TEN SCRIPTURAL REASON BY WHICH WE KNOW THE CHURCH WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION

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Preface
IT IS WITH A DESIRE to bring before the children of God the teaching of Scripture on this important subject that the following pages have been written.
There is really no difficulty to the child of God who sees the truth of the Church in its heavenly calling, as distinct from the blessing of Israel and with them the saved of the nations on earth.
Now we commend it to Him Who alone is able by the Holy Spirit, to give us the truth as revealed in His Word. H. E. H.
First—the Church's Blessings Are Heavenly
"Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Rev. 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10).
Here we have the promise to the Church of being kept from (or "out of") the coming "hour of temptation"- the tribulation. There are those who refer to Rev. 12:12-1712Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 13And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:12‑17) as fulfilling this promise, seeking to prove that it is not as, "caught up," we arc kept, or delivered, but that we are preserved by the providential care of God. This interpretation of Rev. 12 is not supported by the context, or by the rest of Scripture, for this passage like every other Scripture giving to us the voice of the godly ones in that day, expresses the desire for deliverance and blessing on the earth. This is not the proper hope of the Church at all. God has revealed in His Word two distinct purposes: first, His gathering of a people for heavenly glory: second, His gathering of a people for earthly glory. The Church, which is His body, with all the family of faith (those who are living at the rapture with all those who die in faith) compose the former. Israel and those converted from among he nations after the Church is gone, compose the latter.
Psa. 90 is the prayer of the godly of Israel. Psa. 91 is their preservation in the day of tribulation. In Psa. 92 They celebrate their deliverance. In Psa. 93 "the Lord reigneth." In Psa. 94 unrighteous government on the earth is ended, when "judgment returns to righteousness." In Psa. 95 Israel rejoices. In Psa. 96 the nations who received the message of coming glory by faith rejoice with Israel. The majesty of Christ's Kingdom is owned and praised, while the heavens rejoice in the exaltation and glory of Christ. In Psa. 97 the ungodly are consumed, while the moral character of the godly is marked and their blessing stated. Psa. 98 declares all this to be manifested openly in the sight of the nations. In Psa. 99 righteous government is openly established on the earth. Then in Psa. 100 all lands are called upon to rejoice with Israel in the deliverance, blessing, and goodness of Jehovah-the God of Israel. There is not one word about heavenly blessing in all these Psalms. They all tell of earthly blessing, but when speaking of the Church we read, "God having provided some better thing for us." Heb. 11:4040God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40). The "better thing" is the heavenly blessing of the Church as the bride of Christ.
Second—"the Time of Jacob's Trouble"
"The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of My people Israel, and Judah, saith the Lord! and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
"And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the Lord; we have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their King, whom I will raise up unto them." Jer. 30:1-91The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. 3For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. 4And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. (Jeremiah 30:1‑9).
This prophecy has never been fulfilled in the past history of Israel. This future day of tribulation and unexampled sorrow is very definitely said to be concerning Judah and Israel—not the. Church.
Third—Those in Judea Must Flee
These warning words of our Lord to those in Judea could only apply to the godly remnant of Israel, who are in the land of Judea, surrounded by an apostate Israel given up to the judgments of God. It is "the time of Jacob's trouble," when they—the godly remnant will be saved out of it and brought into millennial blessing on the earth. (Jer. 30:77Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7))
The book of the Psalms gives the oppression of this godly remnant by the apostate and ungodly part of the nation, who are consequently cut off in judgment. It also tells of the repentance, confession, and prayers of the godly with their final deliverance and consequent praises.
Zech. 13:8,9,8And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:8‑9) plainly states that two parts of Judah will then be cut off and die, while the third part will be left in the land. Although the godly ones go through the tribulation, they are preserved and owned of the Lord. (Psa. 37:9-29,9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. 18The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth. 22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. (Psalm 37:9‑29) ch. 41:2.) Psa. 72 tells of the time when the Lord will reign over all the earth.
"Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains." (Matt. 24:1616Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: (Matthew 24:16).) The Church on the other hand is formed of Jew and Gentile baptized by one Spirit into one body. (1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13).) Its members are found all over the earth and it has no earthly center, for the Lord Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).)
Fourth—Not on the Sabbath Day
They are told to pray that their flight from Jerusalem will not be on the Sabbath day (Matt. 24:2020But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (Matthew 24:20)), whereas the first day of the week is the day
"But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day." (Matt. 24:2020But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (Matthew 24:20).) The Sabbath, or seventh day, was God's covenant of rest on the earth to Israel and they will nationally enjoy that rest in the millennial day. (Ezek. 46:1-41Thus saith the Lord God; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. 2And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the Lord in the sabbaths and in the new moons. 4And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the Lord in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish. (Ezekiel 46:1‑4).) Israel never kept the Sabbath according to the mind of God. (Ezek. 20:13,16,21,2413But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. (Ezekiel 20:13)
16Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. (Ezekiel 20:16)
21Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. (Ezekiel 20:21)
24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. (Ezekiel 20:24).)
