Rene,

            You are a very passionate writer, no doubt coming from much zeal.

I was one of the people who had made some of the left behind statements.

However, if you read mine, you probably discerned that I was actually being a little tongue-in-cheek.

What I wanted to talk about though, was something else that you mentioned:

“The time of Jacob's Trouble is WORKS PLUS GRACE! You have to EARN your salvation.”

Yes, the tribulation is an entirely different dispensation, I agree with that.

Wasn’t it always grace?

Adam was supposed to die that day, but the LORD made coats of skin, slaying innocent beasts, rather than Adam & Eve.

Abel chose faith in the blood of the sacrifice, while Cain chose works.

Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

That was all before the law.

Then under the law, even the man after God’s own heart, needed the sure mercies of David.

Then where did everyone else stand?

The law was not intended to be a way to heaven.

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

The law shows everyone one that they are guilty, unholy, unworthy, and condemned.

The law serves as a schoolmaster, leading people to Christ.

Would the law stop being a schoolmaster leading people to Christ in the tribulation?

The law cannot give life.

Only Jesus gives life.

How many commandments does one need to keep to pay for even one sin?

The answer is, none.

The blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins, only the blood of the Lamb of God can.

There were not super-sanctified old covenant Hebrews, that by their lifestyle merited eternal life.

 

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

 

Yes, in this dispensation, it is clearly:

 

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Would it not be out of character for the LORD to allow people to boast of their works during the tribulation?

Was Abraham really able to boast?

 

Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

 

However, he was justified by faith, way back in Genesis 15, long before Genesis 22.

 

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

 

Would the LORD be in debt to those in the Tribulation?

 

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

 

So, why would those in the tribulation be justified by the law?

 

Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

 

The word “never” includes the tribulation.

 

Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

 

Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

 

Is the new covenant nullified for the tribulation?

Does the LORD abandon the second covenant and go back to the first covenant during the tribulation?

It has always been grace.

Works cannot save.

No man can save himself.

The LORD is the only Savior.

He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.