Partial Rapture

[Enoch2021]

 

You still didn't show a pre-trib resurrection of the dead in Christ, and I know why. Because the pre-trib resurrection of the dead in Christ is NOT in the Bible.

How about a post-trib resurrection, ENOCH? Would you settle for that? If so, eat your heart out.

Daniel 12:1-2

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

 

That time of trouble is none other than the great tribulation that Christ mentioned (Matt. 24:21-22).  These are both speaking of the same time and event.  But pre-tribbers continue to deny it.  No need to argue with them, though, because they will find out as soon as the seven year covenant is confirmed, when they are still here with the rest of us.  I hope they have a back up plan!

 

 

 

Cheers

 

 

 

 

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Hey Rollin.... long time,

 

Daniel 12:1-2

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

That time of trouble is none other than the great tribulation that Christ mentioned (Matt. 24:21-22). 

 

These are both speaking of the same time and event.  But pre-tribbers continue to deny it.  No need to argue with them, though, because they will find out as soon as the seven year covenant is confirmed, when they are still here with the rest of us.  I hope they have a back up plan!

 

 

 

This is a Strawman (Fallacy).  I'm a "Pre-Tribber" I don't deny this Passage in the least.  I do deny your "erroneous" extrapolations from it, however. This isn't speaking to the "Rapture" for a number of reasons:

 

1. it says "thy people".  Who are Daniel's people?....the Jews.

 

2.  How can this passage be speaking to "The Church" when it wasn't revealed until Paul....

 

(Ephesians 3:1-8) "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,  {2} If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:  {3} How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,  {4} Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)  {5} Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;  {6} That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:  {7} Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.  {8} Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;"

 

3. The Daniel Passage is clearly referring to the OT Saints, of which... Daniel is one.

 

4. And this is quite interesting...."at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."     When does this event occur? When is the Book opened?.....

 

(Revelation 20:11-12) "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  {12} And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

 

Daniel 12:1 is clearly saying that the OT Saints won't be Resurrected Until the Great White Throne   .  Makes sense, to be judged on their works....why?  Well the OT Saints are not apart of the New Testament Dispensation.... they are under a different Covenant. 

 

 

5.  You also have a Metric Ton of issues with the Marriage Supper (The Bride---"The Church") still being on the Earth going through Great Tribulation and being @ the Marriage Supper and Returning with Christ for the Final Battle..... @ the same time!!

 

 

 

There are many Scriptures confirming a Pre-Trib Rapture but I really don't need them.  ALL I need is this....

 

Your position for Post Trib is that "The Church"/Born Again Christians go through the Great Tribulation.

 

Well 98% of The Church/Born Again Christians are DEAD (From Pentecost until now or when it's time).  So for "The Church" to go through the "Great Tribulation" on the Earth, They would have to be RESURRECTED and Walking around on the Earth so as to go through The Great Tribulation.

 

So unless you can show this scenario in Scripture, welcome to Pre-Trib    

[Enoch2021]

To be martyred does not constitute escaping these coming horrors. Martyrdom itself is a horror. Therefore, the only way God can make this promise to us to escape these horrors of the 7 year Tribulation is by being first raptured. Pray on this clear word of Scripture as I pray for your understanding.

 

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Therefore, the only way God can make this promise to us to escape these horrors of the 7 year Tribulation is by being first raptured. Pray on this clear word of Scripture as I pray for your understanding.

 

 

Your entire position is compromised by this statement alone.

 

There isn't a 7 Year tribulation.  There is only the Great Tribulation (that is demarcated by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24 and STARTS with the Abomination of Desolation) and that lasts for 3.5 years.

 

Don't confuse the Entirety of Daniel's 70th Week with "Tribulation" or the "Great Tribulation".  I challenge you to find anywhere in Scripture that the Great Tribulation is 7 Years.  Or "tribulation" is 7 Years....this is sloppy exegesis that has meandered through Christendom based on Vapor, word of mouth assumptions, and not paying attention to detail.  

 

The Time frame is detailed specifically here: "Time and Times, and a Dividing of Time": Dan 7:25, Dan 12:7, Rev 12:14; "1260 Days": Rev 11:3, Rev 12:6 ; "42 Months": Rev 11:2, Rev 13:5.

3.5 Years (GOD'S Calendar) =  1260 Days, or 42 Months, or Times and Times and a Dividing of Time.

[finestofthewheat]

All of Daniel's sevens are 2,520 days each. So is Daniel's final seven. Half way through the final seven is the Great Tribulation lasting 1260 days. Hence, there are 42 months in Rev. 8 in the first four trumpets. That leaves 5 months for the 1st woe or 5th trumpet in Rev. 9; 13 months for the 2nd woe or 6th trumpet; and 24 months for the 3rd woe or 7th trumpet.

