The Church and the Tribulation (Part 1)

If You’re Left Out of the Rapture - The Church (The Body of Christ) & The Tribulation (Part 1)

There are two major messages applicable to our days and time. Observing the content of these two messages also relays a strong warning. The first message applies to the church, the Body of Christ, concerning the gathering together (some call the rapture) by Christ Jesus of the church, his body, prior to the unfolding of the events leading to the second coming of Christ Jesus in triumph. The second message is regarding the events of the tribulation that the church, the Body of Christ will be rescued from by our Lord. The warning is to those who have been reluctant to or refused to believe God's Word, to confess Jesus Christ, and believe to receive the new birth. The warning is you don't want to miss meeting Christ in the air and be left here to endure what will soon follow the gathering together of the Body of Christ.

We will not go through the tribulation and the wrath to come. Prior to the tribulation to come upon the earth, with the unbelievers left under the power of the Antichrist, Jesus Christ will appear and gather together his body, the church, both those who will be alive at his appearing (born again believers) and those who are asleep in Christ (born again believers who have physically died). The reason the dead in Christ are referred to as asleep, because as born again believers the spirit within each of us is eternal life. It is the eternal life we received when we believed that Jesus Christ was the son of God and that God raised him from the dead. When Jesus Christ returns for his body, the born again believers, the ones who are asleep in Christ will rise first to meet Christ in the air, then we who are alive on the earth will also arise to meet our Lord in the air. That is why Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus (Timothy) said in the letter, 1 Thessalonians, to the church in verse 18, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." What a comfort to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your loved ones and friends who die physically are not gone, they are asleep until Jesus Christ returns. Just think, when you go to sleep at night do you experience any passage of time? No, you feel like you just closed your eyes a second and opened them again to find a new day. So it is to sleep in Christ, one moment you close your eyes and the next you are rising to meet Christ in the air.
“1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Jesus, in his ministry on earth knew that them who believed in him would not die. When their physical bodies were dead, they continued on in sleep to await his future return. In two different instances Jesus referred to a person the world said was dead as being only asleep, and in both instances raised that person from the dead.
“Matthew 9:23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land."
“John 11:11-14, 41-44 - 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."

There was a reason they were not ignorant of the signs of the approaching end times. Because we have the instruction of God's Word, we have the foretelling of the things that will signal the beginning of the prophecies coming to pass. From the Old Testament through the book of Revelation, the future events that will unfold have been recorded for the children of light (us) so the we will not be unaware in the sleep of ignorance, but observant and aware of the signs foretold by God happening around us. And, we are to be comforted in the fact that God did not appoint us to go through the wrath of the tribulation. Those who chose not to believe are not so fortunate. To them they will think they have peace and safety in their decadence, their existing only for pleasure, position, and prominence, they will be as unaware of what is happening around them. They will not see what is coming because their eyes will have been blinded to receiving the light of God's Word which reveals the nearness of the return of Christ. They will experience sudden destruction like the onset of labor pain in a woman starting to give birth. It will be the beginning of the tribulation and those left here will loose all sense of the meaning of the words peace and safety.
“1 Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

Well some might ask, "what are some of these so evident signs happening around us today?" In the last days will come scoffers. To gain a little insight into what a scoffer is, the definition of a scoffer is, "Someone who jeers or mocks or treats something with contempt or calls out in derision." Who many of the people you know fit this category? They call themselves atheists, those too scared to completely deny God call themselves agnostics, in America and in the United Kingdom there are growing numbers of New Age Pagans who openly reject God and rather worship the false gods of ancient times. Pay attention to most famous comedians, just about all of them have a Christian joke routine. Pay attention to the television programs you watch and see the occasional digs and open attacks on Christian morals. Or just get out into a crowded place and say your a Christian real loud and see what the reaction is around you. We Christians make unbelievers real uncomfortable when we are around, we spoil there fun. The light of God's Word in us makes what they do in darkness show up for what it really is. Scoffers contend that everything is as it always has been and Christians are superstition, Christians are insane, that were plain stupid to believe the world will soon come to an end. They have forgotten God's record of the civilization before, when He saved only Noah and his family. Those people were scoffing right up until the point when they were thinking about how long they could tread water.

“2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:"
God has already told us how He plans to destroy evil this final time, destruction of the earth by fire.

“2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
Scoffers may base there sense of security in the fact that thousands of years since the prophecies of the end were recorded, that nothing has happened. There were scoffers in the days of the prophecies too, but God's Word says that a thousand years are but like a day to God. Just because the return of Jesus Christ has not come yet does not mean it will not come. God keeps His promises and this is a promise that He has not only made but one that He has established. Do not be fooled, the end will come and all mankind will stand before God to be judged on whether they accepted Jesus Christ or not and for their deeds.

“2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
The day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. The believers will not be totally unprepared because they will have seen the signs. They will just not know the exact day or time our Lord will return. Not only will the earth be judged in the end of this present world, but the heavens and all of creation will be affected.

“2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
Needless to say, we at all times must maintain our position in Christ, walking our Christian walk as God wants us to, and practicing the principles of Christ. We, of all the earth, have hope in the appearing of our Lord. Christ return is when we attain our citizenship in heaven. We will inherit new heavens and a new earth that will be filled with righteousness, not darkness of the former world.

“2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;"

To gain full thankfulness for what Jesus Christ made available the Church (his body) by saving us from the tribulation, let us examine exactly what will take place once we born again believers have met Christ Jesus in the air. In Revelation 5:6 we are given the appearance of Christ standing before the throne of God as a lamb (our once forever Passover sacrifice) and verse 9 tells us that it is Christ Jesus who is the only one able to open the books seven seals. At this point in time we have already met Jesus in the air, both them who are alive at his coming and them who were asleep.
“Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."

This sets the stage for the unfolding of the terrible days and years to come. Mankind, that chose not to believe, has just crossed the line into the greatest period of darkness, pain, suffering, atrocity, plague, famine, death, and every imaginable evil that could befall man. You could liken this moment to the moment after God shut the door on the Ark securing Noah and his family safe inside, when the clouds had gathered and the rain began to fall on man's first world civilization. Like Noah and his family secure in the ark, we the Church, the Body of Christ are secure with Jesus Christ in heaven at this point in time.

God's Word has endured for ages. Just because the tribulation is upon the earth does not mean God's Word will not be available to them who repent and seek God. There will be believers on the earth after the gathering together, during the tribulation. Now let us go to the Word of God and see the things that will come to pass not long from our present generation. If you are a Born Again Believer you do not have to worry about these things, but if you have refused to believe and confess Jesus Christ you might ought to take heed.

The First Calamity - First Seal Broken
When the first seal is opened, we see the entrance of the Antichrist. He will appear riding a white horse. He is armed for battle and has received the crown of leadership by the Devil who is still, at this point God of this world. Just as the Devil had the resources to tempt Jesus in the wilderness by offering him rulership over all the nations in the world, this offer is realized in the Antichrist. He receives ultimate power on earth and goes forth throughout the world conquering and to conquer. This is the First Calamity, is conquest by the Antichrist. The reason the Antichrist appears riding a White horse is to deceive those who were left behind, who know the Word of God but never believed. You see, the Antichrist makes this kind of entrance because Jesus Christ returns to the earth the second time riding a white horse. Even with the Devil's end so close he still tries to deceive. (Revelation 19:11 "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.")
“Revelation 6:1-2; "1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."