Short Answer

• Christians, and thus the Church[1], do not pass through the Tribulation – they have been saved from the wrath of God and are caught up (raptured) to heaven prior to the Tribulation.
• Believers have been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18, 19) and are therefore saved from the wrath of God because their sins have been forgiven, in full (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9, 1 John 2:12 etc.).
• The purpose of the tribulation is to bring to an end to wickedness – the regenerate born again Christian, justified by the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9), has brought to an end to wickedness and therefore has no need of judgement (Isaiah 13:9; 24:19-20).
• The Rapture is imminent – Jesus himself pointed this out; the coming of Christ could be at any moment.
• The latest point at which the rapture can occur is at the signing of the seven year covenant between Israel and the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 28:14-22), after which the wrath of God will be poured out, ending in the second coming of the Christ.
• ‘Rapture’ is the term which is used to translate the Greek word meaning caught or snatched up – the word is Latin – and is the event when Christians, both dead and alive are taken heaven.

Arguments for the answer

1. No Bible passage mentions the church in the Tribulation. In relation to the Tribulation the last mention of Church of any kind is Revelation 3, being an admonishment to the lukewarm modern liberal church. Saints of the Church are mentioned in chapter 4. The next mention is after the Tribulation in Revelation 19-22. Not once in verses in the Bible that speak of the Tribulation is the Church mentioned.[2]
2. People will become saved in the tribulation – they are call saints, but never called church saints. In Chapter 7, the believers of Israel (as per Romans 11) will arise and evangelise the world. Tens of thousands of people will come to the saving knowledge of Christ and be saved. These are “Tribulation saints”, not “Church saints” and these will suffer enormous persecution during the Tribulation (Revelation 13:7; 16:6).
3. Jesus speaks of the consequence of the rapture: in the discourse on the Mount of Olives he states that every single person on the face of the earth shall be entailed into the terrible events of the tribulation:

But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  (Luke 21:34-35)

In order to escape the tribulation, one needs to stand before the Son of Man:

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36).

This provides evidence that in order to escape the wrath of God, a believer must be sanding before Jesus Christ – this take place when the church saints are taken to heaven – the rapture.

Paul states believers are to be delivered from the Tribulation;

For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
 (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

4. The letters to the Thessalonians were to deal with the false teaching that Christ had already come for his saints – and as a consequence they were waiting for the Tribulation, rather than waiting for the coming of the Messiah to deliver them from the wrath to come. This is a specific wrath – it was the wrath to come to the whole earth and the Thessalonians would have interpreted this to mean the Tribulation wrath.
5. The wrath of God does not fall on Christians:

   Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (Romans 5:9).

   This is both the general wrath of God – where the unsaved will be cast into hell at death and the coming Tribulation where the world is judged (Revelation 15:1 etc.).

6. The Christian has escaped the wrath of God, because the Lord Jesus Christ has paid in full the debt of our sin; he bore the wrath of God on himself at Calvary. Paul discusses the fact the Thessalonians would not go through the Tribulation, after speaking about the rapture itself in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

   For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

7. Note that Paul writes to comfort these saints – they were not to worry about the Tribulation because the Church saints would be raptured first. They had not missed the coming of the Christ, nor would they be punished in the Tribulation, because the church is raptured prior to the wrath to come.

 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.  (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)

8. The Church is promised not to pass through the tribulation – referred to as the hour of trial.

   Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial [testing] which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  (Revelation 3:10)

9. The Hour of Trial can mean no other than the Tribulation – it is the great subject of Revelation, and is the terrible judgement that will fall upon the whole earth. Furthermore, it is from the “very hour” – which means they are kept from the very beginning of the trial. Within the context of Revelation 6 – 19, it is therefore not surprising not to find the church mentioned in any form – because she has been kept from this time of trial.
10. Note that Christians are not told they will not suffer tribulation, in the general sense. This is one reason anti-pretribulationists state when attempting to refute the coming work of Christ. There is a vast difference in the judgement that is to take place during the Tribulation of seven years, and the persecution of individuals due to the work of the enemy of God- Satan., which was foretold by Christ and the Apostles many times, and is evidenced in the Book of Acts. Indeed Jesus comments on the persecution of the Christians in the Church in Smyrna – and he prophesies that more would be thrown into prison – this is not the Tribulation, but the continued consequence of the fallen world we live and the work of the Evil one.

    Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

11. Some have tried to make Revelation 2:10 to mean that the church will be kept from trials – this is patiently obviously false in two ways.
    • Revelation prophesies that huge numbers of believers will be murdered (Rev 6:9-11; 11:7; 12:11; 13:7 & 15, 14:13; 17:6; 18:25). If these saints are church saints, then Revelation 3:10 is not true and God is a liar. These passages mean that the church saints are distinct from the Tribulation saints, and the church saints are elsewhere – not on this earth, since the Tribulation encompasses the whole earth (Luke 21:34-35).
    • A cursory glance at history shows the horrendous persecution of church saints – both in modern times under Islamic rule, Communism and its modern replacement - Socialism and in the past under Roman Catholic rule, to name a few.

    From the time of Jesus Christians have suffered – Stephen was martyred by the second chapter of Acts – at a time when the Church had been barely established. That the church will be raptured is not some vague theory so Christians can avoid testing, but rather it is the plan of God; Christians are and will be tested (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9; 1 Peter 1:6 etc.), the Tribulation on the other hand is judgement to bring to an end to wickedness and the wicked ones (Isaiah 13:9; 24:19-20), to deal with those who have hated the Jews (Deuteronomy 30:7),  and to deal with Israel in order to bring them to faith (Romans 9-11). He judges the nations who have rejected Christ and not heeded the 144,000 Israeli’s who evangelised the world during the Tribulation (Revelation 7:1-17), thus fulfilling Matthew 24:14.

12. In speaking of the time Christians have upon this earth, it is always spoken of as a short while, then we will be with the Lord.
    • Jesus told Peter that the Messiah could come at any moment – he was to be ready – for even at the time of Jesus speaking, Peter was told he could see the rapture occurring happening (John 21:20-23). Only God knows the exact time.
    • The Apostle Paul indicates that the work of salvation is very near – that is, the final act of glorification of believers is at hand (Romans 13:11-13). This necessitates Christians being taken to heaven.
    • The Apostle James viewed the coming of Christ to be near – Christians were to be mindful of this, and hearts are to be prepared for an imminent return of Christ (James 5:7-9).
    • Imminency of the coming Messiah is also highlighted in Revelation 22:20. This also means, that when he comes, what he will do, will happen immediately – there is no delay.
13. In heaven John sees a vision of the raptured church – he sees 24 elders, all of which have crowns (Revelation 4:4-10). In 2 Timothy 4:1, 1 Peter 5:3 and Revelation 2 & 3 we see Christians receive rewards which includes crowns[3] – the elders could not have received their crowns unless the resurrection had taken place, and this clearly has taken place before the Tribulation has started, thus have been raptured.

When does the rapture occur, if not in the Tribulation?

All evidence from Scripture points to the rapture occurring immediately prior to the Tribulation. Christians are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13; Luke 14:34) – once removed evil beyond all what has been witnessed to date will break forth – because that which is currently withstanding the evil (albeit very weakly) are born again Christians. In another sense, at the same time as the rapture, the Holy Spirit withdraws, because as we speak today the Holy Spirit indwells all Christians, so when they are taken to heaven, so the Holy Spirit is removed from this world.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:7-11)

Currently the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin – albeit which is taking His advice less and less – thus we see an exponential declension in morals and values in all corners of the world today. Furthermore, once the Holy Spirit leaves there will be no righteousness and nor judgement (the Greek is krisis – meaning justice, literally separation, in this case separating right from wrong) of, thus chaos will ensue.

