Ping. Interesting, but it still does not convince me that the church is getting out of the tribulation period, and I have great respect for the late Dave Hunt and the Berean Call ministry.
People always point out that God says Christians are not appointed to wrath, but remember Psalm 91, the whole chapter, but specifically verses 5 through 8:
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
As always, though, I hope I’m wrong and there IS a “secret” return of Jesus before His second return at the end of this world.
The tribulation that believers should expect to experience in this world is the persecution and trials that originate from unbelievers who are influenced by Satan and who attack all that is good and holy because they hate Almighty God. THE Tribulation, on the other hand, is GOD'S wrath poured out upon the world and those who hate and rebel against Him. It will be calamity and destruction unlike this world has EVER seen before. Jesus comes BEFORE that begins to take believers out because "God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thess. 5:9) Jesus is our deliverer from the coming wrath. (I Thess. 1:10). That's the difference.