punishment

The remnant theology of the Old Testament teaches us that God will allow His people to suffer at the hands of unbelievers. In the case of Judah, He permitted this to happen because of the nation’s failure to repent of three big sins: idolatry, immorality, and injustice. For centuries, the Lord had sent prophets to warn the Jews about impending judgment and to call them back to righteousness.

But they refused to listen.

The price was heavy: war, death, starvation, exile, and forced labor. The army of Babylon overran the land, demolished Jerusalem, and destroyed God’s temple. Yes, God didn’t spare His own house.

Are Christians destined for a similar outcome?

Yes and no.

God punished the Jewish people for their disloyalty. But Christians have already benefited from Jesus redeeming us from all our sins. Yet God wants us to walk in spiritual purity, so our loyalty to Christ will get tested.

As Babylon once threatened Judah, so the world tempts and intimidates the church. For many believers, the cost of discipleship is suffering.

This is something the apostle Paul and the Thessalonians know all too well. Here are the references in 1 and 2 Thessalonians to their afflictions.

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:7

“For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15a

“We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4

“Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. ⁵All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5

These two short letters contain eight references to suffering. Dealing with adversity is an indispensable part of the Christian life. No believer can avoid it.

But God didn’t abandon His people in the Old Testament; He preserved a remnant. In the same way, the Lord will secure a remnant of Christians. Paul identifies these believers as those who are “alive and remain” at the return of Jesus. 

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. ¹⁵For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸Therefore comfort one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Interpreting this phrase in light of the theme of suffering leaves us with two options.

Denying

Few Christians will stay loyal to Jesus. As the time gets closer to the Rapture, the spiritual pressure to compromise our faith and cave into the world’s demands will intensify. And many will give up on the Lord. They will deem the price too high to remain true. Social ostracism, economic sanctions, and physical torments will push some Christians out of the church. Society won’t relent, and as it sees success in fomenting apostasy, it will redouble its efforts.

Dying

In many parts of the world, converting to Christ is already a capital offense. Those who ally with Jesus sign their own death warrants, and many give their lives for the Lord. As the Rapture draws near, expect an amplified onslaught. People will blend political, religious, and scientific reasons to justify attacks on believers. 

Conclusion

These two factors will refine the church and reduce her status. This isn’t to deny the power of the Holy Spirit in leading people to Christ before the end. But the world, and devil behind it, will fight to ruin the church. Many will fall away from the faith and others will fall by the sword. The end result will be a church of radical loyalists; men and women dedicated to Jesus no matter the price. And upon His return, He will honor them.

In the Old Testament, remnant theology deals with a punished people. In the New Testament, this theme refers to a purified people. The closer to the Second Coming we get, the more the world will hasten to tempt Christians to forsake Jesus. And if that doesn’t work, it’ll kill as many as it can.

But this isn’t a picture of a defeated church. Jesus isn’t coming back to rebuke His disciples; He’s returning to rescue and reward us! While the trials are real, His promises will outlast them.

No Christian, alive or dead, will miss the Rapture!

PS – I took the image above from the Live Not By Lies, by Rod Dreher. This book discusses how Christians in Communist countries endured their trials and how we need to be ready, too.