Some thoughts to consider
Grace and Peace from God our Father and his Christ, Jesus. Here are some thoughts to do with what you will. Accept them or reject them it matters not to me. I put them out there for you to view.
Before ever a world there was, Father and Son together enjoying one another in perfect fellowship between perfect beings, one Father and one Son. Father knows all and teaches his Son bringing him up in his nurture. Then upon one day a plan was made to do a work of creation. The Father would be the God of all yet the Son the highest creation. The plan would me made, the end known from the beginning. There would be a new heaven and a new earth where in righteousness dwells. Jesus Christ would be King of King and Lord of Lords, all principality and dominion subject unto him.
So they laid the foundations of the earth and over the course of six days they created all things. Upon the completion of the angels, earth, man and all that is in earth, the order was issued from the throne that the tree should not be eaten from. The work was finished. The creation teaming with life was moving within the limited boundaries set forth by God the Father. And God pronounced it 'very good'. Very good is all that it was made to be on day six of creation week. God did not design a 'perfect' creation on purpose. All things were created by Jesus and for Jesus. He ultimately would be the perfect ruler of all creation upon the final purification of that which was created, all evil being expunged from it.
Satan being lifted up in pride fell from his lofty position. He did as spirits can do, he entered into the serpent and through him tempted Eve into disobedience by deception. Adam, still having the mind of God who he was created to think like, subjected the creation to vanity in hope that God the Father would save them both. He was the like figure of him who was to come (Jesus).
Over the course of the history of mankind, God has continued to refine the creation and give people ample opportunity to come to him. From the very beginning men and women called upon the name of the Lord while others decided not to. Various periods of time elapsed until it was time to present the Son for sacrifice. He is Gods ace up his sleeve, something Satan did not see coming. Satan was able to get to the first man Adam through his wife Eve who was the weaker vessel, but Jesus being alone without yet a bride was not penetrable by Satan. Satan foolishly had Jesus killed according to the will of God the Father, only to find out that he was taken in his own trap like Haman in Esther. He was the 'prince' of this world and not the 'King'. Man never lost his dominion to Satan as can be seen in Jesus commanding fish to be caught, to bring money in their mouth, trees to be cursed and people to be fed. Man was just spiritually dead and lost in a cesspool of sin and suffering, being judged by God the Father who was never out of control of anything to begin with.
So here we are in the age of the church. The bride being prepared for her husband, so that they may rule and reign a thousand years together on earth in the final stage of purification of creation. He will rule with a rod of Iron, which is his mouth. But what this thread seeks to clarify is how we can expect this time period to be ushered in. With all of the background information that I have given, let me now approach the idea of the upcoming tribulation.
If I am understanding the scripture correctly, the next thing that will happen is God will take his Holy Spirit from man on earth to be left to his own devices. This will probably happen on Pentecost but man doesn't understand when Pentecost truly is so he will be unaware of what is happening. The church age will be officially over and the 70 week of Daniel will officially begin unbeknownst to those who are still here that were part of the church. These are they who slumbered and slept, being asleep to righteousness as they thought it really didn't matter if they were but only if Jesus was. They fell for the lies. The seven churches spoken of in Revelation are here upon the earth and will be treated just as was prophesied of them. Of those churches, Philadelphia was the only one who was told that he would keep them from the tribulation period coming. Another who would have a short lived tribulation period ending in martyrdom.
For the one who is kept from the period of tribulation, he did not say how he would do it. Some propose a rapture of sorts but I don't believe scripture supports it. I tend to believe that they will just cease to breathe when the Holy Spirit is take from the earth. They will close their eyes and reopen them as they are called by Jesus to meet him in the air at his return at the end of the tribulation. The rest will live through the ungodly days because the repented not of their sin and refused or didn't understand what it meant to live in the spirit and mortify the deeds of the flesh. Those who survive the tribulation will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trump and will meet Jesus in the air as he comes to rule and reign over the earth.
I was in the church of Laodicea and God called unto me, and I awoke from my slumber to see that I was not clothed with the righteousness of Christ, I was wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. I opened the door and Jesus came in to sup with me. I have been rebuked and chastened of the Lord God Almighty and am currently praying that he will move me into the church of Philadelphia that I may not see the coming tribulation. Hopefully there is still time left and the four horsemen are not set free to bring judgement upon this wicked world that has forgotten God and worship the works of their hands.
As I have understood so I speak, yet if I need a clearer vision let not the men be seen as trees walking but may the blindness be cleared from mine eyes.
Yours to consider, do with it what you will.
Gary