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True
Christians in the Tribulation will suffer. Those who are not Christians
will receive the mark, and even worship the beast to keep a comfortable
life. Could a person still be saved after receiving the mark? The
answer is no! The answer is no because God never says there is
a second chance. In fact, scripture says those who receive the
mark are eternally punished. Why? These persons have heard the
gospel. They have been warned and then they still go ahead and
worship the beast in order to have it easy. The mark is a symbol
of their religious submission. They have willingly made this decision
to FINALLY reject God.
God
will have given them chance after chance to accept Him. He has always
done that. That is the message in this verse.
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He
again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through
David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY
IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” (NASB)
Hebrews 4:7 |
But
there comes a time when after we finally reject Him, God will allow
us to go our way.
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For
if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge
of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE
FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. (NASB)
Hebrews 10:26-27 |
Conclusion: Suffering
should be part of the Christian life. One important mark of a Christian
is a desire to live a holy life (2 Tim. 3:12). If we have that desire,
we will suffer for God. Real Christians or saints have always suffered
for God. Hebrews reminds us that the Old Testament saints always
suffered.
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And
what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and
the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed
acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths
of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of
the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty
in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back
their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not
accepting their release, in order that they might obtain
a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and
scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were
stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were
put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins,
in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men
of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and
mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these,
having gained approval through their faith . . . (NASB) Heb.
11:32-39 |
Many
Christians in the western culture have had it easier. But that has
not always been the case, and it will not be like that in the future.
Some day to be a Christian will cost a person's life! |
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