory of our planet in the last 50 years and say things are getting holier and holier and better and better.… So I don't think the post millennial position seems to be bearing out."

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–01:24: Show intro and explanation of topic
• 01:25–03:03: What is the Rapture and how is it described biblically?
• 03:04–03:44: Pre-Tribulational Rapture explained
• 04:06–04:32: Mid-Trib view overview
• 04:37–04:52: Post-Trib view overview
• 04:58–06:21: Partial Rapture and its logic
• 07:04–07:44: Pre-Wrath Rapture outlined and origins
• 08:27–09:51: Theological consequences and intensity of views, focus on free grace
• 11:04–11:44: Preterism, Amillennialism, and Postmillennialism
• 12:10–End: Reflections on history, relevance of these views, and segue to future topics

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Closing Thoughts and Tone

The hosts emphasize doctrinal clarity, minimize divisiveness, and continually refocus listeners on the core priority of Gospel assurance and readiness for Christ—rather than eschatological argument or fear. The episode remains gracious, accessible, and peppered with humor and practical theological insights for lay and scholarly Christians alike.

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For further study or to receive a free subscription to the Grace in Focus magazine, listeners are encouraged to visit faithalone.org.

Transcript

[Bob Wilkin]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.

[Grace Evangelical Society Announcer]

Are you ready for the Rapture? I hope you said yes. Today we're going to look at this upcoming historical event. And did you know that there are at least five different views of the Rapture? There will be a short description of each and we'll let you know where we stand. By the way, this is Grace in Focus. Thank you for joining us today. This is a ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society. Our website is faithalone.org we'd love you to subscribe to our free magazine. It comes out six times per year. Published bimonthly, beautiful magazine with free grace articles. We want you to have it in your home. It is free all except if you live outside of the 48 contiguous United States. You do have to pay the postage. Otherwise it is free and we want you to have it get signed up for it today. And now with our discussion about the Rapture, here is Bob Wilkin along with Philippe Starling.

[Philippe Starling]

We're discussing eschatology, which is a course you're going to be teaching this coming semester in the Grace Evangelical Society.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes, the doctrine of things to come. Things to come. Of end things. Or we might say the end.

[Philippe Starling]

Fine. In French. Is that how you say it?

[Bob Wilkin]

Finis.

[Philippe Starling]

Yes, finis.

[Bob Wilkin]

Le fe. The end.

[Philippe Starling]

I thought le fein, the faith. Oh, that's in Spanish. Well, today we're going to discuss the issue of the Rapture. Now we overviewed the rapture a little bit in the last one, but it turns out based on what you're saying, that there are quite a few different views of the rapture. I mean some people don't believe there's going to be a rapture. But of those who believe there's a rapture, there's five, at least, at least.

[Bob Wilkin]

Five distinct views that we can over the last decades that have. Because there's three main views. Normally, you know what's called a pre tribulational rapture, that before the Judgments of Revelation 6 through 19, the church is taken up and to be with Christ.

[Philippe Starling]

Okay, so that's what the Rapture just to review for those who missed the last show. The rapture is all church age believers will be caught up, living will be caught up and meet the Lord in the end. Well, and also all dead church age believers.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah, yeah. Will be resurrected. In fact, there will be preceding, you know, those of us who are still alive if that happens in our generation.

[Philippe Starling]

You know the big joke on that where it says the dead in Christ shall rise first. A lot of People say that's the Baptist. You know, I've been a former Baptist, so I can joke on my. But other people would say, no, that's this other group or that group. But no, those who have already died, they go first. Then we who are alive are caught up.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah. And we meet them together in the air to be with the Lord. Okay.

[Philippe Starling]

And one view is that occurs before the seven year tribulation.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right. That's the end of the church age, you know, basically occurs before the tribulation and the Great Tribulation as Jesus talked about it in Matthew.

[Philippe Starling]

So the first three and a half years are the tribulation and the last three and a half are the great tribulation.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes, Jesus who said the first three and a half or the beginning of soils and then the great tribulation after the abomination of desolation.

[Philippe Starling]

Okay, what's that? That's when the man of sin or.

[Bob Wilkin]

The beast and the false prophet, the beast of the earth, sets up an image and defiles tribulational era temple.

