Unfortunately for me, I believe that Mathew 24:9-14 is all pre-trib, pre-rapture and coming very soon. There sure won’t be ‘many’ false prophets running around during the tribulation, maybe one. God sure didn’t spare Israel from wrath. Crazy thing is my pre-trib philosophy excluded a possibility that God is angry at the U.S. And when He gets angry people die, and being God, He may not wait until the Tribulation to settle up. This warm fuzzy pre-trib business may end soon. Few are prepared. Fewer are speaking about it.
Some scholars believe Matt. 24:4-14 describes the first half of Daniel’s 70th Week. Others say Matt. 24:4-8 is a run-up to the End Times known as the birth pangs and Matt. 24:9-14 is an overview of Daniel’s 70th Week. Everyone agrees that Matt 24:15 is about the Abomination of Desolation. This is the point at which the Great Tribulation, or last half of Daniel’s 70th week, will begin. Which ever view is right, Matt. 24:9-14 cannot be speaking of the Church and here’s why.
First of all, the focus of Matt. 24 is Israel. The Church is never mentioned and for sound theological reasons can’t be on Earth for any part of Daniel’s 70th Week. Second, the Church can’t turn away from the faith as verse 10 indicates because our salvation was guaranteed from the moment we believed (Ephes. 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 1:21-22 and others). Third, we don’t have to stand firm to the end to be saved as verse 13 says for the same reason. And finally, verse 14 speaks of the Gospel being preached in the whole world. This will not be fulfilled until Rev. 14:6-7 after the Great Tribulation has begun, and it won’t be the Church that does it but an angel sent from God.
You’re correct in saying God didn’t spare Israel from wrath. But He did promise to spare the Church (1 Thes. 1:10, 1 Thes. 5:9 and others). This doesn’t mean the Church won’t suffer any hardship. Even a quick look around the world will tell you that to one degree or another that’s already happening. Many experts believe 2015 will be even more challenging. But the preparation the Bible speaks of is to walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7), to store up treasure in Heaven instead of on Earth (Matt. 6:19-20), and to seek the Lord’s Kingdom and His righteousness. In return He has promised to meet all our needs (Matt. 6:31-33).