tschuckman@aol.com
To set things straight:
WHO ARE THE TRIBULATION SAINTS?
| After all believers in Christ are raptured away to heaven, the people left behind who come to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord after the rapture will to be known as Tribulation Saints. The Bible predicts that a huge number of people will be saved during the seven year Tribulation. Rev 7:9 describes the number as a "great multitude, which no man could number." The Bible repeatedly states that Tribulation Saints will face a strong likelihood of being martyred under the Antichrist's demonic rule. Many Tribulation Saints will have to pay the ultimate price and give their lives for their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. There are several passages that warn how rough it will be for Christians to endure the Tribulation: "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations" (Rev 13:7). "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints" (Rev 13:10). "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed" (Rev 13:15). "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them" (Rev 14:12-13). "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Rev 20:4). The Tribulation Saints will not be silent during these dark years, nor will they roll over and play dead for Antichrist. These Christians will continue serving their Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of their desperate surroundings. Faithful to the end, some of these Christians will die for their beliefs, but God shall reward them in this manner: "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7: 15-17 NKJV)." (1) A realization of how difficult it will be for Tribulation Saints has motivated many christian to leave helpful advice for those left behind. Here are two examples. First of all, it is to warn those who receive this manual prior to the rapture of the events that will take place in the last days as foretold in the Bible. Based on what the Bible has to say about future events, nobody in their right mind would want live on earth after the rapture. Hopefully, many will read, believe, seek God, repent and be saved. Salvation is very simple, so simple to attain, in fact, that most people cannot accept its simplicity; thereby reject it completely. However, it is complex because it is life-changing and based on that which we cannot see; it is based on faith. Simple, because Jesus does all the work. If you want to be saved and have eternal life, simply pray in belief and humility to the Lord Jesus: "Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and ask you to forgive me of my sins and prepare for me a new heart. I surrender my life to you." Your predicament is quite serious, so this is very important: Try to find a Holy Bible (containing 66 books), which you must study and know well ---although that task will present some very thorny problems--- because if you are reading this at the beginning of the tribulation, then all of you "tribulation saints" are brand new "baby" believers in Christ. There are no older believers to help you in person, so, you'll have to survive on your own, without such a support group ...there is no true "Church" on earth... that's why I'm concerned to write to you. REVIEW During the tribulation, Satan—the great counterfeiter—will introduce his own man—a man of lawlessness and a man of perdition (Daniel 11:36-39) who will seemingly lead the world into time of peace and prosperity. This man is The Antichrist. He will accomplish, at least for a season, what no other ruler has managed to accomplish—global unity. He will come to power at the beginning of the tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) and establish himself as the world ruler. During the first part of Antichrist’s seven-year reign, the inhabitants of Earth will live in relative harmony. And literally billions of misguided people will worship him as their god and savior. Not only will Antichrist accept this worship, he will demand the people’s worship! He will exact the allegiance of all (Revelation 13:16). Those who refuse to worship Antichrist will face death. In this dark hour, however, many will come to know Christ Jesus as Savior. These are the tribulation saints who will face the wrath of Antichrist (Revelation 13:7), yet their eternal salvation is secure (Revelation 14:12-13). No one, not even Antichrist, will be able to wrench these saints from God’s loving hands. The tribulation saints will not be silent during these dark years. These Christians will continue serving their Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of their desperate surroundings. Faithful to the end, some of these Christians will die for their beliefs, but God shall reward them in this manner: “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:15-17 NKJV). More importantly, the saints living in this time of great distress will not be forgotten by our merciful God as He pours His wrath upon a wicked earth. While unregenerate men and women face the white-hot judgment of God’s righteous fury, His saints shall “have the seal of God on their foreheads” and be spared the terrible wrath that follows (Revelation 9:4). Two such tribulation saints will serve from Jerusalem as God’s mighty witnesses, “and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These have the power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire (Revelation 11:3,6 NKJV).” What a ministry—they will boldly preach God’s truths while performing awesome miracles, and those unregenerate fools who try silencing them will be devoured by fire! So hated and despised