Is the Rapture Before or After The Tribulation?
This has always been a popular question for the church. Has it ever occurred to you that the church can be a major evangelist for the unbelievers in the end times? Think about that because there is a clear division in the church regarding when the rapture takes place. Ever since I began to walk with the Lord I heard people mention various doctrines of the rapture. I told myself I wanted to find out the truth through the Word myself and that is what I set out to do.
When we look and study scriptures they point us to an obvious end. Many times we do not want to go down the path the Lord has laid out for us so we look for a better way, maybe a less difficult path. This is so true even today when the Lord calls any of us to the ministry or the mission field, for example. It is already challenging enough when you must live by faith and trust God in a path you don’t know how to begin, or build something you have no idea how you would pay for and a mountain of other things one can face being in the ministry. If we know the Bible tells us to be faithful until the end we need to realize his includes being faithful until we die even if our life is threatened. I am not saying I want to go through challenges and difficult times but the scriptures regarding end times sure point us in that direction. If this is what we are asked to do in our lifetime then how else do we prove ourselves faithful to the end? In our lifetime “to the end” can be until Jesus comes.
* First Century Christians *
In the first century when the emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus was in power the Christians were fighting one another to die first for the Lord in the coliseum. That was so powerful even Nero had to stop the lion pits because people who were watching the so called “show” were being saved seeing the Christian’s desire to die for the Lord.
In these present times we have a church that is saying we won’t go through any tribulation because the Lord loves us and he wouldn’t do that to us. What makes you any different than the church of the first century? What makes you so special that would exempt you from having to go through a time of church tribulation? I don’t see any.
Even if we have a physical body we are also spiritual beings. The apostle Paul told us whether he died or lived it did not matter because he was with Jesus. We need to think this way too! We are far from it many times. We are still very carnal, myself included. I have seen many miracles and have experienced healing for myself and others and I can still be carnal. I haven’t arrived but I have left.
The Israelites saw the mighty hand of God deliver them and they still doubted the Lord would get them through some things they faced. This is part of the fallen nature in us that I truly look forward to losing once we are transformed.
* Why The Tribulation? *
You may wonder why would the church go through tribulation? First of all, tribulation is not the wrath of God. The wrath of God is judgment, whereas, tribulation is a pressure, affliction, persecution the church will go through. It’s part of being a follower of Christ, a Christian if you will. If good will be called evil and evil good then you can see how the church would have some challenging times ahead. Loving someone, praying for them, lending a helping hand, being honest, having integrity are all “good” things. So this will be looked upon as evil. These are a few of the many reasons the church will be persecuted.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Romans 5:20 KJV
In the end times when sin will abound grace will much more abound again. There will be a time of torment upon the men and women who carry the mark of the beast. The torment will last for 5 months in one instance noted in the Book of Revelation chapter 9. They will not be killed but tormented. This can be seen as an opportunity for them to repent if they would like it to cease. Only Jesus can set one free from spiritual torment.
You see, the enemy is evil and he has been given permission to torment those who have the mark on their forehead or in the hand. They would have an opportunity to repent and give their lives to Jesus. Will they do it? Only the Lord knows but they have that one last chance.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. Revelation 9:5 KJV
* The Oil and The Wine *
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. Revelation 6:6 KJV
The scripture we just read is important because it refers to the oil and the wine. Symbolically these two represent the Jews (oil) and Christians (wine). When the third seal was opened a command was given to the angels. They were instructed not to hurt the oil (Jews) and the wine (Christians). If the church was raptured already why would it be said not to hurt them?
* Jacob’s Trouble *
I have read where it is believed the tribulation will only occur to Israel since this will be their time of tribulation. Remember they have not accepted Jesus yet. It is also known as “Jacob’s Trouble”. It will be their times of affliction to help bring them to salvation. First they need to surrender to Christ the Lord. They will go through trials too because they are God’s chosen people but let me remind you there is only one seventh trumpet that will blow and the Bible shows us it happens in Revelation chapter 11:15.
After the two witnesses resurrect the seventh trumpet will blow. If the church has already been raptured at this point then that means the seventh trumpet was already sounded. Does that mean there are two seventh trumpets? Not likely! That is not what the scriptures say. There is only 1 seventh trumpet and it will blow right after the two witnesses resurrect.
It would seem as though the church and Israel will go through troubling times because Christians are also part of the family of God as the “adopted children”. The tribulation for the church and Jacob’s descendants will be simultaneous but their tribulation would look different because of the events happening through the hands of these two witnesses.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:12-15 KJV
Israel will go through some troubling times and it will last for 3.5 years (1260 days) according to the Bible. The scriptures show the church will still be here because we will not leave before the last trumpet. After seeing these scriptures, we can come to a conclusion to say all the believers, Jews and Christians alike, would rise up to heaven together when the trumpet blows.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Revelation 11:3 KJV
So let us meditate on this and begin to trust the Lord for strength in those days. Continue to pray for clarity if needed. This is a lot to take in at times. In the last days and as he has always been in our daily lives, the Lord is our shield and we are protected. Just believe his Word and spiritual covering over you! We are in his hands and that is what is important.
