Ping
The rapture of the church, the body of Christ, must precede the tribulation in order that all of God's Word be fulfilled.Compare it with your statement above: The rapture of the church, the body of Christ, must precede the tribulation in order that all of God's Word be fulfilled.
Uh huh, or, as Jesus said, (numbers here to show temporal succession--that means, what happens first, then second, then third, and so on) to quote him at length from Matthew 24 before summarizing:"For then shall be (1) great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.To recap:
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.* For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Immediately (2) after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the (3) Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and (4) they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
--Matthew 241. ...then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.Now let's boil it down a bit more so we don't get lost in all the words:
2. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened...
3. ...then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
4. ...he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet,
5. and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.1. Great tribulation such as has never been seen or will be seen.And now again:
2. Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, seen by everyone on earth.
3. Sound of trumpet and
4. angels collecting elect throughout the earth.1. Great tribulation.
2. Jesus returns.
3. Trumpet sounded. (see 1 Corinthians 15:52).
4. Angels sent.
5. Believers gathered. (see 1 Corinthians 15:23)
I've been tested by folks in the church regarding these issues and say that I am still studying the scriptures, having not made up my mind. Rather than being loving with the scriptures, folks are insistent and even pestering about it.
All I can say is that I can't wait to see Christ face to face and be fully known. The joy of His love is enough for me and to share with all who will listen about what He has done on the Cross for folks like us.
To be excluded from the kindness of fellowship for not taking a position on Preterism or Rapture is grievous to me.