Revelation says in 2 places that ANYONE taking the Mark of the Beast will NOT be forgiven under any circumstances.
"Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." Jeremiah 30:7 (KJV)
Jeremiah 30:7 is a proof text all by itself for showing that Church Age Christians will not enter into what is commonly known as the Great Tribulation, but what the Bible calls
the time of Jacob's trouble. You will recall that way back in Genesis 32:28, God changed Jacob's name, which meant "supplanter" or "deceiver" to Israel, which means "
God shall prevail". So even in the Old Testament, we can clearly see that this time of great tribulation is reserved for the nation of Israel. Good enough for me. But this is not the "more evidence" from Scripture that we want to bring you today.
Christians are sealed unto the Day of Redemption by the Holy Spirit
The apostle Paul clearly teaches in multiple places that born again Christians are “sealed in” by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. Kinda like when you get in a roller coaster and the harness is put over you so you cannot fall out. We call this the doctrine of Eternal Security, as seen here:
“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:12-14 (KJV)
Now, placing Christians in the time of Jacob’s trouble introduces a FATAL flaw in post tribbers theology. Can you guess what it is? Since we have eternal security that is based on the actions of both the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross and the sealing of the Holy Spirit at salvation – meaning it is out of our control – that means a Christian can NEVER lose their salvation. But in the Tribulation, salvation can be lost just like it was for Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. One day they were in, then they grievously sinned, and then they were not only out but God killed them on the spot.
Since you got saved, haven't you sinned worse than Ananias and Sapphira? You know you have. Why didn't God kill YOU on the spot? We'll talk about dispensations in a bit.
Revelation says in 2 places that ANYONE taking the Mark of the Beast will NOT be forgiven under any circumstances.
Taking the Mark becomes the UNFORGIVABLE SIN during that time, as seen here:
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9-11 (KJV)
Imagine the distraught believing mother who takes the Mark only to get food to feed her starving little baby. Certainly God will understand she only took the Mark so her baby wouldn’t die, right? Wrong. She takes that Mark, she goes to Hell, no forgiveness no second chance. Ever. Obviously that is in stark contrast to the teachings of the apostle Paul, our apostle in the Church Age.
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)
Now do you see why Church Age Christians cannot be a part of the time of Jacob's trouble?
In our dispensation, God has amazingly and mercifully given us unconditional forgiveness of all our sins when we became born again - past, present and the ones yet to come in the future. He did this for no one in the Old Testament, for no one in the early Kingdom Age (Acts 2-7), and He will not do it for anyone in
the time of Jacobs' trouble.
"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." Psalm 107:1 (KJV)
If Christians were to be in the time of Jacob's trouble, and one of them took the Mark of the Beast, God would have to honor His word and forgive them for doing that. But in doing so would immediately place the Pauline epistles in contradiction with Revelation 14 which states there is no forgiveness for doing that. Happily, there is no contradiction because we will not be here for that. It is not the time of the Churches trouble, it is the time of Israel's trouble.
The Pretribulation Rapture - not an "escape hatch" or an "easy out" as some mockingly say - is God removing the Church so He can deal with His chosen people Israel. God has not replaced Israel with the Church, and Christians are not His chosen people. We are two separate groups, but one day, as the Bible says in "that Day", we will indeed be one under the Promised One of Israel.
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." Romans 11:25-27 (KJV)
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