The Church and the Tribulation - Part 1

What you doing tonight this even use the world will undergo a series of terrifying plagues and disasters known as the tribulation will church be sleeved from this time of judgment today on Turning Point. Dr. David Jeremiah tackles the question that explains why God would permit such a horrible thing to happen and from the handwriting on the statement to introduce the church and the tribulation wrongly introduced be a verse by verse.

Discussion of the book of Daniel to answer very important question and that is will the church be here when all of these events that are described in the book of Daniel take place will the church go through the tribulation.

On this earth. I don't know that there's a question that is asked more when you get into this realm. Teaching and discussion so we take for days of teaching to talk about that. Well let's get started with today's lesson. This is the church in the tribulation. This is the Friday edition of Turning Point and were glad you're enjoying this in theology and the study of the word of God and in the study of prophecy. There basically different.

You people say about the tribulation. I like to just explain to you what those views are first of all, there is what we might call the post-tribulation will view now the post-tribulation of view teaches us that the church will go through the seven years of tribulation and at the very end of that.

After that's all over. Then the church will be enraptured and taken home to be with the Lord post-tribulation. Realism teaches that the church goes through the seven year period of tribulation which we have read from the word of God described as a period of great wrath that the church goes through that and that is rapture. There is another view called the med tribulation rapture position that you teaches that at the end of the first 3 1/2 years.

The church is rapture goes up and thus it misses the last half of the tribulation. Which is the worst so that the Lord lets the church go through 3 1/2 years. Then the church is rapture and is not here on the earth during the last 3 1/2 years and then of course there is the view which we espouse in which we believe according to our creeds and are doctrinal statements which we know as the doctrine of tribulation rapture premiums before so that means before the tribulation period starts. The church will be rapture and taken out of here. That's what we believe. We believe in the pre-tribulation rapture position simply because of what the Bible teaches us about the nature of our Christian faith. Romans chapter 8 and verse one says there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. The Bible teaches that the moment a person believes in Jesus Christ. He passes out of death into life. And there is no condemnation hanging over him.

Those who believe in post-tribulation was a believe that there is condemnation hanging over him which you will experience for seven years on this earth.

But tribulation. In the Bible is defined as the final period of Jehovah's determined dealings with Daniels people in order to finish Israel's transgressions. We cannot see in that period of time. The church consistently being involved with what God is doing with Israel on this earth.

Someone asked me one time why in the world. The tribulation period happens at all.

Why would God allow seven years of terrible times on this earth. There are basically two reasons for the tribulation. According to the Bible. First of all, the tribulation.

Comes upon this earth to purge out the Jewish rebels. Ezekiel chapter 20 verses 37 and 38 says I will cause you to pass under the rod, the great tribulation and I will purge out from among you, the rebels and band that transgressed against me, and they shall not into the land. The second reason for the tribulation. Is to punish Gentile reject her's. We read in Micah 515 and I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the Gentiles, such as they have not heard so the Bible teaches that during that seven year period of time. The wrath of God is going to come primarily upon the Jews, but even the Gentiles who have rejected Christ during that time will be the objects of the wrath of God. Now the definition of the tribulation period is given to us in great detail in the book of Revelation.

I want to give you a very quick quick overview of the book of Revelation is very necessary for you to understand this turn in your Bibles to the first chapter of Revelation. I've had people tell me that they never read the book of Revelation because it's so hard to understand. You may find this to be a little bit difficult understand what I want to say to you, the book of Revelation is one of the easiest books to understand all the Bible you say maybe I don't have the right book. Maybe you have a different translation. Let me tell you the reason why that's true, it is a self interpreting book is a book which tells you what the signs are and then if you read it it'll tell you exactly what those signs mean over and over again in the book of Revelation.

You have the information and then you have the interpretation not only that, but at the very beginning of the book we are given an outline of the book right in the text. Notice chapter 1 of book of Revelation. In verse 19 when the Lord came to John and he asked him to write the book of Revelation. He gave him the outline that he wanted them to follow. And here's the outline, write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are in the things which shall be hereafter.

The outline of the book of Revelation is threefold things which John saw the things which were in the things which should be hereafter and here are the chapter divisions in the first chapter of the book of Revelation verses one through 20, you have the record of what John saw when he was on the Isle of Patmos. Revelation 11 to 20 are the things which thou hast seen chapter 2 and verse one begins the things which are in chapters 2 and three are the chapters that deal with the seven churches of Revelation chapters 2 and three deal with the things which are beginning of chapter 4. From there on in the book of Revelation. You have the things which shall be hereafter. So if you want to define and discuss the book of Revelation. It's easy. Chapter 11 to 20 things which John saw me out Patmos chapters 2 and three, the things which are the seven churches, and chapters 4 through the end of the book, the things which shall be hereafter future prophecy. Now listen carefully. Beginning of the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation and moving through to the 19th chapter. Almost all of the information in those chapters has to do with that. We know as the tribulation you have in that section of Scripture files and the judgments of the bowls of the trumpets of the seals and all of that which are simply pictures of the pouring out of God's wrath upon this earth. Chapter 4 chapter 19 is all about the tribulation. It's going to take place on this earth. The word church appears 19 times in revelations 1 to 3, 19 times in chapter 1 through three is not mentioned once as being on earth in chapters 4 through 19. Listen to me. Here's the book of Revelation, the things which I seen the things which are the things which shall be hereafter one through three are the churches four through 19 is the period of tribulation one through three.

