Saturday, July 8, 2017
Before Judgment Falls
For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.—1 Thessalonians 5:9
On the Sunday after the rapture of the church, some churches will be holding services as usual. They will have services just as they always have had, maybe with a few more people there.
In chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, Jesus gives His diagnosis of the church. Chapters 4 and 5 speak of the church in Heaven. But beginning with chapter 6, which introduces the Tribulation, there is no further mention of the church until chapter 18. That is because the church is off Planet Earth and in the presence of God.
This does not mean there won’t be Christians in the Tribulation. People will come to faith after believers are caught up to be with the Lord. But Christ will take the church to be with Him before this time of judgment comes. Peter wrote, “And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood” (2 Peter 2:5). Peter was basically laying down an argument that Christ will deliver His church from the Great Tribulation.
It’s important to note there is no place in the Scriptures where God poured out His judgment upon His people while He was judging nonbelievers. They were always spared and delivered. Even in the case of the Passover with the Israelites in Egypt, they were protected as they took the blood of the lamb and applied it on their doorposts.
God will allow His people to go through trials. We will go through hardships. But there is a difference between those and the Great Tribulation.
Yes, some will be taken, and some will be left. Which side will you be on?
Dig Deeper:
Greg’s Radio Program
“A New Beginning”
This Week’s TV Program
“When and Where to Share the Gospel”
Weekend Bible Reading
Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5; Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6
Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000.
