The Church and the Tribulation Period
Will believers experience the Great Tribulation?
In any instance where God’s wrath was poured out, He delivered His people. Noah and Lot are good examples. Noah and his family were rescued from world judgment while Lot and his family were rescued from the destruction of a city.
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).
“For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober…For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:3–6,9).
The rapture saves the church
There are three specific elements of the rapture:
- It comes before judgment
- It only involves true believers
- It will happen as a thief in the night
Remember, there will be those who will be left out of the rapture.
“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds” (Revelation 2:21–22).
Are you ready for the rapture? Are you waiting for Him?
“And he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).