 

Luke 21.36 is the first rapture. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

 

So what happens if you are not watchful and prayerful? You won't be accounted worthy to escape the Tribulation that is to come to pass to stand before the Son of Man.

 

This may be too distasteful for you, but the fact remains, not all Christians are raptured at the first rapture "before the throne" (Rev. 7.9) in 3rd heaven, before the 1st (8.7) of 7 trumpets are blown.

[Daniel 11:36]

Only the Lord's true Ecclesia of the dead in Christ and the living at the time will be called just before the tribulation [Revelation 3:1O]

Most of those who profess to be Christian in the organized churches are not true Christians

It is these that will face the tribulation which will come upon them with no warning if alive at the time.... and they will have to repent and turn to the Lord to be saved just like any other human

Here is what the Lord tells about this separation:

[Revelation 3:8-10] ........ [Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 3:15-19]

Those that enter the tribulation must open the door that the Lord shuts by their repenting, and He will save them for eternity however, they will experience the tribulation's upheaval and deceptions that will abound

Most of those that turn to the Lord during the period will be martyred for their faith during the period [Revelation 6:9-11; 14:13 15:2-3; 20:4][those beheaded]

Those that do not turn to Him will most likely be killed and lost forever [Revelation 20:13-15] .... billions of unsaved humans will be destroyed in the tribulation

Those that do repent will have to wait for their resurrection at the end of the 2520 days

So today one is either ready .... or they are not

Many have been willfully deceived by false teachers in the organized churches and this is not a good position to hold

I believe that it is the devil's influence that has had much to do with the idea that the Lord's pre-tribulation call is a "lie"

He knows where he is going and what is in store for his own destiny [Revelation 12:12; 20:10], and if he can lead many astray on the matter he will be able to snooker them into the tribulation where he will seek to kill them before they repent and thereby cause them to face the same fate that is coming to him

So be careful what you believe and do not be willfully deceived

Edited October 28, 2014 by Daniel 11:36

[Enoch2021]

All of Daniel's sevens are 2,520 days each. So is Daniel's final seven. Half way through the final seven is the Great Tribulation lasting 1260 days. Hence, there are 42 months in Rev. 8 in the first four trumpets. That leaves 5 months for the 1st woe or 5th trumpet in Rev. 9; 13 months for the 2nd woe or 6th trumpet; and 24 months for the 3rd woe or 7th trumpet.

 

Luke 21.36 is the first rapture. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

 

So what happens if you are not watchful and prayerful? You won't be accounted worthy to escape the Tribulation that is to come to pass to stand before the Son of Man.

 

This may be too distasteful for you, but the fact remains, not all Christians are raptured at the first rapture "before the throne" (Rev. 7.9) in 3rd heaven, before the 1st (8.7) of 7 trumpets are blown.

 

 

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1. All of Daniel's sevens are 2,520 days each. So is Daniel's final seven. Half way through the final seven is the Great Tribulation lasting 1260 days.

 

 

2. Hence, there are 42 months in Rev. 8 in the first four trumpets. That leaves 5 months for the 1st woe or 5th trumpet in Rev. 9; 13 months for the 2nd woe or 6th trumpet; and 24 months for the 3rd woe or 7th trumpet.

 

 

 

#1 is correct.

 

#2. "Hence" and everything that follows.... Based on what?  Provide Scripture support for these time frames ( 42, 5, 13, and 24 months).....?  You're speculating then contorting "YOUR" speculations to fit your theory/conclusion-----("tribulation is 7 years").  It's a Begging The Question (Fallacy) IN TOTO----assuming the very thing you're trying to prove.. PROVE: 42 months in Rev 8/first 4 Trumpets, 5 months for the 5th Trumpet (Rev 9), 13 months for the 6th Trumpet, and 24 months for the 7th Trumpet.....?

 

Then it follows, from your Baseless Theory above, the Seven Vial Judgments including Christ's Return have to be 42 months, Correct?  Please provide Scripture Support?

 

Also, the first mention in Revelation of the 42 months and 1260 days is here...

 

(Revelation 11:2-3) "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.  {3} And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."   .......

 

This is between the 6th and 7th Trumpet.

 

 

Luke 21.36 is the first rapture. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

 

 

It's not, and is directly refuted by "The Quintessential Rapture Passage in Scripture"...

 

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  {18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

 

This speaks nothing of any "Partial" Rapture whatsoever.  Just 2 concurrent iterations of the SAME Rapture.

