End Times and Current Events

Many believe that every professing Christian is "caught up" and escapes the whole of tribulation. The Bible gives a different account of who goes, why, and who does not and why.
    Revelation chapters two and three clearly states the criteria. These verses state over and over what part of the church escapes.

Revelation 2:7

King James Version (KJV)

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:17

King James Version (KJV)

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:26-29

King James Version (KJV)

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:12-13

King James Version (KJV)

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:21-22

King James Version (KJV)

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
If you read all of chapters 2 and 3 there is a few from each type of church that overcome. There are no positive promises made by Jesus to anyone who does not overcome. However there is one type of church/believers that all are raptured.

Revelation 3:7-11

King James Version (KJV)

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

This type of believer is FAITHFUL which means they walk in Hebrews chapter 11 faith just as Abraham and all the rest of the saints mentioned in this chapter did. They learn to trust God on His word alone with no sense evidence that what He promises could ever happen in all the areas the saints were tried in that are stated in Hebrews 11. To do this they willingly submit to the training of the Holy Spirit.
   Also they will be living Matthew 5, 6, and 7 by grace through faith before God and the world. This is an obedience issue and obedience is the only indicator in the Bible that one loves Jesus.
  This group will be dead to the self life and alive to Christ. Luke 14:25-33. When given a choice between obeying/following Jesus and ANYTHING/ANYONE else they choose Jesus with no hesitation.
   They also will not be snared by all the areas of carnality mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 that Jesus says He hates and will punish.
   Here are those who escape tribulation and why they did described in another place:
Revelation 14:1-5

King James Version (KJV)

14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
  To summarize all the believers who have overcome by walking in the truth available to them from the beginning of creation until Jesus returns for His "overcomers" will meet Jesus in the sky. The dead overcomers in Christ first then the overcomers alive at the end.
  Anyone that believes that church membership, "believing" what is stated in the creed, participating in the man's religious programs, and putting 10% in the plate is what is required is deceived. They are a candidate for "strong delusion".
  Does anyone want to explain what the carnal Christians who are not raptured are going to do and for how long?

1Jn_2:14  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
1Jn_4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.