Some of the most astonishing prophecies in the Bible are to do with the number of people who will be saved when Jesus Christ returns at His second coming. Jesus spoke in very clear language about how many people would be saved in the end:
Matthew 20:16 ...'So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.'
Matthew 22:14 ...'For many are called, but few are chosen.'
Now many people will say that few are saved in comparison to all the people that live and have lived. But if you look at what Jesus said, you will see that He is talking about those who profess to be in the faith. He said that out of the 'called' one's, only few are chosen. Those 'called' people are those who profess to be Christians and follow Jesus, and yet He is saying that only few of these will actually be saved. Do you see that? Jesus didn't say that only few out of ALL people would be saved, but only few out of the 'called' people, ie. Christians!
The professing Christian world needs to wake up to this message now!
Why are only few chosen? Jesus explains this in another verse ... Matthew 7:13-14 ...'Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.' ... The majority of the called people (professing Christians) are heading down the 'broad' way, which leads to destruction. The narrow path is the only way to be saved through Jesus, and only few will find it. Think about it, many of the professing Christians in this world think that they can just believe in Jesus, turn up at their social club (church) a couple times and week to sing rock songs with "Christian" words, chat to their friends about the worldly things they did during the week, and be saved! They believe that you don't need to keep God's law anymore, that you don't really need to make any sacrifices in your life for Christ, and that you can carry on living a worldly life, "as long as you have Jesus!" Does someone living this way REALLY have Jesus? According to Jesus they don't and they are heading right down to destruction. Think about those two ways; one is broad, so it must be an 'easy' way, and the other is narrow, so it must be a difficult path. Which of the two is being preached in the churches today? The 'easy' broad way!
Jesus Himself warned us about the preachers who would teach this way of thinking, right after the verses where He's describing the 'broad' and 'narrow' way ... Matthew 7:15-16 ...'Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.' ... There certainly are ravening wolves inside the professing church today. The door has been opened to satan and he is taking control of a lot of the churches out there. I believe it will get so bad, that what Jesus said in Luke will be so true ... Luke 18:8 ...'Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?' ... Jesus isn't talking about "professing" faith here, He is talking about TRUE, sacrificial, unshakeable faith. A faith that I believe, is sadly lacking in this world today. And why is this world full of professing Christians who will NOT be chosen when Jesus returns? Because they don't study God's Word in the Bible for themselves. Instead they let these false teachers and preachers do their studying for them, while they spend their time reading useless novels! It amazes me how much time the professing Christian today spends reading novels compared with Bible study. Will Jesus find faith on the earth when He returns? Very little!
Will Jesus find faith on the earth when He comes?
Jesus even compared the end of time with the days of Noah, and look at how many were saved then, 8!! God has always had a 'remnant' people throughout history, and it will be no different at the end. There is a little flock of people who hold true to God's Word and have a true faith in Jesus, and who are these? Take a look at the remnant church to find out what is different about their faith and how you can be part of it.
Look at the parable of the ten virgins:
Matthew 25:1-12 ...'Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.'
All ten of these virgins were 'called' and they all expected to be saved, but only 5 were actually saved. Why? Because the other five had lost their 'first love' for Jesus. They had stopped studying God's Word for themselves, and they didn't realize that they didn't have enough oil (Holy Spirit) to make the journey. I fear that the majority of professing Christians today will be in the camp of the five foolish virgins. The foolish virgins knew the Lord Jesus, but they didn't truly LIVE FOR HIM. The biggest lesson from this parable is that when the door of mercy is shut, even if you then realize your mistake and turn to Jesus, it will be too late! Which is why Jesus said in the next verse:
Matthew 25:13 ...'WATCH therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.'
We need to be watching, preparing, waiting, studying and living for Jesus everyday! Jesus confirmed that just knowing and saying His name wasn't enough. He also confirmed that even prophesying in His name or casting out devils wasn't enough ... Matthew 7:21-23 ...'Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.' ... Why did Jesus not know them, and therefore reject them? Because they did iniquity! The original greek word for iniquity was 'anomia'. Now take a look at this interesting description from Strong's for the meaning of this word: 'the condition of without law'; 'because of ignorant of it'; 'because of violating it'. So these people who did these wonderful works for Jesus, were lost because they were WITHOUT God's law! They were carrying on in a life of sin! And this is the very message coming out from many pulpits today! Saying that we need not keep God's law anymore! How blind the professing church is today! It's interesting that Jesus said only those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom, and what is the will of God? How do we TRULY know Him?
Romans 12:1-2 ...'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.'
1 John 2:1,3,4 ...'My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.'
1 John 2:15 ...'Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.'
1 John 3:4-6 ...'Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.'
1 John 5:3 ...'For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.'
1 Thessalonians 4:1,3,7 ...'Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.'
Friend, make sure you are not one of the many that walk down the 'broad' path to destruction, to whom Jesus will say 'depart from me' when He comes. Watch, wait, prepare, study, pray, separate, and do all the things that a true disciple of Christ would do. Give your all to Jesus today and don't look back, and make sure you are one of the few chosen out of the many called.
Jesus says "depart from Me" to those who are WITHOUT God's law