 

So what happens if you are not watchful and prayerful? You won't be accounted worthy to escape the Tribulation that is to come to pass to stand before the Son of Man.

 

 

This is Preposterous.  What you are saying is that you can lose your salvation based on works.  In this case, whether or not you believe in the Pre-Trib Rapture.  But then you employ multiple "Raptures" as your "Rescue Device".

 

As a result of not being watchful, You only lose the Reward/Crown @ the Bema Seat....

 

(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."

 

 

This is One of 5 Crowns mentioned in Scripture (There are probably more, but these are mentioned)...

 

1. Crown of Life : Jas 1:12, Rev 2:10

2. Crown of Righteousness ; see above

3. Crown of Glory : 1 Pet 5:4

4. Crown Incorruptible : 1 Cor 9:25

5. Crown of Rejoicing : 1 Thess 2:19

 

Moreover, "YOU" can do nothing in regards to Salvation, Christ "did it" completely.  As a Matter of Fact, if you "try" to earn it....it's Blasphemy; as you are substituting "your works" for HIS Perfect Work!

 

 

This is the Poster Child showing how you can be off on Doctrine by just a little...... and end up in with a Convoluted "Doctrinal" Mess downstream.

 

 

This may be too distasteful for you, but the fact remains, not all Christians are raptured at the first rapture "before the throne" (Rev. 7.9) in 3rd heaven, before the 1st (8.7) of 7 trumpets are blown.

 

 

It's not distasteful.... it's Fallacious as I've demonstrated and not based on Scripture.

[finestofthewheat]

Since Daniel's 70th seven hasn't started yet it will yet occur. The 1260 days is half the 70th seven since all the sevens are 2,520 days each. Pretty simple.

 

1 Thess. 4.14-18 is not the partial rapture. Rather, 1 Thess. 4.14-18 is the general rapture and resurrection at at the start of the 7th trumpet.

 

Whereas the partial first rapture is seen in Matt. 24.40-42, Luke 21.36 and Rev. 3.10 "before the throne" (7.9) before the 1st trumpet (8.7) of the 7 trumpets is blown. Again, very simple.

 

What do these passages say? They say in order to escape the hour of trial that is to come upon the whole world at the end of this age one needs not only to be born-again, but prayerful, watchful, keep the word His patience and maintain the conduct of Matt. 5-7. Very simple.

 

Thus, the first rapture at the start of Daniel's final seven is according to readiness, whereas the rapture and resurrection at the start of the 7th trumpet (Rev. 11.15, 1 Thess. 4.14-18, 1 Cor. 15.23,50-52) is according to completion of all those who are alive and left that had not been taken at the first rapture. Simple.

 

You asked about the 7 bowls of wrath. The 7 bowls of wrath are contained in the 7th trumpet. The saints alive and left are raptured at the start of the 7th trumpet. 24 months of the bowls of wrath take place before Jesus steps down on the mount of olives because Jesus returns not at the start of the 7th trumpet but at the end of the 7th trumpet which is the end of the 1260 days of the Great Tribulation which is the end of the 7 years of the Tribulation Daniel's 70th seven.

 

You're misreading. I never said a person can lose salvation based on their works. I am OSAS Arminian. I believe those born-again are once saved always saved "they shall never perish" (John 10.28).

 

So not being first raptured is due to works; such a person will have to wait to be raptured at the 7th trumpet instead for they were not ready to be received at the first rapture according to readiness.

 

Simple.

Edited October 28, 2014 by finestofthewheat

[finestofthewheat]

Questions raised against separate rapture, and answers thereto, are submitted below.

 

A.   Some people say that the rapture of the church cannot be divided because the body of Christ cannot be divided. It should be noted in reply, however, that the body is a figure of speech which signifies one life. If the body is taken literally, then there is already division today because the Lord is now in heaven, Paul has already died, we remain living on earth, and some believers are yet to be born.

 

B.   Others object that rapture is part of redemption, that since redemption is according to grace, rapture cannot be based on the concept of worthiness. In reply, it needs to be pointed out that while the act of changing (see 1 Cor. 15.51-52) is indeed according to grace, the act of being taken (rapture) is according to works.

 

C.  Some observers ask, is it not rather cruel to take away hope from the church? To which we must answer that in the Scriptures there is no such false hope given; and therefore it is better to alert people to this fact.

 

D.  I Corinthians 15.23, say some, only mentions “they that are Christ’s” and that nothing is said about works. But let us be aware that this verse does not speak of rapture, it speaks of resurrection.

