The Body of Christ Will Endure During God's Great Wrath

[for_his_glory]

The Disciples who sat with Jesus on the Mt. of Olives in Matthew 24:3 asked Him three questions, when shall these things be, what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? These three questions are now revealed to us as the Spirit of God has revealed them to John who told him to write these revelation visions down and give them to the Church for instruction and understanding. Matthew 24 is an outline of all things that will come to pass that is revealed in full in Revelations before that of Christ return for His Bride. Those events are called the great and terrible day of the Lord.

There was a question asked in Revelation 6:17 about the great day of His wrath is come and who shall be able to stand? Part of this question is answered in Nahum Chapter One for one example as there are many scriptures detailing Gods great vengeance against His enemies and His mercy on those who are called by His name having the seal of God on them, Ephesians 4:30. Matthew 24 gives us an outline and Revelations gives us the meaning of the outline.

The spirit of Jezebel runs rampant throughout the land spreading lies from the pulpit that seem pleasing to the ears as many would rather believe their Pastor instead of searching and Spiritually discern what they are being taught, Matthew 7: 21-23, John 3-3-7; Acts 19:1-6; Romans 10:9, 10; 1 John 4:1-6.

The first four seals in Revelations are the beginning of sorrows described in Matthew 24:4-26 before that of Christ return. There are three woes to come after the beginning of sorrows. The first woe is found in Rev Chapter 8-9 with the first six trumpets. The second woe is that of the two witnesses in Rev Chapter 11:1-14 as the preaching of Gods word will have come to an end as the time of the Gentiles has been fulfilled in the last person repenting and turning back to God. The third woe begins with the seventh trumpet in Rev 11:15 and will end with the Great White Throne judgment in Rev 20.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb comes in Rev 19 as at this time we have only prepared ourselves to be His Bride, but not yet caught up to Him. It is not until Jesus returns with His army of warring angels and destroys the beast and false prophet casting them into the lake of fire and, Rev 20, sends and angel to bind Satan for a time while all who are in the grave will at that time hear His voice calling both Saint and sinner to come forth as all will be resurrected at the same time as some will resurrect to eternal life and others to damnation, Rev 20; John 5:28, 29.

Those who are Christ’s will be gathered with those who are still alive at His coming and all will be given their new glorified bodies as they will be with the Lord forever. Satan will be loosed for a time as he deceives the nations as he gathers his army to go up to surround the camp of the saints of God, but are destroyed by fire that God sends down on them. Those who were called to come forth from their graves that are not of Christ will stand in His judgment and as their names are not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire after Satan is cast there.

The Church, which represents the bride of Christ through the Spiritual rebirth of John 3:3-6 by that of Romans 10:9, 10, are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption, Ephesians 4:30, either asleep in their graves or alive at Christ coming. That day of redemption comes on the last day, John 6:40, when Christ returns and makes an end to all abominations (end to sin) as all Gods enemies will have then become the footstool of Christ, Psalms 110:1; Luke 20:42,43 as they are destroyed forever and remembered no more and then Christ will reign here on earth with all the saints of God forever.

Many teach that the Church will be Raptured out of here before Gods wrath (tribulation), but according to these scriptures the body of Christ who are still alive at Christ coming will be here on earth during the time of the greatest tribulation this world has ever seen nor will ever see again, Matthew 24:21.

(Reference: Acts 14:22; Matthew 24:13; Rev 3:5; 19:8; 5:13; 6:16, 17; 6:9-11; 7:13-17; 8:13; 13:11-18; 14:14-20; 16:11, 15; 18:23,24; 19:7, 8; 20:4-6; 20:12-15)

First woe
First trumpet Rev 8:6-7
Second trumpet Rev 8:8,9
Third trumpet Rev 8:10,11
Fourth trumpet Rev 8:12,13
Fifth trumpet Rev 9:1-12
Second woe
Sixth trumpet Rev 9:13 through 11:14
Third woe
Seventh trumpet Rev 11:15 through Rev 20:15 (seventh trumpet includes all the events that unfold and ends with the great white throne judgment)

 

[Maria E Abreu]

Many teach that the Church will be Raptured out of here before Gods wrath (tribulation), but according to these scriptures the body of Christ who are still alive at Christ coming will be here on earth during the time of the greatest tribulation this world has ever seen nor will ever see again, Matthew 24:21.

