Rapture Theory: True or False? Part 3

Rapture Theory: True or False? Part 3
by Rev. Dr. Red

If you haven't already done so, please view Part 1 and 2. Part1 goes into the history of Rapture Theory. Parts 1 and 2 provide scriptures backing up the fact that the ideology of a "rapture" is false doctrine. This part is strictly pertaining to Tribulation.
Rapture Theory: True or False? Part 1
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Rapture Theory: True or False? Part 2
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Everyone is well aware that the Last Days are going to bring about a Tribulation period. God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament have told us that there will be a Tribulation. We were also told what signs to look for so we may know if we are in truly in the End Times leading to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The problem arises in the fact that many Christians believe that we will all somehow escape this Tribulation period. That somehow we are too "good" for Tribulation.
The reason this is a problem is because the Prophets and God all throughout the Old Testament as well as Jesus and the Apostles in the New Testament clearly state that we WILL be persecuted, imprisoned, and martyred in days of Tribulation. How can we (Christians) suffer such persecution if we are "saved" from Tribulation. All throughout history Christians have suffered persecution. It will be no different in the ays of Tribulation. There are also to be 144,000 sealed, who cannot be touched by such persecution, for the purpose of keeping the Gospel spreading and Christian morale high despite the persecution.
God has always protected HIS people from HIS wrath on the non-believers. A perfect example is Egypt. The Israelites were very much alive and present in Egypt as the Egyptians felt Gods wrath. God protected the Israelites from suffering His wrath.
Now Tribulation is another story. It will be us Christians suffering the wrath of Satan. Many will give up their faith in Christ (the falling away). Those who do not will be persecuted as never before. It is going to be extremely tough times. There will be many Christians who are imprisoned and killed for nothing more than being Christian. There will also be many Christians who run to the wilderness and rural areas as to escape persecution.
If these Christians were non-existant in Tribulation, then who is it Satan is waging war on? Scripture tells he is waging war on the faithful (Christians). To believe otherwise is akin to suggesting Jesus is a liar. Are you calling Jesus a liar? If so, you have no faith.
People are quick to believe we won't be here for one reason. Noone wants to believe we are going to be put through such a grand test of faith. Truly, that is what Tribulation is. It is a test of the faith we Christians have and the last chance for non-believers to repent and come to Christ.
What is the definition of Tribulation?
distress or suffering resulting from oppression or persecution; also : a trying experience
What is the etymology of Tribulation?
early 13c., from O.Fr. tribulacion (12c.), from L.L. tribulationem (nom. tribulatio) "distress, trouble, affliction" (c.200), from tribulatus, pp. of tribular "to oppress, afflict," a figurative use by Christian writers of L. tribulare "to press," also possibly "to thresh out grain," from tribulum "threshing sledge," from stem of terere "to rub" + -bulum, suffix forming names of tools.
Going by the definition and etymology of Tribulation, it is fair to say a true believer lives in constant tribulation. It is also fair to say, as per Jesus' warnings, Christians living through THE Tribulation will suffer a great deal more than any time in history. Jesus has told us we WILL be persecuted for our faith in Him. But this persecution and testing of our faith, to those who endure to the end, grants us eternal life. To try and escape Tribulation is to escape the reality of what Jesus has told us. In other words, to look for an escape route is akin to having no faith. If you are truly faithful, there is nothing to worry about. As Joshua 1:9 states, God is with us where ever we go, we are to have courage not fear.
Now lets take a look at some scripture:
Deuteronomy 4:30-31 KJV
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
1 Samuel 10:19 KJV
And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.
Psalm 34:19, 21-22 KJV
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Matthew 24:21-25 KJV
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.
Mark 13:20-23, 33 KJV
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
John 16:33 KJV
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Acts 14:22 KJV
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Romans 5:3-5 KJV
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 8:18, 28, 35-39 KJV
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 12:10-15, 21 KJV
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Corinthians 10:13, 26 KJV
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Corinthians 7:4 KJV
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 3:4 KJV
For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 KJV
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
James 1:12 KJV
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
1 Peter 1:6-9 KJV
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 4:12-13, 16 KJV
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1 Peter 5:10 KJV
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Revelation 2:7, 10 KJV
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 7:14 KJV
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
It is completely un-Biblical to suggest Christians will not be present during Tribulation. Anyone who is telling you that for one reason or another, you can escape Tribulation is perverting Scriptures and teaching false doctrines.
Any questions, feel free to ask. Below are some links that may help you understand what is being stated here.
Further Info:
Rapture, Tribulation, Second Coming
Some Sources With Varying Viewpoints On Rapture And Tribulation:
When will the "Rapture" Occur
Will Christians Go Through the Tribulation? by Dr. Williams
Will Christians Go Through the Great Tribulation? by Rich Deem
Will Christians Go Through The Great Tribulation? by Gordon Lindsay
WILL CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION? WHEN WILL JESUS RETURN? WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF HIS RETURN AND THE END? THE MARK OF THE BEAST