The rapture will fulfill God’s promise to save the true believer from the hour of testing, but what will happen to those left behind? Will they have any hope?
Who Will be Included in the Rapture
To answer that question, let’s start with the group that stands in heaven immediately following the scripture. (If you are not following me, you should read my post, The Timing of the Rapture is Clear in the Bible)
In Revelation 7 we see a multitude of people, so large that no one can count. These people are from…
- every nation
- tribes
- peoples, and
- tongues
So clearly people will be raptured from all over the world. So what is the criteria?
The key is given by one of the 24 elders. He tells John that “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
So there is only one factor that makes these people different than every person left behind. That factor being that they have been covered by the blood of Jesus.
If you don’t know how to be covered by the blood of Jesus, it is simple, but it requires faith and giving something up – your will. If you have done this then Jesus’ sacrifice covers you. So rejoice, for He has taken the penalty for you and His blood speaks of your salvation.
Truly, if you are saved, you will know it. For if you give up your will and accept His will over your own, you no longer live the same way.
So if this is you, you are one of the countless multitudes standing before the throne as witnessed by John.
Who Will be Left Behind in the Rapture
By default everyone else will be left behind. Remember there is only one criteria for being raptured. It has nothing to do with how often you attended church, what good things you did, if you gave to the needy or if you tithed. In fact, many church goers will be left behind.
This is shocking! These are believers in Jesus! These are people who prophesy, cast out demons and perform miracles. These signs are greater than most Christian’s will ever perform.
But what is clear is that these people performed signs and wonders for the wrong reasons. Regardless of their works, they did not give up their will in exchange for God’s will. And thus, they will be left behind.
The Letters to the Seven Churches Highlight Who Will be Left Behind
The letters to the seven churches show us those Christians who Jesus will save from the hour of testing and those who will experience tribulation.
Jesus only mentions the tribulation in each of the last four churches. I believe this is because these churches describe the state of the churches at the end times. Here are the transgressions Jesus condemns in the churches and their modern day incarnation.
| Problem | Today’s Version |
| Immorality | Pre-marital sex, pornography, adultery, lust, homosexuality |
| Idol worship | Seeking expensive cars, homes, travel, social media addiction, alcohol, drugs |
| Witchcraft | New age practices, yoga, crystals, reiki, eastern medicine, curses |
| Spiritually dead | Church tradition, living worldly, works for righteousness, seeking religion not relationship |
| Apathy | Sunday Christian, living unrepentant, relying on wealth, hyper-grace |
To those who participate in these transgressions Jesus promises these consequences:
- Death by pestilence
- To give to you according to your deeds
- Jesus will come like a thief in the night (when you don’t expect it)
- Spit you out
To those saved, Jesus promises these things:
- Authority over the nations (in the millennial kingdom)
- The morning star
- Walk with Jesus in white
- Name remains in the book of life
- Confess our name before the Father and His angels
- Keep us from the hour of testing
- Be a pillar in the temple of God
- Have a crown
- Write on us the name of His God, the New Jerusalem and His name
- Dine with Jesus
- Sit down with Jesus on His throne
These are amazing promises – promises that we all want!
Is There Hope for Those Left Behind?
The Bible indicates there is hope for those left behind, but it will be most difficult. Those left behind will enter the period of the dominion of the beast and the antichrist. Salvation will no longer be easy. Those left behind will still need to give their will to Jesus, but they will be tested.
They will need to deny the mark of the beast at great personal sacrifice, including the loss of their life. For the Bible states that, “as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.“
But for all those who accept death over giving allegiance to the beast, John sees this. “And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.“
So there is hope that if our loved ones are left behind they may one day be reunited with us. Those left behind will witness many people raptured, even their friends, children, parents, spouses and co-workers. Many who thought they were good Christians will realize they never fully surrendered to Jesus. I believe many will repent and have such strong faith because of the witness of the rapture that they will even face martyrdom with bravery and hope.
So let’s be incredible witnesses to them in how we live today. For even if we are not able to bring them to Christ, we can be an example to them so they will know how to live to overcome evil.
How Do we Cope with Loved Ones Left Behind?
If you are like me, not every one of your loved ones is saved. Recently, I heard about people dreaming about the rapture and I decided to ask God for such a dream. Before long I had one.
I was rising up in the sky and I looked around me. Some of my loved ones were rising with me, but not all of them. I remember in my heart crying out, “No! I can’t leave them.”
At that point I started to drop back down. Dropping, I had the feeling that in heaven I would be able to advocate for my loved ones on earth (as part of the cloud of witnesses). I decided to trust God and I began to rise again. Then I awoke.
Though this was just a dream, it left me with the question, “what if we decide to stay behind?” If we choose to stay behind to help those not raptured, will God honor our choice? I believe He would. We still have free will after all.
The prospect of the rapture becomes less hopeful when we think of those left behind. Use your time on earth wisely.
If You Don’t Know if You Will be Raptured
Were the rapture were to occur in five minutes would you be included? If you don’t know for sure and you are ready to commit to Jesus this is what you do.
Call out to Jesus. Truly repent for your sins. Affirm your belief that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and was resurrected. Confess out loud that Jesus is the Lord of your life and that you give Him your will. Most importantly, mean what you say! Have it come from your heart.
If you truly mean this in your heart, you will be covered by the blood of Jesus and when the times comes, you will be raptured.