Christian Persecution vs Tribulation
What about how Christians who are persecuted in other countries?
How is it that we can expect to escape the hardships of the tribulation?
First of all, we are talking about two very different things here. Persecution is something no Christian is immune from. The wrath is God is a very, very different matter on the other hand. God’s Word tells us clearly that we are not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9) and the types and shadows in the Old Testament point to God’s people being taken away before the wrath of God comes down. Just look at Noah’s Ark, Lot’s family and the Red Sea, as they are all examples of God taking His children out of the picture before His wrath is poured out. As a matter of fact, in the story of Lot’s family, did you know that the wrath of God was withheld until after the righteous are taken from the land?
It is absolutely imperative to understand the different kinds of suffering that we may endure here on earth as Christians. Christian persecution is something that comes from the enemy working through people. What happens during the tribulation is God’s wrath being poured out upon this world. The source is very different and the purpose is very different as well! God does NOT bring persecution on His children, the enemy does! The tribulation is where God reigns down wrath and judgment upon this earth. These two types of hardships are absolutely NOT interchangeable!!!
The post-trib theory is rooted in not only a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between persecution (from the enemy) and the tribulation (where the wrath and judgment of God rains down), but it also comes from a grossly skewed picture of God that accuses Him of doing things to His children that no good earthly father would ever do to his own children. This is the work of Satan to make God out to be such a terrible father that nobody in their right mind would ever want anything to do with him, and would only serve Him out of fear and not because they really want to. This is pure demonic garbage folks!! It is the work of Satan in the American church!!
Our God is a GOOD God; He is a LOVING Father! He does NOT want the righteous to be crushed under His wrath and judgment!! The rapture is an absolutely incredible and beautiful picture of God’s love and care demonstrated toward His children!!