1) Why is the Tribulation called the time of "Jacob's
trouble", not the churches' (Jeremiah 30:7)?

1) Why is the Tribulation called the time of "Jacob's
trouble", not the churches' (Jeremiah 30:7)?

The Tribulation is for Israel and the inhabitants of the earth
(Jer. 30:4-7; Mt. 24-25; Rom. 11:25ff.; Rev. 3:10; 6:10; 8:13;
11:10; 12:12-13; 13:8, 12, 14; 14:6; 17:8). It is the time of
"Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7), "concerning Israel and
concerning Judah" (Jer. 30:4), and Jacob shall be saved out of
it (Jer. 30:7), in keeping with God's gifts and promises to
Israel, which are without repentance (Rom. 11:29; Jer.
3:17-18; 31:31-37; 32:37-41; 33:24-26; Eze. 34:22; 34:22-32;
37:21-28; 35:25-29; ). This will occur after the fullness of
the Gentiles (church age) has come in (past), according to
Romans 11:25, and then "all Israel shall be saved" (Isa.
11:11-16; 45:17; 54:6-10; Jer 3:17-23; 30:17-22' 31:31-37; Jer
32:37-41; 33:24-26; Eze. 34:22-31; 37:21-28; 39:25-29; Eze.
40:1-48:35; Ho. 3:5; Joel 3:16-21; Am. 9:14,15; Mic. 7:15-20;
Zep. 3:12-20; Zec. 10:6-12; Rom. 11:26; Rev. 7:4), when the
deliverer comes out of Zion (Rom. 11:26; Ps. 14:7; Isa.
59:20).

The 144,000 sealed from "all the tribes of the children of
Israel" (Rev. 7:4), are the "election" (Mt. 24:22, 24, 31;
Rom. 11:28), which shall be gathered from the four quarters of
the earth (Isa. 11:12; Mt. 24:31), and saved at the end of the
Tribulation, when Christ returns to earth with His wife, the
church (Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:8; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:31-32; Rev.
19:7-8, 14), to the marriage supper of the Lamb on earth (Rev.
19:7, 9).

2) Why is the rapture (catching up) not part of the Day of the
Lord?

When we get to Revelation 19, which contains the most detail
about the return of Christ to earth, after the Tribulation,
where do we see anything about a rapture? There is none!
There is no rapture when Christ returns to earth, from heaven,
with the bride, which is the church, in Revelation 19. If
there is no rapture during the day of the Lord, then when does
it occur?

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul has to educate them about the
rapture of the church, and our being caught up together with
Him in the air. By sharp contrast ("But") to the events of
this rapture, he tells them they already knew full well about
the events of the "day of the Lord"--the time when Tribulation
judgment would fall on the inhabitants of the earth.

Now how could they know full well about the Tribulation, but
nothing about the catching up (rapture) of the church? It
seems the only way is if the rapture of the church is not part
of the events of the Tribulation, in Scripture. If that's the
case, then the rapture must occur before the events of the Day
of the Lord.

It's clear from the details of both Revelation 19, and 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18, that the rapture, or catching up of the
church, is not part of the day of the Lord. And yet 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18 says the rapture will occur when Christ
returns. If the rapture doesn't occur at Christ's coming in
Revelation 19, then 1 Thessalonians must be referring to a
different coming that occurs before the day of the Lord.

3) Why has God not appointed us to wrath, but to the salvation
of living with Christ (1 Thess. 5:8-11)?

8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled,
putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of
salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer
wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we
may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another
and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (NIV)

The reason the day of the Lord won't overtake us like a thief
(1 Thessalonians 5:4), is because "God has not appointed us to
wrath" (5:9), and not just because God informed us wrath is
coming. Further, the comfort we have, and salvation we hope
for, is not one of being saved in the midst of wrath, while
away from the Lord, but that we "may live together with Him"
(5:10).

Even the unregenerate recognize that the events which occur at
the very beginning of the prophecies in Revelation 4-19,
constitute the great day of God's wrath (Rev. 6:17). The
Tribulation IS an outpouring of God's wrath (Rev. 6:16-17;
11:18; 14:19; 15:1; 16:1, 19), and a time of His judgment
(Rev. 6:10; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14;14:7; 15:4; 16:5-7; 17:8;
19:2) and punishment (Isa. 24:21-22).

