General Articles

Church Not in Tribulation, Pt. 3 of 3 :: By Grant Phillips

Published on: by RR7

There are many more points, along with Scripture, I haven’t even elaborated on that show a clear difference between Jesus appearing at the Rapture and His second advent. Each is clear that the Rapture is prior to the Tribulation. One thing is sure, and that is only the Pre-Tribulation view works without spiritualizing some portion(s) of Christ’s return for His bride, the Church.

Now I would like to list some of the other points that indicate the Church is not in the Tribulation (in no particular order).

WHO WOULD POPULATE THE MILLENNIUM?

If the Church is not snatched away (raptured) by Jesus before the Tribulation, there will be no one to populate the Millennium that follows the Tribulation period, because there would be no Tribulation saints. Everyone saved during the Church age and during the time of Tribulation would have a heavenly body and be with Christ as His bride … if that were true.

When Jesus takes His Church (bride) out of this world to Heaven (Rapture), we (the Church) will all be changed. We will have spiritual bodies. We will be immortal and will not marry. The Church would not be capable of populating the Millennium.

Those saved during the Tribulation (Tribulation saints) and still living when Jesus returns with His Church at His second coming will populate the Millennium (Isaiah 65:20; Matthew 22:30; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 John 3:2).

IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE

When Jesus returns for His bride (the Church), it will happen in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). All those who have died in Christ since the inception of the Church will be raised first. Within the same “twinkling,” those of the true Church who are alive will immediately follow them in meeting Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The world will not be at war, and only the true Church will see Him.

To the contrary, when Jesus returns at His second coming, the world will be at war and every eye will see Him (Isaiah 63:1-3; Zechariah 12:9-10; Revelation 1:7; 16:16).

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

When Jesus comes for His bride, the Church, there will be no warning. There are no signs to be observed to warn of this event. One second the Church is here, the next second the Church is gone (Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6; Revelation 3:3).

When Jesus comes at the end of the Tribulation (second coming), His arrival can be determined to the exact day (Daniel 9:24-27; 12:11-12; Revelation 11:2; 12:6, 14; 13:5).

THE RAPTURE VS THE 2ND COMING

Jesus comes in the Rapture to present His bride to the Father, as in the Jewish marriage customs (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:6-9).

He comes at the end of the Tribulation, His second coming (or advent) to execute judgment upon the earth and to set up His kingdom, the Millennium (Zechariah 14:3-4; Jude 14-15; Revelation 19:11-21).

CLOSING

Again, there remain other points I have not listed that show the Church is not in the Tribulation. Hopefully, what I have mentioned will inspire some to search the Scriptures and come to their own conclusions.

Even though I believe without a doubt that Jesus will come for His bride, the Church, before the Tribulation, the most important thing is: have you put your trust in Jesus Christ to save you?

I believe the Rapture is very close, but whether it is or is not, we have no guarantee of our next breath.

“For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation'” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

There may not be any signs for the Rapture, and there are not, but the shadows of Tribulation signs are all around us.

We are living in an age when the churches are nearly totally apostate. Very few who confess the name of Jesus are true followers. Regardless of the name over the door, the world has come in like a flood and watered down the Truth of the true Gospel to the gospel of Satan.

Families are being destroyed by liberal satanic viewpoints. I perceive the political world can get no worse, but then it does. Honorable sexuality that was created by God our Creator for procreation has been brought down to such depths of disgust, it is inconceivable. Criminals are protected while the innocent suffer.

Our lifestyle has changed so rapidly in just a few years, it boggles the mind. That would be admirable if we were improving, but alas, we have become corrupt beyond belief. We have this day fulfilled Isaiah’s words.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:20-21).

Most of the world will laugh and be enraged at the following words, but let us understand one thing: this is God’s world. He created it. He owns it and will run it any way He chooses. He is God. He doesn’t need our help, and He hasn’t asked for our opinion. He gave us His rule book to follow. It is called the Bible. We can accept it or not. The choice is ours.