Agreed.


The faithful Christian will be caught up with the Lord, in the air high above the earth, before He "tramples the winepress of the wrath of God" upon the wicked, which includes the counterfeit messiah, who goes to the temple to claim that he is God, and deceive people with false signs and wonders.



For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9





ME

 

[UberMink]

The Disciples who sat with Jesus on the Mt. of Olives in Matthew 24:3 asked Him three questions, when shall these things be, what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? These three questions are now revealed to us as the Spirit of God has revealed them to John who told him to write these revelation visions down and give them to the Church for instruction and understanding. Matthew 24 is an outline of all things that will come to pass that is revealed in full in Revelations before that of Christ return for His Bride. Those events are called the great and terrible day of the Lord.

There was a question asked in Revelation 6:17 about the great day of His wrath is come and who shall be able to stand? Part of this question is answered in Nahum Chapter One for one example as there are many scriptures detailing Gods great vengeance against His enemies and His mercy on those who are called by His name having the seal of God on them, Ephesians 4:30. Matthew 24 gives us an outline and Revelations gives us the meaning of the outline.

The spirit of Jezebel runs rampant throughout the land spreading lies from the pulpit that seem pleasing to the ears as many would rather believe their Pastor instead of searching and Spiritually discern what they are being taught, Matthew 7: 21-23, John 3-3-7; Acts 19:1-6; Romans 10:9, 10; 1 John 4:1-6.

The first four seals in Revelations are the beginning of sorrows described in Matthew 24:4-26 before that of Christ return. There are three woes to come after the beginning of sorrows. The first woe is found in Rev Chapter 8-9 with the first six trumpets. The second woe is that of the two witnesses in Rev Chapter 11:1-14 as the preaching of Gods word will have come to an end as the time of the Gentiles has been fulfilled in the last person repenting and turning back to God. The third woe begins with the seventh trumpet in Rev 11:15 and will end with the Great White Throne judgment in Rev 20.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb comes in Rev 19 as at this time we have only prepared ourselves to be His Bride, but not yet caught up to Him. It is not until Jesus returns with His army of warring angels and destroys the beast and false prophet casting them into the lake of fire and, Rev 20, sends and angel to bind Satan for a time while all who are in the grave will at that time hear His voice calling both Saint and sinner to come forth as all will be resurrected at the same time as some will resurrect to eternal life and others to damnation, Rev 20; John 5:28, 29.

Those who are Christ’s will be gathered with those who are still alive at His coming and all will be given their new glorified bodies as they will be with the Lord forever. Satan will be loosed for a time as he deceives the nations as he gathers his army to go up to surround the camp of the saints of God, but are destroyed by fire that God sends down on them. Those who were called to come forth from their graves that are not of Christ will stand in His judgment and as their names are not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire after Satan is cast there.

The Church, which represents the bride of Christ through the Spiritual rebirth of John 3:3-6 by that of Romans 10:9, 10, are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption, Ephesians 4:30, either asleep in their graves or alive at Christ coming. That day of redemption comes on the last day, John 6:40, when Christ returns and makes an end to all abominations (end to sin) as all Gods enemies will have then become the footstool of Christ, Psalms 110:1; Luke 20:42,43 as they are destroyed forever and remembered no more and then Christ will reign here on earth with all the saints of God forever.

Many teach that the Church will be Raptured out of here before Gods wrath (tribulation), but according to these scriptures the body of Christ who are still alive at Christ coming will be here on earth during the time of the greatest tribulation this world has ever seen nor will ever see again, Matthew 24:21.

(Reference: Acts 14:22; Matthew 24:13; Rev 3:5; 19:8; 5:13; 6:16, 17; 6:9-11; 7:13-17; 8:13; 13:11-18; 14:14-20; 16:11, 15; 18:23,24; 19:7, 8; 20:4-6; 20:12-15)

First woe
First trumpet Rev 8:6-7
Second trumpet Rev 8:8,9
Third trumpet Rev 8:10,11
Fourth trumpet Rev 8:12,13
Fifth trumpet Rev 9:1-12
Second woe
Sixth trumpet Rev 9:13 through 11:14
Third woe
Seventh trumpet Rev 11:15 through Rev 20:15 (seventh trumpet includes all the events that unfold and ends with the great white throne judgment)

That is so familiar. Is that from the heaven questions site and their article, Will Christians Go Through The Tribulation?

