My theology and what I have taught and preached for the last 40 years is that the church will be raptured out of this world before the Tribulation starts. Many have debated this view with me over the years, but I am convinced that my view is correct.
But let’s pretend I am wrong, there are many very smart people who believe we will go through the Tribulation. Let’s also pretend that January 1, 2021 is the beginning. The fourth event that occurs after the start of the Tribulation is a world wide pandemic along with war, famine and wild beasts that kills one-fourth of all the people on the earth. I wonder what we will do, how we will act, think, and talk. I wonder how much fear we will have? The very next event to occur called the fifth seal described in Revelation 6:9 is that there will be much martyrdom for us who believe and follow Jesus, ”When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;” And then the next thing that is said is that there is great fear in every person’s heart.
Revelation 6:15-17 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
How will I be acting, talking, thinking, and reacting to the events happening around me if I am there, how about you. Why would God leave me here in those days? There is only one reason that I can think of, and that is that we would he a witness for Jesus to those who are so filled with fear.
Tonight I read through the book of Revelation four times in a row, in order to get the full picture of what those days coming, probably very soon, will be like. When I got to the end of the fourth time reading the book I thought to myself, ”So how are you going to do Duke if you are here in those days?”
Pastor Dee's Blog 
God gave me a dream 30-40 years ago where I had to choose to acknowledge my faith in God knowing I would be martyred in front of my family. I made that choice then (although the dream did not show it) and my answer will be the same today. I know in my heart that I will be martyred. I feel no fear now and hopefully I won’t then.
Thanks for not sharing, Dee.
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I am currently of the view that every generation has seen large and small events like Christians fed to lions, dark ages plagues Nazi German autrosities etc. People going through that time, that were victims, felt just like we or anyone would if we face a great catastrophy ahead.
I take great comfort in Jesus and all you Dee, have taught with clarity over the years.
I don’t care if a person is pre, post or mid trib, our assurance is in Christ.
Spent alot of time on this subject with my dad before he passed away.
I really am at peace.
Thanks for bringing this up.
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It is interesting that ever since I became a Christian in the 1970s, I have never believed in the pre-Tribulation Rapture, even after reading Hal Lindsey’s book, “The Late, Great Planet Earth,” which was completely pre-trib. In my own reading of the Bible, I just didn’t see it and the arguments for it seemed like wishful thinking. For example, the idea that the “church” not being mentioned after Revelation chapter 3 is evidence for a pre-tribulation rapture was just foolish. The word “church” may not be mentioned, but believers, who are the church, were certainly mentioned. It was that kind of shallow analysis that bothered me. Then, there was the fanatical belief in the doctrine by supporters. They would brook no opposition or questioning, even though the doctrine is not spelled out clearly in Scripture. They acted like questioning it was an act of heresy, sort of like those who question once saved, always saved. If the doctrine is not clearly spelled out in Scripture, but rather inferred, with decent arguments on the other side, why not err on the side of caution and at least give credence to the possibility that the other side might be right. It’s the safest option. After all, if pre-trib is right, what have post-tribbers lost? Nothing. They get to go to heaven along with the other believers, But, if post-tribbers are right, the disappointment of the pre-tribbers might cause many of them to fall away — a reputedly happened to believers in China when the communists came to power and persecution began. Just like if it is not possible to lose one’s salvation, those who from a sincere heart believe it might be possible lose nothing. But, if it is possible, those who were falsely assured that salvation can never be lost (How can they be so sure they were saved in the first place?) may not be as careful as they should and fall into sin or fall away from the faith. Then the consequences are unimaginable. So, why not err on the side of caution, assume that it’s possible, and live and tell others to “pay closer attention, lest they drift away”?
The sheer dogmatism of many supporters of the teaching pre-trib rapture, when it is not explicitly stated by Jesus or anywhere in Scripture, was always a caution flag to me.
For those reasons and others, I have never bought into the pre-trib rapture doctrine.
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Thank you pastor Duke for your insightful post. Whether or not THIS is the final wrap-up, and whether or not WE will go through the Great Tribulation, is the Church prepared? Even for a lesser but significant tribulation? The Church in China was not prepared for the tribulation that followed the communist take-over and many fell away. Will we be witnesses of our Lord Jesus? Will we endure to the end? Will we glorify our Lord?
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;”
1 Peter 4:12
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