Latest Prophecy Commentary
Question Regarding The Holy Spirit Indwelling During The Tribulation Period; Will Tribulation Believers Have To Maintain Their Own Salvation?
Question
I was reading your message on the tribulation and you said that you believe that the restrainer will be the Holy Spirit...I was wondering how anyone can be saved during this period since it takes the Holy Spirit to convict people before they become saved..at least that is what I believe. I know people are saved during this time because when the two witnesses come 144,000 will be saved. I believe many more will be saved ...just wondering..thanks.
Answer
Thanks for your question. Yes many will be saved during the tribulation period. The 144,000 and the two witnesses will be called of God for the specific purpose of presenting the Gospel to those who are left on the earth. I do believe that the Holy Spirit has been the hindering Spirit that has restrained Satan from going forward with his plans (II Thessalonians 2:3-9).
Your question, "how can people be saved without the Holy Spirit to convict them?" is a good one. The restrainer (II Thessalonians 2:1-11), which I believe to be the Holy Spirit, will be removed at the time of the rapture. For within every born again Christian resides the Holy Spirit. When Christians are raptured the Holy Spirit will be taken with them. But just as the Holy Spirit indwelled the early church, I believe He will, at the beginning of the tribulation period, return to indwell the two witnesses and then the 144,000 witnesses, to preach the Gospel to a lost and dying world. Both the two witnesses and the 144,000 sealed witnesses will lead many to the Lord during this time.
But their are many in the prophetic world who believe the Holy Spirit will be involved in the tribulation period, but in a limited capacity. Let me explain:
It is believed by many Bible prophecy scholars that once the rapture takes place the Holy Spirit will no longer operate as It did during the church age indwelling and empowering believer’s to live the Christian life. According to this supposition, although the Holy Spirit will be present on earth during the tribulation period, the age of Grace will be completed, thus ending the time of His sealing security (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). In essence, the Holy Spirit will revert back to a work similar to what He performed during the Old Testament.
The Holy Spirit will continue to come upon tribulation believers, save them, and help them to live holy lives, but will not be sealed within them. It is further believed, because the Holy Spirit will no longer seal and reside (His church age duty) within the heart of each believer during this period, they will be responsible for maintaining their own salvation (Revelation16:15). This means, you must hold out until the very end or face losing your salvation.
Although this theory is widely accepted among prophetic circles, I tend to believe the Holy Spirit will continue to perform the same function during tribulation period. The Bible says in Acts 2:17-18, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” This passage is clearly referring to the tribulation period and goes to great links in describing how God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh during this time period. Many believe this passage indicates the power of the Holy Spirit will be in greater force than at any other time in history. Revelation 7:9-17 states, during the tribulation period, there will be a magnificent soul harvest that no man will be able to number.
I think we can surmise that the Holy Spirit will play a vital role during the tribulation period. However, will He merely save a believer and leave it up to them to maintain their salvation unto the very end?
I question this interpretation and here’s why. Revelation chapter 13 primarily introduces the rise of the Antichrist and the mark he will bring. Through his ascension, the Antichrist exalts himself to be God and requires the whole world to worship him and to take his mark (666). The bible says, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).” This passage is clear, when the mark is introduced at the midway point of the tribulation period (Daniel 9:27), everyone on earth will take the mark except those “whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
Here’s my point. If, in fact, tribulation saints are indeed responsible for maintaining their own salvation unto the end of the tribulation period, why are their names pre-written in the Lamb’s Book of Life three and one half years before the tribulation period ends? Those who support that tribulation believers will have to maintain their salvation unto the end point to the Parable of the Ten Virgins as proof (Matthew 25:1-13). In the parable, five virgins were found prepared (maintained their salvation) and five were not (did not maintain their salvation). But according to Revelation 13:8, all who did not take the mark were saved some time around the midway point of the tribulation period, and their names were entered into the Lamb’s Book of Life. If the Parable of the Ten Virgins is correctly interpreted, then five of the virgins lost their salvation and would have had to be removed or blotted out from the Lamb’s Book of Life. Frankly, no where in the Bible is it taught, once a persons name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, it can be removed.
Salvation will still be based upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ plus nothing else (Revelation 13:8, 14:6). However, you will most likely be persecuted, tortured or killed for your faith (Revelation 7:9-14).
Thank you
Terry Malone
Calvary Prophecy Report
http://www.calvaryprophecy.com
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