From the time our Savior walked this earth all the way to today, certain people have been ready to leave this sin-filled world and be with Him forever. We are the ones who have received and accepted Jesus as our Eternal Savior and are waiting for either the Rapture or our death to take place. (ESV – all emphasis is mine.)

Paul stated in Philippians 1:21-23, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose, I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is much better.”

For all who are saying they cannot possibly be saved because of all the evil they have done in their lifetimes, the Apostle Paul’s example speaks volumes. He spoke of his life before his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 8).

In Acts 7, we’re told of the martyrdom of Stephen. When he was stoned, Saul (Paul) was there, and we’re told in Acts 8:1, “And Saul approved of his execution.” In Acts 8:3, “But Saul was ravaging the Church, and entering house to house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” Many of those early Christians suffered horrible deaths because of Saul.

Going to Philippians 3:5-7, Paul testified, “Circumcised on the 8th day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. As to the law, a Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” All his past was changed for him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).

Prior to Calvary, people had to put their faith and trust in our Holy Father, Creator of the heavens and the earth. His covenant was that all who were in His will, even though the pure, sinless blood sacrifice had not yet been made, would spend eternity with Him in Heaven. When Jesus shed His sin-free blood on the cross at Calvary, His gift reached back to those who were faithful and in God’s will.

When Jesus rose from the dead, our covenant was sealed. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. That’s found in Joel 2:32, which was about 400 years prior to the arrival of Jesus; Acts 2:21, where Peter affirms the scripture in Joel; and Romans 10:13 as part of the “A-B-Cs” of Salvation given by Paul.

There have been false prophets and antichrists from the beginning of Earth’s existence. Satan led the way with his deception of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). God could have destroyed Satan and the humans at that time, but His plans for us are reserved for the final judgments at the end of the millennial reign of our Savior on this earth. There will be two distinct final judgments and only two outcomes. One is Eternal Salvation and to be with Jesus forever; the other is eternal condemnation and to be in torment with Satan and his demons.

By the way, the “demons” are fallen angels who decided to follow Lucifer or Satan rather than worship the Heavenly Father who created them all. They have no pathway to forgiveness ever as they had already been in the presence of our Mighty God.

No matter what false prophets and antichrists try to have you believe, there are not “many” ways to Heaven without Jesus. The official faithful translations of the Bible are God’s instructions to us written by about 40 Holy Spirit-inspired authors (2 Samuel 23:2, 2 Timothy 3:1617, and 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Satan leads those who prefer the ways of this world rather than those who long for eternity with Jesus. In 2 Peter 3:3-4 we read, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.'”

Believers prefer 2 Peter 3:13; “But according to His promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

We can be assured that “There’s A Great Day Coming” for all who are in Christ. Will L. Thompson (1849-1901) wrote a song with that title. It’s a very basic easy to understand hymn that encourages us to get ready for our journey Home.

1.) There’s a great day coming, a great day coming; there’s a great day coming by and by. When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left; are you ready for that day to come?

Ref) Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready for the Judgment Day? Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready for the Judgment Day?

2. There’s a bright day coming, a bright day coming; there’s a bright day coming by and by. But its brightness shall only come to those who love the Lord; are you ready for that day to come? (ref)

3.) There’s a sad day coming, a sad day coming; there’s a sad day coming by and by. When the sinner shall hear his doom; “Depart, I know ye not”; are you ready for that day to come? (ref)

Two verses are absolute declarations that dispel all references made by false prophets. My chosen “life verse” is John 14:6; “And Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Second, and just as important, Peter told the religious counsel of Pharisees and Sadducees in Acts 4:12, “And there is Salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

For those of us who have been around for a while, it is obvious that this world is changing rapidly into what Jesus, Luke, Peter, John, Paul, and others described as nearing the end of this age. No one can positively state that this will take place on a certain date or at a certain time. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24:36, “But concerning that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Right here, doubters will say that Jesus could not be God, or He would have known that information. We must remember that for our Savior’s sacrifice to be accepted by Our Heavenly Father, He would have had to become “fully human” for a time. Hebrews 2:9 is one verse that states Jesus was made lower than the angels for a little while. His obedience to the Father was complete all the way to His death on a cruel Roman cross. John 10:18 tells us Jesus did this willingly for our sakes.

Is it any wonder that all who truly receive and accept Jesus as their Savior will be given eternal life by our Heavenly Father? (Romans 10:9-13)

Likewise, all who refuse to ask Jesus for forgiveness and for Him to be their Savior will end up in the lake of fire as described in Revelation 20:11-15.

False prophet and antichrist activity is increasing in preparation for the arrival of the ultimate evil one who will be the leader of the seven-year tribulation. Rather than be totally dismayed because of the persecutions of our Great Shephard’s precious flock, we should be hopeful in anticipation of our rising up to meet Jesus in the air at any moment (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53) This has to happen before the antichrist can appear (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10).

We’re told in 2 Peter 3:9 that Our Father is patient towards us and wants no one to fail. He provides more chances than we can count, but He will not force anyone to accept His Son.

Man-made religions that will all end up in the lake of fire have many deeds that must be done, contributions made, and blindly following the humans in command. There is nothing divine about any of this.

No matter what we believe we can do on our own to gain God’s approval, Isaiah 64:6 tells us our “works are as filthy rags.” We must follow Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”

We will have an eternity to serve and worship our Lord in whatever capacity we will be given. We will never feel insignificant or unloved in any manner, shape, or form.

The hardest part is believing it’s true. To many, it’s easier to fall for Satan’s lie that we must not believe it’s that easy as we must work for our salvation.

Our Heavenly Father will not lie or play games with us in reference to our eternity. He is our Creator, and He loves us beyond any understanding we could possibly have. All He asks is that we call out to His Son, admit we’re sinners and cannot be saved without Him (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23), and ask His forgiveness and be our Savior forever (Romans 10:13).

Once the Trumpet of God sounds and the shout comes from an archangel and all believers are taken up to meet Jesus in the air, it will be too late to call out to be in the Rapture. Paul tells us the process will be made in the “twinkling of an eye,” or less than one second.

Right now would be a good time to ask Jesus to save you forever. Read God’s letter to us (Bible), starting with John and then Romans if you’ve never read it before.

Believe and Receive; it’s about as simple as that. Come, Lord Jesus!

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