Q&A Home > R > Rapture

Why are there so many theories about the rapture? When do you think the rapture is going to happen—before or after the tribulation?

Do you believe Islam is the Beast mentioned in the Scripture? Turkey is about to revive their last caliphate (the Mahdi). Is he the anti-christ? Muslims believe according to their Quran that the Mahdi and Isa are coming back at the end days. Are these the two false prophets spoken of in the Book of Revelation?

In Ezekiel 28, God tells him to take a message to the king of Tyre. Is the king of Tyre the anti-christ? Does Ezekiel prophesy about the end of times?

The more you pursue these kinds of questions—the more questions, not answers, you will have. The only thing for sure is that Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, will return with great glory. Do not be preoccupied with who will be the antichrist or if there are multiple antichrists. Certainly, throughout history, many tyrants were a form of an antichrist, and caused mayhem and people to fall away from their faith. The "rapture" in the protestant concept is very different from the Orthodox belief. As Orthodox, we believe that when Jesus Christ returns, those who are still alive and have not succumbed to the antichrist will be caught up with those who had already reposed, and this will take place after the Great Tribulation. There is no numerical millennium, but we are currently in the millennium period now—not specific to an actual number of years.

"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17).