Why does the church need to be removed before God deals with Israel again?
The church must be removed because it belongs to the age of grace, not law, and is not associated with Israel, Judaism, or the temple. Law and grace cannot mix, and the tribulation is primarily God dealing with Israel. Removing the church lets God resume His program with Israel, including the Antichrist's seven-year treaty.
Les explains that during this almost 2,000-year period after the revelation of the mysteries, God is calling out the body of Christ—not under law, not associated with the nation of Israel, Judaism, or the temple. It operates wholly by God's grace based on the finished work of the cross: His death, burial, and resurrection. Because law and grace cannot be mixed, the church would be like a fish out of water in the tribulation; it is not part of the Jewish program or the law and is insulated from God's dealings with Israel. The tribulation is primarily God dealing with Israel. So when the church age is completed, the church must be taken out of the way so God can pick up where He left off with Israel, introducing the Antichrist and the seven-year treaty with Israel according to Daniel 9.