Perhaps a better title would be the Chronology of the Rapture relative to the Great Tribulation.

Whatever we might find in the Scripture, (that may be understood to imply that the saints will be “raptured” prior to, or at the appearing of the man of sin) the great weight of Scripture places the rapture of the saints after the revelation of the man of sin, and after the great tribulation:

Jesus is not the author of confusion, and presumably neither is the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul to the Thessalonians, a Gentile church:

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, … Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come, until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” II Thessalonians 2:1-3

Also:

“… after the distress of those days… the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky…” Matthew 24:29,30

Keep in mind, this is Jesus answering the question of his disciples, “… what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Clearly this would be a useless sign, if the believers were not going to be around for its happening. Believers, even Gentile believers, will see the revelation of the man of sin, before they are raptured.

Perhaps most to the point:

“… Let both grow together until the time of the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles… The Son of Man will send out his Angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil…” Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43

Finally, as a matter of principle:  Matthew 10:16-39

By Jay Ferris, originally posted October 16, 2011