Page 60 - Eschatology - Student Ebook

John 14:1-6 matches the Jewish wedding customs whereby the groom surprises his bride to take her to
his newly finished house to consummate the marriage. Only the father could pronounce the house
finished. Therefore, the church is waiting to be surprised by being snatched away by Jesus Christ. If the
rapture does not occur before the Tribulation begins, the church will no longer be surprised because
other events will be happening to warn the church.

Summary and Conclusion
The nature and scope of the Tribulation is an outpouring of the wrath of God on the whole earth. It is
described as God's judgment (Rev. 14:7) and God's punishment (Isa. 24:21-22) to judge people living on
earth (Rev. 6:10) and to prepare Israel for her King (Ezek. 36:18-32).

It is inconceivable that the church would be on earth to experience God's wrath. The church is the bride
of Christ, the object of Christ's love, not His wrath (Eph. 5:25).

Ephesians 5:25 (NIV84)25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave
himself up for her

It would be a contradiction of the very relationship of Christ and the church, for the church to go
through the punishments of the Tribulation. We have already seen the specific statements affirming the
church will be kept from the Tribulation found in Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13;
and Revelation 3:10.

Therefore, we should be eagerly waiting and preparing to meet our bridegroom. Philippians 3:20–21,
Titus 2:11–14 (NIV84), Revelation 19:7–8 , 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 1 Thessalonians
4:18)

The Midnight Cry and Rapture of the Church by Adrian Rogers

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