Are We To Be Removed From Suffering?
Often the argument comes up, when the church is discussing the tribulation that is to come at the end of the age, that God will not allow those whom He loves to go through such tribulation. There are at least two reasons why we must proclaim this to be false.
First, there is no way to reconcile the presence of martyrs in the book of Revelation and the exalted status that they receive with the idea that Christians are removed from trouble. This would mean that some Christians received a preferred treatment. It is true that God is capable of keeping His own from tribulation (Rev. 3:10), but at the same time there is much to be gained from laying down your life for the gospel (Rev. 6:9-11).
There is also a second reason why we believe that God’s ultimate desire is not to keep us from trials and tribulations. The reason is that He is able to keep us safe through the tribulation. The idea here is paralleled to the way that God keeps us safe in death. When Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross, He removed the power of sin (Hebrews 2:14). Therefore, death is void of its sting – it is powerless. When Christians die, they do not get the brunt of death, only it’s shadow.
Since God is able to keep Christians safe at death, He is also able to protect them through trials and tribulations, even wrath. The story of Noah comes to mind here. Did God pour out His wrath on the earth to destroy it? Yes. Did He remove Noah from the earth? No. But He made provision for Him through the flood so that he was brought safely through. In the same way God will provide for the Christians who will go through the tribulation at the end of the age.
Ministers must teach their congregation to trust in the provision of God through trials and not to always expect to be removed from every tribulation. We must learn the hard lesson of trusting God and not leaning on human comfort.
Often the argument comes up, when the church is discussing the tribulation that is to come at the end of the age, that God will not allow those whom He loves to go through such tribulation. There are at least two reasons why we must proclaim this to be false.
First, there is no way to reconcile the presence of martyrs in the book of Revelation and the exalted status that they receive with the idea that Christians are removed from trouble. This would mean that some Christians received a preferred treatment. It is true that God is capable of keeping His own from tribulation (Rev. 3:10), but at the same time there is much to be gained from laying down your life for the gospel (Rev. 6:9-11).
There is also a second reason why we believe that God’s ultimate desire is not to keep us from trials and tribulations. The reason is that He is able to keep us safe through the tribulation. The idea here is paralleled to the way that God keeps us safe in death. When Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross, He removed the power of sin (Hebrews 2:14). Therefore, death is void of its sting – it is powerless. When Christians die, they do not get the brunt of death, only it’s shadow.
Since God is able to keep Christians safe at death, He is also able to protect them through trials and tribulations, even wrath. The story of Noah comes to mind here. Did God pour out His wrath on the earth to destroy it? Yes. Did He remove Noah from the earth? No. But He made provision for Him through the flood so that he was brought safely through. In the same way God will provide for the Christians who will go through the tribulation at the end of the age.
Ministers must teach their congregation to trust in the provision of God through trials and not to always expect to be removed from every tribulation. We must learn the hard lesson of trusting God and not leaning on human comfort.
Comments
One argument I heard against Christians in the Tribulation is that God loves us too much to allow us to experience His wrath. When I asked them to explain the cross, God's love, and tribulation there was no response. But there was also no changing their minds.