By this we can see that the prayer of Matt. 24:2020But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (Matthew 24:20) is distinctly Jewish and not the voice of the Church.
Fifth—the Peace of Jerusalem on Earth
The earthly Jerusalem must not be confounded with the heavenly Jerusalem. Old men and old women will be found in the earthly Jerusalem, "every man with his staff in his hand for very age." Boys and girls will play in its streets. (Zech. 8:4,54Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. 5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. (Zechariah 8:4‑5).)
In contrast with this we find that the Church's hope is a heavenly one. (Col. 1:55For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; (Colossians 1:5).) Our home is "eternal in the heavens." (2 Cor. 5:11For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1).) We—the Church—will reign over the earth with Christ—not on it. The heavenly Jerusalem (the home of the Church), comes down from God out of heaven. (Rev. 21:1010And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, (Revelation 21:10).) Thus it will be visible to those on the earth in the millennial day, when we shall be associated with Christ in His reign of righteousness. (Rev. 20:44And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4).) We are now looking for our Savior, who by His coming delivers us from the wrath to come—the tribulation. (1 Thess. 1:1010And 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).) Then we shall have bodies of glory fashioned like His glorious body.
The Christian taught of God does not "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," though he rejoices in every promise of coming blessing; and the exaltation of Christ is of deep interest to those who love His blessed Name. God has "abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of His will." (Eph. 1:8,98Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:8‑9).) This is immediately followed by the word that tells us of the gathering together of "all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in Him." Verse 10. We must not, then, confound these two purposes of God; heavenly blessing for the Church, and earthly blessing for Israel.
Sixth—"the Middle Wall of Partition"
In this present Church period "the middle wall of partition" between Jew and Gentile has been broken down. (Eph. 2:14-1614For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Ephesians 2:14‑16)) but during the tribulation it is up again. (Rev. 7:4-94And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (Revelation 7:4‑9).)
It would be well to read the whole of Rev. 7 to see who the white-robed company are.
Here we have the separate sealing of the twelve tribes of Israel, and then of a great Gentile company. We know that now, during the Church period, "the middle wall of partition" has been broken down, and now Jew and Gentile are made "one in Christ." (Eph. 2:14-16,14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Ephesians 2:14‑16) Gal. 3:2828There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28).) But Revelation shows us that "the middle wall of partition" will be up again during the tribulation, as well as on the millennial earth. (Isa. 60 and 62.) This white-robed company who have come out of great tribulation serve God "day and night in His temple." This is on earth for there is no night and no temple in the heavenly Jerusalem. (Rev. 21:22,22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Revelation 21:22) Rev. 22:55And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5).)
Rev. 7 is the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel, when the whole twelve tribes will be gathered back and blessed in the land. (Ezek. 37.) At that time the Gentiles will rejoice and worship with Israel. (Psa. 117.)
Could proof be stronger that this company is not the Church at all, and that the Church is not on the earth in the day of tribulation?
Seventh—the Marriage of the Lamb
The Church must be in heaven for the marriage of the Lamb, which takes place in heaven BEFORE the armies come out of heaven with Christ at the END of the tribulation. (Rev. 19:7-217Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:7‑21).)
Now those who teach that the Church is on earth during the tribulation pass over without comment this passage of Scripture which clearly teaches that the marriage of the Church takes place in heaven before the coming forth of our Lord in judgment on the nations. This shows the Church must have been raptured to heaven beforehand. When the Lord thus appears in judgment. He first acts as the Davidic warrior King preparatory to the setting up of His kingdom on earth in peace. The heavenly saints are the armies who come with Him at this time. (Zech. 14:4-5,4And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zechariah 14:4‑5) Jude 1414And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 14).) The Lord does not remain on the earth nor do the heavenly saints. The tabernacle of God comes down out of heaven and is over the earth. (Isa. 4:55And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. (Isaiah 4:5). margin; Rev. 7:1515Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Revelation 7:15) N.T.)
Eighth—Who Are Left on the Earth?
If the Church were to go through the tribulation, and then all the saints were caught up to heaven at the end of it, there would be no saints left on earth for the millennial reign.
