A Christian, strictly speaking, is not to look at the events in the Middle East for proof that Jesus is coming soon. Signs are for the Jews (1 Cor 1:22) and relate to the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. What we are seeing in the Middle East today is the beginning of birth pangs as described in Isaiah 13:6-8. The rapture, however, happens at least seven years prior to Christ’s Second Coming and is preceded by no signs. It is imminent which means it can happen at any moment.

We know according to 2 Samuel 12:22-23 that when children die they go to Heaven. David’s sin with Bathsheba caused the death of their infant son. David tells us he went to Heaven, “…can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” This knowledge is a great comfort to parents today even as it must have been to David.

We can sing, “Jesus loves the little children…” because of His own words in Matthew19:13-14, “Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” In fact, adults must have the saving faith of a child if they expect to go to Heaven themselves (Cf. also Luke 18:16).

Another related passage can be found in Romans chapter seven. Paul is explaining his relationship to sin. He is saying that prior to sin’s conviction he was spiritually “alive” and it was not until after he personally understood God’s Law that he become aware of his sin. In verse nine Paul says, “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” His statement, “alive without the law once” speaks about his spiritual condition before God’s law brought conviction to his heart. By God’s grace, as a child he was alive and would have gone to Heaven had he died. It was not until he was cognitive of his own sin that the wages of sin were charged against him and “he died.”

Now, what about innocents at the rapture? As far as I can tell, the Bible does not address this question directly. Years ago a young man came to me afraid to even have children because he didn’t want them left behind. This is a valid emotion. Our comfort must come from knowing and believing that God is just and holy. He will do the right thing, whatever the right thing is. It is possible that God’s foreknowledge of who would be saved and who will not may come into play – I cannot dogmatically tell you how, but I believe that God will do the right thing.

1 Corinthians 7:14 may shed some additional light on our topic, just be careful not to take it out of context. Remember that Job 4:7 asks a good question, “Who ever perished being innocent?”

Speaking of the rapture of the church, Paul tells Christians in 1 Thessalonians 4:18, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” There would be no comfort in the thought of leaving your children to be raised by godless men.