Tribulation Saints

Tribulation Saints


Will people able to be saved after the rapture and during the tribulation?

The book of Revelation can be a confusing book for many people to understand. It deals with future events that were shown to John in a vision. These events are not figurative but a literal text of what will transpire at the end of times.

Today there are many prophecy type teachers and preachers that try to explain what revelation really means. We have heard twisted words, added ideas and reading between the lines to try fit scriptures into their ideas and teach their interpretation. Arguing that it is a symbolic language that is open to interpretation according to the times that we live in, they fit the most bizarre ideas into their teachings. Although I do not doubt that in the tribulation period that there will be helicopters and tanks, because on many fronts it will be man against man. Although this paper only covers one specific point, from a scriptural point of view, it doesn't fit with some of the popular teachers or denominations.

I was asked the question above during a class and felt that it would be good to comment on it here. "Will people be able to be saved after the rapture and during the tribulation?"

From my understanding through study of the scriptures; yes, some will become believers after the rapture during the tribulation.

Many people now have a basic understanding of what salvation is. Salvation is the deliverance from the power and penalty of sin. According to scripture one of the things that we are saved from is God's wrath.

Romans 5:8-10 

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

We have heard and quoted Romans 5:8 many times but the next two verses shows what the blood of Christ has done. It has reconciled us with God and saved us from His wrath. God's wrath is not only recognized now but will also be poured out upon the world after the rapture comes, and is shown clearly throughout the OT. The beginning of getting right with God has always been and will begin with belief, you must believe.

Now, there is a difference between the time before Christ, Now and after the rapture comes. In the OT times people believed in God and were saved from many perils because of that belief. They believed the words of the Prophets and had the Law that was given through Moses. Many people believed because of evidence seen and testified of. It is easy to believe when confronted with great evidence these people were blessed with the presence of God and His benefits.

In this time that we live in we have an even greater blessing. We live after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We believe without seeing and serve God through very little evidence. Jesus said that we were more blessed than those that see and believe. Our salvation includes; not just having complete justification through Christ Jesus and His sacrifice, but we are also indwelled with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. He leads us into understanding, truth, and testifies of Jesus. Through the Spirit we are sealed until that day when Jesus calls us to come to Him.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-10

3 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; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work : only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed , whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish ; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved .

The Holy Spirit not only works within us and through us, but He also works as a restrainer against the coming of the anti-Christ. Until the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth the anti-Christ can't be revealed. I say can't because the Spirit will reveal him for who and what he is. The Holy Spirit here on the earth dwells inside of believers so when the rapture occurs and the saved which have been sealed are taken away, the Holy Spirit will be removed. This starts the tribulation.

Living in the time we do we understand that, once we believe and are sealed, our salvation is secured and can't be removed from us. Even if we stray from God and turn to sin anyone that is truly saved will be with God, because God is faithful. The retaining doesn't depend upon us or our actions but upon God and His word.

After the rapture and during the tribulation period there will be believers that will come to know God through His word and through great evidence that He exists. But unlike us where the Spirit of God draws us toward salvation through the conviction of our sinful state and our need of a Savior. Those after the rapture won't have that opportunity because of the absence of the Holy Spirit. What this means is that those after the rapture will believe through their own understanding. They will have to believe against the flesh and against what is referred to as the  "natural man".

Now believing against the flesh and a sinful nature will be a challenge because man is not inclined come after God because of worldly desires, but during this time there will be great evidence pointing toward God. The Rapture and the disappearance of multitudes of professing believers. The prophecies being fulfilled written thousands of years before. The wrath of God being poured out upon the earth. All these will persuade man against his nature that there is a greater power and authority than those men here on earth. Even in light of great evidence I believe that those who come to believe will be just a small percentage of those that remain on the earth. Very much as it was in the OT and even now.

Revelation 6:9-11

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held : 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying , How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled .

During the first part of the tribulation period the seals are opened. John from Patmos wrote that after the fifth seal was opened, He saw the souls of those that were slain for the word of God and their testimony. These asked God how long he was going to tarry before avenging their deaths. God told them to rest for a little time until their fellow servants also and their brothers that were to die as they did was fulfilled.

These that were under the alter died for their belief in God and there were others like them that would also die the same as they had, for the word of God and their testimonies. During the tribulation, After the anti-Christ has been revealed. These are believers that had turned to God after the rapture. This is evidence from the fact that they didn't get taken in the rapture but were left behind.

Revelation 7

1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east , having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying , Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed : and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 9 After this I beheld , and, lo , a great multitude, which no man could number , of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying , Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying , Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered , saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they ? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest . And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

John saw four angels restraining the winds from blowing on the earth. And then another angel having the seal of the Living God. He shouted to the other angels that restrained the winds, not to loose them until he had sealed all the servants of God. Among these will be the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel. After this he saw a great multitude of people that no man could number of all nations, tongues before the throne of God and before Jesus in white robe. One of elders  told John that these were the ones that came out of the great tribulation and washed their robes in the blood of the lamb. They were before the throne to serve God day and night in the temple. These people that no man could number and stood before God came out of the tribulation, and were appointed to serve God.

Revelation 9:1-4

1 And the fifth angel sounded , and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

When the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, John saw a star fall from heaven to the earth. A key was given to the bottomless pit. When it was opened a smoke rose and darkened the sky. From the smoke came locusts that had the power to sting as scorpions do. They were commanded to only hurt the men that did not have the seal of God. These are those that believe and witness for God during this time.

Revelation 9:20-21

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see , nor hear , nor walk : 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

According to this verse there will be repentance after the rapture. During the plagues man refuses to repent for their sins against God and mankind.

Revelation 13:4-10

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying , Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 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. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear . 10 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.

These verses show that men will worship Satan and the beast as gods. And the beast will make war with the saints. Another testimony of saints being on the earth. And all men will worship the beast whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 14:9-13

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 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 labours; and their works do follow them.

An ultimatum is proclaimed that however worships the beast, a representative idol. or receives the mark will face the wrath of God. The will be tormented with fire and brimstone day and night being under the watch of the angels and Jesus. Here the saints that have died are rewarded for their patience because God's wrath is being executed against those that caused their death. Then John heard a voice from heaven telling him to write, Blessed are those that die in the Lord from this point forward. And they will rest from their works and their works will follow them. They will be judged according to their works and their testimonies because they never caved into the beast. They followed God, kept the commandments and maintained their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 20:4-6

4 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. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished . This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

With two chapters left John records that he saw the souls that were beheaded for their witness of Jesus, for the word of God and refused to worship the beast, his image and refused the mark. These lived and reigned with Jesus for the millennium. This is the first resurrection, Those that have a part in it are called blessed and holy. These believers and followers of Christ could only have died during the tribulation after the rapture.

We must remember that this is the first of two resurrections after the rapture, the rapture of the church is not included even though there was a resurrection at that time. This first resurrection, after the rapture, includes only those which had believed in Jesus and endured in that belief till their end. They are not subject to punishment that is reserved for those that worshipped the beast or received the mark, which is eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Those that do not take part in this first resurrection will be raised up after the 1000 years to stand judgment, be condemned for their works in the flesh and receive their punishment from a just and righteous judge.

I use the word "endure" because believers have to remain loyal without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, without His presence man must follow God through his own will. This will be very trying without the joy, peace and comfort that He provides to believers now. Even a professing believer can condemn himself by receiving the mark of the beast, even to feed his family. To deny Christ to save your own life or your families can have eternal consequences.

I don't believe that this is considered a second chance. I believe that there is a difference between someone that rejects Jesus and someone that has yet to believe. Those that reject Jesus will not ever believe and never make a commitment.