According to 1 Cor. 15:52, the Rapture occurs in the blink their eyes. Within that same split-second the people who are left behind are thrust into this vastly unexplored interval of time before the Tribulation actually begins Therefore, it is critically important for them to know at least approximately how long the time-gap is, and what happens within it this time period.

Many Bible prophecy experts today are recognizing that it’s not the Rapture that starts the Tribulation period. Rather, it begins with the confirmation of the covenant of Daniel 9:27 by the Antichrist, between Israel and some other party. Therefore, a gap can exist between the fulfillment of these two distinctly separate events. (The other covenanting party is identified typologically in Isaiah 28:15, 18 as “Death and Sheol.” Who or what “Death and Sheol” represents, and what role they play in the end times, is also explored within the Apocalypse Road book also by Bill Salus.

How Long is the Post-Rapture / Pre-Tribulation Gap Period?

This Post Rapture / Pre-Tribulation gap period is like the Church age in that neither was given a predetermined length of existence within the Scriptures. Although some prophetic periods of time are given prescribed time allotments, the time-span of the gap period is unspecified.
Some Bible prophecy teachers suggest that this time-gap could be as short as twenty-four hours. Their logic is generally based upon the thinking that once the Church is removed, the wrath of God quickly follows. Since the Church is not appointed to the wrath of God per Scriptures like Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and 5:9 and elsewhere, they presume that the wrath of God could commence swiftly in the aftermath of the Rapture.

However, upon a closer examination it may not be as simple as saying, “Out with the good (grace) and in with the bad (wrath).” The gap period seems to include events that legitimately take time to manifest into action. Before exploring those events, it’s important to recognize that if the gap period extends beyond a day, a week, or even a month, then it is safe to suggest that this time-period will contain some globally impacting events!

The Rapture itself will be a world changing episode and the biblically predicted scenarios that follow it, in the gap and on into the Tribulation period, will also be earth shaking. The instantaneous disappearances of millions of people worldwide will likely deeply distress the masses left behind. Emotions of loneliness and despair will characterize those who have personally lost loved ones. Lawlessness will abound as people from various walks of life are Raptured, permanently removed from their personal relationships and business positions. Uncontrollable civil disobedience will plague various parts of the world. All of this, along with the fulfillment of the many prophecies identified within Apocalypse Road will make mankind vulnerable to supernatural deception and dictatorial leadership. 2 Thes. 2:1-10 foretells that Satan will use this scenario to deceive humanity through signs and lying wonders. Ultimately, the deception will provide the Harlot world religion and the Antichrist with the platforms they need to rule the world during their respective periods.

Having this understanding, we can diagram the time line secquence leading to the seven-year Tribulation Period as seen in the book.