Folks don’t like to talk about it, but His judgment is on the way, and it is called the Tribulation. It will be seven years of hell on earth. Every person with a lick of sense needs to fall on their knees before Jesus and call upon Him to save them. No one needs to go through this terrible time if they don’t want to. If the Tribulation would start tomorrow, all who come to Jesus today would be saved and would be in Heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

Bitter Benefit :: By Edwin Tan

Published on: by RR7

 

Not many pulpits would choose the following passages of Holy Writ for a Sunday sermon. Would those sitting in the pews stomach this seemingly hard dosage of spiritual fact? This might be the case years ago, but in the face of worsening times as we speak – could James 1:2-4 receive a fresh new look?

Easy to understand but somewhat difficult to chew. It reads in the following manner:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

In the light of present-day realities, which is really harder to swallow? Simply allowing the ravages of the seemingly, never-ending pandemic to dominate one’s life while clinging forlornly to the diminishing prospect of things going back to what it was – quite a multitude would go for this option. However, the Great Reset that foreshadows Agenda 2030 is no longer paperback fiction. The stage setting is going on at a frenetic pace, looking menacingly ahead of schedule. There is a lot of pain along the way, more like what would have themed numerous nightmares – except that it is exploding before so many eyes!

As the darkening path towards the inevitable becomes harder each day, would it not be prudent for one to stand up against the tide? Certainly not by escapism in the form of fables from the flesh alongside earthly hocus pocus! That is why the Living Word contained the above-said passages to equip us for surviving these days.

Can there be gladness when any one of us is under the cosh [feeling pressured or restricted]?

For the simpleton, this is an absurdity – but for one that has the Holy Spirit, it can be a mouthwatering challenge. This is when our faith in God rises to the occasion. It is much more than a tough race that puts endurance levels to the test. We could be witnessing our patience plus perseverance being stretched to the limit, almost to the point of cracking up. Having the Lord in the driving seat is the critical difference. When we call on Him in our most dire moments, He will definitely not sit back, but He will more than make up for our prevailing shortfalls. Our merciful Heavenly Father knows our innate limitations and inadequacies. The problem is our tendency to freak out when the going gets tough; we forget that He is just a prayer away. We need to stay calm while we wait for His grace and mercy to flourish in us.

“For those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

The evil one will not relent when he hurls those fiery darts at us; the bulk of it comes in the form of lies – misconceptions about what is ahead! This is when we need to focus on the Lord, even if it is in the very thick of the testing. Our patience will blossom when we take on hurdles with His strength. He will never fail us when we earnestly call on Him. It is often the case of calling it quits in a fit of inpatient throwing in the towel. It is He that enables us, giving us the power to breach the obstacle that is seemingly insurmountable.

How does the Lord’s enabling work in us and for us? Quite straightforward!

Firstly, we must trust in the Lord with all our heart, total versus partial trust in our God. Secondly, we must never lean on our own understanding. Not just knowledge through education and life experiences but more so our emotions – they can be exploited by our enemy. All these can be the summation of unwarranted fears. Lastly, we have to acknowledge Him in all (not some) of our ways, and when we do so – He will direct our moves. Do not let anything or anyone else outside our Heavenly Father have the final say; that can only be cause for much grief and sorrow (Proverbs 3:5-6 elaborated).

There is beauty when an obstacle is breached. It is like reaching the summit and enjoying a panoramic view. Such is the case when one comes out of a string of hurdles triumphant. Surely more than a sigh of relief when there is that awareness that the enabling through the Holy Spirit is a joyous reality. From this, we have a rock-solid reference point that enables us to take on further challenges. The reference point is through the anointing of the Holy Spirit and taught by the Living Word!

Our remaining days as the Bride waiting to be snatched away are by no means easy. But when we are prepared to take the hardest examination of our faith in the Lord, we truly are fully equipped for the Good Fight and therefore are lacking in nothing.

Yours in Christ

Edwin

Contact me at edwinuk13@gmail.com