THE TRIBULATION IS A JEWISH EVENT!
The seven year Tribulation is also known as Daniel's Seventieth Week (Daniel 9:24-27), and The Time of Jacob's Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). And in Matthew 24, there are several clear indications that those being warned of the soon coming trial will be exactly that: a Jewish event.
Matthew 24:
v. 3 - … what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world? [The word "world" should be translated "age." The Greek word is aion meaning age, or a specific period of time. At the time Jesus said this, Israel was in the age or dispensation known as The Law.]
v. 5 - For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. ["Christ" is a Hebrew term meaning "God's Anointed King," or "Messiah." Israel is looking for the son of man (son of David), while Christians are looking for our Lord, the Son of God!]
v. 6 - And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars.... [Because the Antichrist has guaranteed Israel's protection during the seven-year agreement, Israel on hears of these things; they do not experience them.]
v. 9 - Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted,* and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake. [*Parallel passages (Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12) indicate believers during the first half of the Tribulation will be persecuted by Jews in Jewish synagogues!]
vv. 15-16 - When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads this, let him understand): then let those who are in Judaea flee into the mountains.... [The abomination of desolation takes place in the "holy place" or the third temple; and the warning is specifically to the Jews dwelling in Judaea!]
vv. 23-26 - [Again, these are Jews, who, still seeking their Messiah and the Prophets, are warned that there will be many claiming to be them.]
IF THE TRIBULATION IS FOR THE JEWS,
WHERE ARE THE TRUE CHRISTIANS?
Born again believers, true Christians, will have been removed from the earth prior to the Tribulation in an event known as the Rapture. I will not take the time to explain the term. It involves the Lord Jesus returning "in the clouds" and believers being changed and caught up to meet Him in the air. The follow passages are the basis for this doctrine:
John 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 - … you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, Who delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For IF we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. 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 (precede; go before) them which are asleep. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 - For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you (already) do.
The Book of Revelation makes no mention of the Church during the Tribulation period which is described in Chapters Six to Nineteen. The Church is the focus in Chapters Two and Three. Here are a couple of verses to especially consider:
Revelation 3:10 - Because you have kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Revelation 4:1 - [Here, John is a type for the Church.] After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING
HERE FOR THE TRIBULATION, AND BEING
IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS WHEN IT OCCURS,
IS HAVING FAITH IN THE DEATH, BURIAL,
AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, OUR LORD!
PERIOD!
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