THE EARLY AFFLICTION
The affliction which our early Christian brothers suffered was at first caused by those who could not accept the New Covenant which was promised by God and put into effect by the Lamb of God, sprinkled with His own blood. The book of Acts records much about the early affliction. Jer. 31:31. Mat. 1:21, Acts 2:37-47, Heb. 7:27.

Soon the Romans began to persecute both Jews and Christians. The New Testament contains many comments about afflictions which the Apostles and Early Saints suffered. 1 Thes. 3:3-4 is but one example. "...No man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto." 1 Cor. 4:6-14, 1 Peter 2:21, 2 Tim. 3:12.

The Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 11, tells of the faith and the affliction of God's servants who lived before the birth of Christ. Job suffered affliction. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah (just to mention a very few) were both rejected and persecuted by the people and religious establishment of their day.

Not only are there references in the New Testament to the suffering of the Early Saints, but there are references in the civil records and private writings of the people of that time.

THE ROMAN STATE
The 1966 Edition of COLLIER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA gives details of some instances. Caligula's emphasis on his own divinity almost raised a war in Judea. Astrology, mysteries, eastern cults and worship of the goddess Isis flourished. (Caligula, A.D. 41-54, V. 20, p. 194.) If a Jew or Christian would not acknowledge Caligula as divine (accept the mark of the beast) he or she was executed.

The first Empire wide persecution apparently took place in about A.D. 251 under Decius, when he called for an Empire wide devotion to placate the gods of the Roman State, because of the plague, and murdered Christians who refused to participate. Persecution and affliction, localized and sporadic, continued until about A.D. 315.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
It was about this time Constantine issued the "Edict Milan," which decreed tolerance for Christians. He presided at the Council at Nicaea. He was the first man in history to be worshiped as pagan god (the Emperor-god of Rome) and `christian' Pope (father) of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. There, at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, was the birth of the Catholic Church. From then until the fall of the Roman Empire the Catholic Church grew.

The Pope soon declared himself the head of the Body of Christ in his absence (Mat 29:00), and thus, he `is God on earth.' Any Christian or Jew who would not accept him as god (receive the mark of the beast) was murdered. The Scripture was taken from the faithful on pain of death. The Pope seized power when and where he could, until controlling almost all of the known world. From 500 to 900 unknown millions of Christians were killed because they would not accept the mark of the beast: they would not accept the Pope as "God on earth." (See HALLEY'S BIBLE HANDBOOK, 23rd Ed. 1962, p. 758-97.)

800 or 900 A.D. was, in round figures, the depth of the Dark Ages and the peak of the Pope's power. From that time the Catholic Church began to loose power over mankind. Yet, from 900 through 1700 the Pope, though the Catholic Church was in decline, managed to kill millions of those who would not submit to his rule and accept his mark.

In 1532 Martin Luther broke away from the Pope. In 1611 the King James Bible was printed. (Aside from the Sacrifice of The Lamb of God, the most significant event in human history.)

It is a matter of fact -- recorded on the pages of history -- that the Pope has tormented the survivors of the Tribe of Judah and murdered uncounted millions of Christians who would not accept his mark.

Why? Why would the horn of a "form of religion" murder those who would not worship him as God? Because he has been deceived, possibly possessed by Satan as Judas was. 1 Tim. 4:1-3. Do not be deceived, it was Satan who brought this affliction upon Jews and Christians, and he will do it again. Dan. 7:21, Rev. 13:7, 11:7-10.

WE WERE WARNED
Y'Shua said those who followed Him would have to suffer, as the world had rejected and afflicted Him it would reject and afflict His servants. Mat. 10:24-25, 24:9-10.

The Prophets suffered affliction. Jesus suffered for us. The Apostles suffered affliction. The early Saints suffered affliction until as late as the 1700's.

In fact, to this very day Christians suffer affliction in Russia, Asia, Africa, the Mid-east and South America. As a matter of Fact (with some few exceptions) the only Christians in this modern world who have not suffered for their faith are the last five generations who have lived in North America. The spoiled and pampered Christians who have lived in the richest nation of this world are the only Christians who have not suffered affliction for a testimony of their faith. To be born to purple may be more curse than blessing. Being weak, and fearing affliction, they are easy prey to the false promise of life, or death, without pain. Rev. 2:18-22.

WHAT ABOUT THE RAPTURE?
If the Lord wants to take us before the Affliction and Tribulation, that would certainly be alright with us, right? Who, in his right mind, would refuse to go? On the other hand, if He has decided we must remain for the testing of our faith by fire, how could we argue with Him? Isn't it true we want to understand His will for us so we can serve Him? Do we sincerely pray, "Thy will be done..."?