There are two principle events that need to occur prior to the tribulation:

1. All gentiles who are to be saved within the dispensation of grace must have been saved (Romans 11:25). This is obvious – those that God predestined for salvation need to be saved before judgement befalls the earth, else his predestination is partial and false – it’s not!
2. Israel must be prepared to sign a ‘firm covenant’ between the Antichrist and Israel (Daniel 9:27). This passage fits with Isaiah 28:14-22, where Israel makes a covenant with the powers of darkness, which means death and is the Antichrist, the counterfeit messiah who will mimic Jesus Christ

Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves." (Isaiah 28:15)

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate."  (Daniel 9:27)

If the rapture is to occur immediately prior to the Tribulation, and the Tribulation requires certain events to have occurred or at least to be ready to occur, thus Christians will have a good sense the end of the world is near. Thus the wars and rumours of wars spoken off by Jesus that will befall the earth during the Tribulation will be evident to all prior to the rapture, as will the increase in earthquakes and other natural phenomena (Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7). These do not just suddenly occur, but as evidence shows, these phenomena have exponentially increased over the past decades.

The rapture is spoken about in various terms in various passages in Scripture. The main issue here is to ensure the Scripture being used as evidence for a rapture of the Church is actually speaking about the Church, and not Israel, and is speaking about the rapture and not the Second Coming.

John 14: Promises the rapture and the protection by the Holy Spirit until that time. Jesus promises to go away and prepare a place, as a Bridegroom would his Bride, and then return.

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  (John 14:2-3 ESV)

Acts 1: The angel tells the disciples who saw Jesus ascend into heaven that he would return in the same manner he left.

And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." (Acts 1:10-11)

The picture in Acts is clearly of the rapture, for in Revelation Christ returns as Judge, and all will see him – it is not the coming Tribulation described to the disciples in Acts. In the Tribulation the Bible tells us he comes as Judge and all will see him;

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

Appendix

Other articles on the subject

The Rapture is not the coming of Christ

See Live-everlasting.net: The rapture compared with the appearing of Christ

Andy Woods

https://www.bibleprophecyblog.com/2012/02/rapture-part-1.htm (accessed 27 January 2019)

See also: https://www.bibleprophecyblog.com/p/andy-woods.html (27 January 2019)

Arnold Fruchtenbaum

The Rapture of the Church < http://javathescript.com/documents/RaptureOfTheChurch.Fruchtenbaum.pdf > (27 January 2019)

Also, The Footsteps of the Messiah from Ariel Ministries < https://www.ariel.org/books/the-footsteps-of-the-messiah > (27 January 2019)

Introduction

The answer can be found if one understands the prophecies of Daniel, who lays out the timing of events related to the Time of the Gentiles in his seventy weeks passage in chapter 9. Note at the outset that the term ‘week’ merely means 7. Only ‘year’ makes sense in relation to the period of time, thus 70x7 weeks is 490 years.

Daniel understands that he and his fellow Israelites are in captivity due to their sin, and according to Jeremiah 25:11, 12, this was to be for a period of 70 years. But Daniel misinterprets Jeremiah and assumes that the coming Messianic Kingdom, when Messiah would rule from Jerusalem, would occur immediately after the 70 year period of captivity, so he prays a prayer of confession on behalf of Israel (9:1-19), which is a requirement of the Law and which Daniel refers to in verse 11, and thus fulfilling Leviticus 26:30, 42, Daniel assumes.

We note that this pray of confession is necessary, but is not the prelude to the coming Messianic period. To clarify God sends the angel Gabriel (Daniel 9:20) to Daniel to show him what first must take place before the Messianic Kingdom is brought in. Gabriel points out there will be three periods of time (each divisible by 7), with the first two blocks of time contiguous (running on from each other): block one (rebuilding the temple) and block two (inter-temple period, ending with the death of Messiah). This is the well- known 70 weeks of Daniel passage. What causes confusion is the block three does not follow immediately upon block 2. Indeed Daniel reports an underlined period between the death of Messiah and the final seven years of this world, as we know it. Verse 27 does not connect time-wise with verse 25 and 26, but rather provides an undefined period between block two and block three. This period is the Church age, or Age of Grace.

The question therefore is asking; what ends the period between Jesus dying and the start of the final 7 years of Daniel’s prophecy? And Daniel is provided the answer:

And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." (Daniel 9:27)

Short Answer

The tribulation starts after the Israel signs a covenant or treaty with the Antichrist based on Daniel 9:27.

