So much has been written in God’s Word about the death of believers during the last days, some might mistakenly think that NO believers make it through until Jesus returns.
IN FACT, recently, someone posed just this very question.
“Does everyone get their heads cut off–or do some survive to meet Jesus?”
A great many DO lose their lives for the testimony of Jesus during the last days–but these are very richly rewarded when God and Jesus take over the earth.
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
–Revelation 20:4
‘Living and reigning with Christ a thousand years’ is quite a spectacular reward for those who become martyrs for Jesus’ sake.
But there are a number of OTHER verses which suggest the death of believers during the run-up to the return of Jesus.
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
–Revelation 14:12-13
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
So, it is not difficult for those who do not pay strict attention to all that is written in God’s Word for thinking that ALL believers during the last days give their lives for the testimony of Jesus.
HOWEVER, some (a few?) make it through the last days and are there to greet Jesus when he returns.
When the apostle Paul writes of the return of Jesus in 1st Corinthians, he states that though ‘the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed’–implying that SOME survive and ‘are changed.’
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [suffer death in this present life], but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
–1CORINTHIANS 15:51-53
Paul CLEARLY says, ‘…not all sleep…’
HOWEVER, most believers will end up giving their lives as a form of testimony of Jesus Christ. In fact, giving one’s life as a testimony is one way to ensure that the believer is an ‘overcomer.’
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
–Revelation 12:11
So, to be perfectly clear: MOST lose their lives during the last days (but they are rewarded for such a sacrifice by Jesus Himself).
SOME do survive and are changed and meet Jesus when he returns.
In fact, the apostle Paul writes that some are alive in 1st Thessalonians.
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
–1THESSALONIANS 4:17
Though some will survive, the WISE believer will prepare as if he does NOT.
HAS the reader ever wondered about the fate of believers during the end times?
It is not YET too late: there is still a LITTLE time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: September 16-18, 2022.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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