I have done an Exegesis on Matthew 24. I understand it says great troubles will come, but why do we as Christians try to frame words only only being able to describe ONE EVENT? Jesus stated there would be GREAT TROUBLES like never seen before or since, the very same events that Daniel Described in Daniel 12:1-2.
Now lets move to Revelation chapter 7. John Describes the 144,000 Jewish Servants of God from verses 1-8. Then John speaks in verse 9 about a great multitude.
Rev. 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a
great multitude, which no man could number, of
ALL NATIONS, and
kindreds, and
people, and
tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me,
What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 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.
This is the Church in Heaven, who have been Raptured. The came out of the Great Tribulation. No Jacobs Troubles which had the GREATEST TROUBLES EVER, but the Tribulation that the Church went through for 2000 years. I find it astonishing that people do not seem to grasp what the Church went through for 2000 year until this very day. And the 2000 Year Tribulation is GREATER (In length by far) than the Seven Years of Jacobs Troubles. So we have to back off and quit demanding that certain words have a certain meaning. What is GREATER THAN depends on what is being spoken about. If its the TIME PERIOD then the 2000 year period is GREATER than the Seven Year Period of Jacobs Troubles, if its the GREATEST TROUBLES EVER being spoken of then its the Seven Year Period of Jacobs Troubles. Jesus was speaking about the GREATEST TROUBLES EVER in Matthew 24:21, John was speaking about the Church in Heaven having come out of the GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD of the Church Age. A 2000 year period that ends in the Rapture.
We can't pigeon hole certain words to ONLY have certain meanings. You and I agree on the Rapture being before the Tribulation, I am pretty sure on that. So I understand you have a certain degree of comprehension skills.
So I am pointing out the obvious, I have been understanding this for 6 whole Months (lol) after agreeing with you for 30 years as a Christian. But the Obvious is, the Church is shown in Heaven in chapters 4,5, 7 and 19. The Church in Rev. 7 is not the Martyrs under the Alter in Rev. chapter 6, they (Seal #5) are given White Robes and told they must wait until their fellow brothers/servants have been killed also, which means they must wait until the BEASTS 42 Month rule is finished. Those mentioned in Revelation ch. 7 are the Raptured Saints brother, or the Church.
The Bible clearly tells us the Church will go through much Tribulation:
John 16:33 These things I have 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.
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples,
and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and
that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother,
and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John 15:18
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Matthew 24:8 All these are the
beginning of sorrows. 9 Then
shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
(Before the Rapture)
Rev. 1:9
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and
ye shall have tribulation ten days:
be thou faithful unto death, and I will
give thee a crown of life.
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death.
And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried
Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
As we know, Rome killed many of the early Church, ISIS now murders our brothers and sisters in their lands, we are living in the 2000 Year Church Age, and in Great Tribulation, though we in America are blessed not to have to endure such catastrophic circumstances, we have had millions of brothers throughout the ages who have died for Christ Jesus name. Those are the MULTITUDES of many peoples, nations and tongues in Revelation chapter 7.