Worried About Those Who Are "Left Behind"?

This is a sobering and often misunderstood topic. Many of us are very concerned about that very situation happening to our own loved ones. We don't want them to have to undergo living during the tribulation after the rapture of the Church. We pray fervently for their salvation NOW. But, in the very back of our minds, we might think, "Well, if it comes to pass that they don't "make" the rapture, at least they can get "saved" during the tribulation." Although that's not a particularly comforting thought, at least it's better than not ever getting "saved" at all. We might need to rethink that last thought though and come to the understanding that TODAY is the day of salvation; not post-rapture. Let's see what the Word has to say about it.

Let's look at II Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NIV): "(9)The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, (10) and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (11) For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie (12) and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."

This is an often overlooked and misunderstood couple of scriptures. So short but so very powerful and very, very important. So what does it mean? After God removes the Holy Spirit (the restrainer), it looks like there isn't going to be any more opportunity for salvation for some people. Who are these people? Well, they are the people who are either inside or outside of the Church who, after adequately hearing the Truth of God's Word (the gospel), have willingly and intentionally refused to love that Truth and have chosen instead to delight in the wickedness of the world. Please note that some of these people are INSIDE the church faithfully attending church and perhaps doing many good works but they are not in relationship with the Lord and living in obedience to Him.

God will send these people (v. 11) a powerful delusion so that they may never again have an opportunity to believe the truth that they refused to believe earlier. What truth? The gospel truth! They will forever be doomed to believe "the lie" (v. 12) of satan. God's purpose in doing this is so that they will be condemned. Sounds harsh but that is straight out of verse 12.

Therefore, and this is very important to understand, for those who have already heard and understood God's Word, yet have not loved its truth (they've heard but have rejected the gospel) but have chosen instead the pleasure of sin, "no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment" (Heb. 10:26-31 - some very sobering scriptures to read!). Salvation during the days of the tribulation will be offered ONLY to those who have NEVER had an adequate opportunity to receive the knowledge of the truth or to hear and understand the gospel.

There are many in the world who have never heard and understood the gospel. However, I maintain that is pretty much NOT the case in the USA and in most of the so-called "western" world with a church on every corner and a TV evangelist on hundreds of TV stations and preachers and teachers teaching the Word on thousands of radio stations across this country and around the world day and night 24/7.

If you are a true believer and seriously dedicated to the Lord, I'm pretty sure you've probably witnessed to and explained the gospel to your children, spouses, brothers, sisters, parents, and other family and loved ones. So they've already heard it, probably many times over. If they have rejected it and continue to reject it right up until the rapture of the Church, I believe it will be too late.

What about the "Left Behind" book series? Many, many get "saved" during the tribulation in that series of novels. Well, what about it? Well, in my opinion, it is not scripturally sound (based on the above scriptures) and is therefore doctrinally wrong.  I just wish that anyone who is going to go to all the work of writing a book and/or making a movie would make it scripturally accurate.  Have you ever noticed that problem when you're watching some of the television "epic" movies about Jesus?  Most of them are not scripturally accurate.  Why won't they just add a true man or woman of the Word to advise them on their projects?  How hard would that be?   

I'm not a Bible scholar by any means. I'm just a lay person who carefully and in great detail reads and studies the Word. I might be wrong and I hope that I am actually because I have a large family of unsaved loved ones. However, these scriptures tell a different story. I sure can't rely on my family and friends getting "saved" after the rapture during the tribulation. They've all heard the gospel. They "get it" but they just reject it as a bunch of nonsense. Their eyes are blinded because of lack of faith (2Cor. 4:4). It's something to at least think about, isn't it? It's all the more reason to put a fire in our mouth and spread the Word, especially to our own loved ones! TODAY is the day of salvation! Why take the chance? We must be BOLDER in our witness and less concerned about being rejected. It's not too late yet. But one day it will be.

I think that most of us who are mature Christians can read the signs of the times. We know that the time is short. His coming truly is soon and getting sooner every single day, every single minute. Let's stop wasting time. Eternity is at stake for our so-far lost loved ones. But there's still hope. It's not too late yet. We've got to keep working while it is still day! Darkness is coming but it's not here yet! Don't give up! Keep praying, keep witnessing, keep ministering, keep studying God's Word, keep on keepin' on!