 

[Razeontherock]

The only thing worse than being thrown in the lake of fire is that satan will already be there

 

[for_his_glory]

That is so familiar. Is that from the heaven questions site and their article, Will Christians Go Through The Tribulation?

No, this is not from any website as I wrote this myself as to what scripture already reveals to us.

 

[for_his_glory]

The only thing worse than being thrown in the lake of fire is that satan will already be there

One will not be thinking about Satan, but that of their own destruction as they are punished with everlasting torment. This is why we need to be prepared to be the Bride of Christ before He returns on the last day, at the last trumpet sounding as it will be in the twinkling of an eye, which means very quickly and the door of salvation will be closed forever, John 6:38-40; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

 

[for_his_glory]

Agreed.


The faithful Christian will be caught up with the Lord, in the air high above the earth, before He "tramples the winepress of the wrath of God" upon the wicked, which includes the counterfeit messiah, who goes to the temple to claim that he is God, and deceive people with false signs and wonders.



For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9





ME

Those who are still alive at His coming will see all of Gods mighty wrath (tribulation) being poured out into the world during the seven trumpets sounding. We are not to fear, Matthew 10:28, but endure all things, Matthew 24:13, as we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13, 14, and continue spreading the Gospel even if we die a martyr's death for the sake of Christ and our witness and testimony of Him.

 

[Jacks Bratt]

So, I will ask these questions again, as I always do when someone tells me that the Rapture comes at the end of the Tribulation.

Where are all the Christians to go during a time when nobody can buy or sell without the mark?

Can you go 7 years without food, work, travel, communication with distant other Christians, sneaking from tree to tree, dumpster to dumpster in fear of your life?

What of the billions of people going to go and do? Are all of them going to be beheaded... that's a lot....?

If this is the case... how many Christians will remain at the end of the 7 years to raptured? One... two maybe.. that live in the Ozarks?

Is God going to expect the 80 year old Christian grandmothers and 12 year old innocent Christian children to watch their fathers, mothers, and others get beheaded and still not bow to the beast?

Seriously.... what kind of global carnage do you think awaits the children of Christ... after He said to "comfort each other with these words".

 

[UberMink]

No, this is not from any website as I wrote this myself as to what scripture already reveals to us.

OK, thank you.

 

[UberMink]

The only thing worse than being thrown in the lake of fire is that satan will already be there

Fear not God shall be in Sheol also. Psalm 139

 

[for_his_glory]

So, I will ask these questions again, as I always do when someone tells me that the Rapture comes at the end of the Tribulation.

Where are all the Christians to go during a time when nobody can buy or sell without the mark?

Can you go 7 years without food, work, travel, communication with distant other Christians, sneaking from tree to tree, dumpster to dumpster in fear of your life?

What of the billions of people going to go and do? Are all of them going to be beheaded... that's a lot....?

If this is the case... how many Christians will remain at the end of the 7 years to raptured? One... two maybe.. that live in the Ozarks?

Is God going to expect the 80 year old Christian grandmothers and 12 year old innocent Christian children to watch their fathers, mothers, and others get beheaded and still not bow to the beast?

Seriously.... what kind of global carnage do you think awaits the children of Christ... after He said to "comfort each other with these words".

Do you believe these scriptures:

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Our focus is not what is going to happen to us here on earth no matter who you are or how old you are, but that we are prepared to be His Bride when our Groom comes for us on the last day as it is written. I use to believe in all that pretrib nonsense, but could never find scripture to support it.

These pretrib theories started with Margaret MacDonald in Port Glasgow, Scotland who first told others of a vision she had in 1830. She admitted the vision seemed evil and dark, but many preachers of that time ran with it and eventually was handed down to us through such men as J.N. Darby, Edward Irving, C.I. Lewis and many others to present day. Notice the word theory. Theory is just the carnal minds way of interpreting something.

There is no mention in scripture about a so called secret quiet rapture or a second chance after the saints of God are caught up to meet Jesus in the air, 1Thessalonians 4:17, Vs. 16 says Jesus will descend with a shout and with the trump of God. This does not sound like it’s going to be a quiet so called rapture does it, and Rev 1:7 says every eye will see him and every knee will bow saints and those who choose to reject Jesus. Second of all John 14:17 shows us that the Holy Spirit dwells in us the believers and isn’t something that just floats around in the air. For this reason when we are taken up so is the Holy Spirit giving no one a second chance because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, 2Corinthians 1:21,22, and after the Spirit is taken up no one has a second chance.

