THE TRIBULATION CHURCH - GODLY OR APOSTATE?

Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

January 20, 2016

I just heard J. Vernon McGee say on radio that the only church in the coming “tribulation” is an apostate church. He said this today, 1-20-16. Is this true? Is the only church in the coming “tribulation” an apostate church? What saith the scriptures? The scriptures show us that Vernon McGee is totally wrong. Take a look at these saints in Revelation which is the ultimate last day’s book. The saints in this book are true “tribulation” saints and notice what John says about them.

Revelation 5:8-10
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 6:9-11
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Revelation 7:9
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, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Verses 13-15 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Revelation 15:2-4
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 12:10-12
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

What you just read is a true description of the saints who will live during the coming tribulation. Does this look like an apostate church to you? These are probably the strongest and most dedicated saints in all the Bible. To call these saints apostate is insane. J. Vernon McGee will have to apologize to these saints one day. McGee wrote his own book of Revelation because he did not like what the King James Bible said and in his book he may say these saints are apostate, but in the book John wrote they are probably the best church in the Bible. Don’t be fooled by McGee’s “folksy humor” as many people are. He constantly changes the Bible to fit his doctrine and when a man has to change the Bible to prove his doctrine then its obvious his doctrine is false. For him to say that the only church in the coming tribulation  is an apostate church is absolute heresy.