|
It has
often been said that true repentance is seldom late but late repentance is
seldom true. When it comes to repentance during the great tribulation period,
this saying seems appropriate. Though this is a day when prophetic themes are
not as prominent as they once were, there still seems to be quite a bit of
interest in the question of salvation after the rapture, that is, within the
tribulation period. A Google search with this title confirmed to me not only
the interest but the variety of opinion (as well as much confusion) about this
question. The more specific question is, of course, whether or not a person can
still be saved in the tribulation if they refuse Christ now and miss the
rapture. That is what I want to address.
A few
broad observations need to be settled first. I do believe in the
pretribulational rapture of the entire church of God. I don’t believe that
there will be some believers left who have to earn enough spiritual points to be
raptured later. The church will be complete when she is raptured and her number
settled. But it is also surely true that there will be people saved on earth
during the tribulation. We know there will be two witnesses who begin to
prophesy evidently during the first half of the tribulation (Rev. 11:3-11).
These are instrumental in converting 144,000 Jews, twelve thousand from each
tribe by the middle of the tribulation week (Rev. 7:1-8). There is also a
multitude of Gentiles converted by this same time (Rev. 7:9-10) probably by the
144,000 who become evangelists and preach throughout the world. These believers
and unbelievers during the tribulation become the subjects of the parables of
the wheat and tares (Matt. 13:18-30), the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-46),
and of the one taken while others are left (Matt. 24:36-41). The saved out of
the tribulation period (wheat, sheep, ones left) remain on the earth and go into
the millennial kingdom alive and in physical bodies but the lost (tares, goats,
ones taken) will be cast into torment.
It
should also be stated that salvation, even within the great tribulation period,
will be by grace through faith in the blood of Christ brought about by the
conviction of the Holy Spirit. It will not be the Old Testament time because
that has been finished, but it will not be the age of grace (church age) either
because the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the church will also be
finished. But since salvation has always been by God’s grace through the faith
of the believer based on the blood sacrifice of Christ and accomplished by the
regeneration of the Holy Spirit, salvation in the tribulation period will be
accomplished the same way. The circumstances for these things to be brought
about, however, will be unlike any mankind has yet known.
Therefore, I did not title this article “Can You Be Saved After The Rapture?”
but “Will You Be Saved?” And I am addressing particularly those who have
knowledge of these things now and are making a conscious choice to delay faith
until after the rapture. Perhaps some are even waiting to see if these things
will really happen and then, if they are in fact true, they will quickly ask
Jesus to save them. If you are thinking like that, I would encourage you not to
be so bold in your rejection of Christ and the precious drawing of God’s Spirit,
nor to place your eternal destiny on a wager that a later chance will be given
you. The Bible strongly indicates that salvation for you will be extremely
difficult and that you will most likely be under a strong delusion allowed by
God and fostered by Satan and his antichrist. Ten reasons may be given for this
point of view.
The
first three reasons why you probably will not be saved if you wait until after
the rapture involve the most direct statements written by the apostle Paul to
the Thessalonians.
1. You have not had sufficient love of the truth
to be saved now.
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness
in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they
might be saved (2 Thes. 2:10 ). Here Paul says that unrighteousness will
be so deceiving precisely because this person had not (previously-past tense)
loved the truth enough to be saved. These kinds of people easily become
hardened in their heart. This would surely be true of a person who purposely
refused the gospel prior to the rapture.
2. You will be under strong Satanic delusion
allowed by God.
And for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion, that they should believe a lie (2 Thes. 2:11). “A lie” is
actually “the lie” perhaps referring to the antichrist pretending to be the real
Christ. One who has refused the real Christ now will be a prime candidate for
His imitator. Most striking, however, is the indication that God Himself is
pleased to be the active agent in allowing this strong delusion to come
specifically upon those who previously refused His gracious offer. Will a
person be saved if God is no longer drawing him? If you have had your
opportunity in the age of grace, you will be under strong delusion about Christ
in the tribulation.
3. You will have more pleasure in sinful
activity than interest in being saved.
That they all might be damned who believed not
the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thes. 2:12). John
recorded in Revelation that although many will experience severe judgment from
God, they will not repent of the works of their
hands . . . Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor
of their fornication, nor of their thefts (Rev. 9:20-21). Paul wrote
that the perilous times of the last days would be characterized by people being
lovers of all kinds of pleasures more than lovers for God (2 Tim. 3:1-5). It
will therefore be a righteous thing for God to display His displeasure by
confirming such rebellious ones in condemnation who had refused (past tense) the
truth. To purposely reject such truth now, places you in severe danger for the
future.