In contrast to the drunken sleepers who will be overtaken like
a thief by the day of the Lord's judgment (which includes the
Tribulation, and not just eternal damnation), we, who are
sober, are supposed to put on for a helmet, the "hope of
salvation" (1 Thess. 5:8-10). Why? Because God has "NOT
[emphasis mine] 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."

Notice this is not referring to a salvation in the midst of
wrath, while separated from the Lord, but the salvation, hope,
and comfort of living "together with him [Christ]". God has
not appointed us to the wrath of the day of the Lord, but to
the salvation of living with Christ.

4) Why does the rapture assure us we have not entered the
Tribulation (2 Thess. 2)?

The Thessalonians were troubled by the thought that maybe they
had already entered the day of the Lord. Paul besought them
by the hope of the "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our
gathering together unto Him", that they should not be
troubled, as if they were already in that day (2 Thess 2:1-2).
This prospect of the coming of the Lord, and gathering of the
saints to be with Him, would not be a proof for them, that
they were not presently in the day of the Lord, if they had to
endure the entire, or even part of the Tribulation, before
they were gathered to the Lord. They could not have entered
the time of judgment (and neither could we), because the
gathering of church age saints (whether they sleep or
are alive) to the Lord will occur first, and this is the hope
by which Paul besought them.

5) Why has God promised to deliver the church from the hour of
temptation that tries the whole earth. (Revelation 3:10)?

In Revelation 3:10, God promises to deliver the church from
the very hour in which the testing occurs for "them" "that
dwell upon the earth". This is undoubtedly a reference to the
judgments which pour from the throne of God upon all the
inhabitants of the earth, beginning in Revelation chapter 4,
the 70th week, or "Tribulation". How can they be delivered
from testing that falls on earth dwellers, and from the very
hour in which the testing occurs, if they still dwell on
earth, or in a realm where the "hour" of temptation
occurs? This truth applies to whomever "has an ear" in the
"churches" (v13).

6) Why was John called to heaven before the "things which
shall be hereafter" (Rev 4:1)?

In Revelation 1:19, John was told to write the "things which
thou hast seen " (vision of the resurrected Christ), the
"things which are" (letters to the "churches"), and the
"things which shall be hereafter" (Tribulation wrath upon the
inhabitants of the earth). The letters to the churches
conclude the "the things which are". But before God
shows him the "things which shall be hereafter", a door opens
in heaven, and God calls John to come up thither (4:1).

It is not until he is in heaven that he sees the judgments
which shall be "hereafter", falling on "them who dwell on the
earth". This is in keeping with the promise God just made in
Revelation 3:10, that the church will not go through the hour
of testing that falls on "them that dwell upon the earth", and
that the church (addressed in the "things which are"), is not
part of the "things which shall be hereafter".

It's also interesting to note that a door opened in heaven to
let John come up, and that when the bride comes back with
Christ, from heaven, in Revelation 19, heaven is again
"opened" to allow the return.

7) Why are the Tribulation saints not called the "church".

Revelation 1-3 addresses believers as the "church" something
like 19 times before Revelation 4 refers to the judgments
which shall be "hereafter" falling on "the inhabitants of the
earth". Then, during the time of the Tribulation, instantly
believers are referred to only by terms like "saints" or
"brethren" (all of which are applied to the nation Israel,
throughout the Bible), and there is not one reference
to the "church". Israel, and the 144,000 chosen from the
twelve tribes are the subjects of God's sealing during that
time, and not the church (Revelation 7:4; cf. Revelation 12).

Now, is it just a coincidence Revelation refers to church age
believers, during the "things which are", as the "church" 19
times, and then instantly stops calling believers the "church"
once John is raptured to heaven and the "things which shall be
hereafter" begin? It seems highly unlikely to me.

8) Why do the heavenly elders have crowns (Revelation 4:4)?

