We will suffer persecution but not the Great Tribulation!
It is imperative to understand the different kinds of suffering that we may endure here on earth as FATHER’S Sons and Daughters. Christian persecution is something that comes from the enemy working through people. What happens during the tribulation is GOD’S wrath being poured out upon this world. The source is very different, and the purpose is very different as well! FATHER does NOT bring persecution on His children, the enemy does! The tribulation is where GOD reigns down wrath and judgment upon this earth. These two types of hardships are NOT interchangeable!
Moses recorded by THE SPIRIT in Genesis chapter 13:
10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.
12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.
13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.
Lot based his decision of where to dwell on what his soul through his eyes desired rather than seeking THE SPIRIT. He gave priority to self rather than THE SPIRIT.
And in Genesis chapter 13:
14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are-northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
The first lesson is to seek THE LORD concerning where to dwell.
And in Genesis chapter 18, the wrath of GOD is kindled:
20 And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
After Abraham’s attempt as negotiation, the process of judgment proceeded in Genesis chapter 19:
12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city-take them out of this place!
13 For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the Face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”
What is one major theme of the first example of FATHER’S Wrath? The righteous will be removed from the sudden tribulation to come upon the unrighteous.
The post-tribulation theory where the true church will suffer through FATHER’S judgment is rooted in not only a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between persecution (from the enemy) and the tribulation (where the wrath and judgment of God rains down), but it also comes from a grossly skewed picture of GOD that accuses HIM of doing things to HIS children that no good earthly father would ever do to his own children. This is the work of Satan to make God out to be such a terrible Father that nobody in their right mind would ever want anything to do with HIM and would only serve HIM out of fear and not because they really want to.
Our FATHER is the GOOD GOD; HE is a LOVING Father! He does NOT want the righteous to be crushed under HIS wrath and judgment!! The rapture is an absolutely incredible and beautiful picture of God’s Love and care demonstrated toward HIS children!
As to persecution, we could be facing some very dark times, and our comfort is that the Holy Spirit will be with us during those times. Where do we get such audacity, such arrogance as to assume that we’re going to escape what most of the Body of Christ has suffered. We can’t escape persecution. This is why we are to be prepared with the whole armor of GOD. Paul was notably persecuted throughout his ministry.
He recorded by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 6:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
The adversary will lead those vessels of dishonor to persecute us in whatever manner possible. We must not be ignorant of their devices as we submit to The Holy Spirit in all areas. Yes, we will suffer persecution, but not be subject to the Great Tribulation.