Praise God You’re Not Going Through the Tribulation

“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:10 

Many Christian preachers love to stir up fear over end-times events, especially the tribulation. It attracts attention, drives online traffic (Titus 1:11), and often caters to itching ears more than sound doctrine (2Ti 4:3-4). But what’s the problem with this kind of sensationalism? It wrongly inserts the Body of Christ into Israel’s prophetic program.

The tribulation is not for us. It’s explicitly described in Scripture as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer 30:7), Jacob being Israel, not the Church. The 144,000 sealed servants in Revelation 7 come from the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev 7:4-8), and the Body of Christ is never counted among them.

When preachers blur the lines between Israel and the Body of Christ, it opens the door to doctrinal confusion. At best, it creates unstable walks of faith (Eph 4:14, Jas 1:8). At worst, it obscures the clear gospel of grace. For example, during the tribulation, those in Israel must “endure to the end” to be saved (Mat 24:13), and receiving the mark of the beast guarantees God’s wrath (Rev 14:9-10). It will be a time of fiery trial and refinement to separate the faithful remnant of Israel from the rebellious (Zec 13:9, Mal 3:3).

But that’s not your situation.

If you’re in the Body of Christ, you’ve already been saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. You are forgiven all trespasses and complete in Him (Col 2:10-14). You’ve been justified by faith alone, reconciled to God by the blood of His Son (Romans 4:4-5, 5:6-11), and sealed with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption (Eph 1:13-14). There is no fiery wrath appointed to you, only glory.

One of the beautiful truths revealed in the revelations Paul received from Jesus—the mystery of Christ—is that the Body of Christ will be delivered from the wrath to come (1Th 1:10, 5:9). At the close of this present dispensation of grace, Christ will return not in wrath, but in glory, to catch us up to meet Him in the air (1Th 4:13-17, 1Co 15:51-52, Col 3:1-4). This is not the prophetic coming of Christ in judgment (Rev 19), but the blessed hope of the Church, where we appear with Him in glory (Col 3:4). 

Our hope is not in signs or judgments: we are not looking for the Antichrist, but waiting for the appearing of Christ (Titus 2:13). While Israel’s prophetic program resumes after we are caught up, we rest in the truth that we are not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (1Th 5:9).

You may suffer trials or persecution in this present evil world, but you are not in the tribulation, and you never will be. So rather than being tossed about by fear or speculation, keep your eyes fixed above.

“[1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. [5] Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” – Colossians 3:1-5

Thank God for His grace, thank Him for your deliverance, and walk confidently in the secure position and truth of who you are in Christ.