IS IT TRUE THAT THE SAINTS WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION?

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So many Ministers of the gospel teach that the saints will not go through the great tribulation but rather they will be taken away to heaven before tribulation starts or at the middle of the tribulation period. So, we ask the question, is the position of these Ministers accurate? Is it true that the saints will not go through the great tribulation?

To answer these questions, let us take a look at the the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 24:

(Matthew 24:6-9 KJV) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

In this chapter 24 of the book of Matthew, Jesus gave a total description of what will happen in the last days and during the great tribulation. The description shows that the saints living in those days will go through the great tribulation. He said they will be delivered up to be afflicted and be killed. Take time to read the entire chapter.

Some Ministers have however argue that though all saints go through some form of tribulation, that not all true believers alive at that period will go through the "great tribulation" which will come in the last days. Well, Jesus never said so. He said in verse 22 of that chapter that except the days are shortened, no human being will be alive but for the sake of the saints, the days will be shortened.

(Matthew 24:22 KJV) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 

This clearly indicates that the saints will go through the great tribulation but that the tribulation period will only be shortened because of them.

Others argue that "the elect" described in verse 22 are people that became born again after the rapture of the church at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This position is also inaccurate as the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ takes place immediately after the great tribulation, i.e after "the elect" would have gone through it.

(Matthew 24:29-31 KJV) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

In other words, no supposedly 'rapture' has taken place prior to the great tribulation. (see our previous answers to the questions, IS RAPTURE BIBLICAL, IS THE RAPTURE BIBLICAL PART 2). 

Notice the similarity of verse 31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and how these events will take place after the tribulation as indicated in Matthew chapter 24:29.

There are other scriptures that also show that the saints will go through the great tribulation:

(Revelation 7:13-14 KJV) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Notice that they came out of the great tribulation. They were not removed from it.

(Revelation 7:3 CEV) Don't harm the earth or the sea or any tree! Wait until I have marked the foreheads of the servants of our God.

Notice that these 144,000 servants were given mark of protection of God before going through the great tribulation. The instruction was not to remove them from the earth/ tribulation.

Some other people believe that since the word "church" does not appear from Revelation 4:1 to Revelation 22:16, that the church  or saints must have been raptured prior to the great tribulation thereby escaping it. They believe that the words to John in Revelation 4:1, "Come up hither" refer to rapture. This is a misinterpretation as the words have nothing to do with rapture and although the word "church" does not appear in the referenced chapters, the word "saints" were used in Revelation 13:10 and 14:12 which represent the church.

Tribulation has always been experienced by the saints and the great tribulation will also be experienced by the true believers alive in the last days. However, Jesus said, cheer up for I have overcome the world.

(John 16:33 KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

(Matthew 24:13 KJV) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.


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