The Leading Characters
Who are the characters who have leading parts to play in the tribulation drama? They are as follows:
The Man of Sin (also called the BEAST and the ANTICHRIST)
See Revelation 13:1-10; 2 Thessalonians chapter 2
The False Prophet (also called "the second beast")
See Revelation 13:11-l8
The Dragon (or devil)
See Revelation chapter 12
The God of Judgment
See Revelation chapters 6,8,9,16
The Nation Israel (also called the woman")
See Revelation 12
The Other Nations of the world
See Zechariah 12:9; 14:2
The Coming King
See Revelation chapters 4-5 and 19:11-16
There is one character who will not be found on earth during the tribulation: The Lord's bride, THE CHURCH. God has promised in Revelation 3:10 to keep the church from this time of tribulation and trouble that will come upon the whole world. Revelation chapters 4-19 talk about the time of tribulation, but in none of these chapters is the Church mentioned as being on the earth during this time. In fact, the word "church" is not even found in these chapters. Jesus Christ will come to take the Church to heaven before the tribulation begins.
Two Illustrations
1) The Illustration of Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24 and Hebrews 11:5).
ENOCH WAS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH BEFORE THE JUDGMENT CAME (the judgment of the Flood). Enoch is a picture of believers who will be removed from the earth (raptured--1 Thess. 4:13-18) before judgment falls upon the earth.
2) The Illustration of Noah (Matthew 24:37-41).
NOAH WENT THROUGH THE JUDGMENT (the Flood) AND SURVIVED. Noah is a picture of those who will be saved during the time of tribulation and who will survive the tribulation and enter into the kingdom (in their natural bodies). Some of these people are mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 25:34.
from MBC
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