What about the babies?

I would think that all babies and all those below an age of accountability would be taken in the rapture whether their parents are believers or not. And I think all the mentally handicapped who can't grasp the message of salvation, such as autistic and downs, will be taken.

My son is 41 and he is autistic and is not able to communicate by speech; that is, he has always been non-verbal. I look forward to the rapture when he will also be taken and he will be normal and be able to speak.  What a joy that will be!  I wonder what all he will say.

I definitely believe children of believers will be taken in the Rapture. I also believe, that children of unbelievers that are below the age of accountability or have intellectual impairment will be taken in the Rapture. That's my opinion, anyway.

God Bless you watching47! It's going to be wonderful to meet your son. I suspect his first words for you will be, "I love you!" :rose:

The question arises, “Does the inclusive nature of the Old Covenant apply to the church?” On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself” (Acts 2:38–39, NAS). The word children here (teknon in Greek) means “child, daughter, son.” Acts 2:39 indicates that forgiveness of sins is available to one and all (cf. Acts 1:8), including future generations...

The one passage that seems to identify with this topic more than any other is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context of these verses is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the Lord would take the child in death. David responded to this by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to King David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” David’s response indicates that those who cannot believe are safe in the Lord. David said that he could go to the child but could not bring the child back to him. Also, and just as important, David seemed to be comforted by this knowledge. In other words, David seemed to be saying that he would see his baby son (in heaven), though he could not bring him back.

https://www.gotquestions.org/age-of-accountability.html

Thanks Arthur

Agreed and well said Arthur, Tammie and Watching47!

TR

Romans 7:9 talks about an age of accountability, as well. Here is a well reasoned answer:

Romans 7:9 reads, “Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.”

Since Paul was obviously still physically alive when he wrote that, he had to have been talking about his spiritual life and death. Before Paul was old enough to be accountable for his sins, he had eternal life. The phrase “the commandment came” means he had reached the age where he became accountable under the law. As soon as that happened his sins became a death warrant. In order to escape death he had to become born again.

God doesn’t hold children accountable for their sins until they become old enough to understand the sin/salvation issue. Before that time it’s as if they haven’t sinned. This is part of what Jesus meant when He said we have to become like little children to enter God’s Kingdom (Matt. 18:3), in other words not accountable for our sins. In Romans 7:15-20 Paul said that’s the case for all born again believers.

https://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/understanding-romans-79/

In these verses  the Age of Accountability starts @ 20 years and above

Exodus 30:13-14
This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.

Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.

Exodus 38:26
A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty (603,550) men

Numbers 14:29
Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,

“If you were truly ignorant (blind), you would have no guilt. It’s because you are not ignorant—you are willfully unbelieving—that you stand guilty before God.”

Here in  John 9 Jesus is telling  Pharisees  that God does not condemn people for things they are unable to do.

Babies and young children and those who are unable mentally to accept  or reject Christ are not held accountable for unbelief. Before people mature enough to discern right from wrong, they can not be held accountable/ responsible by God Imho

Kolleen made the great reply and truth, not I, but I hold to what Kolleen pushed forward. 😉