1 Peter 5:4 says: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear,
ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

Revelation 4:4 says "And round about the throne were four and
twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders
sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads
crowns of gold."

If Christ issues crowns at his appearing, and the elders in
heaven have crowns before Christ pours judgment on the earth
during the Tribulation, that means Christ appeared to
believers before the 70th week Tribulation.

9) Why does the wife of Christ return with him, to earth, at
the end of the Tribulation (Rev. 19)?

2 Corinthians 11:2 says the church is being presented as a
chaste virgin to Christ. Ephesians 5:27-32 says the
relationship between husband and wife is a picture of the
union of Christ and the church. The Lord is purifying the
church for himself, so He may present it to himself without
spot or wrinkle. Then, in Revelation 19, we have the
bride, coming with Christ, from heaven, dressed in ...
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1) Why is the Tribulation called the time of "Jacob's
trouble", not the churches' (Jeremiah 30:7)?

The Tribulation is for Israel and the inhabitants of the earth
(Jer. 30:4-7; Mt. 24-25; Rom. 11:25ff.; Rev. 3:10; 6:10; 8:13;
11:10; 12:12-13; 13:8, 12, 14; 14:6; 17:8). It is the time of
"Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7), "concerning Israel and
concerning Judah" (Jer. 30:4), and Jacob shall be saved out of
it (Jer. 30:7), in keeping with God's gifts and promises to
Israel, which are without repentance (Rom. 11:29; Jer.
3:17-18; 31:31-37; 32:37-41; 33:24-26; Eze. 34:22; 34:22-32;
37:21-28; 35:25-29; ). This will occur after the fullness of
the Gentiles (church age) has come in (past), according to
Romans 11:25, and then "all Israel shall be saved" (Isa.
11:11-16; 45:17; 54:6-10; Jer 3:17-23; 30:17-22' 31:31-37; Jer
32:37-41; 33:24-26; Eze. 34:22-31; 37:21-28; 39:25-29; Eze.
40:1-48:35; Ho. 3:5; Joel 3:16-21; Am. 9:14,15; Mic. 7:15-20;
Zep. 3:12-20; Zec. 10:6-12; Rom. 11:26; Rev. 7:4), when the
deliverer comes out of Zion (Rom. 11:26; Ps. 14:7; Isa.
59:20).

The 144,000 sealed from "all the tribes of the children of
Israel" (Rev. 7:4), are the "election" (Mt. 24:22, 24, 31;
Rom. 11:28), which shall be gathered from the four quarters of
the earth (Isa. 11:12; Mt. 24:31), and saved at the end of the
Tribulation, when Christ returns to earth with His wife, the
church (Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:8; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:31-32; Rev.
19:7-8, 14), to the marriage supper of the Lamb on earth (Rev.
19:7, 9).


2) Why is the rapture (catching up) not part of the Day of the
Lord?

When we get to Revelation 19, which contains the most detail
about the return of Christ to earth, after the Tribulation,
where do we see anything about a rapture? There is none!
There is no rapture when Christ returns to earth, from heaven,
with the bride, which is the church, in Revelation 19. If
there is no rapture during the day of the Lord, then when does
it occur?

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul has to educate them about the
rapture of the church, and our being caught up together with
Him in the air. By sharp contrast ("But") to the events of
this rapture, he tells them they already knew full well about
the events of the "day of the Lord"--the time when Tribulation
judgment would fall on the inhabitants of the earth.

Now how could they know full well about the Tribulation, but
nothing about the catching up (rapture) of the church? It
seems the only way is if the rapture of the church is not part
of the events of the Tribulation, in Scripture. If that's the
case, then the rapture must occur before the events of the Day
of the Lord.

It's clear from the details of both Revelation 19, and 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18, that the rapture, or catching up of the
church, is not part of the day of the Lord. And yet 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18 says the rapture will occur when Christ
returns. If the rapture doesn't occur at Christ's coming in
Revelation 19, then 1 Thessalonians must be referring to a
different coming that occurs before the day of the Lord.


3) Why has God not appointed us to wrath, but to the salvation
of living with Christ (1 Thess. 5:8-11)?