[Philippe Starling]

Yes.

[Bob Wilkin]

That's been rebuilt and sets himself up as God in the tribulation temple. Right.

[Philippe Starling]

Okay. So that'll occur at the midpoint and then the second half is called the Great Tribulation. So the judgments will be worse the last three and a half years.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes, but primarily the bowl judgments and perhaps some of the trumpet judgments too, that occur there, all being the wrath of the Lamb as he unleashes his wrath, his judgments, basically temporal judgments upon the nations of the earth.

[Philippe Starling]

Okay, so first option on the Rapture is called the Pre Trib rapture. Yes, but there are other views.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah, there's a view that's called the Mid Trib view.

[Philippe Starling]

And the Mid Trib, I assume, says that the Rapture is going to occur about the time of the abomination of desolation at the end of three and a half years, Right.

[Bob Wilkin]

Before the judgments of the second period of the three and a half years.

[Philippe Starling]

So church age believers would then go through some pretty bad times, but not as bad as the second half.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes, exactly. And then the third view is the post tribulation view.

[Philippe Starling]

Okay, what's now the post tribulation means it's after all seven years.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah, after all seven years. So believers of the church age will go through the seven years and many of them be among those who are martyred, you know, during that tribulation period.

[Philippe Starling]

All right.

[Bob Wilkin]

And then a fourth view is the partial rapture view.

[Philippe Starling]

Okay, Now I've read about this and heard about this so does it mean then that like an arm goes up or a leg goes up, but you don't get your whole body isn't raptured, just part of you goes, no, that's not what it means. What is a partial rapture?

[Bob Wilkin]

Views generally, they are the rapture more as a reward matter. You know, we might say so that at the beginning of the tribulation period, those who've been faithful to the Lord are perhaps taken up the overcomer. Yeah, overcomers. But the unfaithful believers are left to go through the judgments of the tribulation period. But in that period of time, there may be some who become faithful and everything. And then as they become faithful, then they are raptured. So you might have multiple actually raptures through the tribulation period.

[Philippe Starling]

So in this view, we're looking at the body of Christ corporately the church, and we're saying the whole body doesn't go up at once. Instead, my joke about the arm or the leg is kind of true. You could have some of the body of Christ. Some believers are going up at the time before the tribulation, but then others are going up at different times during the tribulation. And some, I assume, would go through the whole seven years.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes.

[Philippe Starling]

Okay. Now that's not a real encouraging view, but okay.

[Grace Evangelical Society Announcer]

Just jumping in here to make you aware of our magazine, Grace in Focus. It is a bimonthly, six issues per year, 48 page magazine, full color. And we want you to subscribe by emailing your name and your snail mail address to gesaithalone.org the subscription is free, it can be accessed electronically or it can be actually physically sent to you. If you live in the lower 48 United States, that's our Grace and Focus magazine. Send your name and snail mail address to gesaithalone.org now that's not a real.

[Philippe Starling]

Encouraging view, but okay. Is there another?

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah, there's another. There's another one called a pretty wrath view.

[Philippe Starling]

I've read this view too, and pre wrath, I thought the whole seven years is wrath.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes, but the final bowl judgments are especially wrathful. So this is a view that was developed, I think by Marvin Rosenthal back in 1990, thereabouts. But he says again that the church will go through the tribulation, but the final phase of it where practically the whole earth is entirely destroyed. The final bowl judgments, the 100 pound hail and all of that, that believers, all we move just prior to that, come back again.

[Philippe Starling]

Hundred pound hail? What's hundred pound hail? Well, does the book of Revelation say that at the very end there's going to be hail that weighs a single hail ball will be a hundred pounds.

[Bob Wilkin]

A massive earthquake where every mountain and every valley, everything is leveled, all the cities of the earth, including then this massive hail. But of course, that follows truth. What happened in the judgments of Egypt? You know, during the 10 plagues, you know, one of them was concerning a massive storm and hail that destroyed and all the crops. And so some of the judgments of the tribulation period mirror some of the judgments that occurred with Egypt and the redemption of Israel out of Egypt.

