I have heard Bible prophecy teachers say things like a third or half of the population might not survive the tribulation. That sounds bad enough, but the truth of the mater is that less than ten percent of the earth’s population will live through these end of the age judgments. If God had not limited the length of the judgments for the sake of the elect, no flesh on earth would have survived. After a harvest, only the gleanings remain in the field. A few here and a few there. The tribulation is the end of age harvest of souls.
Before the end of age harvest, the Rapture will come for believers and remove some unknown percent of the earth’s population. The number departing is not known because we do not know who is truly in Christ. I do believe that dependent children of believers will go with their parents in the Rapture, but I see no biblical foundation for those claiming that all children under the age of accountability would be taken. I cannot even imagine a world going on like usual with all the children gone. The Rapture is only for those born of the Spirit. That eliminates those who only have Christian identity and those that have not yet trusted in Jesus. Therefore, after the Rapture, I think there will still be around 8 billion people on the earth.
The great judgment at the end of the age begins as the Lamb opens the seven seals of Revelation and the events play out on earth. The war, famine and disease of seals 2 through 4 probably eliminates about a quarter of the earth’s population so maybe just 6 billion live to experience the subsequent events.
I think we can assume that hundreds of millions are killed in the persecution of the fifth seal. We also can assume that many will be killed when the earth crust shifts at the sixth seal and everyone hides in caves for protection. With that in mind, I do not think more than 5 billion survive to experience the seven trumpet judgments.
In this same period, the two prophets bring judgment on the earth as often as they wish. I do not know how many die as a result. The seven trumpet judgments kills more than a third of the remaining people on earth because just the sixth trumpet indicates that a third of mankind is killed. I think it is reasonable to assume that the trumpet judgements reduces the population of the earth to under 3 billion people. We also need to keep in mind that most of those that will not take the mark or worship the Antichrist will be killed. John sees them in heaven around the throne and says the number is so great that nobody can count them. I think those slain for not worshiping the Antichrist will be well over a billion people. So, by the time of the bowls of wrath and the gathering of the tares to be burned, there are probably only a billion or two people still alive on earth.
As the Lord returns, The Dragon, Antichrist and False Prophet gathers all nations to come against Israel. The Lord slays all of them the whole length of Israel. Revelation tells us the multitudes are so great that their blood flows up to the horses bridles. With the removal of the tares to be burned and the treading of the grapes of wrath only the gleanings will remain alive. with that in mind, it seems to me that less than a billion people will survive the great tribulation. Even after the tribulation of those days, there is still the sheep and goat judgment of Matthew 25. Only those that did not oppose the gospel of the kingdom will be allowed into the kingdom. The rest will be cut off.
The scriptures indicate that after the end of age judgment, men will be rarer than pure gold on the earth (Isa 13:12). Apparently more women survive than men. The scriptures specifically do tell us that only one third of the Jews in the land of Israel will survive the tribulation. I think the Gentiles will fare much worse than Israel.
Isaiah 24 describes those days and says the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste. He says few men will be left. It will be like the days after a great harvest. Only the gleanings will remain. A few olives on a upper branch or a few grapes on a vine. Hebrew farmers that abide by the law of gleanings would still harvest more than 90 percent of the crop. When you take into account the wording in Isaiah and elsewhere in scriptures, I do not believe more than ten percent of the world’s population survive and enter the Kingdom Age.
Those that think they can survive through the tribulation of those days are not taking the appropriate texts literally. The end of the age judgment of fire is comparable to the Noahic Flood. Only 8 people lived through that judgment. The Lord will start His millennial reign with a greatly reduced natural population. Unbelievers will be cut off and most believers bodies of flesh will be killed. The remnant of Israel that is refined through the fires will only be a few million people. Most Gentiles will either get saved and die as martyrs, or they will die in the judgments removing the ungodly. I think the Lord will start His kingdom on earth with a remnant of millions not billions.
The plain truth written in scripture destroys the arguments of contemporary “Christian” humanist’s believing the Church defeats evil and restores paradise lost. The great tribulation is called the worse time on earth that ever occurs because that is exactly what it is. The present Church age is really about taking out a supernatural bride to rule and reign with the Messiah in the Kingdom Age. It is not about Christianizing the tares that are following the god of this age. In other words, as we approach the end of the age, people should learn how to be taken alive at the Rapture or they should be preparing to die.
Articles like this encourages me for that day of the Lord to happen.
