A recent article here, titled “Why the Rapture Is Not a New Delirium,” triggered an outsized number of responses. Most were from pro-Rapture believers. That would not be surprising, given RaptureReady’s primary audience. However, one frequent query we encountered was in reaction to the claim that ALL tribulational Christians—these being those that come to recognize Christ as Lord and Savior after the Rapture—would be sure to perish.

We hold to that view, and will here present our reasons.

We even ask: Why would any Christian want to survive through the Tribulation in the first place? Though tribulational Christians do not have the special position of raptured Christians, they nevertheless are promised a reward at the start of the Millennium, as the Bible clearly states. They will experience the First Resurrection at that point.

As we will show, a literal reading of the Bible clearly and plainly supports the understanding that there will be no Christians that will physically survive the Tribulation period.

But, readers may well ask: Why even concern ourselves with this point? Is it not true that Christians will be removed from the earth (the Rapture) before the time of God’s wrath begins? And if so, why would we even care about the course of prophesied earthly developments after that point?

Answer: All Scripture is profitable for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16), and this Biblical issue is no exception. As it turns out, the question regarding the fate of Christians during the Tribulation is a critical one in the defense of the Rapture Doctrine, as we will show.

Perhaps only a minority of Christians today believe in the Pretribulational Rapture Doctrine. They believe that Christians will go through the Tribulation … presuming that any apocalyptic Scriptures are believed at all. Also, numerous inventive variations of Rapture teachings have emerged—Pre-Wrath, Mid- and Post-tribulational … etc.

The tales that the Christian dead tell us in Scripture, in this respect refute all these other beliefs regarding the Rapture. If ALL Christians indeed die in the Tribulation, then some glaring inconsistencies are exposed in these variant views, thus giving credence to the Rapture Doctrine.

Positional Differences of Pre- and Post-Rapture Christians

Do all Christians die in the Apocalypse … and can we prove it? To answer, we must begin by noting the positional distinctions between ALL tribulational Christians, and those of the pre-Tribulation period who are ALL raptured. During the Tribulation, the Holy Spirit is no longer an unction upon earth as during the Church Age. The Comforter has been removed along with the Church, and the Antichrist has been revealed. Those who come to Christ during the Tribulation are not spared suffering and physical death (the First Death), as are the raptured saints (who are alive at the time).

Pre-tribulational Christians of the Church Age are translated (physically changed for eternity, this the Rapture) to be in Christ’s presence. Tribulational Christians are not translated to new eternal bodies … at least, not until after the Millennium. The raptured Christians do not experience the First Death; the latter group do. Tribulational Christians ALL must face a physical death. ALL are certain to become martyrs. Graciously, tribulational Christians are promised the First Resurrection at the start of the Millennium.

While both groups of Christians are given eternal life and share a common eternal fate after the Millennium (neither experience the Second Death), their paths, experiences and positions are very different.

Christians During the Time of Wrath

Without a doubt, people will become believers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, during the Tribulation Period. As the terror of this time erupts, earth dwellers will come to the recognition that Jesus Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah … the Savior … the Son of God. The state of evil in the world, as well as the appearance of the Antichrist, will be obvious to all. The timing of remaining prophetic events is then no longer entirely speculative. These are clearly seen to be unfolding.

By the time of the 6th seal (this the most apocalyptic and shaking to that time), it will be clearly obvious to all that the world is facing God’s wrath. In fact, they openly acknowledge this fact, saying, “The great day of their wrath has come” (Revelation 6:17).

As such, many people do become Christians during the Tribulation. In fact, there are so many that the Bible calls them a “great multitude” (Revelation 7:9).

However, we may be getting ahead of ourselves. Where does this “multitude” of saints come from, and what is their fate?

The Great Winnowing

The great winnowing of tribulational Christians from earth is described in Revelation 13:11-17. The False Prophet (the Second Beast) orders all to worship an image of the First Beast, and presses all to take upon themselves the mark of the First Beast, so that they can buy and sell. Those that DO worship the image of the beast and take this mark will be eternally damned (Revelation 14:11).