Will the Late Saints have to suffer affliction or tribulation? Is the affliction described in Matthew 24:9-10 the same event as the tribulation in verse 21? Will the Church live, and suffer, through both events? Or will the rich and pampered Christians who's faith has never been tested by the fire of affliction be "ruptured off this earth" before the Vials of wrath are poured out upon the Beast's Kingdom?

WHERE IS IT WRITTEN?
The Doctrine of the Rapture is one which should be considered from the "where is it written?" point of view. If a theory, doctrine or dogma is not written in clear and concise terms in The Word, then we may reject it. And, any theory, doctrine, or dogma which contradicts the literal definition of The Word should be rejected.

We need to answer three questions.

     1.   Does the Scripture clearly tell us the Last Century

          Church will be removed before the Affliction and 

          Tribulation?



     2.   The Word does clearly tell us we will rise up to

          meet Him in Joy in the sky. The question is, WHEN?



     3.   Does the Word of God tell us our Lord will return TWICE

          more, once to `rapture' the Saints and once to destroy

          His enemy and this dying earth? 

Do any of the scriptures given as proofs of "the rapture" literally say God is going to take His Church off the Earth before the Affliction? Or is this what someone said they mean even though they don't actually say it? Study the Scriptures carefully and it will be found that none clearly say our Lord will come two more times. In fact, He took great care to tell us He would not come in secret, that every eye would see Him. Mat. 24:26-30. Rev. 1:7.

Where is it written, in black and white, that although the Early Saints were murdered by the Horn of Rome, the Late Saints will not be murdered by the Horn of reborn Rome?

STUDY CAREFULLY
The serious Bible student will examine all verses which refer to a named event. The day our Lord will come is referred to as "That Day." by carefully examining all of the events described as occurring on That Day we find that "the day of the Lord" and "the day of God" are the same day. 2 Peter 3:7-12 ...compare verses 10 and 12. 1 Thes. 4:16, Ps. 102:26, Isa 34:4, Mat 24:29.

ONE TAKEN, ONE LEFT
It is written that we will rise up to meet him in the sky, and that one will be taken and the other left: But the question is WHEN?

Study Matthew 24:29 to 32 with care. Jesus tells when "one will be taken and the other left." "Immediately after the tribulation... and THEN will appear the sign of the son of man... and THEN all the tribes ...will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming ...AND He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect..." One will be taken and the other left when the Lord sends His angels to gather His Elect.

Now, using your concordance, study the events listed in those scriptures which contain the sign of the Seventh Trumpet, the Last Trumpet. Jesus will gather His elect at the last trumpet, not before. 1 Cor. 15:50-54.

WHO IS APPOINTED TO WRATH?
It is written that we are not appointed to wrath. "Jesus which hath delivered us from the wrath to come." 1 Thes. 1:10 and 5:9. The term `delivered' is past tense: that is, this is something which has been done, not prophecy about something which will be done at the end of time. "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God..." Rev. 12:10.

HOW did we get salvation? By the death of the Lamb of God. WHEN did we get salvation? When we accepted the death of the lamb of God as atonement for our sins. Mat. 1:21, Acts 2:37-47, Col. 1:12-14.

How can some men claim the Letter to the Thessalonians meant one thing to the Early Saints and something else to the Late Saints? Were they ruptured off the earth before they suffered affliction? No. They received salvation when they believed and were added to the Church, and still suffered affliction.

This "saved from wrath" means the same thing to us it meant to them. That is, by His sacrifice the Messiah has saved us from the eternal separation from God which we earned by our sins: grace rather than judgment. Acts 2:21, 47, 15:11. Rom. 5:9, 1 Cor. 5:5.

Who did God appoint to wrath? "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." Rom. 2:5-8. Those who reject the Messiah, deny Truth and refuse to repent from their life of rebellion are appointed to wrath. When will they receive this wrath? On That Day... the day of judgment. Rev. 11:18, Zep. 1:15-16.

It is that wrath from which we are saved. And please note: the Vials of wrath are poured out upon the Beast's Kingdom, not upon the Saints -- just as the 10 Plagues were poured out upon the Egyptians, not on the Twelve Tribes of Judah. Rev. 16:1-10.

THE CHURCH IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
It has been said "the rapture" is proven by the fact the Church is not spoken of past the Fourth Chapter of the Book of Revelation. Is this correct? Is there no mention of the Church in the Sixth, Seventh or Twentieth Chapters?

