Hebrews 7: 25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.
The purpose of God’s plan of salvation is to save as many people as possible, by renewing God’s image in man; and in the process, everyone who is born is given an opportunity at eternal life. What persons do with that opportunity depends on their freedom of choice, but it is granted to all.
As the latter rain looms on the horizon our concepts of God’s salvation, would need to be revisited, and understood. This will include a knowledge of various ways and means He employs, and the persons who will be targeted, especially at the time of the latter rain.
From our finite perspective, everyone has a chance, no matter how low or far they may have fallen, and as such, we are to see in every person, the potential for them to be heirs of God’s kingdom. Persons are not to be prevented for any reason, such as religion, race, social standing, education, riches, poverty, or even addictions.
The gospel call is to go forth, untrammeled to every part of the inhabitable globe, traversing all borders, penetrating all ethnicities, and creeds, and offering life and freedom to all, just like Christ did when He was upon the earth. Heaven will be a place of many surprises, and some of the seemingly most unlikely people will be there, while some who are expected to make it will be absent.
There are some politicians, some sports stars, some news anchors, some priests, some pastors of other Sunday churches, who, when the final call goes out, will hear God’s voice speaking directly to their souls and they will respond in the positive, just like it was on the day Pentecost.
Thus, we are never to erect any man-made barriers or hurdles to prevent anyone from entering. Let all who will, be given ample opportunity, even if they may seem to be unlikely candidates, and The Holy Ghost, who is in charge of operations, would handle the winnowing process.
This sacred truth must be understood by everyone to whom the three angel’s messages is entrusted to disseminate to the people. In other words, our view should be to make it as easy for a person to accept Christ, not to make it as difficult, for God is the only One who can accurately read the hearts and minds of persons. Let’s read:
Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind.
“Every kind” means every kind. It means that there were some clean fishes with fins and scales, but the net also pulled in some sharks, octopus and shrimp. In other words, the gospel will take in different folk who might be attracted to the church for different reasons. Some may be attracted by the prospect of health and wealth.
Others may be attracted by the prospect of power, while others may even be attracted by the prospect of finding a spouse. The personal reasons why they would come, should not be as a deterrent, or as an approval to those who are giving the gospel call. It is left up to God to make the correct determination. Let’s read:
Matthew 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.
Acts 10: 9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth.
12 Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
As the early rain fell upon the disciples, a mixture of people were drawn to church, which included many of the very priests who were at one time adamantly against Jesus, and there were also some who were deceived previously; some who had had the seeds of truth sown in their own hearts earlier, which now sprung up and bore fruit to the glory of God.
Also included were many who were sitting on the fence, in the valley of decision, some who had been prevented from making their choice by some family members, some who had persecuted the church, and yes, there were even some witch doctors and their adherents who were given a shot at eternal life.
This then tells us that as the latter rain begins to fall upon the earth, millions of people will be coming in, and as such, the remnant church must be prepared to receive all who will be brought in at that time. No barriers, prejudices, and formalisms are to interfere with the rapid work that God will be doing, for it is a short work that will be done at that time.
Often, when The Spirit of God is about to convict a person of the truth, the individual may put up some forms of resistance to their awakened conscience, and this initial resistance could be misconstrued by those giving the message, as infertile ground to sow upon.
In fact, some resistance is often evidence that God is working behind the scenes, and as such, we are to be encouraged in our efforts when resistance arises. The natural response of the human heart, when the truth is presented, is to resist it, and because of this resistance is to be expected, as something normal. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Acts 18: 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
9 Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace.
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
The same will be true at the time of the latter rain, for we are not to expect smooth sailing as it would pertain to eleventh hour conversions. Like as it was with Paul, we would run into stiff opposition from some persons, before they surrender to Christ, and therefore, stubborn resistance from some may not necessarily mean that God has counted them out, neither should we. Let’s read:
Joel 3:13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
Thus, for our case study we will observe both the work of The Holy Spirit, and the movements of the early Christians as they preached the good news of the gospel, under His guidance and direction. It will be of critical importance as we study to make a note of what God allowed, and what He did not prevent, or intervene to stop, even though He always knows all things.
Phillip goes down to Samaria to preach, and like as Christ stated in the parable, he casts the gospel net into the sea of humanity living there, and behold, a multitude of different “fish” are reeled in.
Phillip is not to decide who is reeled in, and he is not to cast the net with any prejudice or preference, for all must be granted equal opportunity to be saved, even those whom God knows in advance, will be lost. This is one of the most important facts for us to keep in mind as the latter rain is poured out. Let’s read:
Acts 8: 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which before-time in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
A few questions would obviously arise in the hearts of some, about why this particular experience has been recorded in the scriptures. The obeah man has obviously not been converted, as was later revealed in the scriptures, he has ulterior motives, and yet he comes in for baptism, because he believes. Let’s read:
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power that on whoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that you’re in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.
