Hey Bruce,
 
I'm sure you know these scriptures and I gave two when you asked just for one but there are two kinds of tribulation. (One we are appointed to according to Peter
 
1 Peter 4:
 12.  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
 13.  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
 14.  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.)
 
 
 and the other we are not appointed to but to obtain salvation.
 
 Isaiah 26:
19.  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
 20.  Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
 21.  For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
 
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.
 
 
 
So there are two kinds of tribulation. Jesus said in the world we will have tribulation but to be of good courage because He as overcome the world. That kind is unavoidable and can be more extreme depending on where you are in this world. But the tribulation of Revelation is distinct and has a double emphasis as "the tribulation the great tribulation". This one we are not appointed to but are promised to be kept from.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFG-wUESBSQ&feature=related
 
The link above is to a testimony by Howard Pittman and though long, it is very good in explaining how it is that a Christian can either be an overcomer and be victorious in Christ or else be overcome by the enemy. Howard explains that scripture mentions that in the great tribulation it is given to the beast to make war with the saints and overcome them. He says that this should not be ordinarily possible because Jesus gave every saint authority over the enemy and He does not take that back. But it says it was GIVEN to him to make war with the saints and overcome them and Howard asks, who gave it to him? Someone had to give that authority to the enemy. I believe as Howard says, that we each are responsible to exercise the authority over the enemy that has been given to us and if we fail to do so we run the risk of giving up the protection that we once knew. So there is suffering with Christ and there is suffering because of not submitting your life to Christ. These are two different kinds of suffering. The wise man does what Jesus says and his house stands against all storms. The foolish man does not do what Christ says and his house falls. The wise may still suffer persecution but his house cannot fall no matter what they do to him here temporarily to the body or his goods because his treasure is in heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt and where thieves do not break through and steal.
 
Each day we are to overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. To him that overcometh is the reward which includes to escape what is coming and be with Jesus. Since there is no freedom in a vacuum failure to overcome is to be overcome by the enemy and the big example is being found in the tribulation period and be overcome by the beast.
 
Does this help?
 
Barry Amundsen