In order to answer that question we must define four terms.

     1. What is the Church? 

     2. Who is in the Church?

     3. What are the names of the Church?

     4. What are the names of its members?



     1.  The term Church (Ecclesia) means Assembly, Congregation.

The Church is the People of God who are gathered in His name. 



     2.  The Faithful Children of Abraham (by blood or adoption)

are the Congregation, Assembly, Church of God. The Strangers

(Exiles) are the Church. The saved are added to, or are "in," the

Church. 1 Peter 1:1, Col. 1:1-18. Acts 2:38-47.



     3.  Following is a list of the NAMES of the Church.

          The Assembly of the Saints, Ps 89:7.

          The Assembly of the upright, Ps. 111:1.

          The Body of Christ. Rom. 12:5, Eph. 1:23.

          The Branch, Isa. 60:21, Rom. 11:17-21.

          The Bride, Rev. 21:9.

          The Church of The First Born, Heb. 12:27.

          The Church of God, Acts 20:28.

          The Family in heaven, Eph. 3:14-15.

          God's Flock, Isa. 40:11, Acts 20:28.

          General Assembly, Heb. 12:23.

          God's Building, 1 Cor. 3:9.

          God's Husbandry, 1 Cor. 3:9.

          The Habitation of God, Eph. 2:22.

          The Holy City, Rev. 21:2.

          The Israel of God, Gal. 6:16.

          Household of God, Eph. 2:9.

          The Lamb's Wife, Rev. 19:7.

          Pillar and Ground of Truth, 1 Tim. 3:15.

          A Spiritual House, 1 Peter 2:5.

          Saints, Rom. 1:7, Col. 1:2.

          Temple of God, 1 Cor. 3:16.

          The Twelve Tribes, James 1:1, Eze. 48:5-6.

          Saints and Faithful Brethren, Col. 1:2

          God's Beloved, Romans 1:7



     4.  Following is a list of NAMES of the members of the

Church.



          Saints, Rom. 1:7, Acts 9:13.

          Believers, Acts 5:14.

          Beloved Brethren, 1 Cor. 15:58.

          Spiritual Brethren, Mat. 23:8.

          Children of God, Mat. 5:9.

          His People, Mat. 1:21.

          Holy People, Deu. 7:6, 1 Pet. 2:9.

          Chosen Ones, Deu. 7:6, Mark 13:20.

          Christians, Acts 11:26.

          Dear Children, Eph. 5:1.

          The Elect, Mat. 24:22.

          Heirs, Rom. 4:13-16.

          Lights, Mat. 5:14.

          Ransomed of the Lord, Isa. 35:10.

          The Righteous, Job 36:7.

          The Salt, Mat. 5:13.

          My Servants, John 18:36.

          Sheep, Ps. 74:1.

          The Sons of God, Hosea 1:10.

          Children of Light, Luke 16:8.

          Trees of Righteousness, Isa 61:3, Rom. 11:17.

          Vessels of Honor, 2 Tim. 2:21.

          Vessels of Mercy, Rom. 9:23.

          We Who Remain, Isa. 1:9, 1 Thes. 4:14, Rev. 12:17.

OUR BROTHERS
6:9-11. "...And I saw under the alter the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God..." These are the Early saints. "...And it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow brethren that should be killed as they..." Mat. 23:8, 24:9-12. 1 Cor. 15:58. The "brethren" are the Church.

The Church is still on earth during the time of the Fifth Seal. Not only are we still here, but this is a specific prophecy that we will endure the same test of faith as our First Century Brothers.

HIS SERVANTS
7:3. "...Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of God (the Church) on their forehead. "My servants..." This is the Church. John 18:36. "And I heard the number of... of the Twelve Tribes..." The "Twelve Tribes" are the Church. James 1:1. The Church is here during the Seventh Chapter.

9:4. "...But only those men which have not the seal of God in their forehead..." Why make this distinction? (Have NOT the seal.) The Church was marked in the Seventh Chapter. If the Church had been ruptured off the earth there would be no need for this distinction. The Church is on earth in the Ninth Chapter, during the time of the Fifth Trumpet.

THE WITNESSES
11:3-4. "...My two witnesses... two olive trees..." Verses 3 to 8. The two witnesses are olive trees -- the Church (congregation) of Judah and the Church (congregation) of the Gentiles. Isa. 60:21, 61:3, Rom. 11:17-21. Luke 24:48, Acts 1:8, Heb. 12:1. See pp. 178, 181.

