Why must the church be removed after the church age is completed?
The church must be taken out of the way because it is called out under grace, not law, and law and grace cannot mix. The tribulation is primarily God dealing with Israel. The church would be like a fish out of water, so removal lets God resume His program with Israel.
Les explains that during this almost 2,000-year period after the revelation of the mysteries, God is calling out the body of Christ. This body is not under law, not associated with Israel, Judaism, or the temple; it is totally the operation of God’s grace based on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Because law will again come in when Israel has the temple, law and grace cannot mix. The church would be a fish out of water in the tribulation period, since it is not part of the Jewish program or the law and is insulated from God’s dealings with Israel, whereas the tribulation is primarily God dealing with Israel. Therefore, when the church age is completed, it must be taken out of the way so God can pick up where He left off with Israel, introducing the Antichrist’s seven-year treaty according to Daniel 9.