I know and definitely understand that we all want it to happen right now if not tomorrow but when it does … woe.. woe.. woe to the world that’s not ready.
I’m looking forward to the experience of being raptured, and what it’s going to feel like.
Hi,
I have a brother with a manic condition, pretty much perpetually going on 12. He is open to the gospel, I have explained the gospel, but I don’t think he is able to fully comprehend.
I would like to think he would be taken in the rapture as not reaching the age of accountability. This is a hard one. I can’t get my head around it.
?? Thoughts? Thanks, blessings, Craig
Don, 2 Questions.
1) I would like some clarifications on your beliefs about children, the rapture and the age of accountability. I have always tied children under the age of accountability as secure in Christ via 2 scriptures.
10“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10 NKJV)
14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14
I would think that children under the age either are or aren’t going and it would have little to do with what their parents believe. We are all guilt or innocent in Christ individually not based on our parent’s beliefs. I would appreciate your understanding and how you back that up scripturally.
2) you mentioned that scripture points to more women surviving than men. That certainly makes logical sense to me just because militaries have a MUCH higher male population than female, however here again I would like to know what scriptures you are pointing to.
Thanks so much!
Luke
Hi Craig,
Perhaps if your brother is not yet accountable for his own beliefs he is still under the authority of those raising him. In other words he might go because they go. There really is not a specific age of accountability because everyone is different.
Hi Luke,
Children might be innocent until they willfully sin but they are not promised the Rapture. Only those born of the Spirit and in Christ are promised the Rapture. This is the Bride of Christ. Many will be saved, but not all saved people will be part of the Bride of Christ. I think the writings of Paul make clear what the Church is. People in the Church are saved by believing, it has nothing to do with their own innocents or righteousness. Enoch is an OT Rapture type. I am sure all the children did not go with him.
As for more men than woman surviving the tribulation, I quoted Isaiah twice in the article.
Another excellent article Don… I have asked elsewhere what percentage of the earth’s population at the time of the flood would 8 people constitute… the same could be asked of the three who survived the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. My ‘guess’ would be a lot less than ten percent, but yours is a more realistic percentage than any other I have heard.
1% of 8 billion is 80 million
10% = 800 million
Hi,
Thank youu for your informative and interesting articles. I have a question regarding your belief in the rapture. I understand that many teachers believe all believers on earth will be raptured. is that correct?
Don,
What I was looking for an answer to was why you thought children under the age of accountability whos parents know Christ might go while children of parents who don’t know might stay. I was saying it would make more sense to me that children under the age of accountability would go or not go vs. go or not go based on the parents standing with Christ? Does my question make sense?
Thanks,
Luke
Hi Cheryl,
All true believers are in the body of Christ so those that are would be going in the Rapture.
Good blog Don. It is good to remind people that there really is no way to ensure one survives what is coming, except eternally through Christ. I watched someone on TV once, all armed and stocked up saying they were preparing for the tribulation and recall thinking that by far the best preparations is to get right with Christ and not be here during it. People should prepare as there are many bad things; storms, war, earthquake, EMP, plague, and such that may occur before the rapture. The best preps for the tribulation though is time on the knees.
Hi Luke,
Children of unbelievers are under the same condemnation as all unbelievers born into the world. I do not think Jesus is going to ask Christian believers to abandon their children. Remember, when the jailer believed his whole household was saved.
Hi Phil.
Those post toasties that think they can live through the tribulation and even defeat the Antichrist are one of the reasons I wrote the article.
So true ‘Matthew 23 : 19, “Woe unto them that are with child and those who are nursing in those days !” -Jesus Christ. During the Flood it is obvious that most children perished, in Sodom and Gomorrah same thing, and most will stay in the Tribulation and Lamentations 4 : 10 reminds me of history repeating in the last days.
Don I agree with you most of the time. This is one thing I disagree with you most of the bible deals with (types) or (likes) but not always….The Lord doesn’t specifically say children will go in the rapture but God…his word… expects us to use some common sense. What would be the point of kids going thru the rapture??? Also I have a son who is 26 and mentally ill believe me I have been to ministers ..priest..at length and studied the bible…He believes in God for his salvation but it changes daily his mind is of a 14 year old..I might be to blame but God in his infinite wisdom will not blame him. Sorry but we will agree to disagree on this and they’re is no scripture to back you or me on this..But we do have a merciful Father remember what it says he doesn’t wish anyone to perish just my thoughts backed up with a lot of prayer and Reading
No offense but you need to read about the jailer who was saved with his household. They weren’t saved just because one person believed they were saved because they were told and believed.But then again I don’t know if I can be dogmatic about what I believe after what Joe said (woe to those with child) children might be here after the rapture. I must put some serious thought into this..
