WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ... ABOUT THOSE LEFT BEHIND AFTER THE RAPTURE?
- By Pastor Greg Hooker
(Question by Kathy Martin Allen)
This is a much debated question, so we must endeavor to seek an answer from God’s Word and refrain from what we personally have been taught outside of the realm of Scripture. The Bible is the basis, the foundation, and judge of our beliefs.
Let’s look at two views concerning this subject:
(1) THERE ARE THOSE WHO ADAMANTLY HOLD TO THE BELIEF THERE IS NO CHANCE OF SALVATION AFTER THE RAPTURE.
However, there is no place in Scripture that supports this statement that I am aware of. In fact, there is no trace of even a hint this is true. I understand there will be disagreement about this, so I urge you to prayerfully find a passage in context that supports this idea - “check the Scriptures to see if this is so.”
However, there is a Scripture in Revelation 7:4 that clearly states there will be 144,000 Jewish believers raised up by the Lord to preach the Gospel during this time period. These people were here ‘before’ the rapture. So if no one can be saved after the rapture, then what is the purpose of this evangelistic group, and why will there be a multitude of people beheaded for placing faith in Christ?
No passage of Scripture argues against people having a chance to be saved after the rapture. Many passages indicate just the opposite.
(2) ANOTHER VIEW IS THAT THOSE WHO HEAR AND REJECT THE GOSPEL CANNOT BE SAVED AFTER THE RAPTURE.
This view teaches that only those who have never heard the Gospel can be saved after the rapture. This teaching comes from 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
This passage says the Antichrist will perform great miracles to deceive “those that perish” and that “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie and be damned, who did not believe the truth.”
Now let me just say, those who have continuously rejected the truth of the Gospel before the rapture will most likely reject it after the rapture, because their hearts are hardened against the Spirit’s witness of Jesus. Because of their continuous rejection, God has “given them over to a reprobate mind” - a mind so hardened it can no longer hear and believe the truth.
Immediately after the rapture, the antichrist will continue full steam ahead with his deception upon all who have rejected the gospel - those “who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (Matthew 24:5).
But those “who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” does not necessarily refer to people who heard the Gospel before the rapture. It could be anyone who wholly rejects God’s salvation at any time. So, there is no clear scriptural evidence to support this view.
In addition, we have a multitude who will be martyred during the tribulation according to Revelation 6:9-11:
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
These martyrs will correctly interpret what they hear and see during the tribulation and will believe the gospel themselves and call on others to repent and believe as well. The Antichrist and his followers will not tolerate their evangelism, thus he will kill them.
All of these martyrs are people who were alive before the rapture, but who were not believers until afterward. Therefore, there must be opportunity to come to Christ in faith after the rapture. “God is no respecter of persons.”
We cannot underestimate the love, grace, and mercy of God. We cannot put God in a box. We cannot mold and re-write His Word to fit our opinions or denominations. It’s real easy to misinterpret Scripture, but if we plough ahead with the Holy Spirit as our guide, we will arrive at the answer He provides. We often think we possess all the answers, but in fact, we know very little as to what God is going to do and provide for us all - now, after the rapture, and in eternity to come.
PERSONAL NOTE: If you are waiting until after the rapture to be saved, you most likely will believe the deception of the Antichrist, follow him, and be cast into the eternal Lake of Fire. You see, when you reject Jesus Christ, essentially you are mocking God and playing ‘spiritual roulette’ with your eternal soul. Please receive Jesus now. Here’s a link how.
Ask Pastor Greg a question here.
- By Pastor Greg Hooker
(Question by Kathy Martin Allen)
This is a much debated question, so we must endeavor to seek an answer from God’s Word and refrain from what we personally have been taught outside of the realm of Scripture. The Bible is the basis, the foundation, and judge of our beliefs.
Let’s look at two views concerning this subject:
(1) THERE ARE THOSE WHO ADAMANTLY HOLD TO THE BELIEF THERE IS NO CHANCE OF SALVATION AFTER THE RAPTURE.
However, there is no place in Scripture that supports this statement that I am aware of. In fact, there is no trace of even a hint this is true. I understand there will be disagreement about this, so I urge you to prayerfully find a passage in context that supports this idea - “check the Scriptures to see if this is so.”
However, there is a Scripture in Revelation 7:4 that clearly states there will be 144,000 Jewish believers raised up by the Lord to preach the Gospel during this time period. These people were here ‘before’ the rapture. So if no one can be saved after the rapture, then what is the purpose of this evangelistic group, and why will there be a multitude of people beheaded for placing faith in Christ?
No passage of Scripture argues against people having a chance to be saved after the rapture. Many passages indicate just the opposite.
(2) ANOTHER VIEW IS THAT THOSE WHO HEAR AND REJECT THE GOSPEL CANNOT BE SAVED AFTER THE RAPTURE.
This view teaches that only those who have never heard the Gospel can be saved after the rapture. This teaching comes from 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
This passage says the Antichrist will perform great miracles to deceive “those that perish” and that “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie and be damned, who did not believe the truth.”
Now let me just say, those who have continuously rejected the truth of the Gospel before the rapture will most likely reject it after the rapture, because their hearts are hardened against the Spirit’s witness of Jesus. Because of their continuous rejection, God has “given them over to a reprobate mind” - a mind so hardened it can no longer hear and believe the truth.
Immediately after the rapture, the antichrist will continue full steam ahead with his deception upon all who have rejected the gospel - those “who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (Matthew 24:5).
But those “who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” does not necessarily refer to people who heard the Gospel before the rapture. It could be anyone who wholly rejects God’s salvation at any time. So, there is no clear scriptural evidence to support this view.
In addition, we have a multitude who will be martyred during the tribulation according to Revelation 6:9-11:
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
These martyrs will correctly interpret what they hear and see during the tribulation and will believe the gospel themselves and call on others to repent and believe as well. The Antichrist and his followers will not tolerate their evangelism, thus he will kill them.
All of these martyrs are people who were alive before the rapture, but who were not believers until afterward. Therefore, there must be opportunity to come to Christ in faith after the rapture. “God is no respecter of persons.”
We cannot underestimate the love, grace, and mercy of God. We cannot put God in a box. We cannot mold and re-write His Word to fit our opinions or denominations. It’s real easy to misinterpret Scripture, but if we plough ahead with the Holy Spirit as our guide, we will arrive at the answer He provides. We often think we possess all the answers, but in fact, we know very little as to what God is going to do and provide for us all - now, after the rapture, and in eternity to come.
PERSONAL NOTE: If you are waiting until after the rapture to be saved, you most likely will believe the deception of the Antichrist, follow him, and be cast into the eternal Lake of Fire. You see, when you reject Jesus Christ, essentially you are mocking God and playing ‘spiritual roulette’ with your eternal soul. Please receive Jesus now. Here’s a link how.
Ask Pastor Greg a question here.