The Rapture ~ The Great Tribulation

Jesus will return for his church, but not until near the END of the Great Tribulation. The Rapture will be pre-wrath and pre-millennium. There are many theories out there that state that The Rapture will take place before the Great Tribulation, but scripture states otherwise. Many Christians want to believe that The Rapture will take place first, so that they won't have to worry about suffering. However, that in itself is false doctrine that has been preached by the misinformed, or by preachers who feel that it is okay to provoke such thoughts in their congregations. During the end times, many false prophets and teachers will rise up out of the earth, providing a message that Satan would like to have the world believe. If you are wondering why Satan would want Christians to believe that Jesus will come back for them before the pain and suffering of the Great Tribulation; It is because believers will be caught off guard, and will not be prepared for what is to come - just the way Satan wants it to happen, as he hopes it will turn believers away from God.

It states in Matthew 24:4-8 (NLT):
Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, `I am the Messiah.' They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come."

Many of those who had been deceived by the churches, being told that they would not have to suffer through the tribulation period, will lose their faith, therefore turning their backs on God. They will have had a false sense of security, thinking that they were "the elect". They will feel betrayed because they thought Jesus would come back and "rapture" them before the horrors of the tribulation took place.

Here is what it says in Matthew 24:9-14 (NLT):
"Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come."

Here is what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (NIV):
"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

You see, Paul was describing to the church in Corinth, the bodily changes that will take place during the rapture, and the manner in which the dead will be resurrected. Paul clearly says "AT THE LAST TRUMPET". Read in Revelation 11:15-18; you will clearly see that the last trumpet is the seventh trumpet: NEAR THE END of the tribulation period; after which time, the battle of Armegeddon will be fought, Satan will be bound for 1,000 years and Jesus will reign, and be ruler over all the earth during those 1,000 years.

Many of you are probably wondering to yourself, "Why would a loving God want His believers to endure such horrors?" Understand, that when Jesus returns, he will be coming for a body of believers who will be spotless and blameless before the Lord. In order to become spotless and blameless, Christians must go through the tribulation period, as it will actually be a time of purification and a time of cleansing.

In Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV), Jesus helps us to understand how the church must be cleansed and without stain or wrinkle:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

It says in Revelation 7:14 (NIV):
"These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

In Matthew 25:32-33 (NIV) it says:
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

NOTE: This is a pre-wrath view of The Rapture. If you are wondering, "Could it possibly be wrong?" The answer is "Absolutely!" It is not for us to understand the Infinite mind of God with our small finite minds. There isn't anybody on this earth who has God completely figured out - not even close! Since your curiosity has brought you this far, you must be searching for answers. You must weigh all the possibilities and decide for yourself what the scriptures teach. First and foremost, always let the Holy Spirit be your guide when reading and trying to understand scripture.