Daily devotion – The Church and the tribulation
The Church and the tribulation
Will the Church of Jesus Christ go through the tribulation?
The Apostle John addresses Revelation to the “the seven churches which are in Asia” Revelation 1:4.
So is the Church going to be around during the tribulation Revelation 6-18? The word church(es) is used nineteen times in the first three chapters, and then not once during the entire tribulation (6-18). That it reoccurs after the second coming – Revelation 19 – and during the new Heaven and new earth – Revelation 22:16 – is striking; similar exhortations earlier that had the phrase “unto the churches” – e.g. Revelation 2:7,11. – do not have them during the tribulation, when, instead, John warns, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear” – Revelation 13:9.
In fact, after the description of the seven churches – Revelation 2-3 – in chapters 4 -5 the scene shifts to Heaven, where John is beckoned with a trumpet like voice, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place AFTER THIS – Revelation 4:1.
Some see these words as reminiscent of Paul’s statement that the rapture will take place “with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16; others disagree. In any event, like the Church, from that point on John views the tribulation from Heaven. After a brief picture of the redeemed around God’s throne – Revelation 4-5 – from chapters 6-18 the tribulation unfolds.
In chapter 19 Jesus Christ returns to earth and then, after the ‘first resurrection,’ He reigns for a thousand years – Revelation 20:1-7, which is followed by the new Heaven and new earth – Revelation 21-22.
Nowhere during the entire tribulation period is there a word about the Church being on earth!
How wonderful it is to know that Christ’s death on the Cross of Calvary not only saved us from our sins, but from the judgment of God that is soon to fall upon our world!