The Book of Revelation has been a regular focus for Bible study groups, sermons, and individual investigations. This has been the case for a long time, but it does seem that current events have heightened interest in this final book of the Bible. When Revelation is studied, there seem to be certain questions that come up repeatedly. Recently someone said that they felt a little guilty about wanting the Rapture to come because while they were rescued off this planet, those left behind would be lost forever. However, in the Tribulation period, people in great numbers are going to come to faith in Jesus Christ and be redeemed. Saving people is the primary reason for this coming period. Here are three frequently asked questions that have to do with the matter of salvation in the tribulation.
#1 – Will just 144,000 be saved in the Tribulation, or will more than that be saved? There will be millions, not just thousands, of people who are saved during the Tribulation period. Those who limit the number of those redeemed in the Tribulation seem to forget that the great purpose of the Tribulation period is the salvation of the nation of Israel, which will then lead to Israel being a light to the gentiles. This will result in great numbers of people from the gentile nations coming to faith in Jesus.
Probably the key chapter in this discussion is Revelation 7. There the group of 144,000 is mentioned for the first time (7:1-8); with 12,000 coming from each of Israel’s 12 tribes. These are made secure by a divine decree (“sealed”), most likely to be the key evangelists of the Tribulation. Then in 7:9 a new part of John’s vision is given. “After these things” (the truth about the 144,000), John tells us of a great multitude which is so large it cannot be numbered. This group is distinct from the 144,000. Whereas the 144,000 are Israelites, this great multitude comes from all the gentile nations.
John is asked (7:13) to identify the great multitude, but he defers to the elder who is asking the question. John is then informed that this great multitude are people who have died in the Tribulation period and are now in heaven. These are not, as one might suspect, the believers from all human history. Specifically, they have died recently, as this heavenly scene is between the 6th and 7th “seal” judgments. Many are likely martyrs, but others who have died from other causes are included in this great multitude.
It should also be observed that at the end of the Tribulation (Rev. 20:4) there is another group of martyrs that are seen, which are not part of the great multitude of chapter 7. This points to even more being saved. And, finally, it should be remembered that the Apostle Paul (Rom. 11:25) tells us that “all” Israel will be saved when the end times come to an end. This would involve millions of Israelites. So, the number of Israelites and gentiles saved during the terrible days of the Tribulation will be multiplied millions, and not just 144,000.
#2 – If the Holy Spirit is taken out of the world (2 Thes. 2:6-7) then can anyone be saved during the Tribulation? These verses from Thessalonians impact the Book of Revelation. If it were true that the Holy Spirit was not in the world during the Tribulation period, then not one person could be saved. The Lord Jesus, however, was very clear on the essential role of the Spirit in salvation when conversing with Rabbi Nicodemus (John 3:3-8). Jesus said that “unless one is born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God…that which is born of the Spirit is spirit…the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” The Apostle Paul declared that “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds, but…by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5-6). So, if Paul was teaching in 2 Thessalonians that the Spirit is going to be taken out of the world then no one would be saved. But is that what he is really saying? First, as seen in the above scriptures, it is the Holy Spirit who does the work of regeneration, giving eternal life to those who believe. He must be in the world during those years if anyone is going to be saved. Second, theologically it is impossible to remove an omnipresent person from the world, or anywhere else. The Spirit simply cannot be banned from anywhere in the universe. And third, the subject in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 is the restraint of sin in the world. The Spirit uses numerous things to put a lid on sinful people. At the Rapture event, the church, which is one restraining force which (despite its failures) is a great restraint, will be removed. It is not the Spirit Himself but His ministry of restraining sin that is seen departing. This must be the case or all the people that are said to be saved during the Tribulation period could not be redeemed.
#3 – Will it be possible for those who receive the “mark of the Beast” to end up being saved during the Tribulation?
It appears from the texts in Revelation that people who receive the “mark of the Beast” do so by choice, and by so doing, eliminate the possibility that they will turn to Jesus Christ and be saved.
The “mark” is first mentioned in Revelation 13:16-17 where it is said that it must be received if a person wants to buy and sell during the Tribulation; that is, to be able to carry on obtaining the essentials of life. The pressure to have this mark will be enormous and it will be constant.
The mark itself is something external and visible, something like a brand mark. With all the high-tech stuff with us and also being developed, we simply do not know exactly what it will look like. The mark of the beast becomes an issue in the second half of the Tribulation when the matter of the worship of the Beast (the Antichrist) and Satan becomes a dominant issue. External “tattoos” were common in John’s day; for example, worn with pride by soldiers and devotees of a particular god. These “brands” were a way of openly identifying with a battalion or a religion or (like today) would be used to make a statement of some kind. Taking the mark will be a decision which is far greater than being able to buy a bag of rice at the grocery store; it is an eternal decision with terrifying consequences.
The “mark of the Beast” is mentioned several times in Revelation after its initial mention in 13:16-17 (see 14:9-11; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). This mark gives evidence that the individual bearing it is one who has chosen to worship the Beast (the Antichrist). The mark (which will be the name of the Beast or the numerical value of that name) will be a symbol of allegiance to the Beast. Taking the mark is not some casual decision, but rather one that has been weighed carefully. In the verses given above, having the mark of the Beast and worshiping the Beast go together. There is simply no indication that one with the mark will not worship the Beast. In 20:4, the martyrs, who died for their loyalty to the Lord Jesus, are specifically said to be those who neither received the mark nor worshiped the Beast.
In 14:9-11, a special angelic announcement is made warning Beast worshipers of the coming undiluted wrath of God. Also, it appears to be a warning to people on the earth who are tempted to avoid those great economic hardships and the wrath of the Beast by taking the mark. They are being told that God’s wrath is far worse. It is the clear conclusion that if they chose to align themselves with the Beast that they too will experience God’s great wrath. And God’s wrath will indeed be poured out on the Beast and his followers in the final series of the “bowl judgments” (Rev. 16:2 ff.).
So, the conclusion is that those who make the willful choice of taking the mark of the Beast (and thus worship him), will experience the wrath of God and not be eligible for the salvation of God. They have hardened themselves and, like the people of Romans 1, they will not repent and turn to Christ.
It is clear that the Tribulation period will actually be the greatest time of evangelism in human history. This harmonizes exactly with the nature of the Lord God who delights in saving people. The horrors of the Tribulation will remove the atheism and agnosticism of mankind, causing multitudes to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. Amen and amen.
