Is Any One Exempt.
“Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:4 NASB
This verse would indicate the answer to our question is no! Jesus in his end time sermon (Matthew 24 and 25) said that they that endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). In all his discussion in Matt 24 & 25 (repeated in Luke 21 and Mark 13) Jesus never indicated that the faithful will somehow not have to endure the time of trouble in the end of time. In fact, this sermon would indicate the opposite. He repeatedly said “watch” and “be ready” (Matt 24:42-44, 25:13)
In this sermon, that we call the “Olivet Discourse,” Jesus outlined many things about the end. He quoted Daniel three times indicating our need to understand this very important book in the last days (24:15). When He quoted Daniel 12:1 He said, “Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” (Matt24:20-21 NASB). Jesus tells the disciples that they will be delivered up to tribulation, hated and even killed for His sake (verse 9). There was no hint of a secret rapture (which was a Catholic counter reformation invention) for the faithful at the end of time – rather the opposite – a great time of trial and testing. In fact, he concluded by saying “if those days were not shortened, no body would survive” then he went on to warn about false messiahs who come performing counterfeit signs, wonders, and miracles (Matt 24:22-26).
The purpose of all this is deception, with a view to mugging the faith of God’s people.
Paul picked up this ball when he said, “This man (the antichrist) will come to do the work of satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.” (2 Thess 2:9-19.NLT)
In the vision of the 144,000 in Revelation 7 the angel had said to John that those “who have passed through the great tribulation” (Rev.7:14) “will hunger no more, be thirsty no more, and no longer be scorched by the sun” (7:16). “They will be guided to springs of living water, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (7:17.) This would indicate clearly that this group, who Revelation 14:1-12 says are the ones who will preach the last warning message to the world experience some hunger, thirst, exposure, and tear causing anguish.
God’s people have always suffered at the hands of the unrighteous. There is to be no secret rapture! It’s another of the devil’s lies perpetrated via the Sea Beast in the 16th century to try and save itself from the truth being presented by the protestant reformers. “Be not deceived”, the devil wants you to believe in an imaginary secret rapture so that when you find your self in the midst of “the great time of trouble,” your faith will be shattered.