Details

We see in Daniel’s prophecy that there is a period of 490 years decreed, and in verse 24, sixty-nine sevens or 483 years is decreed when Jerusalem will be rebuilt. Further, verse 25 states that during this period, Israel would experience troublesome times (war, desolations). At the end of the 483 years, that is after the sixty-ninth seven, a gap appears where we are told three things:

1. The Messiah will be killed (ending block two period of time);
2. Jerusalem and the Temple will be destroyed; and
3. A very long period of desolation would follow.

The first event occurred around A.D. 30 and the second event in A.D. 70. Since that time the Land of Israel (Holy Land) lay in desolation which only improved slightly when Jews renewed the State of Israel in 1948. There is, however, one more week of years to run (of Daniel’s prophecy), and that is the seven years of the Great Tribulation (which Revelation spells explaining the events down to the half hour e.g. Revelation 8:1).

Daniel 9:27 says that a single event that will start the last seven years commencing with the signing of the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel. Therefore, one way that the Antichrist is involved with the beginning of the Tribulation is that the Tribulation cannot begin until he signs that seven-year covenant.

Thus the answer to the question is, when Israel signs a covenant (of peace) with the Antichrist, the Tribulation commences.

Why do we know it’s the Antichrist with whom Israel signs a covenant?

The signing is between “one” and “many” for one week, which means one 7 year period. At the end of this the “one” meets complete destruction.

The one must be a person, and the many must be Israel, since this is the subject of the entire discourse – Daniel wanting his fellow Israelites to be saved.

The “one” occurs at the end of the Age, and only “one” Daniel knows about, due to God’s revelation, is the Antichrist. Daniel was informed in a vision of the Antichrist in Daniel 8 where he sees a king with a bold (cunning) countenance/face, who understands riddles ,.. who by his cunning shall make deceit prosper, … and without warning shall destroy many, and he will also rise up against the Prince of princes (Jesus Christ) (Dan 8:23-25). This is the Antichrist.

Thus it is the Antichrist, who is the counterfeit Messiah that signs a covenant with Israel, which sets off the start of the Tribulation.

What precedes the Tribulation

The only outstanding prophecy to precede the Tribulation is the coming of Jesus for his Church Saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). There is absolutely nothing that needs to be done prior to this, except, in the eyes of God, the final Gentile to be saved is saved; ending the Times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24). Further evidence of this comes from Paul in Romans who points out to Jews that Israel cannot be saved until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Rom 11:25). In this Paul means when the last Gentile that is to be saved, has been saved, after which Israel will be sifted (through the Tribulation) and Jews who put their faith and trust in Messiah will be saved.  

Other Scriptures

One further scripture adds to this discussion: Isaiah 28:14-22 which explains the outcome of a covenant of death Israel makes with the counterfeit Messiah (Antichrist). Jehovah promises a judgement that will ensure justice and righteousness prevails (v17) and ends the ill-founded convent of death which is annulled (v18):

Introduction

We live in an age in which people are inordinately concerned about their identity. Indeed, pasters are preaching on various aspects of the Bible within the framework of “identity”, and usually in the form of “human identity”. This author recently heard a sermon that postulated that God has an identity.

The problem with the question is it brings God down to the level of humans: humans worry about self, and how it might change, but as will be shown below, God has no such concerns. The term was developed to help humans understand themselves in a universe without God: there is no evidence God requires this assurance.

First, let’s start with a definition. The idea of identity is not new although it has been somewhat expanded and its focus shifted from the original concepts, but not in a way that incorporates God's view of a human; this aspect has always been missing. Understanding what someone means by personal identity requires care because it is complex. A person’s viewpoint and “lens” can alter their understanding of what they speak of when thinking about identity. For example, when thinking about ethical behaviour the notions can be somewhat different than thinking about what makes them different from others. Underlying this, it also depends upon their belief as to whether they are souls, psychological entities or merely animals.[1]

