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The Tribulation Saints

To His Elect of Matthew 24:31,

Praise Jesus our King, Lord, and God. This week we will take a look at one
of the most powerful evidences that dispensationalism and its
pre-tribulation rapture doctrine are both heretical and 'anti' apostolic.
The topic of the 'tribulation saints' alone is enough to expose the
falsehood in these popular end-time teachings. Who are these 'tribulation
saints?' Who do the dispensationalists and pre-tribs say that they are?
What is the Truth about the 'tribulation saints?' The Word of God will be a
lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path as we take this journey into
the Truth.

This e-mail will be divided into three parts. I will first report the
Scriptures concerning the tribulation saints. Then I will report what the
pre-trib dispensationalists teach concerning the tribulation saints. I am
quite qualified to do so since I used to teach the doctrine, and I
understand all of its ends and outs in explicit detail. Thirdly, I will
report what I teach as the Truth on this issue. In the conclusion, we will
compare all three and you the reader can judge what is the Truth.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Scriptures report that the dragon goes to make war with these saints.
The dragon does this through the beast. The dragon gives power to the
beast, and through the beast, the dragon wages his war against these saints.
The tribulation saints are said to reject the mark of the beast, and
therefore will be persecuted and many of them will be killed. Let us now
get the Scripture.

Revelation 12

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as
the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon
gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name,
and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome
them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not
written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,
to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Revelation 14

9 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,

10 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:

11 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.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 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.

WHAT DO THE DISPENSATIONALISTS TEACH?

According to the dispensationalists, the 'Church Age' is but one of seven
dispensations. The seven are allegedly "Innocence, Conscience, Human
Government, Promise, Law, Grace, and Kingdom."

1. Innocence - Adam
2. Conscience - After man sinned, up to the flood
3. Government - After the flood, man allowed to eat meat, death penalty
instituted
4. Promise - Abraham up to Moses and the giving of the Law
5. Law - Moses to the cross
6. Grace - The cross to the Millennial Kingdom
7. Millennial Kingdom - A 1000 year reign of Christ with the Jews on earth
centered in Jerusalem

The 'Church Age' is 'Grace,' and is also called 'the times of the Gentiles.'
Dispensationalists believe that one day the Church will end and something
'else' will be ushered in. Another 'plan.' After the pre-tribulation
rapture, they say, God will 'turn back to the unbelieving Jews' during the
Tribulation to prepare them for the seventh and final 'dispensation,' which
is Kingdom.

This whole doctrine is a smokescreen in order to get Christians to believe
that the 'tribulation saints' can be saved without having to come into the
Church and under the New Covenant.

These 'tribulation saints' become saints during the Great Tribulation
period. These allegedly become saints by believing in Jesus and refusing to
take the mark of the beast. As a result, many of them will be martyred, or
killed for their Faith.

A good question was asked to a pre-trib dispensationalist pastor, 'How do
the tribulation saints become saved saints without entering into the
Church?' The dispensational answer is that they will be saints because of
their 'choice' not to follow the beast or take his mark. Then they will
give their lives for it. Should such an answer just be accepted without
question?

Such an answer is against the Apostolic Doctrine. Since when are people
saved by a 'right choice' and saved by the shedding of their own blood?
That is not Apostolic salvation! What is the origin of this strange
doctrine of salvation by 'right choice' and the shedding of your own blood?

Does the book of Revelation even tell us 'how' these saints become saints?
No it does not, nor does it have to. Now some dispensationalists will say
that it is a 'mystery.' Does the Word of God in the book of Revelation tell
us that the salvation of the 'tribulation saints' will be a 'mystery?' No
again. Saying that it is a 'mystery,' is just another pre-trib smokescreen
to distract you from the fact that they are teaching a doctrine that they
cannot defend nor prove explicitly from Scripture.

Trinitarians, when cornered, will give the same excuse. They will use the
'fall back' argument that 'the trinity is a mystery.' Baloney! Now it is
truly a shame when Apostolics start using the same 'its a mystery' argument
that the trinitarians use to get out of 'defending' the trinity! This is a
clue that something is wrong with the pre-trib teaching on the 'tribulation
saints!'

In reality, there is no 'mystery' at all concerning the 'tribulation
saints.' I am saddened at the fact that you have to teach pre-trib
Apostolics on 'how sinners become saints.' It is like witnessing to them
all over again, just because of their dispensational false doctrine.

The seven Churches who read the epistle 'book of Revelation,' knew that
there was only one way to become a Saint of God.

These seven Apostolic Churches in Asia minor knew that to be saved, one had
to believe and repent, be baptized in water in the Name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. No one is a
saint who has not come into the Church, neither can anyone not in the Church
be a saint. Even the Old Testament Saints are in the Church! Anyone
teaching that there will be 'tribulation saints' who will never be in the
Church, is teaching a false doctrine!

WHAT DO I TEACH AS THE TRUTH?

On the issue of the tribulation saints, the tribulation saints will be the
Church. Once you compare the Scripture with the Scripture, there will be no
doubt in your mind as to what the Truth is. 'Will you receive the Truth
then,' is the only question. Let us compare the Scriptures and they will
testify to the Truth that the book of Revelation describes the Church in
tribulation.

PERSECUTED FOR THE COMMANDMENTS, TESTIMONY, AND FAITH OF JESUS

Speaking of the Tribulation Saints, it is written...

