I've been a christian for some decades now. Came here to look for some referencing to some things I'm looking into. One is regarding the book of Revelation. I've always had a bit of the position that we can never cearly know what it is about until that time has arived, kinda like the Ethiopian didn't have a clue what Isaiah,was talking about, but when Philip explained about Jesus it all fell in place.
But a friend of me challenged me regarding post tribulation rapture so I just started putting different texts next to each other and from that a quite clear timeline came forward. Who would like to have a critical look at this with me?
Through the Tribulation With Christ
Many Christians believe that the righteous will all be raptured out of the world just before the time of trouble and that the wicked will be left behind to endure seven years of tribulation. Because it sounds appealing, this doctrine has gained widespread acceptance. But the fact remains that the Bible clearly teaches otherwise.
Here are but a few of the many Scriptures which teach that God's end-time people will go through the tribulation:
The Bible describes the 144,000 as "they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Revelation 7:14.
In His great prophetic discourse on the mount of Olives, Jesus made the following statement immediately after mentioning the tribulation: "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Matthew 24:22. If the elect were not in the world during the great tribulation, they would not need the days to be shortened!
All throughout Scripture we see examples of the Lord saving His people through tribulation, not from it.
Noah was not saved from the Flood, but through it.
Daniel was not saved from the lions' den, but through it.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were not saved from the fiery furnace, but through it. In fact, Jesus went through it with them, and He will go through the great tribulation with us as well!
The children of Israel were not saved from Egypt before the plagues fell, but afterward. God demonstrated His love and power by preserving them in Egypt through the ten plagues. In the same way, the righteous will be in the world when the seven last plagues fall (Revelation 16), but God will preserve them.
God never promises that our lives will always be easy. Christ prayed to His Father for His disciples, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one]." John 17:15. Likewise, in 2 Timothy 3:12 Paul states, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Paul also told a group of disciples that "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22.
Although God does not always provide an escape from tribulation, He does promise to give us the power and strength to get through it. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13.
ALL will go through the great tribulation ... it will be cut short for the elects sake .... then Jesus will return.
Note: The book of revelation is not in chronological order.
