Are There Few That Be Saved?

“Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved?” (Luke 13:23 KJV). Jesus replied, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (13:24). How hard should you “strive” (13:24)? “With all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). The “few” and “many” of Luke 13 are relative terms comparing the “saved” and unsaved. 

Earth’s population is 8.2 billion (2024). 

The population of the angelic host at the time of Lucifer’s Rebellion was not specified, but 1/3 of the angelic host rebelled with Lucifer. “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born” (Revelation 12:4). Satan was outnumbered in a ratio of 2 to 1. Since Satan cannot oppose the Almighty in the End Times scenario with a greater number of Fallen Angels than the LORD’s Elect Angels, the Devil must resort to a Seed War — “between thy seed and her seed” (Genesis 3:15) — to breed an army to oppose the Almighty during the Tribulation Week — “the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand” (Revelation 9:16). 

In excess of 100 million angels and representatives of the redeemed of humanity are depicted in a Heavenly Throne Scene — possibly following the Rapture (Revelation 5:11). 

More important than our knowledge of how many are saved, Is our hope of Heaven based only upon a past certainty or a present seeking, as well? 

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

Father, assemble a host innumerable to praise Your name forever. May we have the joy of those who look for Your Son’s soon appearing “a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation” (Hebrews 9:28 NET). In Jesus saving name, we pray. Amen.

Israel: Pariah of the World

Following the Holocaust of WW2, sympathy for the downtrodden Jew was most prevalent. The modern Jewish state of Israel has repeatedly fought and won wars with neighboring Arab nations since its 1948 reincarnation. With the most recent invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, it was unreasonable for Hamas to defeat and occupy Israel, but Hamas could fight a limited war, sacrificing the lives of an estimated 36,000 Gazan fighters and residents, in exchange for a growing sympathy from the world for the plight of Gaza and an increased hostility toward Israel. Now, Israel is the pariah or outcast for its war in Gaza. Anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment is now acceptable among the liberal establishment that once championed the right of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or age. What has changed? The secular world is governed by satan, “the god of this world” (2Corinthians 4:4 KJV), who hates Israel because Israel is loved by the LORD, who says, “My kindness shall not depart from thee” (Isaiah 54:10). It may take a bizarre, otherworldly change of events for Israel to have friendly relations again with its near neighbors, much less to fulfill the End Times predictions of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). But, the Almighty is positioning all things for this certain confrontation. LORD, You are the God who overrules the wicked one. Cause Your Church to be taught about what will come to pass. Help us to understand the capabilities of Your enemy. Cause us not to be blindsided by our foes from the Unseen Realm. Grant to Your Church the ability and the understanding to appreciate what You are about to do. Even so, return quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen and amen. 

Greatness for God

“According to biblical prophecy, the end times will be marked by the increase of evil but also by the outpouring of God’s Spirit. Thus it will be marked both by great good and great evil. Thus the end-time believers must aspire not only to goodness—but to greatness. They must seek to become great in faith, great in love, great in righteousness, great in prayer, great in purity, great in worship, great in zeal, great in hope, great in joy, great in goodness, great in God.” The Josiah Manifesto: The Ancient Mystery & Guide for the End Times by Jonathan Cahn. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come” (Joel 2:28-31 KJV).

Age of Polarization

“In an age of polarization, when the darkness is purging itself of its grayness to become wholly dark, the light must, likewise, purge itself of its own grayness to become wholly light. If the darkness is to become darker, the lights must shine all the more bright.” The Josiah Manifesto: The Ancient Mystery & Guide for the End Times by Jonathan Cahn. A wholehearted separation unto the LORD will become more manifest in our lives, when our consecration is more than superficial. “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Matthew 4:16 KJV).