WILL THE CHURCH GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION? YES AND NO!

THE TRIBULATION IS APPOINTED UNTO ISRAEL

*  Daniel 9:24 - "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city...."
*  Jeremiah 30:7 - "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it."

SOME CLUES FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

*  Matthew 24:5 - Israel still looking for their Messiah.
*  Matthew 24:9 - Those saved are persecuted in the synagogues [See Mk. 13:9; Lk. 21:12].
*  Matthew 24:14 - The Gospel is still about the kingdom.
*  Matthew 24:15 - The Abomination of Desolation is a Jewish problem.
*  Matthew 24:16 - Those in Jerusalem and Judaea told to flee.
*  Matthew 24:20 - Only the Jews would worry about it being on a Sabbath.
*  Matthew 24:23-27 - Israel still looking for their Christ.

WILL THE CHURCH EXPERIENCE THE TRIBULATION PERIOD?

YES!

*  Matthew 13:24-40 - The church is made up of both wheat and tares.
*  Matthew 13:31-32 - The church grows so large that birds dwell in it [Birds represent agents of the evil one - see Mt. 13:4, 38].
*  Matthew 13:47-48 - The church is like a net containing both good and bad "fish."

LAODICEA:  THE PEOPLE RULE, NOT JESUS!

*  Revelation 3:14-22 - "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

WILL THE CHURCH EXPERIENCE THE TRIBULATION PERIOD?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

*  Genesis 7:1 - Noah's ark was lifted above the flood below [See Lk. 17:26].
*  Genesis 19:29-30 - Lot take up BEFORE the destruction below [ See Lk. 17:28].
*  John 14:1-6 - Jesus is coming for true believers BEFORE the Tribulation.
*  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - Our removal is clearly described.
*  1 Thessalonians 5:9 - The Tribulation is described as the wrath of God - it is not for the church.

PHILADELPHIA:  OBEYING JESUS' COMMAND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Revelation 3:7-13 - "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name.  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.  Because thou hast kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."