This is such an important question!  We know the rapture of the church could happen at any time, and we are rightly concerned about those who might not be involved with this incredible event.  So, let’s see what the Bible says about this.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 tells us, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

We are taught in this portion that when the Lord returns to the air to take His church out of here, it will be those who “believe that Jesus died and rose again.” Let’s compare that to the words of Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  It is those who are saved who will go with the Lord when He comes for His own.  Those who truly believe in His death and resurrection as the payment for our sin debt. 

Will babies and children be included in the Rapture?  The scriptures are silent on this, so I surely cannot speak definitely about it. Many writers have written on this, and their thoughts are varied. Some believe that the Lord would never do anything to harm a little child by leaving him behind. Some teach that the children of those who are saved will be caught up in the Rapture, and the children of the lost will be left behind, but there is NO SCRIPTURE to clearly justify that claim. It seems that the only thing the writers agree on is the fact that the scriptures do not address this issue directly.

With that being said, I will suggest that babies and small children will possibly be Raptured. In 2 Samuel 12, we have the account of King David’s young son being stricken of God with a deathly sickness. David prayed and fasted continuously for his son. In spite of the earnest prayers of David, his son died. We then read David’s reaction to his son’s death in verses 20-23, “Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” David, at that point, realized that his son had been taken to Heaven and that he would see him again one day when he went to Heaven.

It seems reasonable to me that if a young child would be taken to Heaven at death, then a baby or young child would be taken to Heaven in the Rapture regardless of their parents’ salvation.  But let me emphasize that I cannot be dogmatic about this because we have no scriptural authority to do so. However, I can say without hesitation that whatever the Lord does, is the right thing to do. The Lord says of Himself in Genesis 18:25, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” We can trust Him to do what is the right thing.  (593.2)  (CC)