8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled,
putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of
salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer
wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we
may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another
and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (NIV)

The reason the day of the Lord won't overtake us like a thief
(1 Thessalonians 5:4), is because "God has not appointed us to
wrath" (5:9), and not just because God informed us wrath is
coming. Further, the comfort we have, and salvation we hope
for, is not one of being saved in the midst of wrath, while
away from the Lord, but that we "may live together with Him"
(5:10).

Even the unregenerate recognize that the events which occur at
the very beginning of the prophecies in Revelation 4-19,
constitute the great day of God's wrath (Rev. 6:17). The
Tribulation IS an outpouring of God's wrath (Rev. 6:16-17;
11:18; 14:19; 15:1; 16:1, 19), and a time of His judgment
(Rev. 6:10; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14;14:7; 15:4; 16:5-7; 17:8;
19:2) and punishment (Isa. 24:21-22).

In contrast to the drunken sleepers who will be overtaken like
a thief by the day of the Lord's judgment (which includes the
Tribulation, and not just eternal damnation), we, who are
sober, are supposed to put on for a helmet, the "hope of
salvation" (1 Thess. 5:8-10). Why? Because God has "NOT
[emphasis mine] 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."

Notice this is not referring to a salvation in the midst of
wrath, while separated from the Lord, but the salvation, hope,
and comfort of living "together with him [Christ]". God has
not appointed us to the wrath of the day of the Lord, but to
the salvation of living with Christ.


4) Why does the rapture assure us we have not entered the
Tribulation (2 Thess. 2)?

The Thessalonians were troubled by the thought that maybe they
had already entered the day of the Lord. Paul besought them
by the hope of the "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our
gathering together unto Him", that they should not be
troubled, as if they were already in that day (2 Thess 2:1-2).
This prospect of the coming of the Lord, and gathering of the
saints to be with Him, would not be a proof for them, that
they were not presently in the day of the Lord, if they had to
endure the entire, or even part of the Tribulation, before
they were gathered to the Lord. They could not have entered
the time of judgment (and neither could we), because the
gathering of church age saints (whether they sleep or
are alive) to the Lord will occur first, and this is the hope
by which Paul besought them.


5) Why has God promised to deliver the church from the hour of
temptation that tries the whole earth. (Revelation 3:10)?

In Revelation 3:10, God promises to deliver the church from
the very hour in which the testing occurs for "them" "that
dwell upon the earth". This is undoubtedly a reference to the
judgments which pour from the throne of God upon all the
inhabitants of the earth, beginning in Revelation chapter 4,
the 70th week, or "Tribulation". How can they be delivered
from testing that falls on earth dwellers, and from the very
hour in which the testing occurs, if they still dwell on
earth, or in a realm where the "hour" of temptation
occurs? This truth applies to whomever "has an ear" in the
"churches" (v13).


6) Why was John called to heaven before the "things which
shall be hereafter" (Rev 4:1)?

In Revelation 1:19, John was told to write the "things which
thou hast seen " (vision of the resurrected Christ), the
"things which are" (letters to the "churches"), and the
"things which shall be hereafter" (Tribulation wrath upon the
inhabitants of the earth). The letters to the churches
conclude the "the things which are". But before God
shows him the "things which shall be hereafter", a door opens
in heaven, and God calls John to come up thither (4:1).

It is not until he is in heaven that he sees the judgments
which shall be "hereafter", falling on "them who dwell on the
earth". This is in keeping with the promise God just made in
Revelation 3:10, that the church will not go through the hour
of testing that falls on "them that dwell upon the earth", and
that the church (addressed in the "things which are"), is not
part of the "things which shall be hereafter".

It's also interesting to note that a door opened in heaven to
let John come up, and that when the bride comes back with
Christ, from heaven, in Revelation 19, heaven is again
"opened" to allow the return.


7) Why are the Tribulation saints not called the "church".

