"Also, I can't fathom our Perfect Heavenly Father leaving His obedient children here to bear the persecution of the a/c along with the lukewarm Christians, unbelievers and the bad. Many many left behind will recognize what happened, just as Christians & the Word foretold, and decide they want to go to Heaven. They will be on the run and persecuted."
Read the Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Read about Jesus' death. Read about the persecution of the 12 Disciples. Read about the current church being persecuted around the world. Read about how much persecution the Roman Catholic Church has persecuted both the Jews and the Protestants. Read about how Hitler murdered the Jews.
Entitled Christians in the America think no trials will come upon them... "Oh no, not me. I'm gonna get raptured, before any trials come." All I got to say, be very thankful we live in the West, where Christianity hasn't cost you a whole lot. In other countries, people fear for their life every day.
In Revelation 7:14-17, it is stated that "These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
14 And I said to him, [
a]“Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “
These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to [
b]living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Commentary on Revelation 7:14-17
" This passage describes a group of individuals who have emerged from a challenging period of persecution, symbolized by the washing of their robes in the blood of the Lamb. They are promised eternal rest and are before the throne of God, serving Him day and night. This imagery often refers to the Christian faithful who endure trials and tribulations, ultimately finding redemption and peace. "
Revelation 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. T
hen I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for [
a]a thousand years.
Matthew 24
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 “
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn,
and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His [a]elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
1 Thessalonians 4
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [d]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
(d) 1 Thessalonians 4:15 (Dead)
Those who are alive when the Lord returns, will not proceed those who are dead in the gathering of saints in heaven. The elect are gathered after the tribulation (see Matthew 24). The elect will be headed for not taking the mark of the beast, during the tribulation. THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE WHEN THE LORD RETURNS, WILL NOT PROCEED THOSE WHO ARE DEAD. THE ELECT ARE GATHERED AFTER THE TRIBULATION (SEE MATTHEW 24:29-31).
lol Come on people, try to understand....