The question of why God would remove the church from being a witness during the tribulation is important to touch on God’s purposes for different groups of people in His plan. To answer this, we need to understand what the Bible teaches about the tribulation period and God’s distinct plans for Israel and the church.
What is the Tribulation?
The tribulation refers to a future seven-year period of unprecedented trouble and judgment on the earth. It’s described in detail in Revelation chapters 6-19 and corresponds to the 70th “week” of Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27. During this time, God will pour out His wrath on a rebellious world and bring many to salvation, while also fulfilling His promises to Israel.
God’s Purposes for the Tribulation
The Bible reveals several key purposes for the tribulation period:
- To judge the unbelieving world for its wickedness (Isaiah 13:9-13)
- To bring Israel to repentance and faith in their Messiah (Jeremiah 30:7; Zechariah 12:10)
- To defeat the Antichrist and his forces (Revelation 19:19-21)
- To prepare for Christ’s millennial kingdom on earth (Revelation 20:1-6)
Notably absent from this list is any purpose related to the church. God has distinct plans for Israel and the church in His prophetic program.
The Church’s Unique Identity and Role
The church is described in Scripture as the body and bride of Christ, a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament (Ephesians 3:1-10). It has a heavenly calling and destiny, distinct from God’s earthly promises to Israel. The church age began at Pentecost and will conclude with the rapture, when Christ calls His bride to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
During the present age, the church serves as God’s primary witness to the world. However, once the church is removed, God will raise up new witnesses during the tribulation:
- The 144,000 sealed Israelites (Revelation 7:1-8)
- The two witnesses (Revelation 11:1-13)
- An angel proclaiming the eternal gospel (Revelation 14:6-7)
Why Remove the Church?
Given this background, we can identify several reasons why God would remove the church before the tribulation:
- To fulfill His promise of deliverance
God has promised to deliver the church from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9; Revelation 3:10). The tribulation is a time of God’s judgment on the world, not His church.
- To maintain the distinction between Israel and the church
The tribulation focuses on God’s dealings with Israel and the nations. Removing the church maintains the distinction between God’s plans for Israel and the church.
- To allow for a shift in God’s witness to the world
With the church removed, God raises up new witnesses more suited to the tribulation context, particularly Jewish believers who will evangelize under the conditions of that time.
- To prepare the church for its heavenly role
While the tribulation unfolds on earth, the church will be experiencing events in heaven – the judgment seat of Christ, the marriage of the Lamb – in preparation for returning with Christ at His second coming.
- To demonstrate God’s ability to preserve a remnant
By preserving a faithful remnant through the tribulation’s judgments, God demonstrates His power and faithfulness in a unique way.
The Church’s Witness is Complete
It’s important to note that removing the church doesn’t mean God is left without a witness. Rather, it signals that the church’s role as God’s primary earthly witness during this age is complete. The gospel will continue to go forth during the tribulation, resulting in a great multitude of new believers (Revelation 7:9-17).
Encouragement for Believers Today
Understanding that God will remove the church before the tribulation should motivate believers to:
- Live with an eternal perspective, knowing our time to serve may be short
- Share the gospel boldly while we have opportunity
- Look forward to Christ’s return with joyful anticipation
While we may not experience the tribulation, we’re called to be faithful witnesses now, making the most of every opportunity to share God’s love and truth with a world in need.
Conclusion
God’s removal of the church before the tribulation aligns with His distinct plans for Israel and the church, fulfills His promises of deliverance, and allows for a transition in how He works in the world during that unique period of judgment and salvation. Far from diminishing God’s witness, it demonstrates the outworking of His sovereign plan to bring history to its climax in the return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom.