What happens to those who DO NOT take the mark of the False Prophet and refuse to worship the image of the beast? The good news: They are redeemed and therefore will not be condemned to the lake of fire. Nevertheless, they will not be spared suffering. These Christians will be killed.

The Bible clearly says that “[…] all those who refused to worship the image [will] be killed” (Revelation 13:15). Revelation 20:4 confirms this, saying: “[…] I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.”

Again, the goods news amidst the terrors? The tribulational Christians who refuse the “mark” are spared the Second Death. Yet, they must face the First Death before being rewarded with the First Resurrection at the start of the Millennium.

Two Phases of Slain Saints

We place the aforementioned events shown in Revelation 13, as occurring sometime between/during the fifth and sixth seals. Events that the Bible describes during these seal judgments closely align with the Great Winnowing.

To be sure, Christians are already being slain before the fifth seal. We see these first tribulational Christians that are killed shown in Revelation 6:9-11. The Bible says: “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.”

Presented here are the souls of the Christians who have been slaughtered between the Rapture and the time of the 5th seal. They are shown under the altar in heaven and are told to stay there “until the full number of their fellow servants” (Revelation 6:11) are killed as they had been. These earlier Christians are waiting until the rest of the martyrs arrive.

A little later (at the time of the sixth seal), we now see that the “full number” has arrived. As already mentioned, there are so many martyrs at this point that they are called a “great multitude.” John the Revelator says “[…] there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9). These souls are identified as coming out of the “tribulation” (Revelation 7:14). They are tribulational martyrs … a very large number. The fact that they now all hold palm branches signifies that they have attained victory and eternal life.

Just what event or development could have caused such a large influx of Christian souls, to have arrived in front of the throne in such a short space of time? According to our understanding, the great winnowing of Revelation 13:11-17 occurred. It is the final “dividing line,” we think. A large number of earth dwellers have refused to take the “mark” and are martyred. By the end of the 6th seal, these souls end up in front of the throne.

Envisioning both phases of the slain saints, says the Bible of them: “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them’” (Revelation 14:12-13).

Why Christian Dead Tell Tales

The view that all tribulational Christians will be martyred is problematic for many. For one, it nullifies the case for a Rapture occurring any other time than before the Tribulation. If, for example, there were no Christians alive on earth as of the early stages of the second half of the Tribulation, there could be no Mid- or Post-tribulational Rapture. What would be the point? There is no one—or perhaps only an insignificant number—to be raptured.

Or, let’s assume that the Rapture naysayers are right in that there is no Rapture of any kind. To take this position means that All Christians will go into the Tribulation period. And, more Christians may be added to their number through conversions during the earlier stages of the Tribulation (though this is immaterial to the issue here). However, the question then arises: Why would God allow that ALL Christians in the world be killed during the Tribulation?

Critically, why would God allows some non-Christians and Jews to survive … but no Christians?

(In Part II, we will present more proofs for the Pre-tribulational Rapture, from the tales of Martyred Christians.)

For resources on “endtime economics” and to subscribe to the free newsletter, Eternal Value Review, visit Wilfred’s website www.eternalvalue.com or contact him at: staff@eternalvalue.com

About the Author: Wilfred J. Hahn is a global economist/strategist. Formerly a top-ranked global analyst, research director for a major Wall Street investment bank, and head of Canada’s largest global investment operation, his writings focus on the endtime roles of money, economics and globalization. He has been quoted around the world and his writings reproduced in numerous other publications and languages. His 2002 bookThe Endtime Money Snare: How to live free accurately anticipated and prepared its readers for the Global Financial Crisis. His newest book,Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving true riches in an age of deception and trouble, looks further into the future.

We continue with the final part of our series. Without a doubt, more burning fuses could have been added to the list. Our selection of 12, as we mentioned at the outset, will surely have left out some important shifts in human beliefs. Like every other generation that has sought to interpret Bible prophecy or peer into the future, it is impossible not to be biased by the current trends and conditions that we see around us.

