Tribulation

 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:14 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/rev.7.14.ESV

I know people have different escatological views, but this verse seems to rule out one of them. Some people like to think that God's people will be raptured before the great tribulation. I don't think this verse allows for that interpretation.

God won't allow us to suffer beyond what we can bear. Yet with Him, Christians can and have endured the most unspeakable suffering. I don't think it's too much to say that the entire time between Christ's first and second coming is a time of great tribulation for God's people.

We don't need to suffer persecution to be saved. Yet having been saved by the blood of the Lamb, we should expect persecution as normative for us as believers. Thankfully, Jesus blesses the persecuted, because great is our reward in heaven.

We wear white robes in glory not of our own righteousness but of Christ's. We don't just wash ourselves in our own shed blood as martyrs for Jesus. We wash ourselves in His blood. Even our martyrdom for Him isn't what justifies us before Him: it's only by His sacrifice that we're accepted by God.

'Most High God, thank You for being greater than the great tribulation, and for being more than able to sustain us through it. Please help us lean on You for survival in the evil hour. In Christ's name, amen'

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