Hi Greg,
Scripture does not say one way or other about children. However, I am using common sense with my suggestion that immature children of believers will go with their parents. The parents are the priests of the family. Parent should always be interceding in behalf of their children. I suppose that they do so here. All children will not go because the Rapture is not about taking the innocent, it is about taking the bride of Christ for the wedding in heaven and about the removal of the restrainer. Kids of unbelievers are likely to have at least ten years to grow up and make a decision after the Rapture.
Don,
Do you think that small children of just one believing parent will go in the Rapture? My husband is in the Orthodox church cult and is not a believer. I have a wide age spread of children and am thankful for my older ones professions….but have several younger ones under age 5. What is your opinion on this? Thank you for the time and study you put into your articles as I look forward to reading each one every week or two.
Hi Jennifer,
I think it is a matter of dependence. I know that can get complicated but I have no pat answer.
Don,
I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you mean. Could you please explain? I also should mention that I and my children (who are above age of accountability) have all come to saving faith almost ten years before my husband had any intellectual belief in Christ.
Thanks!
Hello Don:
Great article as usual (I read as you update, but rarely comment). I know of many people think that they have “time” to get “things” in order before all these things take place. Selfishly, I wish our Lord would come back today. However, most of these same people do not realize that life could end at any minute which will secure their fate. Sadly, the self consumption (me, me, me) environment clouds their thinking and many cannot think straight or far enough in the future to understand that the world as we know it, is entering the final stages.
A little off topic, I love our Country dearly and I am literally vexed and perplexed by what is happening on a day to day basis. Oh Lord, come quickly.
Thank you for your constant, hard work. It is much appreciated by us out here.
Thank you,
Charlie
Jennifer,
I do not think the Lord is going to Rapture believers and leave their children on earth so that their children become dependents of unbelievers. When the parents are both a believer and a non believer it probably depends on if the children are still dependent on the believing parent.
It is much easier to say that all children will be going so that we can avoid such questions, but I see no reason to think that children are inherently in the body of Christ. I think only children that are dependent on believing parents or a parent will be going with them. Of course I could be wrong.
Don you know I think you have a good point about the rapture it is not to save the innocent you’re exactly right it is about saving the bride of Christ and I think I may be reading too much into that I guess there are some things we don’t know and we can’t understand but I believe you are probably closer to the truth than I am
Don, I always look forward to your articles. They are a blessing to me! Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Great article Don. It appears to me just by reading the comments that people still don’t know much about the fall. We all have a sinful nature whether you are a believer or not. The only difference is that believers are redeemed to Christ. A child will still sin just like any other person because of our sinful nature. In summary, we have Adam’s DNA.
1 Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife,and the unbelieving wife is sanctioned by the husband; else were your children unckean; but now are they holy.
This does emphasize Don’s point.children are sanctified by our belief.even just one believing parent.so his take..only children of believers raptured,does make sense to me the corallaries..children who die lost..should make us truly stand up.preach teach help.time is ahort.
Don,
Thanks for your post. What is your understanding of Luke 17:30-37 in relation to your post? Are the ones who are taken the redeemed? Are the ones who are not taken the unsaved? What does the reference to Lot’s wife in imply that a Christian should take head to? Where on the timeline of last days events does this passage refer to? Does this passage speak of the rapture or some other event?
Hi Hans,
The Olivetti discourse is directed at the Jews not the Bride of Christ. The ones taken are the tares gathered by angels to the great slaughter of all enemies of the Kingdom (Mt 13:30).
The Lot’s wife passage is not directed at Christians, it is telling Jews in the land of Israel that they need to quickly flee into the mountains before the judgement just as Lot did. This occurs just prior to the last 3.5 years. That period is known as the great tribulation and the time of Jacob’s trouble.
Hello Don. Off topic here,but are you related in any way to Bill Koenig at watch.org out of Washington DC.? I read his articles and he’s very informative. Just asking ,thanks Don. ttyl ybic Ernie
Hi Ernie,
No relation to Bill. There are many thousands of Koenig’s in the US.