What is worthy of note is that The Holy Spirit, given His thorough understanding of all things, does not prevent Simon from being baptized into the new body of believers. God sees his utter insincerity and He knows more than finite man does, what the end product will be, yet He allows it to go through. Why would God allow this witch doctor to be baptized? Why would not The Holy Ghost give Phillip a heads-up, as He had done with Peter, when Ananias and his wife, Saphira, proved to be insincere?
Since the witch doctor was obviously not changed in his heart, why would God allow him to join the body of new believers? Remember, that the servants of God were baptizing in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost, and therefore, some of us would expect that this fraud would have been duly exposed up front, to prevent him from joining.
But that isn’t how God works; and especially during the time of the latter rain, the motives, intentions, and purposes of individuals are to be left solely in God’s hands. God does not view the witch doctor as a risk to the true believer, neither did He view Judas as a risk to the other disciples. This fact was clearly sated by Christ as He treated on the topic. Let’s read:
John6: 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore, said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
John 10: 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my
Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
So, let’s reiterate again, under the outpouring of the early rain, The Holy Ghost does not view the witch doctor as an existential threat to the true believer. God didn’t use His foreknowledge to try to preempt Simon from having a shot at eternal life because the good news of the gospel is for anyone who believes.
For the record, here are the words from the witch doctor’s own mouth, in response to Peter’s rebuke; words that many individuals may have missed, who read the story:
Acts 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Therefore, if Simon fulfills the stated prerequisites, and if he wants to join the church, he should not be prevented from doing so, for if Phillip were to try and prevent Simon, he may inadvertently prevent other witch doctors from joining, some of whom may actually be sincere in their motives. Let’s read:
Acts 19: 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Equal opportunity means equal opportunity, and for anyone who believes and is baptized, the possibility of being converted and saved is there for the taking. This is one of the reasons why we stated up front, that our ways, means, methods and understandings would need to be revisited, as the last-ditch effort to save the lost ramps up. Let’s read:
Matthew 13: 24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
The natural response of the human agent would be to root out the tares, but Christ issued a warning against this desire, for man looks on the outward appearance, whereas God looks on the heart. If God allows us to pull up the tares it’s inevitable that very grave mistakes would be thus made, for there are persons who look like wheat, but in their heart of hearts, they may be tares, only God alone knows.
If anyone of us had heard Peter carrying on, and speaking the way he did, at the judgment hall, we most likely would’ve labeled him a tare, and would have uprooted him from the church, and we would have had scripture to “apparently” back us up. Let’s read:
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 26: 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrays thee.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.
This is the reason why Christ cautioned any person against uprooting what we may believe to be tares, for Peter went on to be thoroughly converted, he wrote in the Bible, he preached, he laid down his life for Jesus, and his name will be engraved on one of the foundations of the new Jerusalem. That’s one of the reasons why The Holy Ghost did not prevent the witch doctor from being baptized, for if He were to leave salvation up to the human agent, we would certainly err in judgement. Let’s read:
Matthew 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
During the time of the latter rain, specific groups of individuals would be targeted by The Holy Spirit and some of them would seem to be unlikely candidates for heaven. Many folks will be coming from Sunday churches, and some who have heard of the Three angel’s messages for the first time would respond positively.
And many of our children who have gone astray in forbidden paths, will be granted the opportunity to repent and turn to Jesus in sincerity and truth.
And there are many persons from different religious creeds who will be brought in at the eleventh hour, when the conscience is awakened to the realities of the message for God has people in every nation and in every religion under the sun. Let’s read:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And there are some persons in the church who are currently in a lukewarm state, yet The Lord has not written them off, for after issuing a stern rebuke in Revelation chapter 3, Jesus goes on to encourage us to repent, which means that there is still hope and room for change and thorough conversion, for if it were not so, He would have ended with the rebuke.
It is true that none of us should put off our salvation for another day, for The Spirit of God speaks to all expressly: “Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts”.
Yet, persons are not to lose courage, just because they may not be where they ought to be spiritually. Instead of groveling in our weakness, let’s take the counsel of Christ to heart, and make the necessary changes by God’s grace. Let’s read:
Revelation 3: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness does not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Salvation to the gutter-most means exactly what it says, for God will leave no stone unturned until we are given ample opportunities to both understand, and accept the truth. This perspective must now be adopted by all who would partake of the latter rain, for we must never forget that the main purpose of the gospel is to restore Gods’ image in man, and to save as many people as possible. Let’s read:
[Early Writings pp 271] I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect. Many had been bound; some wives by their husbands, and some children by their parents.
The honest who had been prevented from hearing the truth now eagerly laid hold upon it. All fear of their relatives was gone, and the truth alone was exalted to them. They had been hungering and thirsting for truth; it was dearer and more precious than life. I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, “It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.”
Therefore, in our interaction with our fellowmen, let us see in every person we meet, the potential to become a son or daughter of God, and let’s be very careful not to write off anyone, based on prejudice or bias, for salvation to the gutter-most is an equal opportunity perspective that hopes against hope, and allows Jesus to save as many as He will.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that would remind us of this perspective, and may God grant us the grace to live it out, as we’ll come into contact with persons. Let’s read:
John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
God Bless!