WILL BABIES AND SMALL CHILDREN OF UNSAVED PARENTS BE RAPTURED OR WILL THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRIBULATION.
By Greg Hooker
This is a very good question sent to me by a friend. The answer of which is not directly addressed in the Bible. In such a case therefore, I believe the Lord wants us to use reasoning and good, logical, common sense. So what I am about to say concerning this subject is based on my relationship with a Savior who is just and righteousness in all His ways. A God whose very essence is love “for God is love.” - 1 John 4:8
Most everyone agrees that babies and children who die before they reach a sufficient age to understand and make a intelligent decision about God and His plan of salvation will go to Heaven when they die. The same could be said of the mentally ill, etc.
If God is indeed love from which flow all His other attributes, such as righteousness, justice, holiness, grace, mercy, etc., then by any logical reasoning and common sense we must conclude our Creator will not hold someone accountable that lacks the ability to mentally comprehend right from wrong or good from evil. This we even acknowledge in our own system of laws and courts.
Having said that, if those who have yet to reach the ‘age of accountability’ we must deduce that babies and the mentally challenged cannot be held accountable for something they lack the ability to understand. Any other conclusion would infer that God is not One of love, righteousness, holiness, full of grace and mercy.
To answer our question above, “WILL BABIES AND SMALL CHILDREN OF UNSAVED PARENTS BE RAPTURED OR WILL THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRIBULATION?”
I believe the same God of love will not allow babies and the mentally challenged to suffer His wrath when they lack the mental ability to understand and make a conscious decision about the things of God. Remember what Christ told us about hurting the little ones? Notice carefully the following Scriptures spoken by Jesus,
“And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” - Mark 9:42
“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 18:10
Does this sound like a Savior who would punish children when their minds haven’t developed sufficient enough to understand sin, it’s consequences, and its remedy?
I hope this will get you to thinking about this subject. As I said, the Lord is One of love and would have no one to perish. I think this applies greatly when it comes to His care for the “little ones”. Don’t you?
⁃ by Pastor Greg Hooker
By Greg Hooker
This is a very good question sent to me by a friend. The answer of which is not directly addressed in the Bible. In such a case therefore, I believe the Lord wants us to use reasoning and good, logical, common sense. So what I am about to say concerning this subject is based on my relationship with a Savior who is just and righteousness in all His ways. A God whose very essence is love “for God is love.” - 1 John 4:8
Most everyone agrees that babies and children who die before they reach a sufficient age to understand and make a intelligent decision about God and His plan of salvation will go to Heaven when they die. The same could be said of the mentally ill, etc.
If God is indeed love from which flow all His other attributes, such as righteousness, justice, holiness, grace, mercy, etc., then by any logical reasoning and common sense we must conclude our Creator will not hold someone accountable that lacks the ability to mentally comprehend right from wrong or good from evil. This we even acknowledge in our own system of laws and courts.
Having said that, if those who have yet to reach the ‘age of accountability’ we must deduce that babies and the mentally challenged cannot be held accountable for something they lack the ability to understand. Any other conclusion would infer that God is not One of love, righteousness, holiness, full of grace and mercy.
To answer our question above, “WILL BABIES AND SMALL CHILDREN OF UNSAVED PARENTS BE RAPTURED OR WILL THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRIBULATION?”
I believe the same God of love will not allow babies and the mentally challenged to suffer His wrath when they lack the mental ability to understand and make a conscious decision about the things of God. Remember what Christ told us about hurting the little ones? Notice carefully the following Scriptures spoken by Jesus,
“And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” - Mark 9:42
“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 18:10
Does this sound like a Savior who would punish children when their minds haven’t developed sufficient enough to understand sin, it’s consequences, and its remedy?
I hope this will get you to thinking about this subject. As I said, the Lord is One of love and would have no one to perish. I think this applies greatly when it comes to His care for the “little ones”. Don’t you?
⁃ by Pastor Greg Hooker