Thank you very much for your reply on the purpose of the Church. I have one follow up question. Why do you think we will be so blessed (inc going in the Rapture) when we do not and will not suffer as much as those in the Tribulation ? It seems unfair to those who will be in the Tribulation !
After the Resurrection all the disciples except Thomas saw the Lord. When they told him about it, Thomas said he wouldn’t believe it unless he saw it. The next time the Lord appeared Thomas saw and believed. Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
In the Old testament, people had regular confirmation of God’s existence in the form of mighty acts of deliverance and judgment. After the rapture God will again show clear evidence of His existence through mighty acts. In both cases people have believed or will believe because of this evidence. Only the Church is asked to believe solely by faith, and because we do we will be blessed above all others, just like the Lord said to Thomas. This unique blessing includes being adopted into the royal family of God with rights of inheritance (Gal. 4:4-7), being rescued from both the time and place of end times judgments (1 Thes. 1:10), and being seated with the Lord on His throne far above all other power or authority. (Ephes 2:6-7)
For the most part, people who endure the end times judgments after the church has gone will have been given the same opportunity as was given us, but will not have acted upon it. There’s nothing unfair about it.