Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the ones doing the desirous will of the Father in the Heavens (Matthew 7:21).
At the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom, when Christ sets up His visible rule over the earth, all the nations will gather in Jerusalem before Him for the sheep and goat judgment (Matthew 25:32). This does not relate to the Church because at this point everyone in the Church has been resurrected at the rapture, which happens before the Tribulation begins (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Many will come on the day saying to Him, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name worked miracles? (Matthew 7:22). During the Tribulation, especially when Israel is in the wilderness, there will be many claiming to come in the name of the Lord (Matthew 24:5). At this time, many false prophets will also arise, deceiving many (Matthew 24:11). Although they claim to come in the Messiah’s name and do His work, they are working lawlessness (Matthew 7:23). Because lawlessness is sin, their actions go against God’s standard (1 John 3:4). They will prophecy on their own behalf to draw men after them. They will cast out demons, claiming it is from God, when in reality their actions are sinful. Even the wonders they perform are deceptive. Yet, they will claim to be from God. The man of lawlessness comes in the same manner, according to the workings of Satan in all miracles, signs, and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Salvation is not based upon how a person runs or desires it (Romans 9:16). Those who will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens must do the desirous will of the Father. This directly relates to how they are saved. Salvation even in the Tribulation is still by faith. They must believe the gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens—the Messiah is coming to set up His kingdom according to the promises God gave Israel. There is no other way.
Although this does not relate to the Church, the Church is in the third heaven, seated on thrones with Christ at this time (Revelation 4:4). Three of the assemblies discussed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 will go through the Tribulation period because they are made up predominantly of unbelievers. Not people who are against God, but those who claim to follow God based on their own path. Those in Catholicism, along with her daughters, who follow the harlot and worship idols, will be cast into the Tribulation because their salvation is based upon works, not faith (Revelation 2:22). The assemblies who follow Reformed Theology are full of those who are spiritually dead. Their gospel messages are based on works related to confessing sins, making Jesus Lord of your life, or accepting Jesus into your heart (Revelation 3:3). Along with these two assemblies the third assembly of those who adhere to progressive Christianity, that Christ vomits out of His mouth for being lukewarm, will also go into the Tribulation period. They claim the name of Jesus, but seek wealth over doctrine (Revelation 3:16). None of those who are cast into the Tribulation belong to the Church. Just as many will come to Christ at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom who claim to follow Him, but work lawlessness, are cast out, so will those in the Churches today who do not belong to Christ face His wrath because they do not believe. These are the ones who are out from Satan. In Satan’s attempts to thwart God’s Church, he mimics Christianity by planting his sons among the saints (Matthew 13:38). His ministers come as ministers of righteousness, while bringing in destructive heresies (1 Corinthians 11:15).
Even many today who claim that salvation is by grace through faith present a false gospel. Salvation is indeed by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). However, that does not mean a person can believe anything to be saved. Many false teachers making this claim present a false gospel, usually relating to believing that Jesus is God, while ignoring the significance of His work on the cross as it relates to salvation. Grace is God’s attitude whereby He gives a benefit without consideration of merit. Therefore, salvation is not about the man who runs or the one who desires, but about how God has determined to show mercy. Faith is taking God at His word, and must always be based upon a promise (Hebrews 11:1). Therefore, to be saved today, a person must believe, and thus solely base their salvation upon, Christ’s death on behalf of our sins, burial, and resurrection three days later, all according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Those who do not direct their faith at Christ believe in vain, for they focus on self-effort rather than true grace and faith (1 Corinthians 15:2).
