I believe the tribulation is meant for the Jews alone, and woe are they who don’t believe in Jesus name while in the church age or as it’s written; the dispensation of grace (Ephesians 3.2). However, it leaves a huge question mark in Revelation 7.9-12 if we said our rapture shall be done in pre-tribulation time.
The apostle Paul’s ministry has a different project, which prioritizes for the gentiles, but mostly he had always begun from the Jewish community first, that is synagogue.
"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."
Acts 13:2 (KJV)
Comparing to the twelve apostles' ministry, Paul’s ministry has never been revealed to the other OT prophets nor the twelve apostles (Ephesians 3.1-9). Those twelve apostles were sent to the Jews alone, for the 12 tribes of Israel:
"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Matt 10.5-6 (KJV)
Paul’s teachings emphasize that Jesus is our Lord for the gentiles (Philippians 3.20), while the 12 apostles teach that Jesus is the King for the Jews. (Matt 10.7)
Those who under the ministry of Paul, will be gathered by Jesus himself in the clouds right before the event when Lucifer is thrown down to the earth in Revelation 9. Here is a simple map of tribulation event:
1. The first half (Revelation 6-9)
2. The middle of tribulation (Revelation 10-14)
3. The last half (Revelation 15-19)
Those who are under the ministry of Paul were seen in Revelation 7.9, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. In John’s vision here, he described that what had been prophesied by Paul towards the gentiles (2 Corinthians 5.10) was fulfilled in his vision here. And it’s said that they came out of great tribulation... by the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7.14). So what the Bible is saying here that there is an overlapping time between the church period and the great tribulation period. From a full "Daniel’s week", the dispensation of grace will overlap for a couple "days and hours" before the furnace is open and the remaining trumpets will also be called as woes (Revelation 8.13). Seven trumpets stand for seven events in the first half of tribulation period while on the last period of tribulation it’s called seven grails. Well, in seven years of great tribulation it has 14 events thereof, so each year it will take 2 events, in which the event will occur every six months.
Until now, Satan still comes and goes before His presence like in the time when Job was being tempted in the OT, for Satan is not omnipresent nor omniscient neither is omnipotent, so he has to gain permission from God to put believers into a temptation. When the church is gathered after few "days and hours" in the first half, we will be rewarded with the white robes, and will hold the palms in our hands as the sign that we will glorify Him that has redeemed us by His blood. That will be the last access for Satan to come to the heaven, because he no longer has to ask permission to tempt or to make any false accusation against the church, for the bride is already with the Lord! That’s why he is thrown down to the earth, and abolishing the world into destruction (Revelation 9.1-12), while the Jews are being preserved and prepared for the coming of the Kingdom after the great tribulation (Revelation 12.6). This is the reason why it is called Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30.7), otherwise the Bible would have written Jacob and Esau’s trouble.
After all, sharing the Gospel of salvation in Christ Jesus is more important than finding what the future holds, because Jesus is already in the future preparing places for us, cause He’s Omnipresent, while He also is here inside us because He’s Immanuel.
I believe through the Holy Ghost He will give us more understanding according to His will, and surely more than what I can put in words here.
Get 神崎ロン。’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
God bless.
