Is Suicide a Forgivable Sin?

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My name is Brian Tom is and is always is enjoying an honor and a privilege to join you but I want to thank you for tuning. Well today I want to share with you the answer to a question that came out of our local assembly a couple weeks ago but before I get to that.

I want to invite you to be a part of our local assembly.

If you are looking for a body of believers that are really looking to dig deep into the word of God. We want you to be a part of this because that's exactly what we do each week we come together and we dig deep into the word of God said before, how you hear that saying that so so many places now were churches are 2 miles wide and 2 inches deep meaning that the cover surface topics they don't go deep into the word but I like for us to be several miles deep because we dig deep into the word of God. I mean we just reference scriptures and we just unpack it and it is such a great time that we have we have lively discussions, even though I'm the one who is leading it is, is not just you listening to me give up a monologue. There is back-and-forth discussion. There are questions in their comments again, which is have a great time, is very lively and only lively from the standpoint of Sanders conflict but I mean people are really enjoying getting into the word of God people's eyes are being open to what is going on in the world and that is what we do we tie the Bible to what is taking place in the world and that is why Bible prophecy is so important and that is why we cover it and just let me say to you now if if you are attending the church that is not studying Bible prophecy does not teaching you and in getting you to see how what is happening in the world relates to the Bible with the Bible, prophesied that I have to say you should strongly consider another church because we are living in the times that the Bible said would take place. I heard a pastor say not too long ago he was talking to a man who told him he would've been so great to live in the Bible days in the past as a man. We are living in the Bible days will living in the times that our Lord said these things will take place just before he returns.

And I certainly believe that is what we are seeing if you look around the society. The lawlessness that we see and how people in high places, political powers, how they are seen in seemly advocating this lawlessness, winking at a just letting it slide. We look at black lives matter. Critical race theory. We are not afraid to call out the wickedness that is in those organizations in those movements were not afraid because we know what the word of God says we stand on the truth of the word of God. So again if you want to be a part of an assembly that is not afraid to talk about things that the world will say is not politically correct to talk about. Come and join us. We would love to have you, because again we go deep into the word of God we love truth.

We are truth seekers. We are lovers of the truth in the Bible said Jesus Christ is the truth use the truth and the way and so if you love Jesus Christ you should be a lover of the truth because Jesus is the truth is one of the same and so we love again to go deep in the word and to share God's word and visit our website God first.org this GLD the number one ST.org there's information there where you can find out how you can be a part of our God first Bible Fellowship. So again please join us. We would love to have you. If you want to go deep into the word of God. You want to understand why these things are taken place in the world. There are people who since things are happening even nonbelievers. They say something is taken place and I'll just tell you now. What is taking place is that there are spirits that have descended upon the earth that is causing this lawlessness, that is causing this authoritarianism that is causing this.

This globalist movement. The Bible said these things would happen.

And right now we're going through the book of Revelation we started earlier this year were about halfway through and so we are digging deep into the word of God and so many are getting so much out of it and even myself as as the leader of the the lessons I'm learning so much because perspectives are given that I never thought about before. And so you know that saying that iron sharpens iron, so we have agreed again a great fellowship for God is blessed us with.

We would love for you to be a part of it so the question that came up a couple weeks ago, as were going through Revelation was what about suicide if a person commits suicide during the tribulation. What is their destination. So I want to share with you today, the, the answer to that question. If you would look at Revelation chapter 13 verse seven. The text tells us that it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them in authority was given him over every tribe and tongue and nation. This passage tells us that during the tribulation, the Antichrist will have authority over the entire world. He will unleash tremendous persecution on Christians and Israel Daniel chapter 7 verse 25 says he will wear out the saints. These will be tribulation saints. Those who miss the rapture because they were not saved but become born-again during the tribulation. Although Satan will have control over the nations.

Praise be to God to some individuals during that time will reject him and accept Jesus as the true Messiah. So I am a pre-tribulation rapture viewer. That is the view that I hold and so we're looking at this from this angle that the rapture has taken place. People have been left behind with the Bible says there are some who come to Christ during the tribulation. So what about those people who are left behind, but come to Jesus Christ. So the question was raised during our time. Again, our local assembly just a couple weeks ago that I want to expound on will Christians who commit suicide because of the great suffering during the tribulation still go to heaven. This is a very thought-provoking question.