All of the fuses mentioned, represent what can be characterized as sudden last-day changes in beliefs or new idolatries of humanity (with the possible exception of anti-Semitism). All of these changes are relatively recent in the timeline of human history. Crucially, these beliefs represent the choices of mankind—the free-will of a global humanity—that Bible prophecy foreknows. A just God could not pre-ordain these choices. But with mankind having made its evil elections, a chastening Tribulation therefore follows. It is for this reason that these “fuses” have the potential for an explosive impact upon the world.

Burning Fuse #10: Anti-Christianity

When considering opposition to Biblical Christianity, one instinctively thinks of persecution. Indeed, persecution against Christians in its various forms has been increasing in recent times. Various ministries and organizations attempt to track the incidence of such activities around the world. Generally, they report a rising number of incidents both involving governments and communities. These may be denial of rights, physical abuse or murder.

Yet, there are other types of persecution that do not lend themselves to statistical analysis. For example, the increasingly open ridicule of anything Christian in secular public discourse and media is one such manifestation. Also, while Christian persecution may take physically brutal forms in Islamic and other nations, in the West, the Christian faces more subtle forms. The demands and cares of the highly commercialized, consumption-oriented lifestyles of the industrialized nations have been toxic to the Biblical Christian faith.

However, there is a much larger “anti-Christian” phenomenon that the Bible itself prophesies. It is the great “falling away” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). By all indications, it is to be a massive desertion of the Christian faith, so big, that Christ asks rhetorically, “[…] when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Says Paul: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Christ told his followers, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:9-13).

Apostle Paul speaks of the characteristics of a “perilous time” for Christians. Eighteen of them alone are mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:2-5. “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

These 18 behavioral characteristics take place under the license of institutionalized religion. That time may already be here today.

We have no trouble finding statistics and evidence documenting the emergence of each of these characteristics as accepted norms in today’s societies—many of which are still called “Christian” countries—and that are “white washed” by theologians and religious organizations. For example, dealing with just the first in the list, “people will be lovers of themselves.” There are myriad surveys that document the increase of narcissism, selfishness … etc. And indirect evidence of this trend is the high incidence of depression.

The World Health Organization has produced studies on this depression trend in recent years, calling it an epidemic. While this phenomenon will have different causes, it is also promoted by the empty values that society incessantly promotes. Self-love is deceitful. It tricks people into believing that they can imagine something better for themselves than what God has in mind for them. Yet there are many so-called Christian ministries today that proclaim that one of the greatest deficiencies of people is that they do not love themselves enough. “Self-esteem” has even been proclaimed as the “new reformation.”1

We could provide statistics that document the widespread emergence of the other 17 characteristics that are found in 2 Timothy 3:2-5; however, space doesn’t allow in this series. All of them occur under the guise and structure of godliness and apparent piety, but denying the power of Godliness. All of these are oppositional to Biblical Christianity.

Virtually all countries that were historically influenced by Christianity no longer make any pretense that their public policies are shaped by Biblical principles. European politicians still speak of their shared “cultural” ties stemming from Christianity (mostly meaning Roman Catholicism) today. Yet, there can be little doubt that Biblical Christianity has already experienced a great and rapid falling away.

Burning Fuse #11: Anti-Semitism

The Bible tells us: “I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them” (Jeremiah 29:18).

As has often and repeatedly occurred down through the past two millennia and in many countries around the world, Jews have ended up being convenient but hated scapegoats. They have been killed and expelled. The “love of money” and “hatred of the Jew” have frequently proven mutually evil.

Just as the Bible and history reveals, the scorn and reproach of anti-Semitism has already existed for two millennia. Just what would qualify this trend as a “burning fuse” at this time?

While it has surely existed for quite some time, only recently has anti-Semitism resulted in a globally-coordinated persecution. The atrocities of the Nazis during the 1930s and 40s, and the general rejection of the Jew’s appeal for a homeland or safe haven during that time, may well qualify as the first “global” action involving the Jews. Not much later the United Nations did open the door to the formation of the new nation of Israel in 1948.

