[[@page.4.14.5]]4.14.5 - Is all Tribulation the Same?
Critics of a pretribulational rapture point to many verses which indicate that Christians will undergo tribulation--as is also demonstrated by experience (Mtt. [[13:21|bible.61.13.21]]; Mark [[4:17|bible.62.4.17]]; John [[16:33|bible.64.16.33]]; Rom. [[5:3|bible.66.5.3]]; [[8:35|bible.66.8.35]]; 2Cor. [[1:4|bible.68.1.4]]; [[7:4|bible.68.7.4]]; Rev. [[1:9|bible.87.1.9]]+). They rightly argue that tribulation refines the saints and develops their character. They conclude that the Church must go through the time of God's wrath in order to prove and refine the saints of the end time. However, Revelation [[3:10|bible.87.3.10]]+ contradicts this view because it indicates that the purpose of the Tribulation is to test the earth dwellers, not the Church.Also, there is an important difference between general tribulation which is the result of Satan and a sinful world (Mtt. [[24:21|bible.61.24.21]], [[29|bible.61.24.29]]; Mark [[13:19|bible.62.13.19]]; Rev. [[7:14|bible.87.7.14]]+) and tribulation which is the result of the outpouring of God's wrath on an unbelieving world (Ps. [[2:12|bible.19.2.12]]; Isa. [[13:9|bible.23.13.9]], [[13|bible.23.13.13]]; [[63:3|bible.23.63.3]]; Jer. [[10:10|bible.24.10.10]]; Rev. [[6:16-17|bible.87.6.16-87.6.17]]+; [[11:18|bible.87.11.18]]+; [[14:8-10|bible.87.14.8-87.14.10]]+; [[19|bible.87.19.1]]+; [[15:1|bible.87.15.1]]+, [[7|bible.87.15.7]]+; [[16:17|bible.87.16.17]]+, [[19|bible.87.16.19]]+; [[19:15|bible.87.19.15]]+). It is the Lamb Himself who opens the seven seals which lead to the events of the seven trumpets and seven bowls (Rev. [[6:1|bible.87.6.1]]+). It is the bridegroom who initiates the events which trigger the Tribulation of the end! Will the bridegroom pour out His wrath upon His own bride? Scripture says no!1 (See Church Betrothed to Christ.) The Church will be kept from the "hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth" (Rev. [[3:10|bible.87.3.10]]+). The Church is kept not from the trial, but from the very hour of trial (see commentary on Revelation 3:10).Many additional verses indicate that the Church is not appointed to endure God's wrath, that it will be exempted from this time period (Luke [[21:36|bible.63.21.36]]; Rom. [[5:9|bible.66.5.9]]; 1Th. [[1:10|bible.73.1.10]]; [[5:9|bible.73.5.9]]). Although some saints in history have been kept through times of tribulation (e.g., Noah's family in the Ark, Israel at the Passover), others were kept from God's judgment (e.g., Enoch prior to Noah's flood, Lot and his daughters in Sodom). In the case of the Church, as Christ's bride she is not appointed to wrath, but like Enoch will "walk with God" for God will "take her" (cf. Gen. [[5:24|bible.1.5.24]]).
Notes
1 It is not a light thing to maintain that the Church goes through the Tribulation for it casts a large shadow over the character of her bridegroom!
Copyright © 2004-2005 by Tony Garland
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