First of all how great will the suffering be that he could call someone to be tempted to take their own life will Revelation tells us that there will be 21 judgment from God that will report out on the earth over a span of seven years VCU trumpet and bowl judgments will bring about famine, inflation, murder will increase as bad as it is in our world today. Folks, this, this pales in comparison to what is going to come, which is was just blows your mind of how bandit is going to be there will be cosmic disturbances, says one third of the trees and all green grass will be burned. The waters will turn to blood that will be torment from scorpion light locus sores breaking out of people's bodies. A scorching heat. A darkness so intense that people will know their tongues in pain and then 100 count hailstones want to fall into the earth. That is why Jesus stated in Matthew 24, 21 that this will be the worst time of the earth has ever seen or ever will see as God pours out his wrath on the unbelieving world covert, 19 has certainly brought about sickness and death and I'm not making light of it, but it pales in comparison to what the tribulation will be like. There has been a significant uptick in suicides during discovery 19 pandemic so should we expect an even greater increase in suicides during the tribulation and will Christians who do so still go to heaven. Well, apparently people will not be able to commit suicide at least four. During the tribulation. We find evidence of this in Revelation chapter 9 verses five through six which speaks of scorpion light locus that will torment mankind. That passage tells us, and they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months.

That torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man in those days men will seek death and will not find it, they will desire to die, and death will flee from them during this five month period. People want to die is insinuated that many will try to take their own lives, but will not die in can you imagine that God is going to make it so that people have to suffer under this judgment.

So, may walk the earth with with parts of their heads blown off from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, but not be able to die. There will be no way out.

And this is a good time to remind you to urge you to accept Christ as Lord today. If you have not already, so you will go away in the rapture and I have to face this torment that is going to come from the world again. Jesus says want to be the worst time that the earth has ever seen or ever will see as others opens up another question. Will God supernaturally protect Christians from judgments just as he protected the Israelites during the plagues in the land of Egypt. Well, as we look again at the torment of the scorpion light locus. Revelation 94 reads.

They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God and therefore here's. So are these sealed a reference to all Christians.

There is debate we find another account to chapters earlier that uses nearly identical language as we just looked at in Revelation 94 if you look over at Revelation chapter 7 verses two through four. We find the following text.

Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God, and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying do not harm the earth, the sea or the trees to we have sealed the servants of our God on. Therefore, here's and I heard the number of those who were sealed.

144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed all right. I think Revelation 94 in Revelation 72 through four is speaking of the same group of people and who are they, well we just read that they are 144,000 Jews who will be on special assignment from God to evangelize the world so this lets us know that there will be some on earth who will not suffer under the judgments. But what about the other followers of Christ, will they to be supernaturally protected. Well I cannot answer that with 100% certainty, but Revelation chapter 16 verse two tells us that only those who make allegiance to the Antichrist will suffer the first bowl judgment. That passage reads so the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. So will this applied to all of God's judgment judgments will only those with the mark of the beast receive them. Where the Bible does not say so we simply do not know we we can only speculate some points of first Thessalonians 59 to make the case that Christians will not suffer under God's judgment during the tribulation.

That passage tells us. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. I think this passage is specific to church age saints go away in the rapture before the tribulation that could apply to tribulation saints. Revelation 16 to implies that it real to some extents but I don't think we can say definitively that it will apply concerning all judgments now lean toward thinking only church age saints, a promise to not suffer the judgments at all. That is, those who go away to heaven by way of the rapture before the tribulation. I think this is the reward for accepting Christ in this age but whether tribulation saints suffer the judgments from God or not they will definitely suffer the persecution of the Antichrist. Many will suffer great hunger due to being unable to buy or sell without his Mark. Many will be beheaded for refusing to make allegiance to him again. Daniel 725 says he will wear out the saints going to be a time. But again, our Lord says there is has never seen nor ever will seek to be a great time of suffering and persecution want to take a short break.

The only other side of this announcement will come back and talk about it more. Don't go away you're tuned into God first program you are listening to God first.

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Now let's return to the conclusion of the program.

