What About Casual Followers of Jesus Christ, or Those Who Don’t Know Him. What Will Happen to Them During the 7-Year Tribulation Period.

Posted May 20, 2025 | End Times Watch

After my post yesterday, I kept thinking that so many people don’t just fit into the boxes of Saved and Not Saved…It’s more complicated than that.

There are many people who have never even had the chance to learn about Jesus Christ, and there are Many, Many good people that just have not made that commitment to follow the Savior in their life.

I thought about all of these people well into the night last night. I am also aware of a VERY Fair Compassionate Father in Heaven. Knowing this made me realize that there is so much more to this that 100% in or 100% out. What about the many awesome people, that I know of, who just are too involved with living life, and have not even given the end-times any thought? What will happen to them?

This is a deeply important and sobering question. According to the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, the 7-year Tribulation will be a time of unprecedented judgment and wrath upon the earth — but it will also be a time of God’s mercy, where many people will still have the opportunity to repent and turn to Jesus Christ.

1. The Tribulation Begins with Judgment

The Tribulation period, as described in Revelation 6–19, Daniel 9:27, and Matthew 24, begins after the restrainer (often believed to be the Holy Spirit working through the Church) is removed. The Antichrist rises to power, deception abounds, and God’s judgments begin to fall upon the earth.

Those who do not know Christ or ignore His teachings will face:

Deception by the Antichrist

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
— 2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 (KJV)

Delusion from God for Those Who Rejected Truth

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
— 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (KJV)

Those who have clearly rejected Jesus may fall under this judgment, being given over to deception because they refused the truth when it was offered.

2. Yet Mercy Remains: Multitudes Will Still Be Saved

Even amid the judgment, God will reach out with mercy. The 144,000 sealed servants (Revelation 7:3–8) and the two witnesses (Revelation 11:3–12) will preach the gospel powerfully. Many will hear and believe. This is His plan to address all of those who fall into this category.

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne…
…These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
— Revelation 7:9, 14 (KJV)

So, many who did not previously know Christ will come to faith during the Tribulation—but it will cost them everything, often including their lives.

3. Those Who Continue in Rebellion Will Face God’s Wrath

Those who refuse to repent will endure God’s increasingly severe judgments:

• Seals, Trumpets, and Bowl Judgments — catastrophic events, including war, famine, pestilence, and cosmic disturbances (Revelation 6–16)
• Worship of the Beast — those who take the mark of the beast will be irreversibly judged:

“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark…
…The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God… and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone…”
— Revelation 14:9–10 (KJV)

When Do The 144,000 and Two Witnesses Appear in the 7-year Tribulation Period?

The 144,000 will appear very early in the 7-year Tribulation period. The primary scripture describing the 144,000 is Revelation 7:1–8, which is inserted between the sixth and seventh seals:

“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth… saying, Hurt not the earth… till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”
— Revelation 7:1–3 (KJV)

Timing: This “sealing” happens before the first trumpet judgment (Revelation 8), which comes after the seventh seal is opened.

Who they are: The 144,000 are described as 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel—they are Jewish believers, sealed and protected for a divine mission.

Their role: While not explicitly called evangelists in the text, many Bible scholars believe the 144,000 are witnesses of Christ during the Tribulation, possibly helping lead the massive multitude of Gentiles to salvation (Revelation 7:9–14).

Timeline Overview:

Here’s a simplified sequence within the Tribulation:

1. Seal Judgments (Revelation 6–8)
   • The 144,000 are sealed between the 6th and 7th seals.
   • This places their appearance around the beginning or first quarter of the Tribulation.
2. Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8–11)
   • Begin shortly after their sealing.
   • The 144,000 are likely active throughout this period.
3. Midpoint (Revelation 11–13)
   • The Antichrist reveals his true nature, demands worship, and sets up the image.
   • The 144,000 remain protected (cf. Revelation 14:1–5 shows them still faithful with the Lamb on Mount Zion).
4. Great Tribulation (second 3.5 years)
   • The 144,000 may continue witnessing or be removed/protected further, though Scripture doesn’t specify exact details.

The 144,000 appear early in the 7-year Tribulation, most likely during the first 1–2 years, before the trumpet judgments begin. They are sealed by God for protection and possibly serve as His special witnesses during this time of global chaos and judgment.

The Time to Turn Toward Jesus Christ is Now

The Tribulation will be a time of both unimaginable horror and final opportunity. Those who ignore Christ now may not get another chance. The Bible urges immediate repentance and faith:

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
— 2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)

Group	What Happens During the Tribulation (KJV View)
Unbelievers who reject truth	Strong delusion; deceived by Antichrist; receive wrath (2 Thess. 2:10–12; Rev. 16)
Those who repent during the Tribulation	Can be saved, but face persecution, martyrdom (Rev. 7:9–14)
Those who worship the Beast	Irrevocable judgment, torment (Rev. 14:9–11)
Those who accept Christ before the Tribulation	Delivered (raptured or protected, depending on interpretation) (1 Thess. 4:16–17)

God, once again is going to give people every chance to know and follow the Savior, Jesus Christ. However, can you see that delaying this commitment only makes things more difficult for you?

Accept Christ into your life right now, and follow His teachings. It doesn’t get any easier than this…seriously! If you think that you’ll just put this off until you “Have To,” you will obviously have to deal with painful and troubling times to get your attention, and change your ways. Don’t wait for that.

I give my eternal praise to God for being so patient with us all. He wants you to find peace today, and is giving you every opportunity to turn to our Savior and follow Him. Won’t you decide to start that journey today? Invite Him into your life. Talk to Him in prayer, repent of your mistakes and ask for His forgiveness.

By doing this, you will see a new life of PEACE and understanding. Most importantly, you will then know that you are prepared to successfully face the 7-year tribulation period which will begin very soon.

The dark clouds of the Tribulation are gathering. Come into the shelter and join us, as we place our FAITH in Jesus Christ. Come to feel the peace as we TRUST that He will see us through.

And, spend more time realizing the Glorious New Earth, “Heaven” that we will soon reside in. If you spend time studying this place, your emotions will change from dread to excitement in knowing that we have reservations in the most “Glamorous Hotel” in heaven, and We Just Can’t Wait to get there!!!

I admire your commitment of continuing to read my daily writings about the end times. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to my blog, and invite your friends and bible study groups to do so as well, www.EndTimesWatch.blog. There is never a charge, and always new information about the End-Times. Don’t miss out, and help me spread these teachings to others.

May you Trust God to be with you today, and always. Much Love and Prayers headed your way.

River Wilde