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Bible Question:
I Have read the study of Revelation that you have sent out
about salvation during the Great Tribulation I always thought
there would be salvation, but I thought it was exclusively
for the Jews that rejected Jesus as Messiah and not the Gentiles
because that is why we preach now! How can there be salvation
during the tribulation when the Holy Spirit is needed to bring
conviction to a sinner? The Bible says that the Holy Spirit
will no longer be here during the Great Tribulation. I thought
the 144.000 bond servants would preach to only the Jews. I
really enjoy this study, and want to let you know that I'm
praying for it to continue till the end of the world as we
know it. God Bless!
Bible Answer:
The answer to your question is found by comparing the ministry
of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament with His ministry
in the New Testament.
Old Testament Ministry.
The first question we need to ask is, "How did people
become believers - "obtain salvation" - in the Old
Testament?" Was the Holy Spirit present in the Old Testament?
How did the Old Testament saints such as Enoch (Hebrews 11:
5-6), Abraham (Rom. 4:3-4), Moses (Heb. 11:24-26) and others
become believers in Jesus Christ? In 1 Peter we discover that
the prophets understood that Jesus was coming to rescue us
from our sins.
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As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of
the grace that would come to you made careful search
and inquiry, seeking to know what person or time the
Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted
the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving
themselves, but you, in these things which now have
been announced to you through those who preached the
gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things
into which angels long to look. (NASB) 1 Peter 1:10-12
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How did they know? Why did they believe? The answer is found
in the fact that the Holy Spirit was present in the Old Testament,
and He helped people to believe in Jesus Christ, their coming
Messiah.
In fact, the Holy
Spirit ministered during the Old Testament period in a variety
of ways. The chart below provides us a glimpse.
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