Why the Church Will Not Be Present in the Tribulation

A. Promise of Deliverance From the Time of Wrath

Revelation 3:10 says, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” This “hour of trial” represents the whole tribulation period, which will cover the entire earth and fall on “those who dwell on the earth,” indicating a worldwide judgment (compare “all the nations” in Revelation 12:5 and “the whole world” in 16:14).

Mark Hitchcock and Ed Hindson argue that the Church is promised to be kept from this hour, not preserved through it. They note that the phrase tēreō ek (“keep from”) appears elsewhere in the New Testament only in John 17:15: “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” In both cases, ek indicates being kept out of something, not merely protected while inside it. God keeps His people beyond the reach of the evil one (1 John 5:18). In the same way, Revelation 3:10 promises to keep the Church outside the coming hour of testing—something that fits only a pre‑tribulation rapture.

B. Call to Watch and Escape

In Luke 21:27–28, Jesus speaks of the tribulation and says, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Here we see two groups:

• “They” who will see the Son of Man coming in glory.

• “Those” who see the signs begin to happen and are told to look up, because redemption is drawing near.

Taken by itself, someone might argue this supports a pre‑wrath or post‑tribulational view. But Jesus continues a few verses later with further detail.

In Luke 21:34–36, He warns this second group—those watching for their redemption—to guard their hearts “lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The language closely parallels Revelation 3:10. Those who are counted worthy will “escape all these things”—the entire 7‑year tribulation. Jesus does not divide this period into separate, survivable segments of wrath; He presents it as a single, comprehensive time of judgment.

How are they counted worthy to escape? By keeping God’s Word and thus showing that they belong to Christ and are part of His Church. They are not merely preserved through the tribulation; they are removed so that they will not see a moment of it. After they are taken from the earth, their destination is clear: they “stand before the Son of Man.”

C. Jesus’ Promise to His Church

John 14:1–3 clarifies where believers are taken when they escape these things:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Here Jesus promises to receive His followers to Himself and bring them to the Father’s house. The Church is not caught up only to turn around and descend immediately to earth; she will spend time with Christ in heaven. There, the Church prepares for her return with Christ and participates in the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7–9). This is the first “snatching away.” Scripture, however, shows two more.

D. The Catching Up of the Wicked

Matthew 24:36–44 is often interpreted as describing the rapture because Jesus says, “One will be taken and the other left.” But the parallel in Luke 17:25–37 brings crucial clarity. When the disciples ask where the taken ones are going, Jesus answers, “Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered.”

Craig A. Evans notes that this language points to judgment, not rescue: the gathered birds picture vultures around corpses. This aligns with Revelation 19:17–21, which describes “the supper of the great God,” where birds consume the flesh of the wicked. In this context, those who are “taken” are taken for judgment, not believers being gathered to Christ.

This second catching away occurs at the end of the tribulation, when angels remove the wicked and bring them to judgment. In contrast, when Christ comes for His Church before the tribulation, He Himself calls His people up, taking them to be with Him in heaven.

E. The Gathering of the Elect Nation, Israel

Mark 13:24–27 describes what happens to the faithful remnant of Israel after the tribulation: “After that tribulation… they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven.”

To understand the order of these gatherings, Jesus’ parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 is vital. In verse 30 He says, “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

Thus, at Christ’s visible return:

• First, the tares (the wicked) are removed for judgment.

• Then, the wheat (Israel’s redeemed remnant) is gathered into His “barn,” which corresponds to entrance into the millennial kingdom after the marriage supper of the Lamb.

So in Luke 21:27, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory,” the “they” includes both tares and wheat—the children of the wicked one and the elect of Israel. The tares are taken away to judgment, and afterward the wheat is gathered into the kingdom.

Establishing the Order of Events

A. The Tribulation’s Purpose

The primary purpose of the tribulation is to bring Israel back to God. It is “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).

B. The Three “Catchings Away”

1. The Rapture of the Church (Catching Away #1)

   • Revelation 3:10 – The Church is kept out of the “hour of trial” coming upon the whole world (tēreō ek = kept out, not kept through).

   • Luke 21:28, 34–36 – Believers are told they will “escape all these things” and stand before the Son of Man.

   • John 14:1–3 – Jesus takes His followers to the Father’s house, not back to earth, indicating a heavenly removal.

Therefore, the Church is

• Removed before the tribulation begins,

• Taken to heaven,

• Kept outside the time of wrath, the day of Jacob’s trouble.

