Other Open Doors

Dear Brethren,

God in His infinite love and wisdom has provided a unique event for only a relative few of the end-time Church brethren to experience.  I believe that the apostle Paul actually hoped to have a part in it.  Every man who has ever lived has eventually died – even Jesus Christ.  But God has revealed that in these last days there will be a small number of faithful called out brethren who will never die, but enter the Kingdom of God without seeing death.  That particular event will be spectacular in nature because as a rule, living human beings cannot cross the threshold into spiritual life.  Paul explains:

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.   Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die physically], but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”  (1Corinthians 15:50-52)

We shall not all die!  That is an incredible statement to make.  God says to the Church brethren that He will set before those who have a true Godly love of the brethren an open door into the Kingdom of God.  This promise is so revealing to the Church brethren – more so than a corporate opportunity to preach widely.

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.”  (Revelation 3:8)

The Bible speaks of this one act of transmutation where some people are changed from corruptible flesh into incorruptible spiritual beings.  That is a change from man-kind into God-kind.  What a breathtaking open door for Church brethren against whom Christ brings no admonition.  Even Paul and all the faithful saints that have preceded us throughout the years have gone through the process of corruption in the grave.  It is true, they will not miss out on anything because, in a flash, they too will be raised incorruptible at the exact same time when Death is swallowed up in victory (1Corinthians 15:54).

God is so very pleased with this small group of brethren that He will momentarily and miraculously suspend the laws governing life and death in order to literally save those brethren alive.  They will have lived extraordinary lives while on earth.  They will have overcome Satan.  They will have been witnesses to those who at first failed to heed God’s warnings.

Many people see the time of horrendous breakdown of law and order looming on the horizon – it is the coming Great Tribulation.  It is prophesied that at the close of his 6000-year rule, Satan’s great wrath will bring destruction on all the unprotected inhabitants of the earth.  Jesus Christ tells us to watch and pray always, that we may be accounted worthy to escape the near annihilation of mankind.  The devastation will be so great that there would not be a single survivor – except for Christ’s intervention to save an elect few.  In God’s great providence, He will protect a small part of His Church from the horrors of the Great Tribulation.  Most church members are slated to go into the Tribulation, but it is not too late to avoid it.

The Tribulation is God’s last great act of love and mercy on His end-time Church brethren to allow them to be made white in a blast furnace of refining.  Those whom God has kept out of the Tribulation will be the impetus to inspire those caught in the Tribulation to finally overcome Satan as well.  God will graciously present one last opportunity to those ensnared saints – Church brethren – who have not yet learned to lay down their lives for their brethren, to do so.  There is only one way for those caught up in the Tribulation to be saved.  Those caught in the tribulation will have to repent and then physically shed their blood for having neglected to be spiritual sacrifices prior to that time.  They have not responded to God’s scolding:

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
(Revelation 3:19-21)

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Sermon:  "Other Open Doors"  

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