We recognize the Bible as the Foremost Authority to answer many questions like this. The secret is harmonizing Bible verses to receive the thoughts of God Himself. Jehovah states He does not change, the entire Bible was inspired by Him. He allowed writers to write according to their style, but the Bible reflects the thoughts of God from Genesis to Revelation. 2nd Timothy 3:16,17, 1st Timothy 4:15,16
Which Christians Are Saved?
Near eight hundred and nineteen years before the birth of Jesus the Bible writer Joel wrote at Joel 2:32 “And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, just as Jehovah has said,The survivors whom Jehovah calls.” Every Christian Must Pray to Jehovah as Jesus did.
This verse is given importance by God for He inspired Luke to repeat it at Act 2:21. Then again He inspired the Apostle Paul to repeat it at Romains 10:13.
Jesus recognized the importance of calling to Jehovah in prayer, for he prayed so earnestly to Jehovah on the night before his death that his skin appeared to have droplets of blood . Why did Jesus need to pray? Because he was born human, he was just a man, he did not have any super powers, he needed his Fathers Holy Spirit to go through the trials that were about to take place. He needed God’s help to keep his integrity and allow the Romans and Jews to abuse him, then nail him to a stake. Even while on the stake with criminals they hailed abuses at him. He did not return evil for evil. This is the highest example of Christian integrity for us. What is next for Jesus?
In the coming days Judgement Day will begin, a period of a thousand years beginning with the Battle of Armageddon. During the Battle of Armageddon Jesus will judge everyone on Earth based on their relationship and obedience and loyalty to Jehovah up until that day. Jesus earned that right because of his keeping Jehovah’s Principles foremost in his human life until death. He has been human, he understands first hand the feelings we have. John 5:22,27 states the Jehovah has given him all authority to judge us according to our faith in Jehovah God and the works we have done in helping others come to know Him and understand His Kingdom arrangement. See Matthew 24:14, 28:19,20
We all would expect those who have no spiritual interest to be judged adversely. Both Christian and Non-Christian religions will be examined, some guidelines our God has given through the pages of His Word are:
Must Worship Jehovah God
Exodus 20:2 “I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.3 You must not have any other gods besides me” Verse 5 …. “for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion” Verse 7 “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way,for Jehovah will not leave unpunished the one who takes up His name in a worthless way”
Honor these unchanging principles: 3: No Interfaith. 4: No Idols or Images. 8 Must Set Aside Time Devoted to Spiritual Pursuits. 12: Honor your father and mother. 13: You must not murder. 14: You must not commit adultery” 15:You must not steal. 16: You must not testify falsely. 17: You Must Not Covet something belonging to another.
Must Recognize the Arrangement of the Christ
Jesus was the first life Jehovah created. Colossians 1:15 Jesus is foretold as the one who will eliminate Satan and all who support him either by choice or by alienating themselves from Jehovah’s Favor. Genesis 3:15 is the first Bible Prophesy describing how Jehovah will deal with Satan and restore man to His Favor. The Woman of God is God’s Angelic Family, the Woman of Satan is everyone that resists God’s arrangement. The prophesy describes how Jesus would receive a flesh wound (he dies,but is resurrected,his life continues), whereas Satan receives a deathblow( suffers the second death, meaning he will never be resurrected).
Jesus has been appointed as King of God’s Kingdom. Jehovah has invited 144,000 other humans from the Earth to serve with Jesus as Kings and Priests in God’s Heavenly Government over those on the Earth whom He sheltered during Armageddon. Revelation 7:1-4 , verse 14
Must Pray in Jesus Name. You must recognize that You are Praying to Jehovah God. The Value of Jesus Life Blood is Like a Passport allowing you to Address God. Jehovah did not speak with Adam after he sinned. Adam and his offspring were seen as criminals / rebels up until the time of Christ. They had no legal right to address the Throne of God. Jehovah used Angels, Priest, Prophets and Judges for communication. By reading accurate Bible translations He is communicating with us. Too, the Christ is like an attorney arguing our case for salvation based on our Faith in Jehovah God and the sin atoning value of the Christ’s blood, our Works of Faith and our Integrity toward applying Jehovah’s Principles in our lives.