will the preachers be, the whole world will celebrate the eventual deaths of these witnesses with gifts and merriment—but God will raise His slain witnesses back to life and carry them off to Heaven, and the entire world will see this spectacular event (Revelation 11:9). The day of great trouble is rapidly approaching, so now is the time to ask, “Where will you be when Antichrist makes his appearance?” Will you be safe and secure in the loving hands of the Savior, or will you be fodder for Antichrist? Will King Jesus be your rescuer, or will you be one of the billions to perish when God’s divinely appointed wrath is poured out upon the rebellious masses? Prophecy is tomorrow’s headlines, so let no one say he or she has not been warned. The Lord Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. Confess Him as your Lord and Savior. Come to Jesus and live. |
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5 comments:
Staley said:
If you read my books Brother Tom you know I go further than Brother Joe does. I believe that every person when they reach the age of accountability: and that varies with peoples mental capability and what they are taught from birth, that the HOLY SPIRIT reproves, convicts, them of sin, their sin, of Righteousness, JESUS and His Righteousness, and judgment to come. I believe HE makes it clear to them that JESUS can impute HIS righteousness to them if they believe in HIM and they can escape judgment. They may not know HIS name but if they believe what THE HOLY SPIRIT tells them they are saved but if not weather they have heard the gospel, or of it, or have ever seen a Bible or another Christian they are lost without an excuse before GOD at the Great White Throne. I do not believe anyone who comes to the age of accountability escapes judgment except those who do not have intellect enough to understand THE HOLY SPIRITS reproving and those who believe in JESUS for salvation. Staley
--- On Sat, 10/16/10, Thomas G. Schuckman wrote:
From: Thomas G. Schuckman
Subject: See my new post in FB, please..... tom
To: bbrulport@directv.net, billybjr@cfl.rr.com, lifesabench6@centurylink.net, charm@erinet.com, debtst35@yahoo.com, dickr@rollerinc.com, firestormkids04@aol.com, jdhook@cox.net, jerrielangham@yahoo.com, RobinHood7200@aol.com, wjbecker@ruraltel.net
Date: Saturday, October 16, 2010, 3:40 PM
Well, guys and gals, I feel like a big dummy again....Ha! I was just talking to my buddy from church whom I will see later-- going to teach/ show the younger boys how to correctly throw tomahawks at church-- SAFELY.
Brother 'Joe' told me today that: 'IF a person has heard about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, yet does nothing/ takes no action, does not accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior-- and the Rapture comes--- THEY ARE LOST! Do you all believe this to be true??? This is very serious business! Need your input, please.
Regards,
Tom :-\
Tom,this is one of your best ones yet. I don't know where to start lol. I did love the poem, and especially the last part which said every saint has a past and every sinner has a future! How true it can be!
Anyway, as to your question (or comment about people not doing anything about Christ when they hear)I have to sum up something I heard from one of my favorite pastors (Adrian Rogers) He said those who choose to do nothing choose against Christ. I happen to believe the same. When someone hears the Gospel and says, I'm not ready to choose right now etc. IS making a choice. And if that person happens to die in an accident or something, well, their choice of inaction ends up being an eternal choice doesn't it?
Sitting on the fence to "see who wins" is nothing but passivity- and passivity is not an option. Jesus says you are either for me or against me. Unsaved folks need to be shown that a "I don't know" is really against Christ.
Now, does that mean they dont have a chance later on to hear the Gospel some where else and accept it then? Yes, that's how it was with me. I was stubborn and it took a few seeds and waterings before I came to accept the Gospel Truth and Jesus as my Savior. It's like that with so many- but again, one never knows when their time on earth is done, and they may not have that next chance.
Those who hear but don't choose also have the risk of their hearts being hardened. The Bible warns of that as well.
It would be my hope to see folks who hear would make a decision then and there, but unfortunately it doesn't always work that way, in fact most folks I have witnessed to fall into this catagory. It's sad to me that I haven't lead someone to Christ yet, but I also know that it's not what I say- it's them denying the power of the Holy Spirit. It may be I will see some of them or all of them (I hope) in heaven some day- that maybe I planted a seed which someone else waters.
Sorry, but I have to do this in parts :-)
Tom,this is one of your best ones yet. I don't know where to start lol. I did love the poem, and especially the last part which said every saint has a past and every sinner has a future! How true it can be!
Anyway, as to your question (or comment about people not doing anything about Christ when they hear)I have to sum up something I heard from one of my favorite pastors (Adrian Rogers) He said those who choose to do nothing choose against Christ. I happen to believe the same. When someone hears the Gospel and says, I'm not ready to choose right now etc. IS making a choice. And if that person happens to die in an accident or something, well, their choice of inaction ends up being an eternal choice doesn't it?
