Bible Proof The Church Is NOT Missing From Earth After Revelation 4:1!

by Paul Benson

The notion of a ‘Pre-tribulation Rapture’ of the Church is one of the most satanic delusions ever to confront the Body of Christ. But quite sadly it is also one of the most widely received. And a large segment of the Christian community has no clue as to the satanic scheme behind that myth. What better way to get your adversaries to enter the final battle with you ill-prepared than to convince them it is a battle they will never fight?

I show solid proof and biblical example of the danger and damage of that error in a write-up I titled The Curse Of The Pre-trib Rapture. If you have never read that article PLEASE do so. The understanding brought forth there is critical to the end-time believer. The disregarding of God’s warning against adding to or taking away from his Holy Word will bring tragic results to a multitude; and ultimately for many it will bring eternal perdition upon them! This matter is not a trifle one.

The greatest strength of the pre-trib teaching is not found in any Scriptural validation, but in the tendency of a self-centered and self-serving western Church to accept it with-out reservation. In studying out this matter, and responding to it, I have not found even one ‘unquestionable proof’ of a pre-trib rapture that does not fall to pieces when you actually DO question it, and subject it to the full counsel of God’s Word.

Let’s examine one of those ‘unquestionable proofs’ here today. The notion that because the Church is (supposedly) not referred to in the Bible after Revelation 4:1 this emphatically proves the ‘Rapture’ has removed them from earth prior to the great tribulation. Is there any validity to this claim?

Who’s Kidding Who Here?

Surprisingly (and somewhat humorously to me) is the fact those claiming that the Church not being mentioned by name as being on Earth from Revelation 4:1 to Revelation 19 somehow proves the pre-trib fable have completely missed a vital consideration.

The Church is not mentioned by name as being in Heaven either in those same chapters!

According to their own reasoning that would mean their notion that a ‘rapture’ before the time of great tribulation had taken the Church to Heaven could not be true! Their own standard of proof disproves the very notion they claim to be proving.

Please feel free to take a moment and have a good chuckle here. I sure did!

This laughable oversight on the part of those promoting this ‘proof’ is in itself enough to inflict blunt force trauma to their assertion. But why don’t we go all the way here, and put this bogus claim out of its misery?

The War On The Saints

The truth of the matter is that (if you have ears to hear and eyes to see) the Scriptures do very clearly show the Body of Christ on Earth, and about their Father’s business, during the final few years of this age including the 3½ year reign of Antichrist!

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Daniel 7:21

Although the pre-trib crowd would argue this passage is about what they call the ‘tribulation saints’ (those who commit to serving God after the supposed pre-trib rapture), and NOT about the Church, there are certain aspects of this passage that disprove that notion. This is clearly a reference to the Body of Christ for three reasons:

1). …he made war with the saints… The meaning of the word ‘Saint’. The word Saint means ‘a sanctified one’. The only way one could be a sanctified-one during the time of tribulation is through the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ. This verse is talking about the Church being persecuted by Antichrist.

The Old Testament believers were sanctified by a forbearance of God in a ‘looking-ahead’ to the Cross manner. But they had to receive the Gospel from the mouth of Christ and accept it before they could enter Heaven. This was accomplished after Christ’s death when he descended to the lower regions and preached to them (Eph. 4:9, 1Peter 4:6). Those days of O.T. faith have come and gone.

Without getting real deep into Dispensational theology here let’s just say that the idea that people would be saved in a different manner than us today during the tribulation (because the age of grace has come to an end(?) at the rapture) sets aside the completed work of the Cross and presents another way of salvation.

Their supposed tribulation saints are supposedly saved by the martyrdom of themselves! They are granted salvation (or so the fable goes) for dying for the cause. This is a facet of the pre-trib doctrine that is outright heresy! Jesus plainly taught except a man be born again he cannot be saved (John 3:-5).

Whether it’s today, tomorrow, or during the great tribulation, the only way to become a Saint is to be a part of the Body of Christ! The Saints that Antichrist wars against are the Christian Church. There are no other Saints!

2). …Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High… This is referring to Jesus coming to rescue the persecuted Body of Christ and setting them up in authority over the affairs of this world! (We’ll tie this to a New Testament passage a little later.) We need to ask ourselves here: Who is it that Jesus gives the power of judgment to at his arrival? Who has been promised to rule and reign with him? Who will judge angels? Example after example could be given to show that this is power of judgment is given at the return of Christ to none other than the Church! WE are the Saints of Daniel 7:21!

3). …the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom… A lot of folks are teaching that our eternal home is not on this planet but in Heaven. But I am expecting to be right here on Earth with Jesus. Why​? Because the Word so clearly teaches that fact! Does it say the meek shall inherit a home in Heaven. No! It says we shall inherit the Earth. We will be ruling and reigning with Christ here on this planet! It is the Church (the Bride of Christ) that shares the inheritance with Jesus!  The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. Psalms 37:29

The above passage from Daniel, as well as the rest of the references in his writings to Antichrist’s ‘war on the Saints’, are dealing with the persecuted Body of Christ here on Earth during the tribulation. To claim otherwise is a wresting of the Scriptures. Such treatment of the Word of God is a very dangerous practice; but a practice that must be frequently engaged in to teach the unbiblical doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.

Days Shortened For Whom?

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:31

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Matthew 24:22

The Bible says God will not allow the time of great tribulation to run on and on or the horrible events of that time-span would leave no survivors. For the sake of his elect he keeps this time shortened. Who are this ‘elect’ the Bible is referring to? It is the Body of Christ found to be on Earth during this time (which would chronologically fall after Revelation 4:1).

