Andy states that when you pick a view on a Doctrinal position you pick the one that answers the most questions. So his effort in this teaching video deals with post-Tribs biggest problem. he says that under Post-Tribulationalism that there will be no saved mortals to rule over, because all the saved are Raptured and are given new bodies, and that those ruled over in the Tribulation are saved mortals, who could not be raptured and at the same time be left for the sheep and goats judgment. This would be impossible with the rapture and second coming in a post-Trib timing, he says.

Andy states that you have to have an expanse of time between the Rapture and the end of the Tribulation, because you have to have converts who remain mortal to reign over.

So we will look into who then has the bigger problem with the actual teaching about these mortals within the Scripture. These mortals are important to the millennium and to the rule of Christ and His bride over a “mortal” population on earth at that time. But are they saved?

So let’s consider this from Revelation where we are told two things that seem very certain. First, If you don’t accept the mark of the beast you will die. And second, if you do accept the mark and also worship the beast, Christ will destroy you at His appearance. So again you die. These two scriptures give the pre-Trib understanding the real problem, and it results because they attempt to divide Israel from Christ’s salvation in the New Covenant Church, which Jesus stated that He would build. That born again experience is the only way of entrance into the Lamb’s book of Life. Yet for entrance into the millennium (the age to come) both Jews and Gentiles must come as resurrected members of the bride of Christ (to understand Israel’s part see Isa 54. Israel has a promise of inclusion in the bride).

Now back to Revelation: And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Revelation 13:15 KJV

This verse and the next must be used to govern how things must be seen for the people of the Tribulation. This verse above is often used by teachers like Andy who try to argue that there could be no post-Trib Rapture, because there is no one left alive to Rapture at the end of the Tribulation. This would be true if Israel were not part of the new covenant church, which is the bride. But Israel is carried into the wilderness and protected until she recognizes Jesus as her Messiah, and there she calls upon Him individually and as a body to save her during the days of Armageddon (see Isa. 63 and Hosea 5 and 6 for Christ’s role in her salvation at that time)

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,

Revelation 14:9-10a KJV

So, based on this word to John in the Revelation, all who do worship the beast would die at the hand of Jesus when He comes. This wrath bringing death occurs when Jesus returns to conclude what he is seen as having begun in Isa 63’s prophecy. He in fact returns in this same blood stained garment in Rev 19.

So just who are the sheep at the sheep and Goats Judgment, if everyone is dead except the Resurrected and Raptured bride? I’ll explain Scriptures teaching. We have seen that Israel is the remaining or final part of the bride, who is left alive at the end of the Tribulation to be Raptured? So who are the sheep and goats of Matt 25?

Andy Woods says that pre-Trib teaching has the best answers to all of these questions, but do they? He says that Post-Trib has no answer, but is he right? Andy quotes Ron Rhodes: (and I will paraphrase his points) those, who are not the bride, but who enter the millennium will have mortal bodies, they will marry, they will bear children; grow old; and die. Non mortals will not do any of this. Here is his quote: to read it you must click on it and enlarge it.

Andy states that all other Rapture theories answer this problem except post-Trib, is he right?

I have answered this question here and many other times as well, and will answer it here again. First if all believers, who do not receive the mark and worship the beast die, who will be left to Rapture? The simple answer is the Jews who are protected in Edom near Petra by the Eagles wings in Rev 12. Even as we have seen, they may be the only ones alive and remaining of the Bride, who are promised in Isa 54 to be wed to their redeemer (Jesus).

So, who then makes up the sheep at the sheep and goats judgment? If one reads carefully Matt. 25, you will see that none of the mortals at this judgment know anything of what Jesus is saying, until He explains it at this moment when He divides them. They are separated (sheep from goats) not because of their salvation, but because of their past works toward Jesus brethren, who are now standing there at that time with Him. This remember is after the Tribulation. His bride is all standing there with Him. The gathering of that bride took place in the sky above them, and they now stand with Him on the earth. It is the resurrected brethren of the Tribulation of whom Jesus speaks when He states “in as much as you did this to the least of these My brethren so you have done it unto Me”.

The tribulation brethren before the Rapture had no means to purchase even the necessities of life. They took no mark, but just as God provides for the sparrow, He provides for their sustenance. There is never mentioned in this passage in Matt.25, that these mortals are given entrance into this eternal kingdom for any other reason then for their treatment of Jesus’ brethren. And though the kingdom is eternal they remain mortal. They marry, give birth and die as Andy has pointed out. If they were saved they would never die. At the end of the 1000 years of our rule with Christ many of these same mortals will follow Satan in rebellion, and they will then be cast into the lake of fire.

The truth is that no one who is “in Christ” can remain as mortal after the Rapture. Why? — because all who do die in Christ are resurrected, and then all who remain “in Christ” must be Raptured. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (KJV)

◦ This verse tells us when the Rapture occurs — it is at “the coming of the Lord”. You must understand that during the Tribulation there will be many who die “in Christ”. At the time of the Rapture all of the dead “in Christ” must first be resurrected. This verse makes clear that this happens at His coming. It is only after the resurrection of all, who are the dead “in Christ” that Paul states:

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (KJV). (The Lord does not remain in the air)

The answers that I have given to both you and Andy here are the scriptural answers to his question wherein he states: “no post Trib believer will answer”. He begins his message stating that any good theologian must know what his opposition believes. Once you hear his message you will know that he does not know the post-Trib position. For him to be able to glean a saved bunch of mortals to be on earth from these scriptures, is to see other teaching then what Scripture has pointed out to you about them, and to do that one must be willing to twist what is written in these scriptures.

Here is Andy’s message, you decide which of us answers this question according to what we are told in scripture. One other point. The Goats of Matt 25 are destroyed in keeping with this teaching, they must have received the mark and worshiped the beast in order to survive. That seems to be understood. The mortal sheep here must also have received the mark in order to not have been killed by the Antichrist. So why are they spared by Jesus? Worshiping the beast is part of this curse. Since they are not destroyed by Christ we must conclude that they did not worship Antichrist even though they must have received the mark in order to survive. God we must remember looks upon the heart, and only He knows within whom actual worship takes place.