2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
What is faith?
One of Merriam-Webster’s definitions is: firm belief in something for which there is no proof.
The Bible’s definition is found in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
It seems that regardless of which definition you’re reading, you notice that faith is not sight. It’s like if you have sight or proof, then it’s no longer of faith.
We know that in the Church Age, we believers are saved by grace through faith alone.
Thank You, Jesus!
I believe this is the key difference between us and any other time period before or after the Church Age.
Looking back in Old Testament times, we see varying degrees of faith and sight. Sound crazy? Take Adam and Eve. They walked and talked with God. Lots of sight there. How much faith is needed when you have visual proof? Belief and trust, absolutely. Obedience, a must. But faith alone? Not in their time.
Look at Noah, Abraham and Moses. Great men of faith. God spoke to all three of them and actually appeared in some form or fashion to the latter two. Faith alone? Not in their time.
Hmmm.
Looking ahead to the Millennium, Jesus Himself is ruling and reigning right there in Jerusalem in plain sight. Faith alone?
Before we talk about the coming Tribulation, let’s peek back into the Gospel accounts. Jesus in the flesh — seeable, touchable, hearable. And there’s more. Not only is Jesus physically there, but look at what was going on at that time. Demonic activity was at its height. Jesus healed many of demon possession. Which brings up the concept of miracles. Very important. Miracles abound in the Old Testament through the prophets, in the Gospels through Jesus and the disciples, and they will also occur in Daniel’s 70th Week (commonly called the Tribulation). I’m thinking mainly of the two witnesses, the angel preaching the everlasting gospel in Revelation 14:6 and Joel 2:28-32.
Question for you.
But how many honest-to-goodness miracles do you see today? Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not putting God in a box. He can and will and does perform miracles as He chooses. But overall, those are rare for us in our current ‘walk by faith’ era. (They were definitely more common when the Church Age was just beginning. I believe that was for the purpose of showing God’s approval for the ‘movement.’) We walk by faith with virtually no evidence of what’s unseen today.
Folks, all that to say I believe the Tribulation is just around the corner and we, the Church, have done a poor job of preparing our Gospel-rejecting loved ones for what’s ahead. Since they will NOT be in the Church Age, they will NOT be sealed, sanctified, redeemed, eternally secure children of God as we are through faith ALONE. Put aside your commentaries for a moment and read your Bible! The promise of a guaranteed inheritance is ours alone! (See Actual ES Verses.) No one outside the Church Age ever has been nor ever will be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. HE is our source of security!
Now check out Revelation.
Some key verses are 12:11, 12:17, 14:9-12, 21:7.
Those who come to Christ after the Rapture are saved by faith in the shed blood of Jesus as we are. Once that originating belief/faith/trust happens, then the difference begins. They must obey and demonstrate that faith – persevere until the end. Did you read the above verses in Revelation?
And, yes, they’ll need faith, but think about it. I believe ‘faith’ in the Tribulation will be super simple — once again, like every other non-Church Age time, they’ll have sight! The Restrainer is gone in His role of restraining evil, therefore, visual demonic activity will exist like the world has never seen. God allows this delusion to this newly 100% Christ-rejecting world and Satan’s all too eager to bring it on. So there will be lots of things people can have ‘faith’ in. They’ll be physically looking at ‘Mary’ or ‘Jesus’ or ‘aliens’ or whatever else is presented to deceive them. ‘Miracles’ will abound! It will be a very spiritual time. Dark spiritual, that is.
Book
So go to my book tab and download “So You Missed the Rapture UPDATE: A Letter to My Friends Who Remain” and start getting serious about this subject.
Let’s prayerfully study God’s Word and get the news out that to live by faith and not by sight in this present Church Age has God’s over-abounding blessing upon it.