 

E.   Since the dead will not go through the Great Tribulation, would it not be unfair to the living for them to go through it? Will not the righteous God be unjust in this regard? In response, let me say that we do need to be concerned; for during the millennium each and every believer (including all believers who died prior to the Great Tribulation) will receive, as a consequence of appearing before Christ’s judgment seat, the things done in the body while alive, according to what he has done whether it be good or bad (2 Cor. 5.10).

 

F.   Since in 1 Cor. 15:50-52 (“We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed”) “all” is the word used, surely this signifies the whole body. Yes, the “all” here does indeed refer to the entire body, but it does not have reference to the same time. For example, we all will die, but certainly not all of us will do so in one day.

 

G.  There is a distinction made in the Bible between wheat and tares, some say, but no difference made between wheat and wheat; consequently, all wheat must be raptured. In reply, it should be noted that the times of ripening for wheat are not the same. Thus there are the firstfruits and the later harvest.

 

H.  Some argue that according to I Thessalonians 4.15, the living “shall in no wise precede them who are fallen asleep” -The dead are resurrected at the seventh trumpet; and so timewise, rapture occurs after the Tribulation. Now if there is a first rapture, it will have to take place before the resurrection of the dead. But since this verse distinctly says “shall in no wise,” how then can rapture take place twice? Let me say in reply that it is most precious and significant to find in both verse 15 and verse 17 the qualifying clauses “we that are alive, that are left” - Now to be alive is obviously to be left on earth; why, then, is there this apparent unnecessary repetition? Because it implies that there are people who though alive yet have already gone ahead (that is, raptured) and therefore are no longer left on earth. Would Paul enlist himself among this class of people who are alive and are left? Not at all. He uses the word “we” only because he is speaking at that moment of writing, and the proof of this is that since Paul no longer lives today, he cannot be numbered among those who are left on earth. Our summary conclusion to all this is that the partial rapture view is the correct one - that is to say, that one group of believers will be raptured before the Tribulation according to readiness while another group of believers will go through the Tribulation and be raptured afterwards.

Edited October 28, 2014 by finestofthewheat

[Enoch2021]

Since Daniel's 70th seven hasn't started yet it will yet occur. The 1260 days is half the 70th seven since all the sevens are 2,520 days each. Pretty simple.

 

1 Thess. 4.14-18 is not the partial rapture. Rather, 1 Thess. 4.14-18 is the general rapture and resurrection at at the start of the 7th trumpet.

 

Whereas the partial first rapture is seen in Matt. 24.40-42, Luke 21.36 and Rev. 3.10 "before the throne" (7.9) before the 1st trumpet (8.7) of the 7 trumpets is blown. Again, very simple.

 

What do these passages say? They say in order to escape the hour of trial that is to come upon the whole world at the end of this age one needs not only to be born-again, but prayerful, watchful, keep the word His patience and maintain the conduct of Matt. 5-7. Very simple.

 

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Since Daniel's 70th seven hasn't started yet it will yet occur.

 

 

True.  But how does this relate to the discussion?

 

 

The 1260 days is half the 70th seven since all the sevens are 2,520 days each. Pretty simple.

 

 

Yes, it is Simple.  The 1260 Days/Times Time and a Dividing of Time/Times Time and Half a Time, Speak to the Great Tribulation that STARTS @ the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Christ in Matthew 24.... which directed us to Daniel's 70th Week.

There is Zero, Nada, in Scripture that says anything about the first half of that week; save for what event begins the week....

 

(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." 

 

 

1 Thess. 4.14-18 is not the partial rapture. Rather, 1 Thess. 4.14-18 is the general rapture and resurrection at at the start of the 7th trumpet.

Whereas the partial first rapture is seen in Matt. 24.40-42, Luke 21.36 and Rev. 3.10 "before the throne" (7.9) before the 1st trumpet (8.7) of the 7 trumpets is blown. Again, very simple.

What do these passages say? They say in order to escape the hour of trial that is to come upon the whole world at the end of this age one needs not only to be born-again, but prayerful, watchful, keep the word His patience and maintain the conduct of Matt. 5-7. Very simple.

 

 

Repeating the same Baseless Conjectures are still Baseless Conjectures.  Please Support via Scripture (as I specifically delineated in Post # 45).....?

[finestofthewheat]

The 70th seven occurs at the end of this age commensurate with Jesus' parousia which spans 7 years. First Jesus meets the overcomers alive at the first rapture before the throne in 3rd heaven then Jesus comes on the cloud and through  the cloud over 7 years to meet the saints in the air at the last trumpet. After that Jesus returns with His overcomers to step down on the mount of olives to reign on earth with them over the nations for 1000 years. Simple.

