All through the history of the Church there has been no preservation against the wrath of men. We read about Muslims slicing Christians with machetes almost daily even now. But scripture promises no born again child of God is being held to endure the wrath of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (KJV) [SUP]9 [/SUP] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
That invites focus on more of that passage.
1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 (KJV)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
[SUP]4 [/SUP] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
That invites exploration of the context in greater detail. Whateve label you wish to put on this is another matter.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] 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.
[SUP]14 [/SUP] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[SUP]15 [/SUP] 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.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] 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:
[SUP]17 [/SUP] 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.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
That kind of event has already happened before Paul wrote those words.
Matthew 27:50-54 (KJV)
[SUP]50 [/SUP] Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
[SUP]51 [/SUP] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
[SUP]52 [/SUP] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
[SUP]53 [/SUP] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
[SUP]54 [/SUP] Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
But of course there will be those saying they are Christians that don't believe many parts of the Bible, especially that one. So then it should be expected they would not believe a rescue of the faithful from the horrid events of the Tribulation before the wrath of God is poured out. Not believing that is probably due to rejecting the account of Noah's family being preserved before and through the great flood of God's wrath on earth.
I doubt the majority of people thinking themselves to be in Christ are ready for rescue before the next "flood" of God's wrath.
The real Church on earth is what hinders the judgment. When the saints within the world church are taken out, there will not be any praying in faith, none heard by God. Without that "hedge" there is nothing left to hinder the inevitable. All the godly mothers will be removed from judgment of their beloved children.
