There are four theories about when this “seizing in the clouds” will take place:

1.  Pre-Tribulation (before the seven years of the Tribulation).

2.  Mid-Tribulation (middle of the Tribulation - end of first three and a half years)

3.  Partial (some taken, some left at the beginning or in the middle of the Tribulation)

4.  Post-Tribulation (after the seven years of the Tribulation)

The pre-Tribulation theory is the most popular and is based upon the belief that the “Church Age,” the period of time from the Ascension to the beginning of the Great Tribulation, ends at the beginning of the Tribulation when the Holy Spirit and the Church depart.  Satan then rules the earth unhindered for seven years.  It also states that during the Tribulation, God’s wrath and judgment are poured out on the earth to punish the inhabitants, and true Christians will not be a part of that judgment.  The pre-Tribulation theory appeals to people emotionally and to the idea of fairness.  It says, “The world is due a good beating.  Why should the good children be punished with the bad?”  This theory does agree that some Christians will go through the Tribulation, because they were not good enough to be in the rapture.  The popular Left Behind series is based upon this assumption (Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days, Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins, Tyndale House Publishers, 1996).

The mid-Tribulation theory also agrees that Christians will not suffer from God’s wrath and judgment on the earth.  The theory believes that the first half of the Tribulation is a time of false peace, where some persecutions of believers might occur.  Then just before God’s wrath and judgment are poured out in the last half of the Tribulation, the true Christians will be taken away.  This theory also agrees that some Christians will go through the Tribulation.

The partial-Tribulation theory teaches that only active, spiritual Christians will be raptured at the beginning of the Tribulation.  The non-raptured Christians will go through the Tribulation in order to be purified.

The post-Tribulation theory states that Christians will go through the Tribulation and be raptured at the end in conjunction with the Second Coming of Christ in order to celebrate and participate in the triumphant return of Jesus Christ.  This theory makes no distinction between modern and past believers, assuming that if the first century church had to participate in tribulations, and Christians had to suffer for their faith down through the centuries, then the present Church could not be exempt from the trials to come.

Can a person participate in the rapture of the Church, if they don’t know about it?  I don’t see why not.  Participation in the rapture is not contingent upon knowing the doctrine or having faith in the event; it is based upon the person’s personal walk with Jesus. 

Can a person participate in the rapture of the Church, if they don’t believe in it?  Now we are talking about disbelief or uncertainty in an event surrounded in mystery and controversy.  If they were convinced or knew the rapture was true, they would want to participate.  Part of the problem might be that they don’t know the purpose of the rapture.  If they knew the purpose was to welcome and worship Jesus as he returns to Jerusalem in his triumphal entry, they would say, “If that is true, I surely want to be there.”  But if they harden their heart and choose unbelief, choosing not to participate even if the rapture were true, I doubt if they would go.  It simply would not be forced upon them. 

Belief in one theory or the other can be the source of fierce debate.  Some people are so convinced in their view of when the rapture will happen, that all discussion on the subject is closed.  At that point it becomes more of an emotional issue rather than a scriptural one.  When such strong feelings are involved, it is best to end any discussion and prayerfully continue studying the scriptures on your own, and pray that God, by his Spirit, enlightens you.