In our daily meditations over the last few days, we have reflected on the Parable of the Ten Virgins. We recognized that the Lord warned there would be no second chances for salvation and that the five foolish virgins, who were unprepared when the Bridegroom arrived, were shut out. Today, we turn to another passage in the Scriptures where Jesus issued a similar warning:
23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' 26"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' 28"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out (Luke 13:23-28; emphasis added).
The Lord clearly warns that there will be no second chances after He comes for His people. The Scripture states that the door of salvation will be closed to the unbelieving (v. 25) and that when that time arrives, there will be much regret, weeping, and gnashing of teeth- a phrase that indicates pain. Theologians refer to Christ’s coming for His people as the Rapture or the snatching away of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:17). When God’s people are caught up, the wrath of God will begin to be poured out on those who have willfully rejected His free offer of pardon. I don’t see anything in this passage that indicates even the slightest hope that the door will be open again if someone were to come later.
Once the door shuts, there will be no opportunity to gain entrance into the Kingdom of God. It is as if God's drawbridge of grace lifts, leaving those who remain to face the wrath of God and be eternally outside of His Kingdom. This hard truth is painful because we all have friends and relatives who may be left outside that door when it closes. It will not matter what kind of good life you led on earth, nor whether you attended church or took communion (ate and drank with you, v. 26). When Christ comes for His people, the deciding factor will be whether you have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23).
When will this Rapture of the saints occur? Jesus said that the gathering together of the elect (those who have relationship and faith in Him) would take place, “Immediately after the distress (KJV Tribulation) of those days…at that time…he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31). I believe the world will soon enter that dark time before Christ comes.
Only those who have a relationship with Jesus can enter through the door. If you are uncertain about your fate on that day, God desires you to be confident and prepared. He wants us to be assured that we will be with Him when the door is closed or when we die (1 John 5:13). If you need clarification on these things, click the following link and read the study: How Do I Become a Christian? Cry out to Him today. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). Keith Thomas.
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If you'd like to study this topic more in-depth, there are 23 studies in the Book of Revelation and 10 in The End Times.
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