K
Kenneth,
As always, the problem with the righteous being "caught up at the end of the Great Tribulation" is that by doing so you put the church through the entire wrath of God, which we are not appointed to suffer. The wrath of God which is carried out via the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments takes place prior to Christ's return to the earth to end the age. The church is not appointed to suffer this wrath or any wrath and that because Jesus already suffered it for us. This is what the resurrection and catching away is all about in 1 Thes.4:16-18. It is the removal of all those who are in Christ, those who are watching for and anticipating his appearing. The wrath of God is going to be poured out on those who will have continued to reject his Son and continue to live according to the sinful nature. Therefore, those who are true believers in Christ, who have been living from faith to faith, sowing to the Spirit and anticipating his return, will be resurrected and caught up prior to God's wrath, which means that the event would have to take place prior to the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments.
As always, the problem with the righteous being "caught up at the end of the Great Tribulation" is that by doing so you put the church through the entire wrath of God, which we are not appointed to suffer. The wrath of God which is carried out via the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments takes place prior to Christ's return to the earth to end the age. The church is not appointed to suffer this wrath or any wrath and that because Jesus already suffered it for us. This is what the resurrection and catching away is all about in 1 Thes.4:16-18. It is the removal of all those who are in Christ, those who are watching for and anticipating his appearing. The wrath of God is going to be poured out on those who will have continued to reject his Son and continue to live according to the sinful nature. Therefore, those who are true believers in Christ, who have been living from faith to faith, sowing to the Spirit and anticipating his return, will be resurrected and caught up prior to God's wrath, which means that the event would have to take place prior to the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments.
The Lord comes back and catches up those who believe in Him so that Armageddon and God's wrath can be poured out.
God' wrath takes place at the end of the GT, not all the way through it !!!
It says we are not appointed to face God's wrath that is poured out after the GT, it says nothing in the bible about escaping persecutions in the world. Instead Jesus said Himself that because He was persecuted so also will we be persecuted !!!