It is clear that the spirits of those who die in Christ go immediately to heaven (Luke 23:43) and their bodies follow during the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16) but the debate about the fate of the "elect" (believers) that are still alive at the end of times, is a little more uncertain. A case can be made supporting Post-Tribulation i.e, believers must live through the tribulation (Matthew 24:22) and a case can be made for Pre-Tribulation i.e., we get to go to heaven before the tribulation (Matthew 24:40). A case can also be made for Mid-Tribulation (Revelations 11:3) and even a case that the tribulation only applies to the Jews (Daniel 9:24). As others in our study group, I believe in Pre-Tribulation but my belief isn't based on specific scripture but rather logic - why would those who believe have to suffer the terrible events of the tribulation when those who believe and have died will be taken up first and spared.
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