It is because you are rejecting the information that I gave to you regarding the fact that the church is mentioned 19 times in chapters 1 thru 3 and then suddenly vanishes from the narrative. So you are not taking that into consideration.
As I previously made known, the very fact that the elder is asking John who these in white robes are, demonstrates that they are not the church, but a different group.
Once the church is removed from the earth, that ends the church period. That great number of white robe saints which no man can count, will be people who will become believers after the church has been gathered and during the time of God's wrath. Though they belong to Christ, the are not apart of the church and are never referred to as such.
Yes, you are correct in that, throughout the NT, the word saints and church are used interchangeably, but that is not true in Revelation. A distinction is made in the book of Revelation between the two. They are never referred to as the church, because they do not belong to it. They are the great tribulation saints who are never referred to as the church. In chapters 1 thru 3 only the word church is used. From chapter 4 onward, the word church suddenly disappears from the narrative. The reason for this is because Rev.4:1 is a prophetic allusion to where the church is called up, which is why we never see the word church within chapters 6 thru 18. This is not a coincidence, but is a God-given clue, which is one of many. If the great tribulation saints had been ready prior to Christ's appearing then they would have been caught up with the church. But because they will not be ready when the Lord comes for His church, then will not be caught up, nor will they belong to the church. They are saved saints. Israel is not the church. The 144,000 is not the church. Each are different saved groups of people. The church ends when the Lord appears and gathers us up.
1. Church mentioned 19 times within chapters 1 thru 3
2. Church never mentioned again within chapters 6 thru 18, only saints.
There's a reason for that. So you have to ask yourself the question, why is that?
The next time the church is mentioned is as the bride in Rev.19:6-8 and as the church in Rev.22:16
The above are the great tribulation saints that we are introduced to in Rev.7:9-17. Anytime you read the word "saints" it is in reference to saints who missed the gathering of the church and became believers during the time of God's wrath. They are not the church.
The correct translation of the above is "If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints."
In other words, regarding those great tribulations saints, if it is the fate of some to go into captivity during that 42 months, then they will go into captivity. If the fate of any of those saints is to be killed with a weapon, then with a weapon they will be killed. Whatever God has deemed for each individual saint, that is what is going to happen to them. The church is not on the earth during that time, because it is during the time of His wrath.
I done these studies since I was 14. Therefore, I am not interested in going over the same information that I have already gone over more times than I can count.
I find that God reveals His deeper truths to those who diligently search His word for the truth. Those people who have not, or get their information from reading the books written by men, adopt their teachings instead of devolping their own understanding from study. It's like these ignorant people who have adopted the belief that the rich man and Lazarus is a parable. When if they would just read it in its plain literal sense, it would mean exactly what it says.
Then you have those who believe and teaching annihilationism, ignoring the words everlasting, forever and ever and eternal, no rest day or night, the smoke of their torment rises up forever and ever. They blatantly ignore any scriptural reasoning that you give them.
Then you have the "soul-sleepers," who adopted this teaching from the writings of men, while ignoring all of the scriptural proofs showing the spirit being conscious and aware after the death of the body. You ask them how Jesus could make the promise to the man next to Him saying "truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" and their apologetic is "the comma is in the wrong place. It should be after the word "today" so that it reads "Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise." In doing so, the make Jesus sound like Shakespear in the park.
These ridiculous apologetics go on and on and on. I'm not buying it though, because I've done my studies and continue to do so. Those who believe that the church is going through the wrath of God, then they are truly not believing that Jesus took upon himself God's wrath that every believer deserves.
Sorry for the rant
You shouldnt rant. Just give scripture. Your words do not align with scripture. I mentioned erlier to you that the 7 churches that you keep mentioning were not on good terms. They more then likely would be condemned by the looks of it. And we can see this because of the number 7 attached to it. There is only ONE CHURCH. ONE BODY OF CHRIST. That means jews and gentiles are part of ONE BODY. What you are suggesting that jews are not part of the church/body is unbiblical and rascist.
Saints on the other hand when you refer to someone as a saint, they are Holy. Whether they are part of one of the 7 churches anyone who is a saint belongs to Christ. So I still dont agree and neither does scripture agree with your theory regardless how many years youve studied. Just show the scripture that shows these 144,000 saints repented during tribulation to validate your claim. Because in revelation it actually says the opposite! People still would not repent!
Revelation 9:20
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 4 says John was taken up in Spirit. Not the church. John was taken up. Now Paul says at the LAST TRUMPET ALL WILL BE RAISED FROM THE GRAVE as well as those alive will be transformed. THE LAST TRUMPET IS WHEN JESUS CHRIST RETURNS. The last trumpet is not prior to the tribulation.
Now look no one wants to go thru tribulation, but we are only servants. We walk by faith, not by our own desires. If God puts us thru that and tests our faith, who are we to argue with God or complain?
I can tell you feel very strongly about your personal efforts more strongly than rightfully dividing scripture. God bless you, even though you may not think so youve helped me strengthen my belief. I was open to changing my decision based on scripture. But you didnt really defend your position with scripture. I dont know where you got your information. I feel more inclined that scripture does not mention any such pre tribulation rapture after our discussion.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Revelation 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LordGod Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
So after all the destruction upon the earth, after 6 trumpets, we have here the seventh in which now the Judgement has arrived and the wrath of God. So yes the wrath of God will be at the time of judgement. So you are right that God will not pour His wrath on the saints. That will be after the seventh trumpet, by then we will all be taken with Jesus Christ and the Judgement will have arrived. The day of the Lord. The tribulation is prior to the 7th trumpet.