In recent years, incidents of anti-Semitism are again increasing. A most curious aspect is that it seems to rage with little provocation. People that know nothing about Jews and their history, perhaps never having had a personal encounter with a Jew, somehow are easily prone to horrible invective and hate speech against Jews. A survey in the Boston Review in 2009 found that 25% of non-Jewish Americans blamed Jews for the financial crisis in recent years. The internet is overrun with anti-Semitism for no apparent reason. It would almost seem that hatred of Jews is a natural disposition of mankind. Why?

Anti-Semitism has demonic dimensions. After all, Satan is and must be their adversary. For the Beast and the nations that rage against God (Acts 4:25), to disprove or invalidate the promises and prophecies of God, they must neutralize and eradicate the Jewish race. Mainly as consequence of these factors, Jews have repeatedly and unjustifiably been the scapegoats of various allegations.

Burning Fuse #12: Anti-Zionism

Israel was founded as a Jewish state in 1948. It was to be the Jewish homeland. Today Arabs living in Israel have the highest standard of living of any other Arabs in the Middle East. In view of the tensions between the two populations, this is a testimony to the progressiveness of Israel. But how long can Israel be so magnanimous? Today, approximately 20% of Israel’s population is Arab, and their population growth rate is significantly higher than that of Jewish Israelis overall.

Prophecy scholars teach that the prophecies of blessing by Balaam speak about today, specifically Numbers 23:9 (KJV): “For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Two last-day conditions are mentioned in this verse. One has already occurred; the other is presently coming to completion very rapidly.

Uniquely today, we already live in a time where the “foreign god”mentioned in Daniel 11:392 is on the scene—in other words, the time that the international consensus of the nations of the world is gaining power through globalism. Through such transnational organizations as the United Nations and others, all the nations of the world now have forums of policy exchange. Not only do such worldwide organizations exist, but also more recently the power of “international consensus” through these organizations has begun to increase very strongly.

While the roots of today’s 193-member United Nations may go back to 1865, 3 it is only since 1945 that this “infrastructure” of world nations has been formally completed. However, to this point, the power of “international consensus” has been largely counterchecked by the might and influence of a few superpowers, first the then-waning British Empire, and more recently Russia and the United States. Now, only the United States remains in this league, though in recent years is appearing to lose influence and conviction. The result is that “the nations”—primarily through the United Nations and its various assemblies—are increasingly setting the policies for the entire world. And, clearly, “the nations” as a group hate Israel.

More Than Just Political Bias

The bias of “the nations” against Israel has already been well set. But, to this point, the actions of “the nations” against Israel have been largely only through means of slanted politics and exclusions. The hugely imbalanced record of actions and resolutions adopted by the UN against Israel are a clear indication. Though Israel is an advanced, democratic nation and has been a member of the UN since 1949, it has not yet been eligible to be a member of the Security Council of the United Nations. Currently, there are five permanent members of this steering group, with an additional 10 rotating members. All other nations in the world are eligible, including such international pariahs as Libya, Sudan and others. Israel is not. Recently, Canada has also been excluded from eligibility. Why? Its current government, led by Steven Harper, is staunchly pro-Israel.

Following the miraculous refounding of the land of Israel in 1948, the Jewish people have been in the process of returning to their land. The aliyah (homecoming) is still underway, to be fully completed after “Jacob’s trouble.” Crucially, in this regard, a significant milestone occurred in the recent decade. For the first time in over 2,600 years, more Jews (41% of all Jews) are now living in Israel than in any other nation. Prior to that point, the United States held that honor.

This would be celebratory news were it not for the reasons why this has occurred. While the country of Israel is experiencing healthy natural population growth, Diaspora Jewry is declining not for reasons of aliyah alone, but more because of secularization and outmarriage (Jews marrying with people who are not Jewish).According to one study, whereas outmarriage rates were generally below 5% for the majority of Diaspora populations in 1930, today it is in excess of 45%.4 In America, fewer Jews report having two parents of Jewish origin. Less than 40% of the 18-34 year old age group, who identify themselves as Jewish, have two Jewish parents today. 5 In fact, a major point of debate today is the very definition of Jewish identity.