Revelation 12:17 - And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make
war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and
have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13:7 - And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and
to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues,
and nations.

Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that
keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

These tribulation saints are said to 'keep the commandments of God,' have
the 'testimony of Jesus Christ,' and 'keep the faith of Jesus.'

Speaking of the Church of Jesus Christ, it is written...(COMPARE WITH THE
ABOVE)

Revelation 1:2 - Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of
Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Revelation 1:9 - I John, who also am your brother, and companion in
tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the
isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of
Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John is in the Church, and stated that he bare record of the
testimony of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:20 says that the Church is built
upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. Therefore, it is ONLY THE
CHURCH who has the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 6:9 - 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:

Look at what Paul told Timothy...

2 Timothy 1:8 - Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the
gospel according to the power of God;

It is clear that only the Church has the testimony of Jesus. Therefore
those 'tribulation saints' who the dragon through the beast makes war with
BECAUSE of his hatred for their testimony, can be none but the Church, for
the Church is the only vessel that bears the testimony of Jesus!

THE FAITH OF JESUS

Of the Tribulation Saints, it is written...

Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that
keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Of the Church of Jesus Christ, it is written...

Galatians 2:16 - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the
works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I
have kept the faith:

Clearly only the Church has the Faith of Jesus. Who else then could these
'tribulation saints' be, other than the Church? What other vessel or
institution keeps the Faith of Jesus?

THOSE THAT DIE IN THE LORD

This is the most interesting point yet. Notice what is written about the
tribulation saints here...

Revelation 14

"12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 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."

Notice what is written about the Church of Jesus Christ concerning the
Resurrection and Rapture...

1 Thessalonians 4

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first:

17 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.

The Bible says that many of the 'tribulation saints' will 'die in the Lord,'
and they are said to be 'blessed.' The Rapture passage in 1 Thessalonians 4
says that the 'dead in Christ' will rise first.

Now IF those who have died in the Lord rise BEFORE the great tribulation,
then how can the 'tribulation saints' die in the Lord AFTER the dead in the
Lord have already been raised?

Doesn't make good 'nonsense,' does it? The Pre-Tribulation Rapture heresy
says that the resurrection of the dead in Christ happens BEFORE the great
tribulation, then says that there will be 'saints' during the tribulation
who will 'die in the Lord.' Who invented this crazy doctrine?

Poor tribulation saints, they are taught that they will 'die in the Lord'
AFTER the resurrection of them that have died in the Lord has already taken
place BEFORE the tribulation! How could these precious souls have missed
their own resurrection and rapture?

The only Scriptural and logical conclusion then, is that the resurrection of
the dead in the Lord and the Rapture, happens at the Second Coming of Jesus,
at the END, AFTER (POST) the tribulation.

Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:15, resurrection
happens at the Coming!

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, dispensationalism and its pre-tribulation rapture are false
doctrines. These heresies are exposed when you explore the concept of the
'tribulation saints.' Expose the fact that they teach that sinners will
become 'saints' during the tribulation by making a 'decision,' 'just
believing in Jesus,' and then dying for their new found faith. Since when
is anyone saved by just believing, making a decision, and then by the
shedding of their own blood?

This is not Apostolic Doctrine. Why then do Apostolics teach it? They
teach it because they are deceived.

What then is the origin? You can easily figure out where this doctrine came
from.

Think about it for a few minutes...

What religious group teaches TODAY that one can be saved by merely making a
choice not to follow evil and just believing in Jesus?

EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT TRINITARIANS, that is who! When you trace the
history of dispensationalism and the pre-trib rapture, you will see that
protestant trinitarians invented these heresies.

Deceived Apostolics teach 'another' salvation plan for the 'tribulation
saints.' This 'other' salvation plan is the same as the evangelicals teach
today, 'just make a choice not to follow evil' then 'just believe in Jesus.'

I am calling ALL Apostolics to be converted from these lies of the Serpent.
If you are Apostolic, then in the Name of Jesus, be APOSTOLIC ALL THE WAY.
Be Apostolic even in your end-time teaching!

Believe that the only way for anyone to become a Saint is to come into the
Kingdom of God by Acts 2:38. All are sinners and must have the blood of
Jesus applied to their lives through water baptism in His Name in order to
be a Saint whose sins have been washed away!

Then they must be baptized with the Holy Spirit into the Body (1 Corinthians
12:13).

All must be baptized into His death, having their sins washed away, in order
to ever be a 'saint.'

Romans 6:3 - Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death?

Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash
away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost

I am Apostolic, from the crown of my head to the tip of my toes. FULLY
Apostolic. I am Apostolic even in my end-time teaching. Why some of my
Apostolic Brothers and Sisters want to become Evangelicals in their end-time
teaching on the salvation of the 'tribulation saints,' is beyond me.

Very sad indeed. These shoud be ashamed. They should repent, submit to the
teaching of the Truth, and then be Apostolic ALL THE WAY.

No soul will EVER be saved by just 'making a right choice not to follow
evil,' 'just believe in Jesus,' and then die for their new found faith,
redeemed by the shedding of their own blood. Salvation forever for the
human family, and especially for Israel (Acts 2:39), is through Acts 2:38.

This is the everlasting gospel of the everlasting covenant in the blood of
Jesus (Hebrews 13:20)!

Agape in the Kingdom of the Manchild, of the remnant seed of His Mother
(Revelation 12),

Minister Johnson

A Contender for the Apostolic Faith once delivered unto the Saints (Jude 3)