Why would the church be out of place in the tribulation?
The church is out of place in the tribulation because it belongs to the age of grace, not law, and is not associated with Israel, Judaism, or the temple. The tribulation is primarily God dealing with Israel, so the church must be taken out before God resumes His dealings with that nation.
Les teaches that the mystery revealed God doing something different during this almost 2,000-year period: He is calling out the body of Christ, not under law, not associated with the nation of Israel, Judaism, or the temple. It is totally the operation of the grace of God based on the finished work of the cross—His death, burial, and resurrection. Because law will come again when Israel has the temple, and law and grace cannot mix, the church would be a fish out of water in the tribulation period. It just wouldn't fit. It is not part of the Jewish program or the law and is totally insulated from all of God's dealings with Israel, whereas the tribulation is primarily God dealing with Israel. When the church age is completed, the church has to be taken out of the way so God can pick up where He left off with Israel. According to Daniel 9, the Antichrist will assign a seven-year treaty with the nation of Israel.