The church is mentioned 19 times get to chapter 4 chapter 19 is not mentioned one time when you suppose that is, we see the tribulation period, is what's going on down here on this earth when the church is up there. The church is not here. It is not on this earth. There is no reason to mention it is never mentioned as being on earth because it is a period of time when God is dealing with the Jews and the Gentiles.

Apart from the church because the church is been taken home to be with God. Turning your Bibles to second Thessalonians chapter 2, one of the things we learn as we study this doctrine is that it is not dependent upon one passage of Scripture. But it is dependent upon the consistent interpretation of all passages of Scripture where the truth is mentioned in chapter 2, second Thessalonians beginning in the first verse we read these words. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him that she be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter, as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand. Now get this. The believers in Thessalonica thought that the tribulation period had already started and that they were living in the midst of an Paul wrote the second letter to the Thessalonians to tell them.

First of all, that they weren't in the tribulation. Yet notice he said someone's written letters to you or circulated reports that you're in the tribulation. He said I want to beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together of the him that you not be soon shaken in mind will be troubled not in spirit or in word nor by letter, as if it came from us as that the day of Christ on the tribulation period is at hand towards Paul is saying some of you think that you're in the tribulation. You probably got a letter with my name on it saying that we were in the tribulation and I want you to know that's not true. You are not in the. Call tribulation and he goes on now in this chapter to answer the two questions that are in their mind. The first question was obviously are we in the tribulation and the second question was, was Paul right when he talked to us that we would not go from the tribulation. Now let's follow through and the argument verse three Paul said to the Thessalonians. Let no man deceive you by any means don't get deceived for that day which day tribulation. For that day shall not come, except certain things be true. Now he lists those things for us in this chapter let's notice what they are, he says. First of all, in verse three. There must be a falling away the word falling away is literally the word apostasy and most Bible students understand that word to me that the tribulation period will follow hard on the heels of a time when the true church or the church at large leaves the faith or apostate size is the faith.

It walks away from the faith. It is a time of tremendous declension within the church. Paul said to the Thessalonians that day, the day of the tribulation will not come until first of all, there will be a falling away of departure. Apostasy now notice verses three and four and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. Now folks who was that the Bible says that the tribulation period will not come in full force until we apostasy the falling away and the revelation of the man of sin. Yeah Christ so and see what Paul's doing is trying to encourage these believers.

They think they're in the tribulation.

Already nieces a way to minute tribulation. Because that can happen until certain things take place is going to be a great falling away and there's going to be the revelation of the man of sin. Now let's notice the third thing. Verses five and six describe the man of sin.

But notice verse six and now you know what withholding that he might be revealed in his time for the mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now restrains will restrain until he be taken out of the way. Now listen carefully who is the restrainer. It says that there are certain things that can happen that the day of the Lord, that the tribulation period can't go into full force until the restraining influence in the world be taken out of the way and if you study this passage you will learn very quickly that there are a number of different ideas about who the restrainer is some people believe that human government that human government is the thing that is restraining evil, and when that's removed and tribulation will start well if that's true, I think it's already been removed.

Some people believe it is some particular law are some individual alive in the world. The Bible is very, very clear about what restrains in the life of an individual and I personally believe that this is a very clear reference to the Holy Spirit.

The restrainer is the Holy Spirit not read the passage again.

The mystery of iniquity doth already work verse seven. Only he who now restrains will restrain until he be taken out of the way and then shall that wicked man be revealed all right. No class.

Where is the Holy Spirit is in us. All right, when is the Holy Spirit going to be taken away when we go up right. In fact, let me to suggest to you that one of the reasons, humanly speaking for the tribulation period is the fact that all Christians are taken out of this world.

You have any idea what kind of world this would be if there were no Christians. If the Holy Spirit were not resident in the lives of individuals and he was not present in the world today. Everything that is true in the tribulation. Apart from divine intervention would be true right now the only thing that holds this whole world together is the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit who lives in the hearts and lives of every single believer and the Scripture teaches that the day of the Lord, and the day of tribulation and that time of great judgment upon this earth cannot begin until the Holy Spirit be taken out of the way. We know that's going to happen when the rapture occurs and when the church's rapture. Restrainer is gone and all hell breaks loose on this earth. Now that doesn't fit any other understanding of the rapture than the pre-tribulation rapture Scripture says right here that that day will not come until there's a falling away until the man of sin be revealed, and he cannot come till the Holy Spirit is taken out of this world and we know that's going to happen when were rapture. All right, let's look at another passage of Scripture. Let's look at Revelation chapter 4 and verse four. Now remember, chapters 1 to 3 of the book of Revelation have to do with the church. The church is the things which are chapter 4 begins the discussion of the tribulation. After this I looked, and behold, the door was opened in heaven and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet, talking with me which said come up together and I will show you things which must be hereafter and immediately I was in the spirit, and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone. There was a rainbow round about the throne and site like unto an emerald and round about the throne were four and 20 seats and upon the seats I saw four and 20 elders sitting, closed in white raiment and they had on their heads crowns of gold. I was after describing the sevenfold condition of the visible church.