The teaching of those who insist that the Church will go through the tribulation is here proved to be opposed to the plain teaching of Scripture. Let us consider their system of interpretation as presented by their most able expositors—it is just this: they say that all the living saints remain on earth during the tribulation, and then at the end of it they are all caught up and meet the Lord in the air. They then tell us that all the saints return at once to the earth with the Lord when He comes to judge the wicked who are all cut off in judgment.
We ask, then, who will be left on earth for the millennial reign of Christ? If all the saints are caught up and all the wicked are judged, then who will be left on earth? We know definitely that there are saints on earth during thy Millennium from such Scriptures as Rev. 7, Zeph. 3. 20, Zech. 14:16,17,16And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. (Zechariah 14:16‑17) as well as many others. Where do they come from if all were caught up at the end of the tribulation?
Here we can see that this whole system of teaching, which would tell us that the Church must go through the tribulation, only ends in proving itself false. Once again we arc reminded that only the truth is logical. Then too the enemy is "a thief and a robber," seeking to rob God of His glory, and also to rob the people of God of the enjoyment of the fullness of their blessings in Christ. Let us not allow him to rob us of the present hope of the Lord's coming. The Lord may come today! "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20).)
Ninth—the Earthly Saints Marry
We have noticed that those who teach that the Church will go through the tribulation, must of necessity, and do, teach, that all the saints are caught up at the end of the tribulation. The Word of God teaches that the heavenly saints "neither marry nor are given in marriage," so that they cannot return to the earth to abide on the earth, seeing that 2 Cor. 5:11For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1) declares our home to be "eternal in the heavens." We shall have bodies of glory like Christ—blessed, precious truth. "The glory of the celestial is one"- this 'is our portion: "the glory of the terrestrial is another,"—that is the earthly saints. (1 Cor. 15:40,40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. (1 Corinthians 15:40) Phil. 3:2121Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21).)
Tenth—There Is a Temple on Earth
We learn from Ezekiel, chapters 40-48, that there will be a millennial temple of marvelous beauty built in Jerusalem, and this is what is referred to here. Even during the tribulation there is no doubt that the Jews will have a temple in which the sacrifices of Judaism will again be offered by the godly remnant of Israel. (Dan. 11:31,31And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Daniel 11:31) Matt. 24:1515When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Matthew 24:15).) This temple will later be destroyed and will then be replaced by the millennial temple just referred to.
It is the earthly saints, we can readily see, who worship in the earthly temple during part of the tribulation, and also during the millennium.
All this clearly proves that the Church is not on the earth during the tribulation for the Church has no earthly center or building made with hands. Those who compose the Church the body of Christ—are a heavenly people with no earthly center. The precious truth given of the Lord instructs those who have received Him, that "where two or three arc gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).) Christ—not the temple—is now the Church's gathering center on earth. just us He Himself will he the "light" and "temple" of the heavenly Jerusalem above. (Rev. 21:2222And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Revelation 21:22).) A temple made with hands always speaks to us of distance in worship, but the Church—the bride—is in a place of nearness here and now, and for all eternity above.
Appendix
Some have raised the question as to how anyone could be saved after the Church is taken to heaven, seeing the Holy Spirit leaves with the Church.
We would call the attention of our readers to the fact that every work of God is by the Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, as a divine Person to dwell in the house of God, and to dwell in the bodies of the saints, does not mean that He did not work on earth previous to Pentecost. We know He did, for even in the Old Testament times "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:2121For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21).)
Then the departure of the Holy Spirit when the Church is caught up to heaven in no wise denies His working in the salvation of a remnant of Israel and of the nations who receive the glad tidings concerning the coming of Christ in power and glory to set up the kingdom.
Careful attention to Scripture will show that every work of God has been, and always will be, in Trinity. It is always God the Father in counsel; Christ the Son, the One who carries out those counsels, and the Spirit the power by which they are carried out. Let the reader ever remember that the truth of the Trinity is beyond the mind of man.
Poetry
"What was it, blessed God,
Led Thee to give Thy Son,
To yield Thy well-beloved
For us by sin undone?
'Twas love unbounded led Thee thus
To give Thy well-beloved for us.
What led Thy Son, 0 God!
To leave Thy throne on high,
To shed His precious blood,
To suffer and to die?
'Twas love, unbounded love to us,
Led Him to die and suffer thus.
What moved Thee to impart
Thy Spirit from above,
Therewith to fill our heart
With heavenly peace and love?
'Twas love, unbounded love to us,
Moved Thee to give Thy Spirit thus.
What love to Thee we owe,
Our God, for all Thy grace;
Our hearts may well o'erflow
In everlasting praise!
Make us, O Lord, to praise Thee thus
For all Thy boundless love to us."
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