Yes I have read revelation and I have started the study of tribulation. But have not come across any rapture. It says the saints will actually have to endure during this tribulation period.
First of all, it is important to understand the difference between the church and the great tribulation saints.
The church = All believers from the on-set of the church up until the resurrection
Great tribulation saints = Individuals who become believers after the church has been removed from the earth and during that seven year period.
That said, I would point out that the word "ekklesia" translated as "church" is used 19 times throughout chapters 1 thru 3. After the end of chapter 3, the word ekklesia/church disappears from the narrative. After the end of chapter 3 and beginning in 5:8, the word hagios/saints is used. Nowhere in Revelation is the word church and saints used interchangeably. The next time the word church is used, is in Rev.22:16 in the epilog. You will never see the word church within the narrative of God's wrath.
The key to understanding the chronological order of Revelation in relation to history, is found in Rev.1:19 where John is told to write:
What you have seen = Everything from Rev.1:1 to 1:19
What is now = Represented by the letters to the seven churches, which also represents the entire church period
What will take place later = Everything that takes place after the "what is now," i.e. after the church period
In Rev.4:1, John hears a voice that sounds like a trumpet which says, "come up here and I will show you what must take place after this, which begins the "what must take place later" which John was told to write. That said, we are currently still living in the "what is now" portion of what John was told to write. Once the church is gathered, then the "what must take place later" will begin.
Rev.4:1 is what I call, a prophetic allusion to where the church is gathered. That voice that sounds like a trumpet, is synonymous with "the trumpet of God" found in I Thess.4:16. This is in fact why the word church no longer appears in the narrative after the end of chapter 3.
It is also said there is numerous saints before the throne calling out to Jesus worshipping God in heaven. And when asked who these were, the angel replied these are those who died during the great tribulation.
Regarding the above, this is why it is important to understand the difference between the church and the great tribulation saints, which are two separate groups.
Prior to chapter 7, John was told to write letters to the seven churches. Then here in chapter 7, he is being introduced to a great company of white robed saints which no man can count from every nation, tribe, people and language, which would make them all Gentiles. Then one of the elders asks John "these in white robes, who are did they come from?" The very fact that the elder is asking John who this group is when he just wrote letters to the seven churches, tell us that this group is not the church, neither are they referred to as such. In further support of this, John says that he doesn't know who they are. Then the elder says, "these are those who have come out of the great tribulation. These are people who will become believers after the church as been gathered and will be caught during the time of God's wrath.
So again I ask can you clarify your stand on rapture? Because I assume you are on pre tribulation. My stance thus far is post tribulation when Jesus arrives in all His glory for the world to see. God bless you brother thanks for your response. Look forward to your reply.
The biggest problem with the post-trib view, is that it would put the living church through the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments which make up the wrath of God.
Those who have received Christ as Lord and Savior, have been credited with the righteousness of Christ and reconciled to God.
Jesus took upon himself the wrath of God that every believer deserves, satisfying it completely and therefore, God's wrath no longer rests upon believers, nor are we appointed to suffer God's coming wrath. (Rom.5:9, I Thess.1:10, 5:9, Rev.3:10). Believers are not appointed to suffer any wrath, neither the wrath coming upon the earth nor the wrath at the final judgment. We are not appointed to suffer any of God's wrath, because Jesus already did.
What is happening to you, is the same thing that happens with many, which is not recognizing that the gathering of the church is a separate event from when the Lord returns to the earth to end the age and establish His millennial kingdom.
The church, which is the bride of Christ, is seen in Rev.19:6-8 receiving her fine linen at the wedding of the Lamb which is taking place in heaven. Then in verse 14 in that same chapter, the bride is seen wearing her fine linen and following the Lord out of heaven in the second coming. That said, in order to attend the wedding of the Lamb and follow the Lord out of heaven, the church would already have to be in heaven. In support of this, we also have the following:
"They (beast and ten kings) will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—
and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
The scripture above is in reference to when Jesus returns to the earth to end the age. Those "called, chosen and faithful followers that will be with Christ, is the church who will have been resurrected and caught up prior to the time of God's wrath.
Gathering of the church (I Thess.4:16-17, I Cor.15:51-53)
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
Second Coming (Matt.24:29-31, Rev.1:7, 19:11-21)
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
The events above are two separate events, taking place at least seven years apart.
The on-going error, is that people are interpreting them as taking place at the being the same event and taking place at the same time. As long as people continue to interpret this as such, their end-time eschatology will be in error.