Rapture believers say: We are not appointed to wrath, and, The Lord delivers us from tribulation. To make these scriptures mean a removal from planet earth, directly to God’s dwelling place of heaven, is an impossible stretch of the imagination.
The "great tribulation" is NOT the wrath of God which is by Pretribulationists placed the rapture before their so-called 7 years great tribulation.
For example, the wars, immorality, and hatred we will always have in this world. It won't pass until all is fulfilled. It is normal for True Believers to have tribulation since the Cross, but in the time of the end, as we get closer to Christ's Second Coming, the great tribulaton will be greater of the same! It will be the time when the True Christians will experience a great vexed or troubled by the increasing wickedness of the world around them, and
sadly some professing Christians use this spiritual distress as a reason to throw up their hands and succumb to the man of lawlessness. Others lose the little faith they had and wonder, "where is God." But God is still on the throne, and these things must take place according to His divine providence.
We hold fast "Till He Comes." Here is the patience and faith of the saints. Those who never had real saving faith will fall by the wayside, while the ones sealed of the Spirit are secured to endure to the end. Even in these times of trial and great tribulation preceding the Lord's coming, they endure in Christ Jesus. Look at Lot as an example, his calling out, and God's ultimate wrath on those who vexed him--because he is our example:
2nd Peter 2:7-9
- "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
- (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
- The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:"
God was still in charge, even then. But His plan had to be fulfilled in calling out the righteous, and pouring wrath from on high upon the unjust. So it is in these "last days" at the
end of the New Testament period. The righteous, just like Lot, are vexed or distressed by the unrighteousness, dishonesty, and filthy living of the world around and indeed among them, and just like Lot, God will deliver them out of temptations/trials/tribulations. Not rapture (not yet anyway).
Matthew 24:21-22
- "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
- And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
No matter what we do, things in the world will continue to get worse and worse. And the CHURCH TOO! WE will see the increase of homosexuality, transgenderism, hatred, love of God grow cold, increase of false prophets and christs, the abomination of desolation be set up....
Til He come!
Be not deceived by the growing wickedness in the world, nor the growing worldliness in the church, for it has always been prophesied. Consider the Lilies of the field. And consider also the warnings God gave to the messengers of the church, and be not discouraged.
We are victors or conquerors in Christ's work, not in the world. This is but
a trial to test us. Sadly, the test is not going well for most professing Christians.
Revelation 3:10-11
- "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.
- Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."
That word temptation is the word "trail" and it is a "testing" program of God, wherein those who have overcome in Christ are made sure pillars in the temple. They are those who have made their calling and election sure. So my friend, do not be discouraged, only believe and have patience in saving faith until the last trump on the last day. Not the rapture about 7 years earlier.