Most professionals think that a great multitude will come to be known by our Father and then murdered during the Tribulation as evidenced by Revelation 7:14. Until a few weeks ago, that’s what I thought as well. It may well be true? But I suspect that it isn’t. Please let me explain.

It appears to me that when the fifth seal is opened it gives us a picture of the OT saints who have been killed from Adam to the cross and are “under the alter” (not at the foot of the cross) and who want retribution. Eye for an eye. They don’t seem to be associated with the grace that Jesus bestowed at the cross. Notice that they are there “because of the word of God and because of the testimony which they maintained”. No mention of the “testimony of Jesus” like we see in Rev 12:17.

So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Notice that the descriptor of “and hold to the testimony of Jesus” is added to clarify the people being made war with = the Christians (outside of the theater who cannot be directly persecuted), not the Jews who are probably being persecuted in theater. Also note that the Christians are said to be “the rest of her (the woman’s = the Jews) children”.

Then the sixth seal is broken and among other things, we have the large group with “palm branches”. No mention of retribution. Under grace. I suspect this is cluing us in that they are those who have died from the cross to the rapture.

Not the ones who die during the tribulation.

Think about it? If a huge multitude comes to Jesus during the tribulation, in order to be in Heaven, they have to die. Some will. Some will die of old age. Some will be murdered. But if a huge amount die, then where are all the “sheep” who will inhabit the Millennium?

No doubt that about half of the population of the planet will become sheep and half goats, but the sheep don’t die. They live on.

So, I suspect that our hope that those we leave behind will come to be known by the Father via the stress of the last 7 years is true, but I suspect that most of them will not die and will live on to populate the Millennium.