The
last seven reasons are further facts that have direct bearing on the condition
of salvation in the tribulation.
4. The Holy Spirit will be removed.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:
only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way (2 Thes.
2:7). The Holy Spirit is the Restrainer of sin in the age of grace. He
dwells within the believers and will leave when they leave (or, conversely, they
will leave when He leaves). As noted previously, He will still convict and draw
individuals during the tribulation, but not in the same manner which He does
now. Sin will certainly abound more because He is gone; delusion from God will
increase; idolatry will reach its zenith. It seems also that unbelief will
reach unparalleled levels. The writer of Hebrews says that after one has tasted
of the Heavenly Gift and refused Him, it is
impossible to renew him again unto salvation (Heb. 6:4-6).
5. The Church will be removed.
In the
age of grace, it has been the church’s unique responsibility to evangelize the
world. By it the gospel has been preached around the world in almost every
language, tribe, and culture. We can’t imagine what effect the removal of all
believers will have on the gospel. The Jewish evangelists of that day will be
at a huge disadvantage compared to the universal scope of the gospel by the
church today. If you are not convinced of your need of salvation now by the
preaching and testimony of the church, neither will you be then.
6. The world will be in great apostasy.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that
day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin
be revealed, the son of perdition (2 Thes. 2:3). Although this “falling
away” may actually refer to the rapture, it is abundantly clear that the
tribulation sends the world into great apostasy.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits,
and doctrines of devils (1 Tim. 4:1). The reason you will not believe
now is because the apostasy of Satan, has already blinded your mind (2 Thes.
4:4). It will be much worse in those days.
7. There will be great pressure to receive the
mark of the beast.
Revelation makes it clear that anyone who does receive the mark of the beast
will not be saved (Rev. 14:11; 20:4). Since the purpose for this mark is to be
able to survive religiously and economically during the tribulation period (Rev.
13:17), and since we are already so conditioned to body markings, idol worship,
and convenience buying, the reception of the mark will be welcomed by the world
as a miracle of technology. You probably will not even discern the fact that
this is also sealing your eternal fate.
8. Peer pressure will be greater then than now.
It is
amazing to see that in the coming tribulation period people turn quickly to a
herd mentality (Rev. 6:14-17; 9:20-21; 13:8; 16:21). History has shown that
when powerful orators speak to crowds, and masses of people are swaying and
screaming together, and shocking action is proposed, the entire crowd will
follow obediently. Even today’s political season illustrates that crowds are
more interested in emotional unity than in rational sensibility. If you are
rejecting Christ now it is likely due to fear of what others think of you. How
much greater will the pressure be in that time.
9. The fear of physical persecution will be
greater than at any time in history.
The
second (red) and fourth (pale) horses of the apocalypse (Rev. 6:3-4; 7-8) bring
in death and killing in unparalleled proportions. The inhumane treatment of the
two witnesses as their bodies are left lying in the streets of Jerusalem while
all the world cheers shows the savage nature of tribulation people. The
antichrist and false prophet order world-wide executions by beheading for anyone
refusing the mark of the beast. To dissent in any fashion will mean immediate
detection and suspicion. The occasional savagery we observe now by mass killers
and murderers will become the norm in that day. Public executions will be
common. It has never been man’s nature to easily withstand physical threat and
eventual torture. The best of Christians have acquiesced under such terrible
circumstances. The reader ought to consider what it is that keeps you from
believing now and then ask why you think believing then will be easier and more
within your physical ability to withstand. For every fear you have now there
will be ten-fold more in that day.
10. Sins of presumption are the most serious
with God.
Under
the law, Moses wrote,
But the soul that doeth ought
presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same
reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment,
that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him (Num.
15:30-31). The book of Hebrews gives four extended warning passages to
those who would hear the gospel but knowingly refuse it (Heb. 2:1-4; 3:7-11;
5:11-6:6; 10:26-39). If the Israelites who refused God’s offer perished,
How shall we escape if we neglect so great
salvation (2:3)? For if we sin willfully after that we have received the
knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a
certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall
devour the adversaries (10:26-27). To presume that you can refuse God’s
loving offer of grace, turn your back on His Son’s sacrifice on your behalf, and
then be confident that there will be opportunity left for you at a later date,
especially in the great tribulation, is to act most presumptuously before God.
I would not, if I were you, take such a chance!
Someday you’ll hear God’s final call to you;
To take His offer of salvation true;
This could be it my friend, if you but knew,
God’s final call, God’s final call.
If you reject God’s final call of grace;
You’ll have no chance your footsteps to
retrace;
All hope will then be gone, and doom you’ll
face;
O hear His call! O hear His call!
| 
