The Beast/MBS’ ability to make war against them and overcome them: The Tribulation Saints.
A large portion of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is devoted to those future Christians, referred to as the Tribulation Saints. God treats them as a distinct segment of Christianity and redeemed men. The Bible is also crystal clear when God indicates that the persecution by beheading these people have to experience is at the hands of the Beast/Antichrist. Given what is happening today around the world in China, North Korea and throughout the Middle East, it is reasonable to think and believe that the persecution and killing of Christians will, in fact, skyrocket during the tribulation once the Restrainer is removed. But when will the Beast commence Satan’s violent hatred and execution toward this unique group of future Christians?
God gives us more than a clue. All one has to do is consider God’s narrative regarding the ascent of the ‘mystery religion’ under the False Prophet. For the first three and years of the tribulation, there is relative false secular peace among the mystery religion’s deceiving doctrine of brotherhood and fraternity of religions, peaceful coexistence and acceptance of each religion, inter-religious dialogue and other doctrinal fallacies under the False Prophet. Although future Christians will continue to be persecuted for the first three and half years, it won’t be until MBS/Beast/8th King commits his abomination of desolation at the half way mark when executions by beheadings will skyrocket. It is EXACTLY at this point in the tribulation that Satan demands to be worshipped through his possessed son of perdition. Christians will now be faced with no longer being accommodated under the previous three and half year mystery religion’s acceptance of their faith. This holds true of Buddhists, Hindus and also for other false religions around the world. Satan, through the Beast completely does away with all the mystery religion doctrinal fallacies and lies. His purpose is to force everyone, on earth to worship him, and him exclusively. Under penalty of death.
True Christians were faithful enough to Christ not to worship the Beast or his image prior to the midpoint of the Tribulation. However, now they are demanded to worship Satan, through the Beast. They will NOT do this and in essence rebel against the worldwide dictate and demands of the Beast/MBS. As I write this letter, the world is not in the tribulation yet. But consider how MBS persecutes and murders even his own citizens who oppose him and don’t succumb to his dictates. Chainsaws and swords are his tools of choice. His ability to execute irrational judgement is more or less limited right now to just his direct kingdom. This will change dramatically once the restrainer is removed and MBS proceeds to rise in worldwide stature, culminating at the abomination of desolation. Christians will then become practical wholesale game for slaughter by beheading. Using a modern adjective or description, MBS’ bloodlust against those who refuse to acknowledge his future ‘divine’ stature, will go on steroids. He will be given power by Satan to war against Christians and to overcome them. Consider again that the restrainer has been removed and is no longer working to withhold evil at this point. MBS’ destroying the mystery religion doctrinal requirements and agreements means that all the peoples of the earth will be subjected to persecution if they don’t worship him, his image and take his mark of commerce and allegiance. Most around the world will succumb to these demands, worship him and take his mark of allegiance so they can get their government benefits from whichever country.
True Christians will be the most vocal of the oppressed religious groups and as a group, they will represent the largest combined denial and rejection of MBS’ lordship over them. Today, MBS feigns concerns regarding Islamic terrorists. He gives the world ‘lip service’ to this threat. Very soon he will seriously condemn, track down and behead what he considers to be Christian Zionists or terrorists who threaten his rule. Anyone who opposes his corrupt and demonic demands is ruled a terrorist. That is his ‘go-to’ tarot card. Just as MBS currently labels and condemns journalists, dissidents and non-compliant religious imams as terrorists and threats to the ‘peace and safety’ of the kingdom, he will place the same tag on Christians to justify the carnage. The world won’t care, its meaningless to them. Just as the world turns a blind eye today to Christian genocide throughout Africa, China and North Korea. The world is accustomed to witnessing and hearing about Christians being persecuted and murdered. As it is today, it won’t change in the future. At the future time, everyone else on earth will be terrified of the Beast and what he can do in terms of seeking out dissent, opposition and eliminating it. No one can fight against it. Using a modern expression, everyone on earth will be busy ‘covering up and saving their own neck.’ Literally. ‘Better to take the mark and live another day,’ so the thinking goes. At the expense of losing their chance at salvation for eternity. They will trade and give up their eternal soul for a dollop of government welfare. Not the Christian martyrs. They will give up their necks and a temporary life on earth, and gain eternal life and salvation through Christ. The world chose poorly. The tribulation Christians did choose wisely. Better to have a future eternal reward through Christ, than to receive a temporal dollop of a little government handout today.
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.
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.
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Seven-fold Acknowledgement of the Tribulation Saints (Martyrs): Those rejected/killed by the Beast/Antichrist.
- … “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, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.“ (Rev. 6:9-11).
- … “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.“ (Rev. 12:11).
- … “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (Rev. 13:15).
- … “ 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.” (Rev. 14:12-13).
- … “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, having the harps of God.“ (Rev. 15:2).
- … “For true and righteous are his judgements: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.“ (Rev. 19:2).
- … “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them: and I saw 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.“ (Rev. 20:4).
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the Tribulation Saints are those people that become Christians during the period of the Antichrist’s reign on earth, over the seven (7) year period. How do they become Saints in the eyes of Christ? They believe in and accept Christ as their Savior and for the forgiveness of their sins. They do NOT take the mark of the Beast/Antichrist. They do NOT worship the Beast/Antichrist. They do NOT worship his image. They DO witness to the word of God and Jesus. They ARE martryed by beheading for believing in Jesus and witnessing for Him. They DO share in many of blessings and rewards that are also awarded to Christians from the Church Age. There is a very clear distinction between Christians redeemed by Christ prior to the Tribulation period, and those Christians redeemed during the Tribulation period. It is clear that they have to come to a saving grace knowledge of Jesus Christ, have withstood the best efforts of Satan/Antichrist/False Prophet to thwart their salvation, and have been beheaded for their belief and witnessing in Jesus Christ.
Three-fold References to White:
- White Raiment. (Rev. 4:4). Twenty-four (24) Elders.
- White Robes. (4X). (Rev. 6:11, 7:9, 7:13 and 7:14). Tribulation Saints.
- White Linen. (3X). (Rev. 15:6, 19:8 and 19:14). Church Saints and Angels.
White raiment is used to describe what the twenty-four 24 elders are wearing in God’s throne room. White robes are used to describe what the Tribulation Saints are given. White linen is used to describe the clothing of Church Age Saints and Angels. White is symbolic for righteousness. “White Robes” is referenced four (4) times, “White Linen” is reference three (3) times. Within these three verses are three references to “white” and three references to a form of clothing. This another “double of a double” (3+3) of three (3). The group of four (4) entities identified; 24 elders, Tribulation Saints, Church Saints and Angels all have the righteousness of Christ and participate in his government in heaven and on earth.
Four-fold Reference to Robes:
- … “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 fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” (Rev. 6:11).
- … “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” (Rev. 7:9).
- … “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they.” (Rev. 7:13).
- … “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14).
White robes are a sign or symbol of righteousness. The people (Tribulation Saints) wearing them are clearly those redeemed by Jesus Christ (made white by the blood of the Lamb), during the Great Tribulation. The fourfold reference of white robes, strongly suggests that this group of saints (Tribulation Saints) are easily identified because they are wearing “white robes”, as opposed to white rainment or white linens that other heavenly beings wear. White robes are given to those who did NOT worship the beast or his image, who did NOT take his image, mark or name, who DID repent and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior through the forgiveness of their sins, and who were martyred (beheaded) for their testimony of Jesus Christ.