Tribulation and the Church

The Church in the Book of Revelation

There are several misperceptions that pre-tribulation rapture proponents bring forth concerning the book of Revelation. The two that I want to expound upon here are, the rapturist interpretation of Rev.3:10 and their assertion that after Revelation 4:1 and before Revelation 19, the church is not mentioned.

"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." - Rev.3:10

Pre-trib theology states that in Rev.3:10, when Jesus says "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation", he is speaking of the rapture of the Church prior to the great tribulation. This is nothing but wild speculation and conjecture. Lets break this scripture down and see what it says.

" Because thou hast kept the word of my patience". The Greek word for "kept" is tereo, which means: to attend to carefully, take care of, to guard, to observe. The Greek word for "patience" is hupomone , which means: steadfastness, consistency, endurance. In the NT, this word describes the character of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and godliness by even the greatest trials and sufferings. This portion of verse amplified says, Because you have guarded, observed, and carefully attended to the word of my steadfast consistency and endurance,

" I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation" The Greek word for "keep" is the same as that for "kept" above (tereo). The meaning of the word "temptation" in the context used here means: the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue, and consistency. What this portion of verse says is, I also will carefully attend to, take care of, and guard you from the appointed time of the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue, and consistency,

" which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth ." The world used in this context means, the whole inhabited earth. The Greek word for "try" means: to tempt, to try or test one's faith, virtue, and character by enticement to sin.

When we amplify Rev.3:10 based on what we see above, it says:

Because you have guarded, observed, and carefully attended to the word of my steadfast
consistency and endurance, I also will carefully attend to, take care of, and guard you
from the appointed time of the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue, and consistency,
which shall come upon the whole inhabited earth, to test the faith, virtue, and character
by the enticement to sin of all them that dwell upon the earth.

Where, I ask, is there anything in this scripture that would indicate that Jesus is speaking of removing the Church from the earth? More to the point, it says that Jesus will guard, take care of, and attend to the saints in the time of trial because of their faithfulness and consistency (as in, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee-Heb.13:5). This scripture is consistent with Jn.17:15 where Jesus said, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep(tereo) them from the evil".

The Lord is not going to remove the Church during the tribulation period, for we are on this earth to be witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ to get people saved. Even though the tribulation will be a time of terrible judgment upon the ungodly, God's people will be guarded, carefully attended to, and taken care of by the power of the most high himself. Does not God have the ability to perform this? Did he not keep Noah and his family without removing them from the earth? (Gen.7:13-23) Did he not protect Lotwithout removing him from the earth? (Gen.19:15-16) Were the children of Israel afflicted by the plagues brought upon Egypt? Were they not safe in Goshen? (Ex.8:22-23, 9:6,26, 10:23) Were they not saved by the blood of the Passover Lamb when death overshadowed the land? (Ex.12:27)

Let me ask you this: Where in all of the Bible do you see God removing his people from the earth when he brings forth his judgment upon the ungodly? It is never mentioned, past, present, or future. Concerning believers the word does say in 1Th.5:9, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ". Therefore, we as believers do not have anything to fear about God's wrath when it is poured out upon the world, because we are not the object of his wrath, the ungodly are.

Does that mean that during the tribulation period that saints will not undergo trial, persecution, and tribulation? No! It does not, for followers of the Lord Jesus Christ will not only be persecuted, but will be persecuted unto death (Rev. 6:9-11, 7:13-14,12:11,17, 13:7-10, 14:12-13). Is it God who brings this persecution and tribulation upon the saints? No! It is Satan and the ungodly who persecute the people of God.

Did Jesus ever promise believers that they would not suffer persecution and tribulation? No! On the contrary, he stated in Jn.15:20, "The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you". In Mt.24:9 when Jesus was speaking of the end times, he stated, "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". In Jn.16:33, Jesus said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world".

A Christian's reaction to persecution and affliction should be a witness to the world of Jesus Christ. For instance, in Acts 16:20-34 Paul and Silas were unjustly brought before the magistrates, they were  beaten and thrown into prison with their feet placed into stocks. Did they moan and complain to each other because they were mistreated? No! At the midnight hour they prayed and sang praises to God. Then there was an earthquake. Next we see the jailer falling down before Paul saying "what must I do to be saved?" and his whole house getting saved. Was it the earthquake that caused him to get saved? No! It was their witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, even in a time of persecution and affliction. As I stated earlier, the purpose of the Church on earth is to be a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, preaching the gospel to the lost and getting them saved.

Pre-trib theology asserts that after Revelation 4:1, the Church is not mentioned again until Revelation 19. Their train of thought is that when John is caught up to heaven, that this is representative of the Church being "raptured". As we look at the scriptures, you will see that this is nothing more than a continuation of speculation, conjecture and hyperbole. In simple words: Absolutely false!

First, let us look at what the word says about the clothing of the Church. This will enable us to observe one obvious method of reference to the Church after Revelation 4:1. In Rev.3:4-5 it says, ""Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels". In Rev.3:18 when Jesus speaks to the Church of Laodicea, he says "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 again, look at what Rev.19:7-8 says concerning the wife of the Lamb, which is the Church: "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints".

It is obvious from the scriptures that the Church is clothed in white robes. This is representative of those who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, being made righteous in the eyes of God. Therefore, any reference to believers in Revelation that wear or are arrayed in white robes must be referring to members of the Church.

Now go to Rev.6:9-11,  "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held...And white robes were given unto every one of them". Isn't this describing members of the Church?

Next look at Rev.7:13-14 , "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes ? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation , and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb". Isn't this also describing members of the Church? Only the Church has been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. Doesn't it also say that these saints came out of great tribulation? How can that be if the Church was raptured?

Also, check out Rev.12:11, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death". Is this not also referring to the Church? Who else has overcome by the blood of the Lamb?

Next, Rev.12:17 , "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ". Again, this has to refer to the Church. Who else has the testimony of Jesus Christ?

Next, Rev.13:7- , "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints , and to overcome them...". Many would say, how can this refer to the Church when these saints are overcome? This scripture goes hand in hand with Dan.12:7b, "and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished". To scatter the power means, to scatter or disperse the strength or power. Toward the end of the tribulation, Satan and his anti-christ will think that they have won the victory over the Lord and His Church, to the point that anti-christ will sit in the temple proclaiming himself to be god. Did not Jesus say in Mt.24:22, "but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" and in verse 24, "for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect"? This shall be a time of great persecution and suffering for the Church, but at the same time, though their strength may be dispersed, they will in the end see victory.

Finally, Rev.14:12, "Here is the patience of the saints : here are they that keep the commandments of God , and the faith of Jesus ". Who else keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus except for the Church?

How can it honestly be said that after Rev.4:1, the Church isn't mentioned again until Rev.19?

Of more significant importance, how can it be said that the Church is raptured prior to the tribulation? I mean, the Church is the Church. Is part of the Church going to be glorified and part not? That does not align with the scriptures. The resurrection of the righteous is one event. Therefore, the whole Church will be glorified, receiving the fullness of the resurrection, at the same time. This can only occur at the second coming of our Lord to the earth.