• The Removal of the Wicked (Catching Away #2)

  • Matthew 24:36–44 / Luke 17:25–37 – “One taken, one left” refers to the wicked taken in judgment. “Where the body is…” shows the taken are taken to punishment, not rescue.

  • Revelation 19:17–21 – Confirms this gathering as the judgment of the wicked at Christ’s return.

• The Gathering of Israel (Catching Away #3)

  • Mark 13:24–27 – After the tribulation, Jesus sends His angels to gather His elect (Israel) from the ends of the earth and heaven. This is the gathering of the faithful remnant of Israel, not the rapture of the Church.

C. Sequence Clarified by the Wheat and Tares

Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 sets the order:

• First, the tares (wicked) are gathered for judgment.

• Then, the wheat (Israel’s redeemed remnant) is gathered into the kingdom (“His barn”).

Thus, at Christ’s visible Second Coming:

• The wicked are first taken away to judgment.

• Then Israel’s elect are gathered to enter the kingdom.

• The Church, already raptured and with Christ in heaven, returns with Him and participates in the marriage supper of the Lamb.

D. Complete Timeline

1. The purpose of the tribulation is established: it is primarily for Israel.

2. First gathering: The Church is raptured before the tribulation; kept out of the hour of trial.

3. The tribulation begins when the first seal is broken—the start of God’s wrath.

4. The seven‑year tribulation unfolds (Seals → Trumpets → Bowls).

5. Christ returns in glory after the tribulation.

6. Second gathering: The wicked are removed in judgment (Matthew 24; Luke 17; Revelation 19).

7. Third gathering: The elect of Israel are gathered by angels (Mark 13).

8. The wheat and tares parable is fulfilled—judgment first, then the gathering of Israel’s remnant.

9. The Church, having been in heaven during the seven years, returns with Christ.

10. The marriage supper of the Lamb and the millennial kingdom (“the barn”) follow.

The Church’s removal before the tribulation, together with the order of judgment and Israel’s gathering, supports the conclusion that the rapture must occur first.

Revelation 14: A Panoramic Preview

Revelation 14 steps out of the immediate narrative of chapters 12–13 and provides:

• A heavenly perspective,

• A preview of coming judgment,

• Assurance of Christ’s victory.

It is more panoramic than strictly chronological and anticipates events within the tribulation.

The Two Harvests

1. The Son of Man Reaps – Revelation 14:14–16

John sees “One like the Son of Man” on a white cloud, wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle. An angel cries, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come… for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” The Son of Man reaps the earth.

The title “Son of Man” links directly to Daniel 7:13 and is widely understood as a reference to Christ. This harvest is often associated with the gathering of the redeemed—harmonizing with 1 Thessalonians 4:15–18, where the Lord descends, the dead in Christ rise, and believers are caught up to meet Him in the air and be with Him forever.

2. The Angel Reaps the Grapes of Wrath – Revelation 14:17–20

Immediately after, another angel with a sharp sickle appears. A second angel cries, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” The angel gathers the vine of the earth and throws it into “the great winepress of the wrath of God,” where the blood flows extensively.

This second harvest is a scene of judgment—a “harvest of wrath.” In Revelation 14:18, the phrase “fully ripe” (akmazō) means to be at one’s prime, indicating that the wicked have reached the peak of their rebellion. Their sin has matured to the point that judgment is now both inevitable and just.

Like clusters of grapes unable to resist the hand that plucks them, the wicked are defenseless before God’s judgment. The imagery echoes Joel 3:13–14, where the full winepress signifies great wickedness that demands a divine response. Humanity’s iniquity has reached its “acme,” overflowing and calling forth righteous judgment.

This matches Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 13:29–30: “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.’” The righteous and the wicked mature together, but at the harvest, separation and judgment occur in a divinely ordered sequence.

Summary

“Tribulation” can describe the general suffering believers face, but Scripture also speaks of a distinct end‑time “great tribulation” focused primarily on Israel. Revelation presents God’s wrath in a chronological sequence—seals, trumpets, bowls—all from which the Church is promised to be kept.

For the Church to be kept from God’s wrath, the rapture must take place before Daniel’s 70th week begins, supporting a pre-tribulation view. Two further “catchings up” follow: the wicked taken for judgment, and the redeemed remnant gathered to join the marriage supper of the Lamb, and then enter the millennial kingdom.