Not.
I beg to differ. For one thing, a back-slider is still saved. Once you have received Jesus and been truly born-again, it's almost impossible to lose your salvation. (In my own belief, you can't lose it, but if it's possible to lose it, it would be very difficult.) God saved us while we were in our sins. We cannot save ourselves. Therefore, how can we lose salvation?
Well, you say, "by denying the Lord." How many of us have slipped up and said something we didn't mean? How many times have we questioned the very existence of God? I know I have, especially as a newborn Christian. And, I admit to having backslid many times. Every day is a new day of a clean slate with the Lord and He has to continually forgive us. Yes, we backslide. We get lifted up in pride.
Our flesh causes us to sin every day. On a good day, when our life is hid with Christ, we can walk in the Spirit. On a bad day, we argue with God, disobey Him, do things our way, rebel and complain. Don't we? Or are you guys all different than me? And better than the Apostle Paul? He admitted to being weak and struggling with his flesh. No matter how hard we try, we fail! Because we are human.
So, I fear more for this guy who piped up about how he was going to get raptured and leave all us back-sliders behind to be deceived by the Antichrist.
That is NOT the way this is going down, ok? It's not like that. God's not sending the screwed-up, messed up, back-slidden Christians into the Tribulation to teach them a hard lesson. NO WAY. He doesn't want His children to be tempted to receive the Mark of the Beast. He has even provided a way of escape.
Revelation 12:6 And the woman (followers of Christ) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (1260 days or the entire Tribulation period.) Also Rev. 12:14.
All that aside, it's the strong in faith, the brave, fearless, God-fearing elite that will go through the Tribulation.
Remember, "When I am weak, I am strong because His strength is made perfect in my weakness."
It's just the opposite of what the flesh would think. God chose the weak things of this world. Not, know-it-all, boastful, arrogant people who want to be in the limelight.
"The people who know their God" are the ones who will do great exploits. How do you "know" God? By spending time alone in the quiet place with Jesus and reading His Word. Right?
Is there another way? We read the Bible. We pray. We learn as much as we can about Bible history and prophecy. We study the book of Revelation, because it's relevant. Don't you have an insatiable appetite for the book of Revelation these days? Someone's always bringing it up on Youtube and you want to run and check it out in your own Bible.
We really have to pick and choose who to watch on Youtube. I like the humble little people who are just trying to be helpful and sweet. I also like the brave whistle-blowers who tell it like it is. But, when I hear someone slamming their fellow believers, that's disheartening. We're not meant to judge our brothers and sisters. False religions, yes! SLAM THEM. But, not those who love Jesus. Matthew 7:1 says, "Judge not..." That's a good attitude to have, because we are all at different stages of growth. We never know when that weak, sickly looking little guy is going to sprout wings of faith and take off for the Lord. He could be a leader when the chips are down.
Ok, so Revelation 20:4 is a verse that I believe shows plainly that those who go through the Tribulation are chosen, faithful and specially blessed by God! Not the other way around, my friends.
"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.*
*Capitals are put there by me for emphasis.
Now, I ask you; does that sound to you like these guys who refuse the Mark and go through the Tribulation are backslidden? These are not the slackers. These are the called and chosen ones. They get a huge blessing which is that they get to reign with Christ a thousand years. Can you imagine that?
The Devil really wants to discourage the believers that if they find themselves "still here" during the Trib, they must be real rotters who didn't deserve to get raptured.
When the Rapture happens, you will know it! Every eye will see Jesus coming in the clouds of Heaven. But, that will not happen until after the Tribulation!
#1 The Rapture is AFTER the Tribulation
#2 The Tribulation lasts for 3 1/2 years, not 7!
#3 The last 7 years will begin when the Antichrist confirms the 7-year Peace Covenant.
#4 The Wrath of God happens AFTER the Tribulation and (possibly) during the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
#5 Born-again believers will NOT be on the earth when the Wrath of God is poured out!
Get to know your God! Get to know the book of Revelation. That way, no man can deceive you, not even a Christian who thinks he's well-versed in Bible scripture. Get to know God in the secret place. He's the only One Who will be able to keep us through the days ahead and enable us (who are here during the Trib) to do GREAT EXPLOITS. (Daniel 11:32)
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