Revelation 1-3 addresses believers as the "church" something
like 19 times before Revelation 4 refers to the judgments
which shall be "hereafter" falling on "the inhabitants of the
earth". Then, during the time of the Tribulation, instantly
believers are referred to only by terms like "saints" or
"brethren" (all of which are applied to the nation Israel,
throughout the Bible), and there is not one reference
to the "church". Israel, and the 144,000 chosen from the
twelve tribes are the subjects of God's sealing during that
time, and not the church (Revelation 7:4; cf. Revelation 12).

Now, is it just a coincidence Revelation refers to church age
believers, during the "things which are", as the "church" 19
times, and then instantly stops calling believers the "church"
once John is raptured to heaven and the "things which shall be
hereafter" begin? It seems highly unlikely to me.


8) Why do the heavenly elders have crowns (Revelation 4:4)?

1 Peter 5:4 says: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear,
ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

Revelation 4:4 says "And round about the throne were four and
twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders
sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads
crowns of gold."

If Christ issues crowns at his appearing, and the elders in
heaven have crowns before Christ pours judgment on the earth
during the Tribulation, that means Christ appeared to
believers before the 70th week Tribulation.


9) Why does the wife of Christ return with him, to earth, at
the end of the Tribulation (Rev. 19)?

2 Corinthians 11:2 says the church is being presented as a
chaste virgin to Christ. Ephesians 5:27-32 says the
relationship between husband and wife is a picture of the
union of Christ and the church. The Lord is purifying the
church for himself, so He may present it to himself without
spot or wrinkle. Then, in Revelation 19, we have the
bride, coming with Christ, from heaven, dressed in fine white
garments, which is the righteousness of the saints. This
seems to show that the church is not on earth during the
Tribulation, but is with Christ, in heaven. This also seems
consistent with the fact that the twenty four elders are
introduced right after John has been raptured to heaven at the
end of the "things which are" (church age), and before he
sees the things "which shall be hereafter".


10) Why is there no rapture (catching up) in Revelation 19?

In the coming 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 mentions, it says the
dead in Christ will rise and be caught up (raptured), then we
who are alive will be caught up "together with them"
(indicating the rapture of those who are alive and remain
immediately follows the resurrection and rapture of the dead
in Christ, and it isn't referring to two events separated by a
long time). Isn't it strange that Revelation 19:11-21, which
gives the clearest picture of the events when Christ returns,
doesn't mention anything about a resurrection or rapture
(catching up)? The only believers mentioned in Revelation 19,
are the bride who comes with Christ, from heaven, to earth,
for the marriage supper (which occurs after, not before the
marriage).


11) Why does Christ have to separate the sheep from the goats
after the Tribulation?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 teaches the dead in Christ and living
believers will be caught up together, to be with the Lord. 1
Corinthians 15 says this resurrection event will occur in a
"moment", in the "twinkling of an eye". In an instant, all
believers will be separated from earth. Yet Matthew 25:31-46
teaches that Christ will have to separate the sheep from the
goats when He returns at the end of the 70th week Tribulation.
The catching up (rapture) of the church will instantly and
automatically separate the believers from the unbelievers.
Therefore, the rapture (catching up) and the sheep and
goat judgment are not the same event, and shows the
Tribulation survivors do not include the church.


12) Who would populate the millennial kingdom if the rapture
occurred during or after the Tribulation? (Rev. 20).

We know that when the resurrection and rapture occurs, it will
immediately transform all church age believer's bodies to
their glorified state (1 Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 4). We also know
that in the glorified state, believers do not die or reproduce
(Matt. 22:30).

Only believers enter the millennial kingdom of Christ (Matt.
25:32-46), yet there is reproduction, difference of age,
death, and rebellion during that time (Isa. 65:20; Zech. 8:5;
Rev. 20:12). This means that saved, but unglorified people
must enter the millennial kingdom of Christ.

If the rapture occurs any time after the Tribulation has begun
up until Christ returns and establishes His 1,000 year reign
on earth (Rev. 20), the Tribulation saints who enter it would
possess glorified bodies incapable of marriage, reproduction,
death, or rebellion.

Since all these occur during the millennium that follows the
Tribulation, the saints who enter it from the Tribulation
cannot be the church, which looks forward to the rapture and
translation (1 Thess. 4).