Show me in scripture where it talks about a pretrib rapture and don't use Rev 4 as this is only John who is given visions after that of the messages to the seven Churches while he is in the Spirit on the isle of Patmos and not taken up to the third heaven, John 3:13.

 

[WinterPuma]

That is so familiar. Is that from the heaven questions site and their article, Will Christians Go Through The Tribulation?

I know what you mean. The last part, the woe section, is abbreviated in the book scriptures list. That's a dead giveaway of copy/paste when abbreviated scriptures appear regularly. As they do on bible commentary sites.
I thought Christianity Stackexchange was the source but thus far I haven't found it.

 

[for_his_glory]

God has already given what is written that we prepare ourselves to know what is coming, but yet many reject His truth. If there were a pretrib rapture of the church then why would God just end all things at once after we are taken up. What would be the purpose of the seven trumpet and seven vial judgements. Below is what we need to expect to happen during the first six trumpets sounding that leads up to the son of perdition who takes his seat to deceive the world promising safety and provision.

Rev Chapter 8-9 First six trumpets

Hail and fire can be likened unto meteors that fall from the sky as the brimstone God brought down from heaven striking those in Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:24. A third of the trees and all the green grass are burned up which makes a third part of the world with a shortage of oxygen in the air that is created from the carbon dioxide from the trees and living plants. I would only imagine the drifting smoke itself would cause respiratory problems for many people.
Rev Chapter 8-9 The first six trumpets

Seeing that this is Global the intense fire and smoke from all the trees and grass burning can travel for miles causing much more damage throughout the nations. The trees that produce various healthy foods for our well being will become scarce. The green grasses that would probably include crops of wheat, barley, corn and so forth will be destroyed causing a shortage in food. The animals we depend on as a food source will also die as they are left without vegetation they need to live on.

This great mountain burning with fire could be another meteor or even a series of meteors sent down from heaven at one time, but on an extremely larger scale as the third part of the sea is destroyed along with sea life and the third part of the ships that sit in it. The third part of the sea turned to blood by reason of all the animal life that is killed and those men, women and children who are on these ships that are destroyed. Take into consideration the disease that would spread from all the rotted sea life that is rotting away washing up on the shore and the flesh of those who were burned along with the ships.

These ships will more than likely be types of fuel tankers, merchant, fishing and luxury cruises ships traveling the waters. With the third of these ships being destroyed means a third part of the world’s fuel and food supply would be destroyed.

John saw in his vision a great star that is burning like a lamp that falls to earth. In John’s time torches were used as a light source so this star burning like a lamp or a torch could be that of a burning comet falling or a series of comets falling on earth. I can only think it to be many comets as they fall on the third part of rivers and streams as it poisons the third part of the earth’s fresh water supply and causes many to die from the bitter water they drink. This would also kill all fresh water fish leaving man without another food source.

This star is given a name called Wormwood because wormwood is a plant that can be potentially toxic in its pure form and has a bitter aroma to it. In large amounts, it can cause damage to the nervous system, resulting in convulsions, loss of muscle control, and sometimes death. Now we have a third part of the world without fresh water to drink.

With the third part of the sun, moon and stars being darkened this will affect mans source of electricity and heat that is vital to keep a certain degree of the earth warm, and generated power in homes, hospitals and manufacturing plants including nuclear reactors.

Agriculture and navigation would be hard pressed as it takes the solar power from the sun to run the solar cells that produces the energy needed to run farming machinery and trucks to take the produce to manufacturing plants where the produce is then distributed to market.

Vehicles such as cars, ambulances, planes, trains and the list goes on need an energy source from the sun in order to run their engines. The darkness of the third part of the day would be roughly around eight hours of daylight being lost and total darkness of night as the moon and stars are illuminated by the sun at night. A flashlight would be useless to see in the dark as it needs energy from the sun to run the battery that turns the light on.

This much darkness would cause people to panic in the streets creating chaos as the love of many will wax cold, Matthew 24:12. Riots would break out causing looting and lose of life as those who have not will do anything in desperation to take from those who have much.