Though the pre-tribbers and Dispensationalists make enormous effort to try to convince us the ‘elect’ of Matthew 24 are the Jews and not the Church this is in direct conflict to the Word of God. Time and time again in the New Testament the Church is referred to as ‘the elect’; but not once is national Israel referred to by this term. The one N.T. mention of election concerning national Israel (in Romans 11) clearly states their unbelief had caused them to be cut off from their position as God’s elect!

By showing the elect of God on Earth during the tribulation this places the Body of Christ here at that time. You can find an in-depth look at the biblical proof the Church is God’s elect today in this article:

The Identity Of The Elect In Matthew 24

What the New Testament really teaches on election (compared with the wayward theories of man) is explained in a simple fashion any can understand in this article:

Who Are The Elect Of God Today?

 

The Church In Tribulation

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 2Thessalonians 1:4-5

Though we are not saved by enduring persecution, in the sight of God it does tag us as worthy of his kingdom. Partaking of the sufferings of Christ makes us eligible for the reward of the same. In this chapter Paul clearly ties the sufferings of the early Church to the sufferings of the believers on Earth at the time of Christ’s Return. Let’s read the rest of the passage.

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 2Thessalonians 1:6-10

Paul taught the persecuted Church (from the early believers right down to the last days remnant) will all be rewarded with rest at the Return of Christ. And notice he included himself in the same company as those suffering persecution when Christ returns. (…And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed… …When he shall come to be glorified in his saints…) The persecuted Church of the early days is the same Church being persecuted by Antichrist and his beast system when Jesus comes back to Earth.

Whether the pre-trib crowd wants to acknowledge it or not the first chapter of 1Thessalonians is describing the Body of Christ on Earth during the tribulation, and being rescued by Jesus at his Second Coming! Bible fact!

Once again we see the Scriptures detailing the Body of Christ on Earth during the time of tribulation!

The Witness Of The Fathers Of Our Faith

On my site I have a specific page that shows scores of quotes of the theologians of the Church down through the ages proving the Church has always expected to face Antichrist’s war on the Saints. It is only in comparatively recent history a (false) belief to the contrary has arisen. That page can be found RIGHT HERE.

And here is another article that speaks to that issue:

The Darkness Before The Dawn: Before Christ Comes Antichrist!

Is The Church REALLY Missing In Those Revelation Chapters?

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Revelation 6:9-11

According to Dispensational theory the ‘tribulation Saints’ are not a part of the Body of Christ but a separate group more in line with the Old Testament believers (and also with a different destiny and reward than the Church), but this is a bogus claim. These martyrs of Christ’s Church in Rev. 6 were slain for the Word of God and the testimony they spoke forth. These are Christians. You cannot have the testimony of Christ without the Spirit of Christ! … no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1Cor. 12:3

Now look at the descriptor of those on Earth yet to be slain by the persecution of the Beast system of Antichrist. It calls them the brethren and fellowservants of those martyrs in Heaven. This is a description of part of the Church slain and departed to Heaven, and the remainder of the Church still on Earth. A clear reference to the Church on Earth AFTER Revelation 4:1!

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes… …13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:9+13-14

The fact that this great multitude have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb labels them as the Christian Church for there is NO OTHER WAY to get your robe washed white in his blood than to get born-again. Period!

And just where did these folks come from? They came from Earth during the time of great tribulation! Another description of the Church on Earth after Rev. 4:1!

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Revelation 11:3

I am quite curious as to by what means the pre-tribbers have these two witnesses prophesying and performing miracles if not by the power of the Holy Spirit. To suggest that these two witnesses are not part of the Body of Christ is ludicrous! Just what is it they are bearing witness to if not to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? They are bearing witness to Christ; and they are prophesying by the Spirit of Christ ( … the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev. 19:10). They are the Church on Earth during the tribulation.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death… …17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the *commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:11

Here we have a description of those who gained the victory over the Beast during the tribulation by the Blood of the Lamb and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Sure sounds like a bunch of Christians on Earth after Rev. 4:1 to me! How about you?

*[There are those who claim that because these overcomers keep the commandments of God that they are Torah observant Jews that have become ‘tribulation saints’. But just because someone keeps the commandments of God does not mean they are keeping the Law of  Moses! The New Testament is chock full of the commandments of the Lord. I keep the commandments of God; and I am not ‘Torah observant’. I follow the teachings of Christ and his Apostles; and they should absolutely be considered by us as the commandments of God. In the following passage Jesus equated his teaching as commandments to be obeyed:

John 14:15-24 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. :20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with hi 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

The teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ ARE the commandments of God to the Christian Church!]

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:7-8

The only ones who will overcome the Mark of the Beast are those whose names are written in the Book of Life. The ONLY way to get your name in that book is to be born-again through faith in what Jesus accomplished on that Cross. If these folks are born-again they are the Body of Christ in the tribulation. Period! Those who teach there is any other way to be saved (as in the martyrdom salvation of the ‘tribulation saints’ the pre-trib theory promotes) are heretics!

It is the Christian Church IN the tribulation that will face the Mark of the Beast. Anyone who tells you differently is deceiving you!

Another Pre-trib Proof goes POOF!

So we now clearly see that there are to be found in the Bible MANY solid descriptions of the Church on Earth AFTER the time the supposed pre-trib rapture has supposedly removed it. We have touched on just a few of them. The notion the Church is missing from planet Earth after Revelation 4:1 has been proven to be a false claim! Once again an ‘unquestionable proof’ of a pre-trib rapture is thoroughly examined, and shown to be no proof at all!

I seriously question the love for the truth of those who promote such unbiblical nonsense as these pre-trib ‘proofs’!

Where is it all coming from?

What spirit are they listening to?

God help us ALL (and me especially!) to have an ear tuned only to the truth of his Holy Word!

In Jesus Name!

Paul Benson

www.paulbenson.me

 

 

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