For this and other reasons, the Jew is becoming ever less numerous in the world. While the Jewish people represented 7.5 people out of every 1000 in the world in 1938, today this figure is less than half—only 3.5 per thousand.6

Would it seem likely, that more than one-half of all Jews will remain in the Diaspora? According to Scripture, it is certain that the aliyah is not yet complete, this occurring only fully after the Tribulation. For America, would that mean that its Jews will simply assimilate and eventually wither away?

It seems doubtful. If past history is any guide to the future, it has always been true that the largest population of Jews—specifically in those countries where they reached prominence and contributed to a Golden Age—eventually were persecuted and displaced.

Hopefully, the Messiah will come first and America will never be the handmaiden to another such atrocity and therefore suffer being uprooted. Of one thing we can be sure: When the Jew leaves America, it will be the harbinger of the downfall of the USA. For, to repeat, “I will bless those who bless you,” said Lord Jehovah(Genesis 12:3).

The Coming Protocols of God

Ultimately, once the Jews repent and recognize their Messiah, they will be forgiven as well. “‘In those days, at that time,’ declares the LORD, ‘search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare’” (Jeremiah 50:20).

At the end of the Tribulation, the Jews indeed will recognize their Messiah. Then will begin the Millennium, the seventh, final and greatest period where Israel would again flourish unmolested and free of international interference in its own land.

Once the tribes of Jacob are restored, says the Lord, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). “[…] Once again he will choose Israel” (Isaiah 14:1).

Returning to Balaam’s prophecy, we yet want to comment on the second condition found in that verse (Numbers 23:9) that would apply to Israel in the endtimes—that it would be entirely alone in the world. That has not happened yet.

The United States has been Israel’s strongest supporter in the world in recent times, though its record has not been unblemished in this regard. But the fact remains: Were America not to have been in this role, our Lord would already have had to play His hand in delivering Israel. Indeed, this will yet happen in the future—when Israel is in fact left all alone and all the nations of the world come against it.

No matter the world’s possible financial or economic sanctions against Israel, “the LORD will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—the grain, the new wine and the oil” (Jeremiah 31:11-12).

Thoughts to Ponder

We have come to the end of our series on 12 endtime burning fuses. All of them point to the rapid and wilful rejection by the world of its Creator and the Son of God.  The God of Love, who prizes genuine adoration and glorification through the free will of mankind, is denied, denigrated and disobeyed. All of these changes in beliefs represented by the 12 fuses have accelerated in recent times, some of them finding their traces as little as one to two centuries ago. They are together emblematic of the times … the very last of the last days.

As God’s plan decrees, one day there will be a Jewish, global confederacy. It will be the Millennium … and not as the result of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, or any other contrived conspiracy theory. Gentiles will then be thankful that Jews are not the evil they are often made out to be. “In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you’” (Zechariah 8:23).

God will restore the Jews for the sake of His promises to the patriarchs (Romans 11:28). This is such wonderful news for Jews and Christians alike. For if God is willing to go to such lengths to keep His promise for “David’s sake,” how much more so on behalf of Jesus Christ, His own Son.

Notes

1. Self-Esteem: The New Reformation, Robert Harold Schuller, Word 1982.

2. “He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god” (Daniel 11:39).

3. The formation of the International Telecommunications Union in 1865 is widely regarded as the earliest root of today’s United Nations.

4. Serigo Della Pergola, Jewish Out-Marriage: A Global Perspective, International Roundtable on Intermarriage, Brandeis University, December 18, 2003, Table 1.

5. The North American Jewish Databank, National Jewish Population Survey, 2000-2001.

6. Aron Heller, “Think tank: Jewish numbers in decline,” reporting on The Conference on the Future of the Jewish People—July 12, 2007. The Columbian. Accessed July 27, 2007:http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=25655&sec=35&con=4http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=25655&sec=35&con=4