 

In the middle of that 70th seven the covenant or peace treaty established is broken by Antichrist. Then ensues the Great Tribulation of 1260 days. The first 5 months or 1st woe people are not killed. But 1/3 of people die in the 2nd and 3rd woe. The 3rd woe contains the 7 bowls of wrath that lasts 24 months.

 

At the end of those 1260 days Jesus steps down on the mount of olives and will judge the nations from the 1260th to the 1290th day. 30 days. Then Jesus will set up Israel as the center of all nations from the 1290th to the 1335 day (45 days more) from where He will reign in the 3rd Temple for 1000 years before the New City and New Earth commence.

 

Many do not have faith to believe this so I can't call them my brothers in Christ. They worship another Jesus, a false Christ. Perhaps they claim Jesus is reigning now or they claim there is no rapture, nor according to readiness, so they live carnally.

Edited October 28, 2014 by finestofthewheat

[Enoch2021]

Questions raised against separate rapture, and answers thereto, are submitted below.

 

A.   Some people say that the rapture of the church cannot be divided because the body of Christ cannot be divided. It should be noted in reply, however, that the body is a figure of speech which signifies one life. If the body is taken literally, then there is already division today because the Lord is now in heaven, Paul has already died, we remain living on earth, and some believers are yet to be born.

 

B.   Others object that rapture is part of redemption, that since redemption is according to grace, rapture cannot be based on the concept of worthiness. In reply, it needs to be pointed out that while the act of changing (see 1 Cor. 15.51-52) is indeed according to grace, the act of being taken (rapture) is according to works.

 

C.  Some observers ask, is it not rather cruel to take away hope from the church? To which we must answer that in the Scriptures there is no such false hope given; and therefore it is better to alert people to this fact.

 

D.  I Corinthians 15.23, say some, only mentions “they that are Christ’s” and that nothing is said about works. But let us be aware that this verse does not speak of rapture, it speaks of resurrection.

 

E.   Since the dead will not go through the Great Tribulation, would it not be unfair to the living for them to go through it? Will not the righteous God be unjust in this regard? In response, let me say that we do need to be concerned; for during the millennium each and every believer (including all believers who died prior to the Great Tribulation) will receive, as a consequence of appearing before Christ’s judgment seat, the things done in the body while alive, according to what he has done whether it be good or bad (2 Cor. 5.10).

 

F.   Since in 1 Cor. 15:50-52 (“We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed”) “all” is the word used, surely this signifies the whole body. Yes, the “all” here does indeed refer to the entire body, but it does not have reference to the same time. For example, we all will die, but certainly not all of us will do so in one day.

 

G.  There is a distinction made in the Bible between wheat and tares, some say, but no difference made between wheat and wheat; consequently, all wheat must be raptured. In reply, it should be noted that the times of ripening for wheat are not the same. Thus there are the firstfruits and the later harvest.

 

H.  Some argue that according to I Thessalonians 4.15, the living “shall in no wise precede them who are fallen asleep” -The dead are resurrected at the seventh trumpet; and so timewise, rapture occurs after the Tribulation. Now if there is a first rapture, it will have to take place before the resurrection of the dead. But since this verse distinctly says “shall in no wise,” how then can rapture take place twice? Let me say in reply that it is most precious and significant to find in both verse 15 and verse 17 the qualifying clauses “we that are alive, that are left” - Now to be alive is obviously to be left on earth; why, then, is there this apparent unnecessary repetition? Because it implies that there are people who though alive yet have already gone ahead (that is, raptured) and therefore are no longer left on earth. Would Paul enlist himself among this class of people who are alive and are left? Not at all. He uses the word “we” only because he is speaking at that moment of writing, and the proof of this is that since Paul no longer lives today, he cannot be numbered among those who are left on earth. Our summary conclusion to all this is that the partial rapture view is the correct one - that is to say, that one group of believers will be raptured before the Tribulation according to readiness while another group of believers will go through the Tribulation and be raptured afterwards.

 

 

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These are all Strawman (Fallacy) Arguments:

 

I'll take this one....

 

Since the dead will not go through the Great Tribulation, would it not be unfair to the living for them to go through it?

 

 

Fair or Unfair is Irrelevant and this wasn't the Argument that I postulated (Hence, Strawman).  The Question is, What does Scripture Say?

 

In this case....

 

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  {18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

 

For "The Church"/Born Again Christians to go through the Great Tribulation....98% of "The Church" being Dead, they would need to be RESURRECTED and walking around on the Earth to go through it.

 

It's just that simple.