This morning, we looked at “The Abomination of Desolation and the Great Tribulation” in Mark 13:14-27. During our study, we discovered that some people will became believers while others will become hardened in their unbelief. This raises a serious question. Why do some respond positively while others do not? Tonight, let’s take the opportunity to find the answer from the Scriptures themselves. We will first look at the varied responses and then the reasons for the responses.
- The Response during the Great Tribulation
When I was younger, I thought that nobody would respond positively to the Lord during the Great Tribulation. I think that my misunderstanding was based on two things. First, I knew that God would send a strong delusion to unbelievers during this time. Second, I was taught that those who rejected the gospel before the Great Tribulation would not be allowed to receive it afterward. However, the Bible indicates that some will respond to the gospel during that time. Consider the following responses.
The 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-8)
During this part of the Great Tribulation, an angel told the four angels not to destroy the earth, sea, or trees until these 144,000 Israelites are sealed on their foreheads. There are 12,000 from each tribe and they are called “the servants of our God.”
The innumerable multitude (Rev. 7:9-17)
The uncountable crowd is made up of people from all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages. They stand before the throne and the Lamb in white robes with palm branches in their hands. In a loud voice, they shout, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” John later learns that these are people who came out of the Great Tribulation and were cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. They gratefully serve God and He takes care of them.
People who want to die (Rev. 9:6)
When the fifth trumpet is sounded, locusts from the bottomless pit will be released. These insects will be able to sting people like a scorpion. The pain will be so unbearable that people will try to die but will not be able to.
People who will not repent (Rev. 9:20-21)
After the sixth trumpet, John says something about the rest of mankind. These are the remaining population of the earth who have not yet died during the Great Tribulation. Sadly, they do not repent of their sins. They continue worshiping demons and inanimate idols. They continue to murder, practice sorcery (possibly drug-induced), sexual immorality, and stealing.
As you can see, there is a mixed response to the gospel during the Great Tribulation. Some respond positively while others do not. These facts lead us to our next question. Why do they respond the way they do? - The Reason for the Response
The Bible tells us about the future response of the people during this time of judgment, but it also tells us the reasons for their varied responses.
Why is it that some do not repent and believe?
They have chosen to continue in sin (Rev. 9:20-21).
Despite seeing all of the plagues and death around them, these people choose to continue in their wicked practices. The reason that they refuse to repent and believe the gospel is that they don’t want to. What they want is their sinful experience apart from God.
They have been deceived (Mark 13:22; 2 Thess. 2:9-12).
Jesus mentioned the deception promoted by false christs and false prophets during the Great Tribulation. It will be such a strong deception that even the elect could be deceived. Paul says that the lawless one will deceive those who do not receive the truth. He also says that God will send them a strong delusion to judge those who did not believe and who enjoyed unrighteous behavior.
They have chosen to worship the beast (Rev. 14:9-10).
The angel’s announcement makes it clear that it is the choice of these ungodly people that sends them to the lake of fire. They chose to worship the beast and chose to receive his mark on them. Sadly, their choices carry grave consequences.
In these Scripture passages, these people do not repent and believe the gospel because of their own choices and also the influence of others. They choose to continue in sin. They choose to worship the beast. They choose to listen to the deception of the lawless one. And as a result, God judges them with both delusion and final judgment. This reminds me of Romans 1:18-32 where God responds progressively to the choices of sinful people, giving them over to what they choose. In the end, it is not the lack of gospel preaching or the example of believers. It is the choice of those who never repent and believe.
Why is it that some do repent and believe?
They have been chosen (Mark 13:22, 27; Rev. 13:8).
Jesus mentions “the elect” several times in Mark 13. In verse 22, they are the ones who might possibly be deceived by false prophets. In verse 27, they are those who are gathered together at the end of the Great Tribulation. In Revelation 13:8, they are referred to those whose names were written in the Book of Life.
While God’s election of some to salvation is hard to understand, it is mentioned too many times in Scripture to set aside. God has elected certain individuals to be saved. Their names have already been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. If it were not for God’s choice, would anyone repent and believe the gospel?
They have been redeemed (Rev. 14:3-4).
Notice that the 144,00 Jewish believers who sang before the throne. They have been redeemed from the earth. They were redeemed from among men. Both of these statements refer to a redemption that has been done to them, not by them. God chose to redeem them from the earth.
Redemption is a biblical term that involves someone paying a price to purchase something. In this instance, it was Jesus’ blood that paid the price for their sins and enabled them to be redeemed from their sinful past (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Thankfully, God planned this before the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:20) so that all who believe will be redeemed.
They have heard the gospel (Rev. 14:6-7).
After talking about the 144,000 Jewish believers singing around the throne of God, John mentions an angel flying in the sky with something special. The angel is carrying “the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth.” He also calls on people to fear God, give Him glory, and worship Him.
One of the reason that people during the Great Tribulation will repent and believe is that God sends the gospel message to them. While God’s wrath is portrayed in vivid details, so is His mercy. Despite their sinfulness, God still sends the gospel message to the inhabitants of the earth so that they can be saved.
Conclusion
As we see the responses of those who live during the Great Tribulation, we see a parallel to today’s population. Some believe while others do not. Some worship the Lord while others are committed to false religions and sinful vices. What do we learn from these opposite responses?
God is not unjust to judge sinful people.
It becomes quite apparent that the judgment given during the Great Tribulation is rightfully earned. The description of the people who continue in their sin reveals that they do not care about God, do not fear Him, and love their sin. Despite the many warnings given by God, they willfully choose to continue in their sin. What else would a holy God do to those who ignore His warnings and blaspheme His name?
God is merciful to save any sinful people.
When you properly consider your own sinfulness against God, you may wonder why God chose to save you. Why was that? Was there something about you that caught His fancy? Was it your pleasant personality and kind deeds that drew Him to you? No, when we consider our own sinfulness and God’s perfect holiness, it is an amazing thing to think that God would choose to save any of us. And yet He did.
Thankfully, God loved us while we were sinners. He sent Jesus to die in our place. He redeemed us from the cesspool of our wickedness and cleansed us in the blood of the Lamb. Praise God for that! He did it and showed great mercy in the process. Be sure to tell someone about that this week.