Rightly Dividing
Why the Church will not go through the Tribulation.
In the lessons on divisions in the word of God from this series we stated several times that the church will not go through the tribulation. In this lesson we are going to look at some scriptural reasons for proving that the church will not go through the tribulation.
Before we begin, we must remember that when we say the church we are talking about the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). This body consists of all the people who have been saved since the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 until the rapture takes place. The Holy Spirit places them into the body of Christ by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Now that we have defined exactly what we mean by the church we will look at the scriptural reasons for why the church will not go through the tribulation.
Reasons for the Church not going through the Tribulation:
1) The Church is not mentioned from Revelation chapter 6 through chapter 19
- In the first 3 chapters we see John seeing Jesus and writing 7 letters to 7 churches. In chapter 4. John is caught up into heaven. This is a type of the rapture with John representing the church, he was called the disciple whom Jesus loved, and Jesus loved the church and gave himself for it just as a husband is to love and give himself for his bride (Ephesians 5:23-25). Note also the wording “come up hither” and “the voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me” in Revelation 4:1.
- Then in chapter 5 we see John in Heaven and the seven sealed book. Starting in chapter 6 the seals are opened and the subject matter is tribulation. From chapters 6-18 the church is not mentioned one time. But in chapter 19 we see the marriage of the lamb which is dealing with the church and happens right before the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ.
- The reason for the church not being mentioned is because the church is taken out at the rapture and is in heaven while the tribulation is taking place on the earth.
- If the church was going to have to go through the tribulation, then they would be mentioned somewhere in those chapters.
2) The tribulation is referred to as God’s wrath poured out on this earth.
- The tribulation period is referred to as God’s wrath being poured out upon this earth (Revelation 6:17 ; 14:19 ; 15:1). If you are wondering just what exactly that means, then read about the things that happen on the earth in Revelations 6-18.
- A saved person in the church age is saved from wrath and also not appointed unto wrath according to Romans 5:9 and 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
- Therefore, the church would not go through a period of time referred to as the wrath of God poured out on the earth.
3) If the church has to go through the tribulation then what happens to the Judgment Seat of Christ.
- The word of God teaches that there is a judgment called the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans14:10 ; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
- This is where the saved person from the church age is judged not based on whether he is saved or lost but he is judged for his works done after he got saved. This is where a saved person is given his rewards for living for the Lord Jesus Christ after Salvation (1 Corinthians 3:9-16).
- In Revelations 19:7 at the marriage of the Lamb the bride which is the church is said to have made herself ready. This being made ready is done by going through the Judgment Seat of Christ.
- If the church goes through the tribulation, then there would be no time for the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ and for the bride to make herself ready. Therefore, the church is raptured out before the tribulation begins and the Judgement Seat of Christ takes place in heaven while the tribulation is taking place on the earth.
4) Daniel’s 70th week is determined upon the Israel not the church.
- In Daniel 9:24-27 we see the prophesy of Daniel’s 70 weeks. In this prophesy on week represents 7 years. There is one week that has not been fulfilled and that is Daniel’s 70th week.
- Daniel’s 70th week is going to be the 7-year tribulation and notice that in verse 24 it is said to be determined upon Israel.
- During the tribulation the Lord will once again deal with the nation of Israel preparing them for the 2nd Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
5) Enoch is a type of the saved person who is alive at the rapture
- In Genesis 5:21-24 we see that God took Enoch to heaven this is confirmed in Hebrews 11:5-6.
- The only other person taken to heaven without dying in the word of God is Elijah. Elijah will come back to this earth with Moses as one of the two witnesses during the tribulation and die (Revelation 11:1-12).
- Therefore, Enoch is the only person in the word of God that was alive and never dies (Hebrews 11:5). That makes him a picture of someone who is alive at the rapture of the church and will never die.
- It is also very important to note what event he gets taken out before. He is taken out before the flood of Noah. The days of Noah are a type of the tribulation in Luke 17:26.
- So, Enoch a type a saved person who is alive at the rapture is taken out before the flood. Saved people from the church age will be taken out before the tribulation. This is plainly seen even in the typology of the Old Testament.
6) The Plan of Salvation is different in the Tribulation
- In the previous lesson on divisions we saw that the in the Church Age righteousness is God’s righteousness which is by faith of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-28 ; Ephesians 2:8-10). In the tribulation righteousness is personal righteousness when a man does by faith what God says (Revelation 12:11 ; Revelation 14:12).
- Therefore, there is a difference between these divisions, and they are not the same because the church taken to heaven in the rapture before the tribulation.
We have clearly shown 5 scriptural reasons for the church not going through the tribulation. If you are lost and waiting on the tribulation to get saved that is not very wise. You should get saved today because the church is going out before the tribulation starts.
Rightly Dividing
Why the Church will not go through the Tribulation : Handout
1) What is the significance of the church not being mentioned in Revelations chapters 4-19?
2) List some scriptures for the tribulation being referred to as God’s wrath being poured out on
this world.
3) Why is this a reason for the church not going through the tribulation? Give scripture for your
answer.
4) How do we know that the church has gone through the Judgment Seat of Christ before Jesus returns at the 2nd Advent? Give a reference for your answer.
5) Why is this a reason for the church not going through the tribulation?
6) Who is Daniel’s 70th week determined upon? Give a reference for your answer.
7) Why is the typology of Enoch a reason to suggest that the church will not go through the rapture?