My thanks to Melissa at the “Midnight Hour Oil” YouTube channel for a clarifying insight which I will now share.
As you are no doubt aware, the eschatological community is divided on the question as to whether or not Christians will be on the earth during the “tribulation period” (usually understood as that period of time when the judgments described in Revelation are administered), or whether the Christians will be removed from earth before this period of time begins. Will we be faced with the choice of whether or not to take the Mark of the Beast? Or will we be removed from the earth by the rapture before the Mark and the global, digital economic system is deployed? When The Dragon is granted authority over every tribe, tongue and nation, will that include US?? (gulp!)
In Luke 21:36 Jesus counsels us to be watchful and prayerful, praying that we might be “counted worthy to escape.”
Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
Luke 21:36, NKJV (emphasis added)Escaping sounds pretty good. Maybe that’s our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13).
Some think otherwise. I need not explore or explain all the reasons why people come down on one side or the other of this question. The reason is because it’s unnecessary: both sides may be correct. After all, Revelation 12 taken at face value shows the rapture and also shows a group identified as “the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” remaining on earth. The Dragon curses those in heaven and makes war against those left behind. Additionally, we see in Rev. 15:2 those who have victory over the Beast and over his mark. Clearly, these people will be on the earth when the Beast system is deployed.
One resolution is that these people are unbelievers when the rapture happens, but suddenly become believers after the rapture. The rapture happens and then they “get it,” or some of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses persuade them to believe in Jesus. A more reasonable explanation is that these are Christians who were not “counted worthy to escape.”
This sounds like an arrogant or judgmental statement, but it’s not. People decide for themselves whether or not they are worthy, and they act according to their decision. A stark Biblical example is recorded in Acts 13:46, where Paul and Barnabas preached the word to the Jews in Antioch (this was a city in western Turkey, not the city of the same name in Syria). By refusing to accept the message of grace by faith, these people disqualified themselves from the blessing of everlasting life.
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’
Acts 13:44-47 NKJV (emphasis added)Paul did not judge them, nor did God. The Jews judged themselves unworthy and reaped the results.
Jesus was consistent with His message, “may it be done to you according to your faith” or words to that effect. You receive what you believe. Faith triggers the divine response. Anything is possible to those who believe. Go through the gospels and look at the miracles of Jesus. Almost without exception the presence of faith is explicitly stated or strongly implied. Conversely, Jesus could not do many miracles when there was strong unbelief (Matt. 13:58, Mark 6:5-6).
There are, within the Christian community, a LOT of folks who push back against the idea that the rapture will happen before this “tribulation period” begins. If they don’t have faith in Jesus to deliver them from the tribulation that’s coming, then will He deliver them? If a rapture deliverance is offered but must be believed and received by faith, will someone who does not believe be delivered? Or will he be left on earth?
Jesus said, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” What’s your response? Faith or unbelief? Jesus offers to keep you from the trial. Do you believe Him?
I think this is the case: you are worthy of rapture if you trust Jesus to deliver you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world. If you don’t believe, then you can’t receive, and you will be left behind.
Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened.
Matthew 9:28-30 NKJV (emphasis added)This would certainly explain Rev. 12:7 and following scriptures that show Christians on the earth after the rapture, and it does not force “worthy” into becoming in any way meritorious. If we are justified, NOT by works but by belief in Jesus as the Justifier, it seems consistent that we will be delivered, NOT by works, but by belief in Jesus as the Deliverer.
https://stevekerp.wordpress.com/2021/09/07/according-to-your-faith/amp/
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Evil appears as good in the minds of those whom God leads to destruction. - Sophocles