For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3
What I have learned about the Tribulation period and the rapture is that neither term was inspired by God. Therefore, there are no clear definitions in the inspired scriptures to explain what the tribulation period and the rapture are. I prefer to seek and believe the word of God for clarity over the opinions of my fellow man. Christ’s return will occur according to God’s plan; therefore God’s word is the only reliable source of truth on the subject.
However, the opinions of Christians vary from pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation views depending on who one believes and what one understands of the rapture and the tribulation period.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
In the attempt to reprove these terms from scratch I have concluded that the Tribulation Period is term that sounds biblical but a term that is not associated with a bible reference that describes it. Instead the Tribulation Period has become a time period that Christians want to avoid because of its punishment of mankind. However, if anyone is to understand God’s plan for his second coming we must understand his plan was decreed before the creation of the world.
So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
On the other hand, God may be saying that he wants you to learn to rely on him if you expect to endure what he commanded would take place. Let’s consider why John wrote
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. Revelation 13:10
Isn’t Revelation 13 associated with what we understand with the traditional teaching about the tribulation period?
Another teaching on Christ’s return says that 1 Thessalonians 4:17 isn’t the second coming because Jesus does not set his feet on the earth. Sounds impressive so why does the scriptures say
"Do not go beyond what is written." 1 Corinthians 4:6.
Why does Jesus need to set his feet on the earth when his angels will gather all of mankind to him for the purpose of sorting the good from the bad? The scripture states God’s reason in this manner.
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:31-32
In scripture the second coming is revealed as the harvest of the earth. Matthew 13:39 tells us that the harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. In every harvest there is a process of sorting the good from the bad. The good crop is kept or placed in the barn and the bad is thrown away or burned in the fire. Strange as it may seem why did God put Adam and Eve in the Garden if the human race was not the crop the earth produces? The bible says,
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matthew 5:18
The doctrine of the rapture tells me that I am going to escape what the word of God decrees. The rapture does not comply with every part of God’s plan that he revealed about the second coming. The word of Jesus Christ repudiates the doctrine of the rapture because the scriptures declare that the unjust will be raised with the church.
"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out — those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. John 5:28-29
God often repeats what you need to know to confirm the certainty of his truth.
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2
We should compare the following scriptures as well.
Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. Isaiah 2:19
God often repeats what you need to know to confirm the certainty of his truth.
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Revelation 6:15-17
When Christ rises to shake the earth every eye will see him even the man who pierced his side, and the people of the earth will mourn because of him and attempt to hide from the face of the Lamb because they are facing the imminent wrath of God. Looking forward to Chapter seven of Revelation we see those of the Old Testament being sealed and those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb gathered around the throne of God. These are in the presence of God and are receiving their reward. Those outside the camp are attempting to hide from the coming wrath of God.
When the fifth angel sounded his trumpet the locust were released from the abyss they were commanded not to harm those sealed by God.
They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Revelation 9:4
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Thessalonians 5:9
You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. Psalms 91:8
Daniel 12 and Matthew 24 talks about the end time in this manner.
"It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed." Daniel 12:7
If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:22
The bible tells us that God will go over his field once to harvest it in the same way the farmer reaps his crops. No matter how we depict the second coming, it is part of God’s plan of salvation and it will unfold exactly the way the decrees of God are poured out. Let us hold fast to his promise.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Psalms 91:14-16
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