In chapters 2 and three John now writes the verse we have just read verse four he talks about the elders before and 20 elders who are in heaven. He says these elders are significant because of three things. First of all, they are seated. Secondly, they are role and thirdly they have crowns upon their head. These significant things suggest that these 24 are symbolic representations of the church in Ephesians chapter 2 in verse six we read that God has made us to sit together with him in heavenly places. Ephesians 26 in Revelation chapter 19 in verse eight we read and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. When you come over to second before weight you read henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day not to me only, but to all them that love his appearing these things teach us that before and 20 elders are representatives of the church in heaven. Now they are seen in heaven in their glorified position. They are seated they are closed they are crown just as the Bible says we will be.

This is at the very outset of the tribulation. Chapter 4 begins the tribulation. Where is the church.

It is seated his clothes is crown. It is in heaven. Church is not here, it's there, turn in your Bibles to Revelation chapter 3 in verse 10, Revelation 310 may be the very best single verse to prove the pre-tribulation rapture in the New Testament we spend just a few minutes here in this verse you know that the third chapter of the book of Revelation as we've already talked about has to do with the seven churches and chapter 3 verse 10 has to do with the church of Philadelphia. The Lord is addressing a letter here to the church in Philadelphia.

Now I don't have time to go back and set all the states for this, but if you know your Bible you know that the church of Philadelphia is the true church. In the end of time. The church of Leah to see you is the lukewarm church.

The church of Philadelphia is the true church at the end of time. It is a prophetic picture of the true believing church. In the end days. Now notice what it says in chapter 3 in verse 10. The letter to the church of Philadelphia, because thou hast kept the word of my patience. I also will keep leave from the hour of temptation or testing which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth. The letter truly truly believing church. At the end of time, says I will keep the from the hour of testing, that is to come upon all those who are on the earth upon all the world to try them and that I wanted to stop for a moment and have you noticed that this is a promise of deliverance from the time of testing. We studied the book of Daniel and we all had a good time with the story of Shadrach me shack and Abednego you know that when they were cast into the fiery furnace. The Bible tells us that they were preserved through the flame. There are some who tell us that what's going to happen in the tribulation period, is that the church will be here on this earth and that God will miraculously just keep us safe during that time that we will be like Shadrach me shack and Abednego preserved through the fire. That's not what it says the Scripture says I will keep you from the time from the very hour. When the tribulation come the Bible doesn't say he's going to keep us from tribulation or that first interpretation might work. The Bible says he will keep us from the very hour of tribulation.

We will not even see the name of the tribulation period will be From it. Apart from it. Here we have a very clear promise to the church that Christ would keep her from the time when the tribulation would come upon the world and I believe this to be the truth.

With all my heart and I get letters from people who disagree with this approach got one yesterday and the trying to straighten me out. You know there's a lot of places where I probably could be straightened out but I'm pretty certain this is the truth and I don't have any doubt about what I'm teaching here concerning the church and the tribulation. I'm thankful that the Bible is clear about God's plan for his people. The Bible tells us that when we become Christians. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, condemnation, tribulation personality when you know Jesus Christ cares for you. We have a lot more to talk about this in the next three broadcasts. Don't miss any of it in the simulator. If you want to file read. If I can ready for the weekend and I want to encourage you that this weekend. The most important of all friends don't forget to go to church.

I know that some of you have maybe gotten out of the habit of it will let me just encourage you get back in that I don't hear about all the things you like about the church. I want you to view the Bible says don't forsake the assembling of ourselves together, so go to the church. Don't be a part of the problem be a part of the solution. Encourage others, take your Bible, be a blessing and will see you on Monday. Today's message originated from Shadow Mountain Community Church and senior pastor Dr. David Jeremiah how is God been using Turning Points to minister to you like to let us know at Turning Point PO Box 383, San Diego, CA 92163 visit our website at David Jeremiah adult/your copy of David's helpful and encouraging you system questions about living in the last day, and how to live with very uncertain its rules were gifted in the you can also download the free Turning Point mobile and smart device exits out programs and resources with just such a new app store for the keywords and point ministries go to David Jeremiah adult/radio for details.

Join us on Monday. As we continue the handwriting on the Turning Point with Dr. Jeremiah on the non-pleasing