If you're a WHOSOEVER, then you're an elect!
LOL
But this is just a word game...
I'm thinking : -
1) The elect are already with the Lord.
2) Millions will rise to be with the Lord at the second coming.
3) There are goodness knows how many religions across the world, and according to Christianity, only those who have accepted Jesus as their saviour will have eternal life with Him. That cuts the numbers in heaven down dramatically.
Then there are these who Jesus never knew : -
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Mat 7:21-23 KJV)
5) Then I remind myself of God’s plan of salvation for mankind.
Step 1: is to believe Jesus Christ is the eternal God, and the gift of our eternal salvation was gained by His vicarious resurrection thereby conquering Satan and death.
Step 2: The risen Christ, our advocate now pleads on our behalf. “So now, if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1Jn 2:1., who is making intercession for us. Rom 8:34; Rom 11:2; Heb 7:25 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1Ti 2:5
Step 3: Is the Judgement, when we shall have to answer for our own sins.
If at anytime we deny Christ or His finished work on the cross, our salvation is in peril,“Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. 1Jn 2:22-23” for “it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. (Heb 6:4-6)
Then there are those who wander astray:
Our Saviour, Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd will seek those who have wandered away from the fold, but the rebellious ones, who perhaps with the best of intentions, like the Galatians who went back to a work based salvation and the keeping of Old Testament festivals etc.,
so denying Christ’s redeeming work on the cross, will find their life with Jesus is finished. (Gal 5:4)
Finally, the Crown of Righteousness is not ours until we:
have fought the good fight, have finished the race, and have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for us the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give us on that day, and to all who have longed for his appearing. (2Ti 4:7-8)
After reading all of the above I wonder how many Calvinists, never mind all the other people in the world, Buddhists, Muslims etc. come anywhere near to entering heaven, and I ask myself, “what is it that makes people think they are more special than anyone else,” and I begin to think heaven will be very empty indeed.
And then I remember God loves, and died for the whole world and that He looks on the heart. Then I realise there is one thing that is common to all people regardless of race or creed, and perhaps it is these people in the scripture below WHO WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN : -
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. (Mar 9:41 KJV)
May God bless the thoughts of an old man who has loved the Lord for many years.
.