I am confused on what the Church will be doing during the actual tribulation. If we are raptured directly into the New Jerusalem, will we be cognizant of the horrors that are happening on earth? Will we be able to see any friends/loved ones left behind and their struggles? And, at the end of the 1000 year reign, where is the church during the final battle?
The only details the Bible gives us about our activities after the rapture concern the bema seat judgment where we’ll receive whatever rewards we’ve qualified for (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
1 Thes. 1:10 says the Lord will rescue us from the coming wrath. The Greek word translated “from” in this passage means out of the time, the place, and any relation to the time of God’s wrath. To me that means we won’t be watching what’s happening on Earth.
There are many prophetic insights to be found in the Hebrew wedding traditions of Biblical times. If they hold true, we’ll be on our “honeymoon” with the Lord while the judgments are taking place on Earth.
This honeymoon traditionally lasted for seven days, and was the time when the bride and groom were left alone to get to know each other with no concern for what was going on around them. Typically, it would have been their first opportunity to be alone together, when they could finally share private, personal time with each other.
There are those who equate that honeymoon with the seven years that will pass between the rapture and the 2nd Coming. If so, it will be the most amazing thing a person could imagine, the beginning of an eternity of such times.
There really isn’t a battle at the end of the 1,000 years. As Satan gathers his forces to attack the camp of God’s people on Earth, God will send fire down from heaven and devour them all (Rev. 20:7-9). End of story.