[Philippe Starling]

Wow, that is bad. We don't want 100 pound hailstones and we don't want all of these judgments. But so some people say that this will be a pre wrath rapture. And I've talked to people who hold this view and often they're adamant. I mean.

[Bob Wilkin]

Oh yes. In fact, I've had people who had gone to Dallas Seminary. Yes. One of them actually came to meet with me to try to convince me of the view and really adamant in saying that we were being unfaithful by not preparing people, you know, to go through the tribulation.

[Philippe Starling]

Now I want to take a moment real quick here and say I've had that same experience with Dallas Seminary graduates and I find they become evangelists for the pre wrath position rather than evangelists for the free gift of everlasting life. Let me say to each of you who are listening, eschatology is very important. The idea of the Rapture is very important. This is very edifying teaching. But having said that, we evangelize people about the free gift of eternal life. John 3:16, John 5:24. We don't evangelize people about the Rapture. We can talk to people about the Rapture, sure. But if it's an unbeliever, our purpose in talking to them about the Rapture is to get them to believe in the free gift of eternal life. Right, Philippe?

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes. It's just a comforting hope, you know, that we have in the Rapture. But we can talk about it. But it comes back to just, we want to prepare people for to be with the Lord forever everlasting life. That's our primary mission. And not to prepare people to prepare for the tribulation and to have a bunker and provisions and all of that.

[Philippe Starling]

Yeah, that's right. And the other thing I would say is if we're dealing with believers, let's say I'm talking to someone who knows they have eternal life. They believe the promise of life. My first concern Is not they believe my view of the Rapture. My first concern is they're prepared for the judgment seat of Christ. They know we're going to be judged and they know that if we're faithful, we'll rule and reign with him and that we should long for him to say, well done, good and faithful servant. We should long for his approval. That's our first concern. Right. Not that they adopt our view of the Rapture.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right. Well, our first concern, of course, the message of life. The second is a whole matter of rewards. You know, to be prepared for the judgment seat of Christ and that to be an overcomer and to wolverine.

[Philippe Starling]

Okay, so we got five basic views of the Rapture. Are there any others after the pre wrath? Is that the last one?

[Bob Wilkin]

Well, people are quite imaginative, I imagine we could go out there and find some modification of these various views because each view might be its slight modifications among the adherents.

[Philippe Starling]

But now there's also a sixth view which is no Rapture, right?

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes.

[Philippe Starling]

And there are people like people we call preterists that believe, if they're a full preterist, they believe the whole book of Revelation has already been fulfilled. Is that right?

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes. That was all a pre of the 70 A.D. judgment of Israel. Everything has been fulfilled. And the only thing that has yet to be is just the coming of Christ to bring about a new heaven and a new earth. But there's no Rapture as we've come, you know, to understand.

[Philippe Starling]

And a lot of people who believe in amillennialism, there's no millennium. We'll talk about this more later. Or they believe in post millennialism. They don't believe in a Rapture either, do they?

[Bob Wilkin]

Right. Post millennialists will be saying that, you know, we are in a kingdom period, but we're just making it more and more perfected until we've brought it to the point where Christ can come and take it and go with it.

[Philippe Starling]

It's hard to look at the trajectory of our planet in the last 50 years and say things are getting holier and holier and better and better. I mean, I was born in 52 and I was in high school between 66 and 70. And I thought things were pretty wild and loose and immoral when I was in College. Between 70 and 74 today, things are so much worse and so much more immoral. So I don't think the post millennial position seems to be bearing out. But. So I appreciate your discussion of the five views of the Rapture.

[Bob Wilkin]

And.

[Philippe Starling]

And we'll go on, talk about some more key elements in eschatology. Thanks Philippe and Be Grace in Focus.

[Grace Evangelical Society Announcer]

Be our guest and subscribe to our 48 page magazine, six issues per year, also called Grace in Focus by emailing your name and snail mail address to gesaithalone. That's faithalone.org on this program we keep our requests for financial partners to a minimum, but if you are interested in becoming a financial partner with Grace and Focus, you can find out how to do [e-mail] on our next episode, what Are Hell and the Lake of Fire Like? Please join us. And in the meantime, let's keep Grace in Focus.

[Bob Wilkin]

The proceeding has been a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.