Verse 13: "...and the remnant..." "We who remain" are the Church. Isa. 1:9, 10:20-27. 1 Thes. 4:14-17, Rev. 12:17.

CAMP OF THE SAINTS
20:9. "...And compassed the Camp of the Saints... and the Beloved City..." This Scripture, in context, is speaking of the last battle between Heaven and earth: The Battle of Armageddon. Jerusalem is "The Beloved City." The "Camp of the Saints" is the Church. This verse depicts the very moment The Messiah comes to save His People. Ps. 89:7, Rom. 1:7.

Y'Shua once asked if there would be faith on earth when the Son of Man came. Then He answered His own question when He said, "Except those days be shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for THE ELECT'S SAKE those days shall be shortened." The Elect is the Remnant, the Church. Mat. 24:22, Mark 13:20.

The Church is here until the end, when He comes to defeat His enemy. Rev. 14:12-20, 19:11-21, 20:9-15, Joel 3:1-2, Zec. 14, 1 Cor. 15:52, 1 Peter 3:7, 10-12.

WHO COMES WITH HIM?
It must be asked: "If the Church is not raptured, then who is it that comes with Him when He comes?" 2 Thes. 4:14-17.

Verse 14: "...Even so them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." We will identify this as group number One: Those who "sleep in Jesus." Those who He brings "with Him." First, however, we should note that if they remained asleep, they could not come with Him. Therefore it is revealed, in this verse, that some of those who sleep must have been awakened prior to His Last Advent. Rev. 20:4-6. Group number One comes with Him. 2 Peter 3:7, 10-12, Dan. 7:9-10, 22, 26-27 and 12:1-3.

Verse 15: "...And we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord..." This is group number Two: Those who are alive and remain. "Alive," that is, have not slept, nor died. "Remain," or, stayed on earth. Thus "we who remain" is the Church, waiting on earth for His return. Isa. 1:9, Mat. 24:22, Rev. 11:13, 20:9.

Verse 16: "...For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout... and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first..." Group number Three is "the dead in Christ," the Late Saints who have been killed by the Beast for a testimony of their faith. Rev. 13:15, 11:7-10.

IDENTIFY THE GROUPS
In these verses we can clearly identify Three separate groups of Saints. First: Those who have been resurrected in the first resurrection, have ruled with Him for over a thousand years and come with Him when He comes. Second: We who are alive, the Camp of the Saints at Jerusalem -- waiting here to witnesses His return. Third: Those who have died since the first resurrection along with those Late Saints who were murdered by the Beast for a testimony of their faith.

HIS FIRSTFRUITS COME WITH HIM
Who is group number One? They had to be with Him in Heaven in order to be able to come with Him. These are the First Century Saints, the "first fruits," who were resurrected in the first resurrection. Rev. 6:9-11, 12:11, 11:1. 7:9, 20:4-6. "And they lived and reigned with Christ..." This is the Early Saints. They were resurrected before Satan was loosed from his prison and have reigned with Him now for over a thousand years. These are those Saints who "loved not their lives unto the death."

"Being the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb." James 1:18, Rev. 14:1-4. So the Early Saints, His "first fruits," are with Him now and will come with Him when He comes for us.

IDENTIFY THE SEQUENCE
In these verses we are given a clear and concise sequence of events by which these three groups will participate in meeting with our Lord when He comes.

     1.   Group One comes with Him. (Group Two will not

          precede group Three.) 

     2.   Group Three will be resurrected. 

     3.   Groups Two and Three will rise together to Meet

          the Lord and group One in the sky.

The group of Saints who come with Him cannot be the second group, who are alive and waiting here for He and they to come. Nor can the group who comes with Him be the group who is dead when He comes: as the dead will be resurrected when He comes. In Addition, we are plainly told those who are alive will not precede those who are dead in rising to meet the Lord and those who come with Him.

The Late Saints who were murdered by the Beast as a testimony of their faith will be resurrected when the Great Trumpet sounds. Then "we who remain alive" will be transformed, and together we will rise in joy to meet them (both He and those who come with Him) in the sky. Mat. 24:29-31, 1 Cor. 15:52, Rev. 11:12.

We must conclude there will be no rapture before the resurrection which occurs at the sound of the Seventh Trumpet.

Do not be deceived. The philosophy of "the rapture" (that Christians will be removed from this earth without having to endure affliction) is a lie of Satan. Mat. 24:24, Col. 2:8. The intent and purpose of this lie is first, to deceive the weak and fearful, and second, to divide the Saints.