“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be Saved!” – REALLY? The bible contains numerous references to anyone who calls up on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved…can salvation really be that easy? Even at the last minute of life, the last second, just say the words “Jesus save me” will keep you from the lake of fire and the eternal flames of hell? Is the Lord Mighty to save? YES….Does the Lord want anyone to Perish? NO! 2 Peter 3 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. Isaiah 63 1Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” [This is Jesus speaking just after killing thousands, with blood spattered garments] 2

Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?

3

“I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. So…Does He really mighty to save? Of course, but He is a God of Justice and Justice will be served on his enemies, those who fight against Him. So, what does the bible say about being saved? What must one do? Let’s see what Joel says: Joel 2: 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls. And now, what does the Apostle Paul says: Romans 10 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Paul also tells the Jailer at Philippi in Acts: Act 16: 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Mid-Point Conclusion – It would appear that Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved from the flames of Hell… - Case Closed – NO QUESTION THIS IS TRUTH

The question arises – DO ALL THESE “SAVED” PEOPLE GET TREATED EXACTLY THE SAME WHEN TAKEN? Do they enter Heaven or Eternity at the exact moment as events begin? Consider the myriad of verses that various people groups of varying faith levels: Let’s start with what appears are the most faithful groups: The Church at Philadelphia – Keep from “hour of trial” testing for everyone on the earth: Rev 3:10 - 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. The Church at Smyrna – Tested for 10 days and some will die in prison Rev 2:10 - 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Both Church groups above appear to be equally faithful – the Lord chose some of the Church at Smyrna to be as martyrs and die in prison. The Church at Laodicea – The Lukewarm Church – Have they called upon his Name? Rev 3: 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door

and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers [endures testing], I will grant him to sit with me on my throne Question – if our salvation is a free gift, then why is Jesus saying that we have to buy gold, white garments and eye salve? What does this mean? We have to pay for our salvation? NO – they have to endure a trial to prove our faithfulness [like Abraham and Isaac] since they were not fully committed to him before the end-time events began – as compared to the church at Philadelphia – which did NOT have to endure this trial Let’s examine other examples of departure and the events surrounding them: Luke 21 Jesus said: 25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world [Planet X]. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 34

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it [Planet X] will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Here in Luke 21 – there is NO MENTION of the Abomination of Desolation or false Christs (as in Matthew 24) – so is it possible they escape PRIOR to this event? – I would state Yes, they do escape [See Rev 7 – Great Multitude standing before the Son of Man] Now, look at Matthew 24 – where Jesus has a slightly different message to that group. In Matthew 24 Jesus warns of the Abomination of Desolation and many false christs and make no reference to being able to “escape”…because that already occurred. Matthew 24 Jesus said: 29 “Immediately after the “Time of Distress” [See, Jer 30:7] of those days [How many days?] The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the SIGN of the Son of Man, and then ALL THE TRIBES of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather HIS ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Therefore a simple reading of the text shows that an escape occurs in Luke 21 and then a group of less faithful folks are here to endure a time of distress to TEST THEM…

This would imply there are multiple waves of departures based on a person’s level of faithfulness Let’s see the Old Testament for this same Pattern: Psalm 50: 1The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, [The Heavenly Mt. Zion] God shines forth. 3

Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. 4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: 5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, - [1st Wave of most faithful believers !] who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” [see Rom 12 – present your body of a living sacrifice] 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Hosea 5 and 6 – two groups of believers taken at different times – 3 days apart! Hosea 5 1Hear this, O priests! Pay attention, O house of Israel! [The whole House – the Western Nations] Give ear, O house of the king! For the judgment is for you; 14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, [to the Christians] and like a young lion to the house of Judah. [to the Jews] I, even I, will tear and go away; [This is the GREAT RESCUE of the Children being taken] I will carry off, and no one shall rescue. [See Jeremiah 50 – same event] 15 I will return again to my place, [Mt. Zion – Jeremiah 31: 1-14 1st Fruits Reunion] until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me. [The first group of left behind immediately seeks the Lord] Hosea 6 1“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Therefore, at the end of Hosea 5 there is a stealing away of prey, faithful people and the left behind group immediately earnestly seeks the Lord, they call upon His Name and in 3 days they are taken, revived and saved. – once again implies there are waves of departures Psalm 60: 1-5 - O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses [Isaiah 17:3]; you have been angry; oh, restore us. 2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. [Isaiah 24] 3 You have made your people see hard things; you have given

us wine to drink that made us stagger. 4 You have set up a banner [Sign of the Son of Man] for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow [weapons of destruction]. Selah 5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! Compare the Psalm 60 “beloved ones” with Rev 3:10 – the church at Philadelphia, same group? No, these are two different groups, one taken BEFORE the destruction and the other afterwards. Same scenario with Isaiah 11 – this is a Second ‘recovery’ of believers. Once again, multiple waves of departures for believers Isaiah 11 11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people [those left behind], from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush,[a] from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.12 He [The Lord] will raise a signal [Sign of the Son of Man] for the nations and will assemble the banished of the House of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. [Very similar to Matthew 24:31] Zeph 2 1Gather together, yes, gather, [gather and remove] O shameless nation, 2 before the decree takes effect [What decree? See Malachi 4:6 below] —before the day passes away like chaff— before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord. 3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands;[b] seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden [those who follow His commandments will be protected] on the day of the anger of the Lord. Malachi 4 - 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”