Getting back to … Jesus says “he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt 24:13) This will not be easy to do. I was reading a little more on what “tribulation” life will be like. The famine will be soooo great globally for 7 years and/or the high cost of whatever food that is available … will be unattainable to purchase for the average person. This will make people do just about ANYTHING to feed their belly’s. And all restraint is off … so anything goes. And any believer saved during this timeframe WILL NOT have the Comforter (Holy Spirit) living inside of them to convict or direct them like we have today. Hence one author indicates … expect cannibalism to be running rampant :wacko: My thoughts are … since a tribulation believer will not be in the social system to buy or sell … will ALL stand firm and resist the mark of the beast? We know many will … (Revelation 7:9-17) but will some actually eventually cave in? Look at the actions of Esau. He sold his birthright for only 1 meal … a bowl of lentil soup and bread. And later on he did despise Jacob and wanted to kill him and Jacob had to run away. So who is to say SOME of those tribulation “believers” will not cave in for the mark of beast … its going to look so attractive and the peer pressure will be great. They might even be so deceived thinking it won’t be bad and try to justify their actions. And Jesus said “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”(Matt 7:21) Genesis 25:29-34 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Hi Arthur, this is the first time I have read the word "repent" used on this forum. Repent has got to be the most misused word in all of Christianity. It simply means to change ones mind, period. In terms of salvation, we are only asked to change our mind from our unbelief in Christ to believing in Him as our Savoir. It does not mean repenting of this or that, it simply means changing ones mind to believing in Christ. Ever notice that John in his Gospel never uses the word "repent" when referring to salvation, he instead uses Believe instead, ever wonder why. Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. “Confess before men” is actually … stating you’re now born again and a follower of Jesus Christ. Witnessing/sharing your testimony of what Jesus did in saving you! Go and Tell the Good News with others. Its part of the Great Commission … Matt 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Well, the Book of Romans, sometimes referred to as the Book of Grace was quoted by Geri: Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. when Eve listened and followed the serpent, and when Adam ate also, this was first of all a lack of faith. If Eve believed God, she would have feared to "die" or asked God about what the serpent said. same with Adam. their not trusting God's word to be true (lack of faith) about staying away from dying was what tripped them into disobedience. God spoke to Adam that he would die if he ate from that tree. God wanted Adam to believe him. Unbelief separated Adam and Eve from everlasting life with God, and unbelief is what continues to separate people from everlasting life with God. In the tribulation years, what people need to do, Jew and Gentile, is to place faith in Christ to save their soul, entrust their life to Jesus. If they believe God's word, they will not take the mark of the beast or worship his image. They will believe God is the only one worthy to be worshipped. Not anyone or anything else.
