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CONTENTS

It should not be missed that in accordance with God's desire that all should come to repentance (2Pe. 3:9), the events of the book of Revelation are intended to serve as a final call to those who God knows will yet respond to the message of the gospel. This can be seen in the special ministries of the 144,000 Jewish servants (Rev. 7+, 14+), the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3+), and the angel proclaiming the gospel message worldwide (Rev. 14:16+). In response to their testimony, a large number of people will come to faith in Christ, although many will be martyred (Rev. 6:9-11+; 7:13-14+).1 Those who refuse to respond to the gospel message are shown to be unbending in their rejection of God and without any hint of repentance (Rev. 9:20-21+; 16:9+, 11+, 21+). Thus, the events preceding the Second Coming of Christ serve as a global "threshing" where the wheat (believers) is separated from the chaff (unbelievers) by the extreme tests which come upon the world (Luke 21:34-36; Rev. 3:10+). In our sorrow over the destiny of the chaff, let us not overlook the wheat which is harvested to the glory of God (Rev. 14:14-16+).----

Notes

1 "By means of the 144,000 Jews, God will accomplish the second purpose of the Great Tribulation, that of bringing about a worldwide revival." -- Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of Messiah, rev ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003), 179-180.

CONTENTS