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Bible Question: I
was reading some of the questions and I came across a response regarding
accepting Jesus after the tribulation. When I read your response that
"After the rapture occurs, many non-Christians will realize the
Bible is true and they will turn to God." I was somewhat troubled
because I have always believed that once the rapture has taken place
those that previously heard of Jesus and knowingly rejected Him will
have no chance. Correct me if I am wrong, but does believing that
you can be saved after the rapture make people believe that accepting
Jesus now is not important? The reason I ask this is that I remember
years ago people saying that they would wait until the rapture takes
place before they get saved. I also remember reading in the Bible
that God would allow a strong delusion to come when the Holy Spirit
will leave, therefore no convicting work will take place.
Bible Answer: The
key questions you have asked appear to be: 1) Can people be saved
in the tribulation? and 2) Should we tell people that they can accept
Jesus during the tribulation?
Saved
During The Tribulation? The answer to this question has two parts.
First, if the Holy Spirit is removed during the tribulation how can
anyone be saved? The answer is that people will be saved during the
tribulation just as people were saved in the Old Testament. The Holy
Spirit was active in the Old Testament but He did not dwell in them
permanently. Here are some examples.
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And He has filled him with the Spirit of God . . . (NASB) Exodus
35:31
Then
I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of
the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them . . .
(NASB) Numbers 11:17
So
the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a
man in whom is the Spirit . . . (NASB) Numbers 27:18
And
the Spirit of the LORD came upon him . . . (NASB) Judges 3:10
So
the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon . . . (NASB) Judges
6:34
Now
the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul . . . (NASB) 1
Samuel 16:14
. . .And do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me . . . Psalm 51:11
But
they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit . . . Isaiah 63:10 |
Then in the New Testament, we find that Jesus says He will send the
Holy Spirit after He leaves.
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When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father,
that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He
will bear witness of Me . . . (NASB) John 15:26 |
Now we have a question which we must ask, "If the Holy Spirit
was already active in the Old Testament, in what unique way did Jesus
send the Holy Spirit in the New Testament?" The answer is that
the Holy Spirit starts living inside a Christian and never leaves
until he or she died. The Holy Spirit is the seal of God's promise
(Eph. 1:13) and the guarantee that we belong to God.
If the Spirit lives in us, we will be led by the Spirit.
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For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons
of God. (NASB) Romans 8:14 |
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