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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