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

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.

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."

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...”

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..."

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."

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

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.

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