STILL IS THE DAY OF SALVATION? By: Chris McCann Recently, a couple of people have asked me where in the Bible does it say that God is no longer saving? Lets start by looking at May 21, 2011. Perhaps some have forgotten the significance of this date. First of all, it had been known for some years that the the duration of the great tribulation period would be 23 years. It was also known that May 21, 1988 was the end of the church age and the beginning point of the great tribulation. A full 23 year great tribulation period would take us to May 21, 2011 as the concluding day. The year 2011 came into view as the very likely end of the world once the these two verses were put together: Genesis 7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Since the context of 2 Peter 3s statement was a discussion of the end of the world and the flood of Noahs day, it was a natural fit to see that Gods declaration to Noah of yet seven days was actually, spiritually, language indicating that yet 7000 years and the judgment of this world would come. By Gods grace in opening up the biblical calendar of history we knew that the flood occurred in the year 4990 BC. 7000 years later would be the year 2011 AD. This was very significant because the 23 year great tribulation period also came to its close in the year 2011. More than this, the historical account of the flood in the book of Genesis recorded the exact day that the flood began (after that 7 day period): Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noahs life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. Precisely as God had said, following 7 days and then the flood began. It was on the 17th day of the 2nd month of Noahs calendar when the rain started to fall. It so happens, that 7000 years later, on the very day that the great tribulation concluded (May 21, 2011) that we discovered that the underlying Hebrew calendar date was the 17th day of the 2nd Hebrew month. The identical date that the flood of Noahs day began. The likelihood of this being a coincidence was too astronomical to even be considered a serious possibility. But what does this have to do with the question of whether or not God is still saving? The answer comes once we see what happens once the flood waters begin on the 17th day of the 2nd month (again which ties in to May 21, 2011): Genesis 7: 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. 17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. The following things happened on that day long ago: the Lord brought Noah and his family into the ark (as well as all the animals He wanted to live). Once safely in, God shut the door to the ark. Next, the flood waters were upon the earth. Spiritually, the ark represented the safety of salvation in Christ. All of those within the ark (8 souls) would live and not die in Gods judgment upon the rest of the world. All outside were guaranteed to die at some point as the waters would get increasingly higher and higher as the deluge continued unabated for a number of days. Gods shutting of the door was a very important act. Once the door shut all inside the ark were safely hidden from the destructive waters. And at the same time all outside the ark were now guaranteed to perish in the flood. Men, women, and children would be shut out from the safety of the ark. Only those within the confines of that huge ship would be spared. Spiritually, this pictured Judgment Day itself. God was revealing His plan to shut the door to heaven 7000 years after the flood. On the very day that the great tribulation would come to its end. On May 21, 2011. The fact that this date had as its underlying Hebrew calendar date, the 17th day of the 2nd month, matched perfectly with the day the flood started and also the day that God shut the door to the ark: therefore spiritually God was teaching us that at the conclusion of the great tribulation Judgment Day for this world will come to pass, and when that day comes it was the Lords plan to shut the door of safety. To shut the door that had been opened for most of the worlds history. The door that permitted sinners to enter into heaven through the grace and faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word door itself completely identifies with Jesus: John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,... May 21, 2011 was the day that this door (Christ) would finally close forever to all mankind. Only those already brought in through the door to the safety of Gods salvation would survive the Day of Judgment. All else would eventually perish. The door to heaven has always been a spiritual door. We never saw it when it was open. And we cannot see it now that it is closed. The Bible calls Gods people doorkeepers: Psalm 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Gods Word revealed to us that it was His plan to save a great multitude during the period of the latter rain. This would happen over the course of the last 17 years (about) of the great tribulation. The Bible speaks of the tremendous number of people saved during that this glorious period of time in the book of Revelation: Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The children of God had the great privilege and pleasure to witness and declare to the world that the door to heaven was wide open. We shared with them that they had from whatever point they were hearing these things up until May 21, 2011 to beseech the Lord that He might have mercy upon them and bring them into His kingdom by saving them. It was a wonderful and beautiful time to be a doorkeeper for the kingdom of heaven. Even then, of course, some denied these things and would say, oh no, God isnt saving any great multitude. You can always be sure that whatever the Bible declares will be contested and fought against by the enemies of the Lord. Its easy to love being a doorkeeper when the task is so wonderful. Come one and come all, go to the Lord while He may be found. The door is wide open for a great host that no man can number. How wonderful to be a child of God with the job of encouraging people to go to God that they might be saved----before its too late. However, while its true that the Bible speaks of open doors and its glories, it also speaks of closed doors. Genesis 7:16 declared that the door would shut once Gods judgment would begin. This is also taught in the following verses: Matthew 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. Theres no question that the above verses teach us that Judgment Day is the day that the door to heaven shuts. And, surprisingly, we also discover that there will be many that will dispute with God over this reality. The job of the doorkeeper is to do the will of the One that has given him/her that responsibility. It is not our house (kingdom). We are not the ones that decide who receives grace and is permitted in; and who does not receive grace and as a result is kept out. Our duty is to do as we are bidden. A Wonderful thing (from our perspective) if the door is flung wide open as it was during the tremendous outpouring of the latter rain; or a very difficult thing if we must declare that God has shut the door. It was the believers duty to declare this partly during the period of the great tribulation. We had to share the truth that God was opening up that the churches and congregations of the world were now under the righteous judgment of God. This meant that the portal entry to Gods kingdom via the churches was now shut. Once Gods wrath began on the churches (on May 21, 1988) never again would any individual in any church in the world be able to gain entry through the door (Christ) of heaven and gain access into Gods kingdom. Even though we only partly shared this with others it was a grievous thing for Gods people to share with others. Yes, the door was still open but not in any church. The great multitude coming in through the door of Christs faith outside of the congregations, in the world, soothed our minds concerning the harshness of declaring that the door was shut within the churches themselves. Yet, the Bible plainly declared that the same cup of wrath given first to the churches would in due time be given to the world (see Jeremiah 25:29). That day of transition came on May 21, 2011. Now Gods Word declared it was time that the door to heaven all over the earth be shut. The invisible (spiritual) door was now closed. Just as the churches never believed or recognized that the doorway within the congregations was shut against them; now the same thing would happen to the world and they also would not see anything outwardly, or physically happen to them. So naturally they would not think that anything happened to them at all. And yet an enormous change took place on the day that the great tribulation ended. It was the day that the door, the only door to heaven: the only way for a sinner to enter into the kingdom of God and live forever, was now closed. Here is what the Lord has to say about a shut door: Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; When God said the door was wide open and He was saving a great multitude, no man could change that. The Lords enemies could not hinder His glorious work at all. Despite the efforts of Gods foes the door remained open throughout the latter rain. Also, when God declares (according to the same biblical calendar of history) that the time has come to bring about the judgment of this world; and to close the door to heaven. None can ever again open it. Many can dispute with God about it. They argue and run away from ever hearing it mentioned. They can call those names that hold to and believe it; but no matter what any man does---one thing is certain----what God has shut no man openeth. In our task as a doorkeeper, we definitely prefer the job of telling people how wonderfully open the door is; but that duty has come to an end. Our task is not as pleasant at this time. But again, we are not the ones that have designed Gods program of salvation, nor His plan of judgment. Its not our place to criticize or to say that we will not perform our duty as doorkeeper any longer because we do not like the directions we are being given at this time. We our only servants and as such we are to do our Lords will. Therefore, as doorkeepers living in the Day of Judgment we simply obey God and perform our duty by letting people know that on May 21, in the year 2011-----the Lord brought about the judgment of this world by shutting the door---exactly as He had forewarned the world.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 14:02:22 +0000
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