Welcome back to the program as we are looking at the tribulation and for Christians during that time who decide to take their own lives. What will be their eternal destination those again I want to thank you for joining us. You can visit our website God first.org is GLD number one ST.org and you can also write to us. God first Bible Fellowship, PO Box 266, Knightdale, NC 27545. So as we looking at before the break. This time of suffering will be great for many, but we must remind ourselves of our Lord's words in Matthew 2413 but he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Now this is not mean living to the end of the tribulation, but it means remaining faithful to Christ and all who do so will receive eternal life. So now that we have established that Christians will indeed suffer greatly during the tribulation back to the original question of will they go to heaven if they commit suicide. First off, I will say that if a Christian really want to die and go to heaven through the tribulation rather than commit suicide.

They can just live their lives in the open and what I mean by that is simply just do not hide or fight back against the Antichrist. You will usually be found in beheaded Revelation 20 verse four tells us that just take the same approach as the first century church will allow themselves to be fair to lions by Roman emperors, but if someone who is a true Christian, meaning they are born again takes their own life. I can definitively say based on Scripture that they will go to heaven. Now we must remember that suicide is not the unpardonable sin of Mark 328 through 30. I won't go into the unpardonable sin.

During this this episode will talk about that another day. But the unpardonable sin is not suicide. It is a sad reality that some Christians have committed suicide and the false teaching that committing suicide automatically equates to a sinister hail only adds to the tragedy unnecessarily. Many believe and teach that if a Christian commit suicide. Here she will not go to heaven.

That is simply not supported by the Bible. John 316 declares that as soon as a person becomes born again in Christ, they are guaranteed eternal life. That fact is further supported by first John 513, which reads these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Jesus died for all our sins past, present and future. A true Christian can and will come under spiritual attacks during their life. If in a moment of weakness. They take their own life that seal of suicide is still covered by the blood of Jesus Christ is important for us to understand that suicide is not the determining factor in whether a person is allowed entrance into heaven. A person who is not born again in Christ and commit suicide will go to hale, not because of suicide but because they did not believe in the name of the only begotten son of God, which is recorded in John 318.

Now some argue that a true Christian would not commit suicide but I want to caution that we should not be arrogant to think that we as fallen man cannot commit certain scenes. We all like to think we will stand true to God's word, no matter the circumstances, but long periods of suffering and torment can calls anyone to succumb in a moment of weakness.

Just look at the apostle Peter declared that he would be other that he would never deny Jesus, but when fear came. He did not our Lord. Not once but three times and many consider Peter to have been the fiercest of all the apostles. So never say what we will not do. But let me be clear that suicide is a senior and I would never encourage anyone to carry out such an act under any circumstances.

Suicide is murder and is always wrong for those who say that we do not know whether a believer will enter heaven or not.

If the commit suicide is in essence stating the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was not enough. Do not underestimate the blood of Christ, because the Bible declares that his death satisfied the wages of sin to God the father.

So to say that a Christian will go to heaven. Even when death comes by suicide by giving people a false hope. It is proclaiming simply what the Bible proclaims nor makes me think about the Pharisees and how they placed a great burden on people by just shaming them into following man-made rules when we teach that all people including believers go to hale if they die by suicide, we place an unnecessary grief on their loved ones who they left behind.

Let us follow the Bible and not man-made doctrines but you see people struggle with this because the idea that we have to ask for forgiveness for all of our seniors, or else they will be held against us. Think of it this way. There is probably not a married personal earth who has not experienced the sin of unrighteous anger toward their spouse and that unrighteous anger is a sin. So let's say I lose my temper with my wife in a moment of weakness.

Immediately walk out of the house and as soon as I step foot on the front porch. I am struck by lightning and keeled because I never asked for forgiveness for that sin does not mean I will go to hale. Even as a born-again believer course not. We should always ask for forgiveness to our Lord to express our sorrow for the act. But when we accept Christ all our seniors that we will ever commit our county for so whether it is during the tribulation or even in our present day a born-again believer in Christ is guaranteed to go to heaven. No matter how they die, even if it is by self murder, but again I stress and I take this teaching very, very seriously, because there is anyone out there that is contemplating suicide. You say to a born-again believer. This is not to influence you to take your life, and I truly believe that a born-again believer is not going to premeditate seeing in that sense because even though born-again we all know that seeing displeases our Lord even if is accounted for. He's not pleased with us committing sins and so this is not a license to take one's life and again I stress that I would never, ever, under any circumstances encourage someone to take their own life no matter what they're going through.

