MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT & SALVATION DURING THE TRIBULATION

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT & SALVATION DURING THE TRIBULATION

The soteriological aspect gathers about the salvation of men during this period. For out of this period must come the people who will populate the Mediatorial kingdom. From its very beginning to its close God provides for a missionary program to the ends of the earth under the most unfavorable conditions, and millions of Jews and Gentiles will respond to the call of the gospel.

   The ministry of the Spirit continues during the period of the tribulation. Even though the Spirit of God is removed in the same sense in which He came on the day of Pentecost, namely, to dwell in a body of people (2 Thess. 2:6-7), His ministry as the omnipresent Spirit will continue. As at creation (Gen. 1:2) and the flood (Gen. 6:3), and during Old Testament days (Num. 27:18; 2 Sam. 23:2; 2 Chr. 24:20), so also the Spirit of God will be carrying on His work during the tribulation period. This is prophesied by Isaiah (Isa. 59:19-21) and Joel (Joel 2:28-29) and Ezekiel (Ezek. 36:27), and in the case of Israel in relation to the Northern power the ministry of the Spirit falls defin­itely within the tribulation period (Ezek. 39:29), and in the instance of the two witnesses it comes at the middle of the tribulation period (Rev. 11:11). Apart from the ministry of the Spirit there could be no real conversion (John 3:3, 5).

    The message of salvation during this period will be the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 13:10). This is described as "this gospel of the kingdom" because it lays its emphasis upon the returning king and the establishing of the kingdom (Matt. 24:14). It is called "the everlasting gospel" because it endures for­ever (Rev. 14:6). But as a matter of fact there is only one gospel (Gal. 1:6-7). It is referred to in a variety of ways. As to source it is "the gospel of God" (Rom. 1:1), as to subject "the gospel of Christ" (Rom. 1:16), as to servant the gospel of Paul (Rom. 2:16), as to nature the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24), as to duration "the everlasting gospel" (Rev. 14:6), as to fulfillment "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 24:14).

    The messengers of salvation to the Jews are two witnesses appointed to this task (Rev. 11:3). Since all saved people are removed from the earth with the translation of the Church, there must be appointed mouthpieces to carry the message to the Jews, The two witnesses fill this place. Their identity is not revealed, unless it is possible to deduce something from the text of Scripture. The most plausible explanation is that two ancient leaders in Israel reappear for this task. The language of the immediate context suggests Moses and Elijah (Rev. 11:4-6; Mal. 4:4-6). Others point to Elijah and Enoch, since these are the two men who never died, and both are prophets of judgment (Mal. 4:5; Jude 14-15). Still others think two men of the future will be appointed to this task. In any event, these men preach to Israel directly, and indirectly to the Gentiles in the course of their ministry, for three and one half years (Rev. 11:3, 7).

    The multitude of Jews saved during this period comprise at least five different companies. First, there is a special company consisting of 144,000 that are saved and sealed (Rev. 7:1-8; 14:1-5). Second, there will doubtless be Jews in that multitude out of every nation, kindred, people and tongue (Rev. 7:9-17). But these will suffer death for their faith, the number being a part of the two thirds of the nation that die (Zech. 13:8). Third, there is that company of Jews who flee into the wilderness and are protected of God (Rev. 12:6, 13-14). Fourth, there is the remnant of her seed back in the land who have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:17).

  Finally, there is that company of Jews who do not confess Christ until He comes in His glory, when a nation shall be born at once (Isa. 66:8; Zech. 12:8-10), All these companies put together constitute one third of the nation (Zech. 12:8-10). So that at last it may be said that "all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" (Rom, 11:26 with 2:28-29).

    The messengers of salvation to the Gentiles will be the 144,000 Jews saved during the first three and one half years. They are sealed from all physical harm so that they can fulfill their ministry (Rev. 7:2-4). They have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:17) and there is no false witness in their mouth (Rev. 14:5). Like Paul, who represents this group (1 Cor. 15:8), these men are fired with unflagging zeal for the gospel of grace, and will carry it to all the nations of earth before the end of the tribula­tion period (Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10). Today there are something like 35,000 missionaries of every breed, and stripe, and kind. But even with this many the ministry of the gospel is fighting a losing battle so far as reaching the vast hosts of humanity. But then, there will.be five times as many missionaries, and everyone like the apostle Paul, and each one protected from physical harm. With the gospel of grace they will reach to the ends of the earth.

    The multitudes of Gentiles saved during the tribulation period constitute two groups. There is an unnumbered multitude from every nation, and kindred, and people and tongue that will have their robes washed and made white in the blood. of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9, 14). They take their stand for Christ during the last three and one half years of the tribulation (Rev. 7:14), and for taking their stand they must suffer death at the hands of the Antichrist (Rev. 13:14-15). But there is also a vast host of Gentiles who will be saved and will escape the sword of persecution wielded by the Antichrist (Matt. 25:31-34). Two factors work for their protection: first, the Antichrist is finite, and with multiplying problems during the last half of the tribulation he is unable to make the persecution complete; second, the Lord is determined to populate the kingdom with living people, so He cuts short the days of persecution (Matt. 24:22).

    The manifestation of God's power during the tribulation period is displayed by the many nations saved under the most unfavor­able circumstances. These nations along with Israel will enter the kingdom (Matt. 25:34; Isa. 9:7). "In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria; and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians shall serve the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land; whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed b Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance" (Isa. 19:23-25).