 

[for_his_glory]

I know what you mean. The last part, the woe section, is abbreviated in the book scriptures list. That's a dead giveaway of copy/paste when abbreviated scriptures appear regularly. As they do on bible commentary sites.
I thought Christianity Stackexchange was the source but thus far I haven't found it.

This is not a copy/paste as I never heard of that website. What I wrote in the OP is my own study from the KJV. If I use websites I always give reference to them.

 

[Jacks Bratt]

Do you believe these scriptures:

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Our focus is not what is going to happen to us here on earth no matter who you are or how old you are, but that we are prepared to be His Bride when our Groom comes for us on the last day as it is written. I use to believe in all that pretrib nonsense, but could never find scripture to support it.

These pretrib theories started with Margaret MacDonald in Port Glasgow, Scotland who first told others of a vision she had in 1830. She admitted the vision seemed evil and dark, but many preachers of that time ran with it and eventually was handed down to us through such men as J.N. Darby, Edward Irving, C.I. Lewis and many others to present day. Notice the word theory. Theory is just the carnal minds way of interpreting something.

There is no mention in scripture about a so called secret quiet rapture or a second chance after the saints of God are caught up to meet Jesus in the air, 1Thessalonians 4:17, Vs. 16 says Jesus will descend with a shout and with the trump of God. This does not sound like it’s going to be a quiet so called rapture does it, and Rev 1:7 says every eye will see him and every knee will bow saints and those who choose to reject Jesus. Second of all John 14:17 shows us that the Holy Spirit dwells in us the believers and isn’t something that just floats around in the air. For this reason when we are taken up so is the Holy Spirit giving no one a second chance because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, 2Corinthians 1:21,22, and after the Spirit is taken up no one has a second chance.

Show me in scripture where it talks about a pretrib rapture and don't use Rev 4 as this is only John who is given visions after that of the messages to the seven Churches while he is in the Spirit on the isle of Patmos and not taken up to the third heaven, John 3:13.

All I am looking for, first, is an answer to my questions. Everyone wants to go on and on about how the rapture cannot happen before the tribulaton and never ever answer my question as to what is going to happen to all the billions of Christians and what, on earth, people expect to do when they are faced with taking the mark.

So... what are you going to do? What are billions of Christians going to do? What is your plan... personally.... You wake up and hear that the government has implemented that all must take a tattoo in order to work, travel, buy anything, get paid anything.... everybody...Or... be put to death? Well, let's face it... it will probably be imprisoned first...which means separation from your wife, your husband, your kids... ya... they are all separated for who knows what purpose... then what..

You think your 12 year old daughter is going to denounce Christ or lose her head? What about your son? Your wife.... billions of Christians... like shooting fish in a barrel.


I....... want...... to.......know.......what..... all......you...... rapture deniers.... are going to do.... or expect.

If you say "Oh, God will provide a way....".... I say "Yep.... it's the Rapture."

 

[Jacks Bratt]

The Bible must see the Rapture (Jn. 14:1-4; I Cor. 15:51-58; 1 Thes. 4:13-18) and the Second Coming (Zech. 14:1-21; Matt. 24:29-31; Mk. 13:24-27; Lk. 21:25-27; Rev. 19) as separate events, because when the verses are compared they describe two very different scenarios:

1. Rapture — believers meet Christ in the air
   Second Coming — Christ returns to the Mount of Olives to meet the believers on earth
   
   
2. Rapture — Mount of Olives is unchanged
   Second Coming — Mount of Olives is divided, forming a valley east of Jerusalem
   
   
3. Rapture — living believers obtain glorified bodies
   Second Coming — living believers remain in same bodies
   
   
4. Rapture — believers go to heaven
   Second Coming — glorified believers come from heaven, earthly believers stay on earth
   
   
5. Rapture — world left unjudged and living in sin
   Second Coming — world is judged and righteousness is established
   
   
6. Rapture — depicts deliverance of the Church from wrath
   Second Coming — depicts deliverance of believers who endured wrath
   
   
7. Rapture — no signs precede it
   Second Coming — many signs precede it
   
   
8. Rapture — revealed only in New Testament
   Second Coming — revealed in both Old and New Testaments
   
   
9. Rapture — deals with only the saved
   Second Coming — deals with both the saved and unsaved
   
   
10. Rapture — Satan remains free
    Second Coming — Satan is bound and thrown into the Abyss

Since the Rapture and Second Coming clearly are different events that do not occur at the same time, this would rule out a Post-Tribulation Rapture scenario.

