SABBATH THOUGHT 2025-12-13—GRAVE CONCERNS

May God bless you on His Sabbath day!

Peter said that the prophets revealed things even the “angels desire to look into.” But he also said the prophecies were not revealed to themselves. Their message would not be fully understood until they were fulfilled at the coming of Jesus Christ:

1 PETER 1:12-13 To them [the prophets] it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into. 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ [as the sacrificial Lamb of God];

The message, of course, was “knowledge of salvation … by the remission of their sins.”[1] That message of salvation unto the Gospel of the Kingdom of God has spread and touched the lives of many. Through that message, God has called many unto salvation and, for them, this life is the only TIME of judgment:

1 PETER 4:17-18 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house [household] of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely [lit., with difficulty] saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Everyone who is in covenant with God does so with a vow of obedience because there is an intense anticipation of eternal life[2] of joy unspeakable[3]. The bad news is that salvation is so difficult that even a “righteous one is scarcely saved.” Jesus said “many are called, … few are chosen”[4] but it is likely worse than you ever imagined:

LUKE 13:23-24 Then one said to Him [Jesus Christ], “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able [lit., not have the strength].

It is stunning that “many … will not be able” to enter into the Kingdom. However, the more important point that Jesus made is that “many … will seek to enter” into the Kingdom but “will not be able.” Jesus is not describing “the ungodly and the sinner” that Peter mentioned, but those who were called and are actively SEEKING the Kingdom. Of all who are in covenant with God, Jesus said many will not be saved. By comparison, only a few—a small number, hardly any, some—will be saved! By itself, the word many does not imply a majority; however, when many is contrasted with few, it means the majority of those in covenant with God will not be saved!

This should be a grave concern for everyone who is called. The Bible gives many more warnings than assurances. For example, in letters to the various townships in Asia Minor[5], Jesus wrote to those who were called, not ungodly sinners. It is highly doubtful that His warnings were prompted by a few in each township. Instead, it is likely that the majority in the townships were falling short of being saved. He warned EVERY township to overcome. Overcome what? EVIL[6]. Do you understand the full extent of all this? Jesus is saying that the MAJORITY of those who are in covenant with God will NOT be saved because they have not overcome EVIL. This is the point of several parables. Notice the Parable of the Sower[7]:

MATTHEW 13:20-22 “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 “yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

The seed that fell on “stony places” and “among the thorns” was initially received and sprouted; that is, they were in covenant with God. However, they stumbled or became unfruitful, losing salvation.

Likewise, the Parable of the Virgins[8] says all ten were called into covenant with God. The Five Foolish Virgins, however, were not prepared when Jesus Christ returned. When they realized what they needed to do (Who told them? Their fellow virgins!), they went away to prepare themselves; however, upon their return they discovered too late that they had been judged unworthy of salvation:

MATTHEW 25:11-13 “Afterward the other virgins [the five foolish] came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 “But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Then there is the Parable of the Talents[9], which describes how people spend their lives after they were called. Two of the three made gains by living righteously and ‘entered into the joy of their lord’. One, however, simply ignored the work of their calling and was “cast … into the outer darkness.”

The Parable of the Wedding Feast[10] is interesting because it actually explains why so many will not be saved:

MATTHEW 22:2-5, 8 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 “and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing [chose not] to come. 4 “Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ‘ 5 “But they made light of [neglected] it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. … 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

The Greek behind the phrase “they were not willing” is that they CHOSE not to pursue their calling. Similarly, those who “made light of it” IGNORED their calling. Jesus said they are NOT WORTHY of the Kingdom! Again, this is the MAJORITY of the ekklesia, not ungodly sinners. It is also not my prediction nor my judgment—this is the prophetic judgment of JESUS CHRIST!

If you found out that you only had days or weeks to live, what would be your first thought? Would it be if you are worthy of salvation? If that is the first time you ask that question upon hearing the news of your pending death, one thing is certain—it is too late. Death can come upon any of us at any moment. Everyone in covenant with God needs to be striving—sincerely, intentionally, consciously—to be perfected in agape love, faith, and Good Works. Every. Single. Day.

In my experience, people spend much of their time judging OTHERS instead of themselves, but that comes with grave consequences:

ROMANS 2:1-5 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Judging others is so widespread among the ekklesia it has almost become a recognized sport. Many even think that trials that come upon others are punishments from God! This is in spite of knowing that the Bible says over and over again that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”[11] This alone is immaturity and ignorance. The Bible makes it clear that no one has time to waste judging others or being angry, hateful, malicious, bitter, contentious, deceitful, meddling, condemning, prideful, gossipers, quarrelsome, critical, slanderers, unrepentant, or unforgiving. God promised to judge everyone including ourselves so we do not need to spend time doing it for Him:

ECCLESIASTES 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is [the whole duty of man]. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

The ekklesia is under judgment NOW—today, tomorrow, and everyday after that, God willing. As Judge, Jesus Christ Himself prophesied that the MAJORITY are NOT WORTHY of being saved. That means that every time two people in covenant with God are together, it is likely that one of them will not be saved. If you were one of the two, is it YOU? Or will you be one of the FEW who are CHOSEN.

The Bible is filled with warning after warning. They are not only from God, but He commanded the prophets to warn the wicked of their pending death[12]:

EZEKIEL 3:18-19 “When I [the LORD] say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 “Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

But God also warns the RIGHTEOUS through the prophets, consistent with the warnings of Jesus Christ and the apostles:

EZEKIEL 3:20-21 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 “Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”

Those who are in covenant with God but have not overcome evil will DIE. If salvation is so difficult that scarcely a righteous person will be saved, then every warning should be read as if our names were written in them. The prophecy of Jesus Christ is a GRAVE CONCERN because the majority of those with the Holy Spirit will end up in the Lake of Fire! Brethren, let us overcome evil by “speaking the truth in love [and] grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies [Good Works], according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”[13] The work ahead is more difficult than can be imagined but the gift of God is more joy than can be imagined!

May God’s grace and peace be upon you!

Steven Greene

https://sabbathreflections.org

sabbathreflections@gmail.com