Prophecy Requires Our Participation

Are There Few That Be Saved?

Ken

“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.

Has Israel Been Cursed?

Ken

Yes. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 1:19-20 KJV). If Israel is cursed, it is only because they have rebelled against the LORD. How is the cursed removed? “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14). National repentance works for any nation to return to God. How long will Israel’s curse last? Until their national blindness is lifted by Jehovah.”For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:25-27). 

When will all this happen? “I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early” (Hosea 5:15). Israel will collectively realize their offense against the Son of God. “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10). This will occur in a single day— at the Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah, at the end of the Tribulation Week, the Seventieth Week of Daniel. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). Father, we pray for Israel’s repentance that You might lift the curse from Israel. Lord Jesus, return quickly, that Israel may be saved. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Does Prophecy Require Our Participation?

Ken

Yes, Christ taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 KJV). Jesus promised, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). If keeping your word to God is doing what you said to God you would do, then keeping the words of the prophecy of the Book of Revelation involves believing and acting consistently with the words of the Book of Revelation. Yes, your participation is required to be blessed from reading the Book of Revelation. Twice in the Book of Revelation, we are told, “The time is at hand” (Revelation 1:3; 22:10). That requires careful thought for our participation. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (1:3). 

OT prophecy already has given us precedent for participation in the fulfilment of prophecy. Consider the birth of Jesus and John the Baptist as announced to their parents, their reactions, and their future conduct. Anyone coming into contact with Jesus of Nazareth would also have to come to terms with all the OT prophecies concerning the Messiah. Yes, they had to participate in the fulfillment of prophecy by choosing to accept or reject Jesus as the presented Messiah, the Son of David. “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (2Samuel 7:16). 

NT prophecy also requires us to: 

(1) Persevere in righteousness or declare ourselves unfit for Christ’s kingdom, i.e., “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

(2) Faithfully manage God’s resources committed to us, i.e., “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1Corinthians 4:2) or be declared unprofitable and cast into outer darkness, i.e., “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30). 

(3) Labor for the sustenance of ourselves and our families, i.e., “10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (2Thessalonians 3:10, 12, 14). 

(4) Continue to gather for exhortation and encouragement, i.e., “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). 

(5) Continually preach and teach about Jesus, i.e.,  “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42). 

(6) Continually stand for Christ for all to see, i.e., “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14 ).

(7) Continue to be a preservative for righteousness in the world, i.e., “Ye are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) standing against the enemy, i.e., “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). 

But, above all, as Jesus already taught in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10), we need to pray for the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Rapture of His Church. 

Specifically, Ezekiel’s Babylonian Captivity prophecies explaining and encouraging Israel about their future:  

(1) Prophesied of the New Covenant giving of the Holy Spirit to inspire our obedience, i.e., “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27), and 

(2) Preached the necessity of praying for the fulfillment of prophecy, i.e., After having proclaiming His intent to restore Israel, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock” (Ezekiel 36:37). He said He would do it, but He requires us to ask Him to do it. Thus, it bonds us to Him in the fulfillment. 

Father, teach us to work with You in the power of the Holy Spirit to lift Christ up to the world. Keep us from becoming weary in well doing, knowing we shall reap, if we faint not. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.