 

[Jacks Bratt]

The Rapture is described as occurring at any time without warning.

Jesus stated in Matthew 24:42,44 to “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Not only do believers in Christ not know when to expect Him, but the Father Himself seems to have left Jesus out on the exact time His Son is to return. As Jesus stated in Matthew 24:36, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” These and other verses (Mat. 24:36,42,44,50; 25:13; 1 Thes. 4:18; Tit. 2:13; 1 Jn. 2:28; 3:2-3) indicate that Jesus’ arrival will come when nobody expects it.


The Second Coming, on the other hand, is preceded by many events, such as the rise of the Antichrist (Rev. 12:13-17; Zech; 13:7-9), a treaty with Israel (Dan. 9:27), the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple (Mat. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:3-4; Rev. 11:1-2), as well as plagues and judgments and persecutions destroying most of the world’s population (Rev. 6-18). The Book of Revelation reports these events as occurring during the 7-year Tribulation, which Revelation reveals precede the Second Coming.


Because the Rapture could happen at any moment and without warning and the Second Coming is preceded by so many signs, then the Rapture and Second Coming must be different events. The Rapture has to occur before the seven years’ worth of signs, because Christians are called to look for the Lord’s return rather than signs such as the Antichrist’s arrival. Once the signs begin, then the seven year countdown begins towards its end with Christ’s return at the Second Coming.


Jesus’ imminent return dismisses any of the other viewpoints related to a rapture that occur within or at the end of the Tribulation.

 

[Jacks Bratt]

The Rapture and the removal of the “Restrainer” occur at the same time.

In 2 Thessalonians, the church at Thessalonica was afraid due to a false report that they had entered the Day of the Lord (Tribulation) and had somehow missed the Rapture. The Apostle Paul assured them that the Antichrist would not be revealed until a restraining force would be taken away so that the Man of Lawlessness could be revealed.


Because the revealing of the Antichrist coincides with the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation starting with his peace treaty with Israel (Dan. 9:27), then the Restrainer has to be removed before the Tribulation. As the Holy Spirit also works in salvation (Jn. 16:8-11; 1 Jn. 5:7) during the Tribulation, then it is the Church that must be the Restrainer that is removed. Therefore, the Rapture and the removal of the Church must coincide, and at the beginning of the seven years.

 

[Jacks Bratt]

The Tribulation is for Israel’s redemption.

Jeremiah 30:7 describes the Tribulation as the “time of Jacob’s trouble” — “How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.”


In the Book of Matthew, whose primary audience is the Jews, Jesus explains to his Jewish followers what life will be like during the Tribulation. Also, Revelation 12 describes picturesquely a woman who gives birth and has to flee due to persecution during the Tribulation. The context shows the woman is Israel. And again, the Battle of Armageddon is the world against Israel. Two-thirds of the Jewish people will be killed from these battles. These texts and others show that the Tribulation is meant for the redemption of the Jewish people.


Why are the Jews the object of persecution during the Tribulation? For one, Satan hates the Jewish people for giving the world the Scriptures and the Messiah, as well as he wishes to thwart God’s promises to the Jews (see Bedrock #4). Secondly, the Jews have to be so desperately brought low that they finally call out to their Messiah “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mat. 23:39; Lk. 13:35). The Tribulation, then, is used for Israel’s redemption which also results in the punishment of the wicked. The Church does not fit into this scenario, and are left out of the purposes of the Tribulation. They would need to be removed — caught up — before the Tribulation begins.

 

[Jacks Bratt]

The Tribulation is not for the Church.

The Tribulation is God’s wrath upon the unbelieving world, and not for those who are saved from Christ’s resurrection to the Rapture — called the Church. Yes believers have suffered all throughout human history, but there is a special time (just like the Flood) set apart called the Day of the Lord for God’s wrath. Christians suffering and the Tribulation/Day of the Lord are different.


True believers in Christ during the Church Age, represented by the Church of Philadelphia, are promised in Revelation 3:10, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” He also states in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:9 states, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” Ephesians 5:6 states, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” Colossians 3:4 states, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Again and again, Scripture states the Church is not meant to endure God’s wrath.