For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
chuck bay
May I add to your pre-trib statements. They and I believe that the rapture takes place in Rev. 4:1 when John is caught up to heaven as the church. When a door is opened in heavens firmament to let physical bodies in ( Gen 1:1 heaven and earth where designed identically). The 7 year period is called "Time of Jacobs trouble " not the Churches trouble. We experience beginning of sorrows before tribulation.
James Kraft
I agree that the rapture is pre tribulation. God will not let his Church which He bought with a great price go through that which He has already saved us from. Also, the church is no more mentioned in Revelation after chapter 3.
One of the signs that will be the most prevalent in the last days before the rapture is the great falling away of the true faith and the apostasy of the organized church.
Many other signs are given, but the apostasy is mentioned four times if I remember right.
True believers can be lead into apostasy, but will not be lost. The Galatians were heading in to apostasy, but they were still saved.
True apostates are those that deny the fundamentals of the faith, the virgin birth, that Jesus was God in the flesh, and the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Those that do not believe in the all sufficiency of the blood of Christ to save sinners.
Just my opinion, but I believe that most of the organized church is going right in to the tribulation because of unbelief. Those that are trusting in their own goodness are not saved. Those that believe any other gospel than what Paul preached are not saved. Those that believe there are other ways to heaven than through Jesus are not saved.
Salvation can only be accepted as a free gift, so that we have nothing to boast in except the cross. Most believe we are saved by works. Many just have religion because that is what is being taught in most churches.
True believers should be looking for His coming now.
James Kraft
Much of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were to the Jews. Gods chosen people. But, He came unto his own people, and His own people believed Him not.
Much of end times prophesy it about the Jews. Revelation 7 where 12,000 from each tribe will be saved during the tribulation. And so many Gentiles that no man can number.
First Corinthians 15:51-53 and First Thessalonians 13-18 is for the church age. Those saved by faith alone in Jesus finished work on the cross alone apart from any works.
John 3:36 Believers have eternal life, but unbelievers are under the wrath of God because they have not believed on the Son of God.
The church age will end, before the tribulation begins. We will not go through the time of Jacobs trouble. The tribulation 7 year period.
We have already been given the free gift of eternal life by faith alone in Jesus alone. Romans 4:5. Sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30. The rapture of the Church is the end of the day of grace, the church age.
Do we have to believe this to be saved? No, it has nothing to do with salvation, the free gift of God. But for believers it is our hope and we should know we will not be here during that time.
When Jesus comes back for the church, the bride of Christ, He comes in the clouds and we go to meet Him in the air. When he comes back at the end of the tribulation, He comes back to earth and we come with Him.
James Kraft
There is an interesting analogy of a Jewish wedding to the rapture of the church, the bride of Christ.
When a Jewish couple were betrothed, engaged to be married, the groom went to his parents house to build on a room for him and his bride to be. The bride went to her parents house to ready herself for the day the groom would come for her.
No one knew when the groom would come. But he would come as a thief in the night to carry his bride away where the marriage would be consummated, and then there would be a feast for 7 days.
Jesus will come as a thief in the night to carry his bride away, the church, the body of believers saved by grace. Romans 11:6. Those believers who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13-14, John 3:36 and John 6:40.