But the question really was raised from the standpoint of what about love ones who have been left behind and they are grieving and wondering will will mind my love one have eternal life and infirmity. The angle that we were looking at it in our local assembly is what about a believer that goes away in the rapture before the tribulation. They have love ones who were not saved and they were left behind, but then come to know Jesus Christ.

During the tribulation. If they take their own life during that time will they go to heaven, so that is the scenario in which this this question was presented and that is the angle by which I was looking to answer it, but again we stress that under no circumstances do we encourage suicide, but there are people in the world today who are grieving unnecessarily thinking that their loved one definitely went to hale because they took their own life invokes the Bible simply does not teach that that is a false doctrine of people teaching that if you take your own life.

That means an automatic sin is to heal so we don't want people grieving unnecessarily.

But again I stress when we look at this time that we are living in today and we look at what is to come. This time the Jesus said to be the worst time to the world has ever seen or ever will see nothing to play with folks there. People who play that game and they say well if all the stuff is true about the rapture and the tribulation.

I'll just wait until that time comes, and when I see the rapture take place.

Then I'll I'll get right with God. At that time. This is a very, very dangerous game because 441. Nobody is guaranteed to live another day.

Nobody is guaranteed to live another seconds he could drop dead at any moment from a natural calls or from a car accident or from anything, so don't play that game of you will just get right when the time comes. The other thing that the Bible says that because they did not love the truth.

God will send some strong delusion so they will believe a lie that we don't know exactly which ones that that will be how God is going to decide who receives the strong delusion who does not. But I imagine that it would be some of those people who play that game and say I'm just going to live for the devil and then get right with God. When the tribulation comes, will God apparently is going to say no you didn't choose to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. When you have the opportunity you intentionally refused to get right. You chose to just run with the devil. So he's going to make it so that you want to believe the lie. What is that life the lies that the antichrist is God and people will worship him and give allegiance to him. So again folks that will be the great deception the great lie and many will choose the antichrist but in doing so they will know without a doubt that they are given allegiance to him. By accepting their heart they are declaring him as God, but of course we know the God of the Bible is true God, so don't play the game of waiting until the time comes, because foes will, living in the days just like that pastor said we are seeing fulfillment of what the Bible says in Revelation and in Daniel and in all the prophetic passages that are pointing to Lewis second coming. We are seeing these things come to pass and again these are things pointing to the day when all those feet will touch the earth.

That's what his second, the rapture, he doesn't come to the earth.

He just descends into the clouds.

We called up to meet him in the air that comes before the second coming. So we are already seeing the signs are pointing to the day when his feet touch the earth.

We know the rapture is even that much nearer. And so that is why we should be excited in all fire and getting right with the Lord. For those of us who are believers in him getting ourselves ready. Be prepared as a bride prepared for the bridegroom coming to get us there for those who have not received him now is the time. I encourage you to do it today because Jesus said when you see all these things begin to happen to look up and watch for your redemption draws near and foes, we see the things taken place in the world that, although it says you will see these things take place before I come.

So again folks.

I want to extend the invitation to you if you would like to be a part of our local assembly each week of we talk about the prophet prophecy we talk about the coming of our Lord talk about things that are taking place in the world. We don't shy away from any topics we believe in the truth, and we love the truth of God's word and we are excited about our coming Messiah because he is coming soon and man.

It just was a joy to my heart when I see the things that even though I feel heartbroken over wickedness being promoted. But I get excited over the idea that our Lewis said these things would happen just before he returns the folks we are all the time for this week, but I want to thank you once again for 20 unit is always a joy to spend time with you each week. Please come back next time.

As we continue to encourage you to put God first, while viewing life through the window of the Bible. Until then, remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem is God's great nation of Israel to the only wise God be glory through Jesus Christ, forever a mental thank you for tuning into the God first present. Please join us next week as we continue to encourage you to put God first window of the final until next time Jerusalem got great nation of Israel and the kingdom of