Sitting on the fence to "see who wins" is nothing but passivity- and passivity is not an option. Jesus says you are either for me or against me. Unsaved folks need to be shown that a "I don't know" is really against Christ.
Now, does that mean they dont have a chance later on to hear the Gospel some where else and accept it then? Yes, that's how it was with me. I was stubborn and it took a few seeds and waterings before I came to accept the Gospel Truth and Jesus as my Savior. It's like that with so many- but again, one never knows when their time on earth is done, and they may not have that next chance.
Those who hear but don't choose also have the risk of their hearts being hardened. The Bible warns of that as well.
It would be my hope to see folks who hear would make a decision then and there, but unfortunately it doesn't always work that way, in fact most folks I have witnessed to fall into this catagory. It's sad to me that I haven't lead someone to Christ yet, but I also know that it's not what I say- it's them denying the power of the Holy Spirit. It may be I will see some of them or all of them (I hope) in heaven some day- that maybe I planted a seed which someone else waters.
Sorry, but I have to do this in parts :-)
Part 2
This brings me to your post now on the trib.
I have been warning folks of the coming days of Jacob's trouble for some time. I admit that some times I use it as an introduction to the Gospel, as so many are worried or scared of the way things are in the world, and Revelation shows so much of what is going on that people are listening. But again, they have a wait and see attitude. Much of my family is in this catagory as well. They see in the Bible where things are happening which is too much "a coincidence" with what's going on, but still can't let go of the pride of self reliance. Either that or fear because they may believe all the prophecies are going to come, but don't know Jesus well enough to ask Him to save them from it. They don't know how to trust yet- the same "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude of so many in His Day when they asked Him for miracles in order to believe as if Jesus was a magician!
It's the same now. Or else they are angry at religion, or churches. I can't blame them there really as so many churches have FAILED miserably in walking in Christ, let alone teaching His Gospel. From worldly behavior, the televangelist scandles of the past, the Catholic priests molesting, protestant preachers being caught with their pants down- folks see this as the hipocrisy it is, and are angry. They have every right to point it out- yet, they are angry at the wrong thing. They equate Christ with the church, so if the church (no matter the denomination) is full of hipocrites, then Christianity is a lousy religion. They dont understand that Jesus is NOT a religion.
Many people are going to be left behind, I'm afraid. And many because of the behavior of the church or the failure to witness. Most folks who think they are Christian leave the "preaching" to the Sunday services and never "go into the world" to tell the Good News. People have been lazy and led to believe it is the pastor's job, or the evangelists. They don'tunderstand (and I didn't either until a few years ago) that Jesus tells His disciples, and all Bible believing Christians ARE His disciples. If the Gospel message had have been left to the original 12 only, no one of us would have ever heard the Gospel.
So those who are left behind. How many will be saved afterwards? How many will be martyred for their new found faith in Christ?
Well the Bible makes it clear that there will be multitudes in heaven under the altar crying, asking when will they be avenged.
A great multitude "whose robes were dipped in blood". The number too great to count.
Part 3 LAST ONE!
Now- Tom, I know you know this, but for the sake of some who might not. A Multitude is at LEAST over 200 million people, and I have to think the term "great multitude" has to number way beyond that. How do we know? Because the Bible mentions the kings of the east marching with their army of 200 million. If that can be counted, one that can not be counted as in a great multitude has to number above that.
So, we know from the Bible, that more than 200 million will come to Christ AFTER the rapture of the church, and we also know from the Bible that many will come to the very end to see Jesus and the saints come to earth at the battle of Armageddon.
We know that not only will God annoint the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel to witness to people, but there will also be the 2 special witnesses who are supernaturally protected from death until their appointed time when God will raise them from death after 3 days. We know that an Angel of the Lord (one of the 3) will go all over the world preaching the Good News. I think that because of the disappearances of the followers of Christ, then the supernatural ways of the Gospel being spread, there will be Billions of believers during the tribulation time, but not many out of those Billions will last until the last.
I pray people will come to know Christ NOW, but with the world population being what it is, and the amount to come to Christ during the trib time, and the huge numbers of Satan's armies- doesn't seem like a very big number will come to the Lord before.
This can't keep us from trying though. I don't want to have to account for someone who doesn't make it into the Lamb's book of Life because I had the opportunity to lead them or plant a seed and didn't do it!
Sorry Tom, seems like this is a whole blog post here!
I'm glad Sharon got out for a little while, it must have been a nice change for her- you both are always in my prayers! Have a Blessed week!!
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