The rapture and "the tribulation"

[Evmur]

Going through the entire 7 year period would put the church through all of the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments, as well as the plagues of wrath that the two witnesses bring, all of which make up the wrath of God. There is a difference between the trials and tribulations that believers suffer as a result of their faith vs. God's unprecedented coming wrath, which is what the church is not appointed to suffer.

The underlying principle of why believers are not appointed to suffer God's wrath, is that Jesus took upon himself the wrath of God that every believer deserves satisfying it completely. When we believed, we were credited with the righteousness of Christ and reconciled to God. Therefore, God's wrath no longer rests upon those who believe and the church must therefore be gathered prior to said wrath.

Revelation 17:14, 19:6-8, 14, show the church as already being in heaven attending her wedding to the Lamb and then following the Lord out of heaven to the earth to end the age. In order to follow the Lord out of heaven, one would already have to be in heaven.

1). The problem with this idea is that the word 'ekklesia' translated as 'Church' is used 19 times throughout chapters 1 thru 3 and then the word is never used again within the narrative of God's wrath. Coincidence? I think not.

2). There is no scripture that states or hints that the believers within the church are protected. This is why Jesus warns believers to always be watching (looking for His appearing and staying in the faith) so that this day does not close on us like a trap.

3). The only group that is protected are the 144,000 Israelites, who will have been sealed in their foreheads and their protection is mentioned regarding the 5th trumpet from the stinging torment of those demonic beings who are released from the Abyss. Whether they are protected from the rest of the plagues of wrath is not mentioned.

4). Revelation 13:5-7 states that the beast will be given power to conquer and make war against the great tribulation saints, who are introduced in Rev.7:9-17. This group is not protected from being exposed to God's wrath and even mentions their exposure.

Tribulation and God's wrath are two entirely different things

Jesus warned "in the world you will have tribulation" tribulation is from the world. It is persecution. The Great Tribulation is the great end=times persecution Jesus warned us of.

 

[SomeDisciple]

Tribulation and God's wrath are two entirely different things

Jesus warned "in the world you will have tribulation" tribulation is from the world. It is persecution. The Great Tribulation is the great end=times persecution Jesus warned us of.

I suppose then, that times of tribulation and God's wrath could be close together or even overlapping. That makes sense to me anyway- God's wrath against the world, punishing them for the tribulation they are putting his people through... Like Israel and Egypt and the plagues.

 

[Evmur]

I suppose then, that times of tribulation and God's wrath could be close together or even overlapping. That makes sense to me anyway- God's wrath against the world, punishing them for the tribulation they are putting his people through... Like Israel and Egypt and the plagues.

Yes God's wrath will be poured out upon the persecutors after the church is gone. Starting with Antichrist in the temple.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Tribulation and God's wrath are two entirely different things

Jesus warned "in the world you will have tribulation" tribulation is from the world. It is persecution. The Great Tribulation is the great end=times persecution Jesus warned us of.

Hello Evmur,

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with that and have always posted this information myself, because people keep comparing the trials and tribulation that the apostles and the first century church went through when talking about God's wrath, as though they were the same thing.

The trials and tribulations that Jesus said we would experience because of our faith come at the hands of men and the powers of darkness. But God's coming wrath via the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments, are completely different, being God's direct unprecedented judgement upon the whole inhabited world, leading up to the Lord's return to the earth to end the age.

Just curious, did I say anything in any of my posts that would give the impression that they were the same? If so, that was not my intention.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Tribulation and God's wrath are two entirely different things

Jesus warned "in the world you will have tribulation" tribulation is from the world. It is persecution. The Great Tribulation is the great end=times persecution Jesus warned us of.

I even stated the same right in the post that you responded to:

"There is a difference between the trials and tribulations that believers suffer as a result of their faith vs. God's unprecedented coming wrath, which is what the church is not appointed to suffer.