Is The End Time Tribulation Judgement?

I think the end time tribulation is a form of judgment, but it's not the ultimate judgement. Jesus says in Matt. 24 it will be cut short for the sake of the elect. It will be a time of horrible distress. Some Christians believe all of the saints will be taken up with Christ in the Rapture prior to the Great Tribulation. However, Jesus indicates in Matt 24 that at least some of his people will be here when the tribulation commences. We have to believe God's judgment is righteous. For centuries, Christians have begged and pleaded with the world to accept Christ and many have laughed, scorn us and continue to engage in evil. Billions of Christians have already suffered from tribulation or currently suffering because we choose to preach the truth and expose the evils of the world - things like homosexuality, abortions, sexual immorality, greed, etc. We say that we are God's children but Jesus said to the Pharisees, "you are of your father, the devil." We are all God's children but some of us have chosen to become workers of mischief and evil.