Bible Discussion Thread

REVELATION SPEAKS VOLUMES ON THEIR BEING A RAPTURE PRIOR TO THE TRIBULATION
Revelation chapter 6 onward deals with 3 kinds of peoples: 1)the un-redeemed gentiles of the world (beast) governing system, 2) the redeemed/sealed jews (the 144k of chapter 7), 3) and the rest of Israel--the jews. The events in Revelation center around Israel and mostly Jerusalem. Check chapter 11 v. 8 and find that "that great city" (where Babylon the Great--the corrupt socio-economic system, and Mystery Babylon the Harlot--the un-redeemed jew's revived religion of sacrifice are located) is described as "where our Lord was crucified." That city is Jerusalem.
Now, note that the Lord, while addressing the churches in Chapter 3 v. 10 gives a promise to his faithful followers that "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."
Now look closely at the Beast of Rev. 17--this beast is the world-wide socio-economic system devoid of God/Jesus as its foundation. Note that it is world-wide. Note that it is scarlet colored. Note that it has 10 horns and 10 crowns (horns symbolizing power, crowns symbolizing ruling sovereignity). Understand that the number 10 is consistently used in Scripture to speak of gentils (see Gen. 10 for the gentile nations that will seek to come against Israel in the war of Gog and Magog of Ezek. 38, which happens prior to the Tribulation period). Again, understand that this beast is the entire gentile world and it is SCARLETT colored, which symbolizes SIN. Now, go to Isaiah 1:18 where the Lord pleads with his people Israel "though your sins be as scarlet I will make them white as snow." The entire gentile world is SCARLETT in Revelation. We believers in and followers of the Lord Jesus are NOT SCARLETT colored. We are not there during the Tribulation.