Matthew 25:1-13 is a parable reflecting His separation of His church at the "rapture"
This separation will be between believers and those who only profess to be .... He knows the difference
This passage of scripture should be read in conjunction with Revelation 3:10 and 3:15-19
He tells the believers who keep the truth that He will keep them from His trial and judgment of an unbelieving earth .... the door is open for these to come in
Then He is warning those who profess only that they will be left out [these will not be included in His "harpazo" action] and that they must repent during the coming tribulation
Notice that the door is shut [which is currently open to believers], and those who profess only will be kept from entering
He will still offer His salvation during the tribulation period, but He will then be on the other side of the door ..... "knocking"
I would say it is not just those Christians who outwardly professed only but it would also apply to even Christians who believed but justified a sin and still be saved type belief in some way (Which in my opinion is a good majority in Christianity). I believe that these believers who are left behind from the “
Caught Up Together” event in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (i.e., the Pre-Trib Rapture) are left behind because they did not have oil in their lamps. Meaning, they did not have the anointing of the Holy Spirit in living a holy life after they were saved by God’s grace. 1 John 2:27 talks about how certain believers John was talking to did not need any man to teach them because they had the Anointing (the Spirit) to understand all things.
Remember, Jesus said, “….when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Meaning, when Jesus comes for His church (in the 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 event), most at that time will not have faith on the Earth.
In other words, they claim to believe God and His Word, but they do not accept everything in the Bible as it is plainly written.
What do I mean by that?
Well, you have today “
Perpetual Works ALONE Salvationists” who reject Ephesians 2:8-9 in that we are initially saved by God’s grace through faith without works (A belief alone in Jesus and the gospel message for salvation).
Then you have another larger group who reject James 2:24 when he says that we are saved by works and not by faith alone (Which would be in the Sanctification Process of the believer AFTER they are saved by God’s grace). They are “
Perpetual Belief ALONE Salvationists.” They do not understand that 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says God has
chosen you to salvation through the Sanctification of the Spirit. They do not fully understand Scripture when it says, many are called, but
FEW are chosen. Also see Galatians 6:8-9, and Romans 8:13. To put it to you another way, without holiness no man shall see the Lord. However, most today preach the exact opposite of Hebrews 12:14. They do not believe Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, and Matthew 12:37, etcetera.
There are two aspects of salvation many Christians today do not understand in their Bible.
#1. Believers are initially and foundationally saved by God’s grace through faith without works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
(This is Temporal Belief Alone Salvationism).
#2. Believers must then continue with God and apply the secondary aspect of salvation over the course of their whole lives (Which is the Sanctification of the Holy Spirit to live a holy life - 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Galatians 6:8-9, Romans 8:13)
(This is Temporal Works/Holiness Salvationism - that is simply a part of our continued faith or instructions from God).
Understanding this and applying such a truth to our life properly according to His Word will ensure we will be Caught Up Together to meet Jesus in the clouds. Remember, only eight people entered the Ark, and just as it was in the day of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man. Granted, I think it will be more than 8 people, but the point here is that it will be few and not many. So the world may not even be aware of the disappearance of a small number of believers. Those who are left behind will have a hard time, but they will not be appointed unto wrath and they will have a second chance in the gathering of the Elect by angels in the Middle of the Tribulation.
Side Note:
Another way of course to miss out on the Pre-Trib Rapture is to not believe in it. Some of course who believe the Rapture will happen later (Mid-Trib or Post Trib) think they will be caught up in the Pre-Trib Rapture even if they do not believe in it. But we know in Hebrews 11 that without faith it is impossible to please God. Why would God take us up if we do not believe? It makes no sense.
