The four and 20 elders represent the raptured Church and John sees them in heaven before the scroll is opened. Add to this, there are numerous Scriptures that strongly suggest that the Church will be removed prior to the start of the seven-year Tribulation. However, much as I’m praying for a pre-trib Rapture I have a question concerning Revelation 12:5-6, “She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.”
The woman is Israel fleeing after the desecration of the Temple as the Son of Prediction breaks his covenant with Israel after 3 ½ years. The Son of the woman/Israel is Jesus and if His ascension to the Father represents the Church, could this be mid-trib rapture? Daniel also prophesies this as the time of Jacob’s troubles. Daniel 9:27, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
However, a mid-trib rapture goes against The Doctrine of Imminence as we are we are to expect Jesus to come for His Church at any moment. So except for the above verses, I hold to the pre-tribulation point of view. The Rapture could occur anytime as all conditions have been met. No one knows the hour….however, I hope it’s soon. I attend Bible believing churches that work to bring non-believers into the Kingdom so one day we will be on our way to meet the Lord in the clouds.
While the Church will most likely be spared the Tribulation, we will likely go thought persecution even here in the United States. Our support of Israel is waning so God may take/ is taking His hand of protection from us.
I'm not sure what inheritance and rewards I will receive as I face the master, however, I will likely qualify for a crown of righteousness. As Paul awaited his approaching execution he wrote in 2 Timothy 4:8, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Grant Phillips of the Rapture Ready website has this to say, “The Church will not go through the Tribulation.”
This is a link to his article, “Will the Church Go through the Tribulation?” http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips95.html
Good reading.
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