And its purpose today is somewhat different from when the term was first coined in relation to human behaviour. Indeed, the issue puzzled philosophers for millennium,[2] and this in and of itself sets the scene – personal identity deals with philosophical questions. World organisations might put it like this: “Human identity refers to the characteristics, beliefs, and experiences that define an individual within a social and cultural context. It encompasses aspects such as personal values, social roles, and psychological traits.”[3] My psychology textbooks tell me that identity is the cornerstone concept, being the sense of self, which changes with time. Thus, some say it answers the question “who am I”. But it goes much further – for some it traces who a person is over time:[4] is the person existing at one time the same existing at another time? Thus, identity to some extent is a concept of change in time. Prior to recent history it was taken as a given that the physical “you” or “material you” had a sameness though time (with some degradation with age): sameness of appearance, fingerprints and genetic makeup etc. It was the immaterial you that defined you – called the soul, a word expunged from modern vocabulary, thus a new meaning has been attached to identity.[5]

Today we more often than not see identity being used to distinguish one’s self from others. What sets me apart from others? Thus, on this point, God does not require an identified identity – there is only one God, and He exists (Deut. 6:4). He does not need to ask; “who am I?” A human’s view of their identity will change with time, with changes caused by various factors (place of birth, gender etc.) along with other factors such as occupation, experiences (violence, trauma e.g.) or beliefs etc. And further, a person’s view of their identity has become very fluid these days, no longer bound by the laws of nature as it once was logically believed, with some totally disbanding the laws physics, chemistry and biology,  and thus self’s identity can change depending upon what “influences” affects, or is allowed to affect, the individual.

As a comparison a Christian views identity not through the eyes of self, but in how God sees the him or her. And of particular distinction from worldly views is that it’s not about “who I am”, but rather who Christ is; more about this at another time.

The concept of identity and the reality of God

God has been asked on a number of occasions who He was and Scripture sets out, to the extent humans can understand, who He is. The Bible says he is omnipresent (everywhere), omnipotent (all powerful, thus in total control),  and omniscient (all knowing). However, in terms of His identity, the first most startling account was by Moses who confronted God in flames emanating from a bush (Exodus 3:2, 3).  Moses in his discussion with God, asks “what is His name”, and God answers “I am that I am” and referring to himself as “I am” (Exodus 3:14). In Hebrew it’s a single word meaning to exist, or to have an existence. The connotation that God is, or exists, was reiterated by Jesus when he told the Jewish leaders that “Before Abraham was I Am” (John 8:58). In this Jesus was saying he was divine, indeed God. God’s “identity” is that He exists – He is the eternal one. It is interesting that God did not answer Moses with any of His names that describe his character found elsewhere, such as Elohim (God), El Shaddai (almighty), El Elyon (most high) or Jehovah (YHWH).

In some ways this answers the question – God is who He is. His identity is within Himself entirely and Jesus reiterates this. That identity changes with time, cannot apply to God. We are told multiple times in Scripture that God is unchangeable. The writer to the Hebrews emphatically states that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is unchanging – this is important for our assurance of salvation – the simplicity of faith in Christ is assured because he is immutable. This fact is addressed in the Old Testament as well. God, through the prophet Malachi states; “For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6) when dealing with the covenant God made with Israel.

Isaiah could write of YHWH, “Even to your old age I will be the same” (Isaiah 46:4) which has the same sentiment as Psalm 33:11 - The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. From these the truth of God is observed being that God exists outside of time and is unchanged by time, thus He has no "before" and "after". God is. He does not have an identity as humans view identity: how can it, since the term is a human construct in the absence of God

Conclusion

Scripture is firmly of the view that God is. He does not have an identity, and no amount of human philosophy will tease a useful construct that describes an identity. He is “I Am”. Thus, it does not make logical sense to speak of God’s identity. Indeed, His character is diametrically opposed, and distinctly different from humans, although we are made in His image (Genesis 1:26, 27). He is holy and we are sinful.  

A human’s identity has only two forms; it is either seeped in our sinful nature or is in Christ through new birth (Romans 8, Galatians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Titus 3:5 etc.). A Christian is a person baptised by the Holy Spirit into Christ, which was enabled by the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus Christ by his death on the cross. To be saved from the wrath of God, a person requires new birth, or to be “born again” (John 3; 1 John 5:1, 4, 18). It is new birth that provides a person with a “new nature”, and thus a "new identity" which is in Christ. Paul points out that we are saved by faith because a believer is God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). This means that a believer’s identity is defined by our Creator and Saviour while the non-believer can only be defined by their mortal sinful old-nature.