What happens to Christians during the Great
Tribulation?
A lot of it depends on the timing
of the rapture. However, from a practical point of view,
there are several possibilities to think about:
- Raptured out beforehand
This is a popular view, but without an eternal hope it tends to
lead to a an attitude of "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we
fly!" People who hold this view often have strong support, but
many have never studied it in detail or looked seriously at all the
possibilities, and there are too many
uncertainties to put all our hope in this single outcome. Most people
have never even heard of the pre-wrath
rapture view, which is very similar to the pre-tribulation view.
Thus, it is wise to have a contingency plan for all possibilities, especially since Jesus warned of hard times:
Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.
(Luke 21:10-19 NKJV)
Thus, from this Scripture, we can see several other possibilities:
- Live through the tribulation, suffer
persecution and hardship and witness much suffering until the rapture
This could come in many forms, but in the US preparations are
already well underway to put people in FEMA camps. Benjamin
Baruch calls
this the pre-tribulation capture. (See J.
Ventura documentary or Camp
FEMA.) FEMA also has pastors of many churches on the payroll,
possibly to lead their flocks into the camps. (Listen to A.
Jones and Pastor Revere.) Rev. 13:10 says, "He who leads into captivity
shall go into captivity."
- Live through part of the tribulation
but die of natural causes some time before the rapture
- Live through part of the tribulation
but get killed for standing up to the NWO
Many "patriots" who
cannot accept that the US Constitution has been largely eroded are
preparing for a second American Revolution to try to bring back the
old days. They think they can turn the country around without seeing
national repentance. However, Rev. 13:10 says, "He who kills
with the sword must be killed with the sword."
- Live through part of the rapture but
die from hunger, war disease
- Live through part of the tribulation
but get killed for standing up for Jesus
This is a privilege. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Mt. 5:10-12 NKJV)
Some questions to consider
- Has there ever been any time in history
where God removed Christians from earth before a time of tribulation?
- When Jesus said that the time before His
return would be like the times of Noah and Lot (Lk. 17:26-33), what
did mean?
- How do you think most Christians would
respond if they found that
the Great Tribulation has started and a world dictator emerges?
Do you think they will humbly accept that they had been mistaken and
then dig in to face persecution? Or would most fall away and join the
false church?
- Could a US economic collapse happen
without the world going into chaos?
- Is the US the Babylon spoken of in Rev.
17-18, Jer. 50,51 and Isa 13? For more information, see Dimitru
Duduman's Vision of America's Sudden Destruction and Babylon
The Great Is Fallen.
A possible contingency plan
Although it is impossible to fully prepare
for the tribulation, here are a few suggestions:
- If you are not saved, then repent and
turn to Jesus ASAP! See How
to Be Saved
- Get right with God. Be sure you are in
daily fellowship with Jesus - reading the Bible (to listen to Him),
praying (praising Him, confessing sin, thanking Him for all kinds of
things in your life - both pleasant and unpleasant, and asking Him to
help you and others)
- Put on the full armor of God to fight
against the evil in your heart and against the devil and his evil
spirits. See Eph. 6:10-20.
- Pray and fast and ask God for mercy and
guidance. See Daniel 9:3 and Mark 9:29.
- Learn about binding and loosing of
demons (see Mt. 18:18) and casting out demons (see http://wrwpublications.com/
or http://www.omegaman.tv/.)
- Spend time in fellowship with other
people who want to follow Jesus and share each others burdens and the
truth.
- Actively tell other people about Jesus
and your faith in Him and be prepared to love and serve those who
might persecute you. Jesus said, "You have heard that is was
said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to
you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those
who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute
you." (Mt. 5:43,44 NKJV)
- Think of what your family might need if
there is a systemic collapse. Every man has a duty to consider in advance (pronoei) the needs of his
family (I Tim. 5:8). He would be wise to consider how he might help
others too. God might give additional opportunities to serve the needy and store up more treasure in eternity
(Lk. 16:9.) Jesus also said, "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."
(Luke 6:30 NIV)
- Consider the possibility of the need to
store up supplies and/or relocate, since "a prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished."
(Pr. 22:3)
This can include storing up some canned goods and grains,
if possible, for at least 1-3 months, having a good water filter or source of
good drinking water, having a good first aid kit and a bug-out bag and
buying gold and silver coins, since these are God's money and since paper currency is becoming
become worth less and less. (Silver is especially good, since the
price has been greatly suppressed, and most has been used up. For more
information, see http://somehelpful.info/Silver/.)
- Meditate on possible outcomes and how
you would respond.
Further information:
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