How Does Christ Keep Us From the Hour of Trial?

Yes, it's true, we can find no legitimate evidence in the Bible to support a view such as a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.  Some try to find evidence in 1 Thessalonians 4, but we showed previously that indeed Paul is referring to a wonderful event just prior to the Day of the Lord.  Others will go to such disputable passages as the Olivet Discourse.

“For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” (Matthew 24:38–41, NIV)

If the above passage refers to a gathering of God's people then surely it must be understood as stated in verse 31 of the same passage: “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:31, NIV). This is the self-same gathering as in Revelation 11.

But what of "sealing" and protection of the Church?  If there are no verses to directly support a secret rapture, then perhaps we find solace in the promises of God such as in Revelation 3:10–11 (NIV),

¹⁰ Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. ¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

I think the problem is that we view this from a earthy, man-centred perspective.  Notice the promise of Jesus in Luke 21. When Jesus warns His disciples about future persecution and martyrdom, he makes this promise: “But not a hair of your head will perish.” (Luke 21:18, NIV).  Now immediately we see that in terms of human experience and sense relief that although troubles come, we won't be hurt.  But notice what Jesus says just before that in Luke 21:16–18 (NIV),

¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish.

 

You will die, but not a hair on your head will perish!  That's sounds like mind-games, but it isn't  The promises of Christ to keep and protect His Church have an eternal viewpoint.  When we think we won't perish, we think in terms of 60, 70, or 80 years.  When Christ thinks we won't perish He thinks in terms of 60, 70, or 80 billion, trillion upon gazillion years. It must be true that the sealing and protection of God's people is so that no final evil can conquer the saints.  

Father You have ordained hundreds and thousands of our brothers and sisters to suffer and die, but they did not die, they live.  Their horrible, frightful death was Your means to bring them into forever life with You.  Oh may I see life as You see it.  Thank you for the hope that no final evil will befall the child of God.