Will the Bible still remain on earth during the Tribulation?
Well, my dear friend, I’m not sure that I could point to a specific verse that directly addresses your question. However, I definitely believe that the Bible will remain upon the earth forever, and certainly through the great tribulation. Now, I think I might have an idea about what prompted your question. I do believe that just before the tribulation, the born-again Christians will be raptured, or caught up to be with the Lord when Christ Jesus returns to the clouds as we see in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. Furthermore, I believe that true Christians will not be made to endure the great tribulation as we see in Revelation 3:10: “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Now, since the Holy Spirit was given to dwell in the hearts of believers according to John 14:16-26, and since the believers will be caught up to the glory prior to the great tribulation, I believe that it follows that the Holy Spirit will no longer indwell those who were left on the earth after the rapture of the church.
In OT times, the Spirit did rest upon certain ones, but did not “abide” with men until after the ascension. I wonder if this is the reason you ask about God’s Word on the earth during this period given that Christians will be in the glory. But, even though the restraining influence of the born again Christians will have been removed from the earth prior to this tribulation period, God’s work and His Word does certainly continue, culminating in the final restoration of Israel among the nations, along with the healing of the land. Also, at the end of this tribulation, there will be those who do in fact bow the knee to Christ, and these will survive the judgments and enter into the Millennial Kingdom with Christ. All of this is covered in God’s Word, and I see no Scripture that would cause me to think that God’s Word, the Bible, will ever be removed from the earth. God’s Word is eternal, and it was given to men so that we might know Him and love Him. The Bible, from top to toe speaks about God’s dealings with His people in grace and does give the prophetic word about not only the tribulation, but the millennium and the eternal state. This is all recorded in the Word of God as a testimony to God’s redemptive love for man, and it does provide vital instruction for those “who have an ear to hear.”
Now, to be more specific with a Scriptural reference about the eternal nature of the Word of God, we read in Matthew 24:35: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” The words here are prophetic, speaking about the tribulation period and about the second coming of the Lord Jesus to the earth when the kingdom will be established. Now, even though this verse does not specifically state the word “Bible”, the Lord Jesus does clearly refer to the Word which He is giving to those He is speaking to, which is God’s Word, and this will never pass away come what may on the earth (see 2 Peter 3:10–13). Another reason I would say this is that there will be those who will be faithful to the Lord during the tribulation, despite the severe persecution they will receive, and the Bible gives clear instruction as to what will be happening in that time, all of which will be of great comfort and help to the faithful remnant of Israel as well as to those among the nations who will survive the judgments upon the earth (see especially Joel 2:1; Zechariah 2:11; Zechariah 14; Malachi 3 and 4; and the entire book of Revelation). I have to believe that the Bible will stand forever as a resource and a guide up to and after the great and terrible day of the LORD. Note too that the future words of the faithful remnant of Israel are recorded in Isaiah 53, and thus this remnant will acknowledge their Lord Jesus in that latter day. Will such prophesies not be a strong resource and testimony in that time of tribulation and after? Finally, as to the thought of God’s Word lasting forever, consider if you will Revelation 22:18-19: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” I believe that this warning, found at the end of the book of revelation, was intended for all men to heed, including those in the tribulation. (SF) (587.1)