Must Recognize the Holy Spirit
Upon being baptized by John the Baptist the Holy Spirit was seen in the shape of a dove and the voice of God was heard. The account of Jesus baptism relates that the Heavens were opened to Jesus must mean that Jesus pre-human life was revealed to him by God’s Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:16,17.
The Holy Spirit is not a living being, because of this it cannot be part of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit does not exist apart from God. The Holy Spirit is God’s Active Force. Many people who have seen movies may be aware of how an invisible force 1. Can influence the thinking of ourselves and others and animals 2. Can shape or move material items. The greatest thing to understand is that Jehovah controls the use of the Holy Spirit. While Jesus was on Earth, Jehovah was communicating with Jesus’ mind and performing miracles before him in real-time. Mark 5:25-34
What has the Holy Spirit Done Today?
By Jehovah’s Spirit the Good News of God’s Kingdom has been preached in all the Earth both as a witness and an invitation. Millions of people have unselfishly given of their time and money upon learning that it is God’s Will that all sorts of men be saved. God is not partial, He is searching the Earth, examining the response of every person toward spiritual truths. God did not use Jesus to build a new building and wait for people to worship there. Jehovah’s Witnesses have followed Jesus example of going to every door or every public meeting place to share what the Holy Spirit has enabled them to see. This work cannot be done worldwide by every man,woman and child seeking God’s favor without Jehovah’s Spirit giving them the desire and courage to do so.
So Who Are Being Saved?
The ransom and Jesus blood are written in other articles, here I will focus on the groups of those saved and what they do day after day.
1 John 2:17 states”Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever”
1 Timothy 2:4 “whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.”
Jesus gave a command to those wanting to follow in his footsteps at Matthew 28:19,20 “Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.
There are three groups spoken of being saved. (John 10:16) The first is the ‘Little Flock’ who’s numbers are limited to 144,000. These are invited to serve in Heaven with Jesus as Kings and Priests. They have Dedicated themselves to do God’s Will privately in Prayer to Jehovah. Soon after this they then show that they have done this by means of a Public Baptism, just as Jesus did. Like Jesus, the Apostles and disciples who lived in the first century, this group would preach the Good News of God’s Kingdom in the vast area around them until the end of Satan’s system. They would give spiritual insight to each other and to the second group as foretold at Matthew 24:45. These individuals would be given a Token after many years of Loyal Service and Applying Bible Principles in their Life. This Token guarantees that they would be given a resurrection to Heaven. Some of this group may be alive on Earth up until Armageddon begins. From our standpoint, all have lived a natural life and are resurrected after death, God not taking them mid-life by some painful accident or disease. There must be some who will be changed in a moment of time as described in the Bible at God’s discretion. 2 Corinthians 1:22, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5, Ephesians 1:13, 14
The Second Group of John 10:16 are the ‘other sheep’. As individuals these must Dedicate themselves and show that by Public Baptism just as those chosen for the little flock do. Like the first group their dedication moves them to resist the works of the flesh as described at Galatians 5:19-21 and cultivate the fruitage of God’s Spirit as seen at Verses 22-24. The other sheep also dedicate their time and energy and resources to preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom as the little flock does. The only thing that separates the two groups is the place where God will use them for all eternity. That place is completely in Jehovah’s Hands. How is this group saved? They must endure what ever trial that is put upon them until their death comes. Matthew 24:13. Then in what will seem an instant of time, they will awake during Judgement Day as someone resurrected. Abel, the first person murdered will be one of these, Noah and his family, Moses and his family,Jonah and the other prophets are awaiting this. The two criminals nailed to a stake alongside Jesus will be there. The majority of people who did not know or serve Jesus over the last six thousand years will be resurrected and given opportunity to learn of Jehovah and accept Jesus sacrificial life blood and dedicate their lives to Jehovah. All of them are in Jehovah’s Almighty Memory, He will restore their life with continuity with who they were.
The Third group is those of the Second group living in the Last Days of Satan’s System, their salvation may come by God’s Holy Spirit protecting them through Armageddon into the New Earth (New in that God’s Kingdom is the only government and Satan’s Influence is Gone) These may never experience death. Revelation 7:14
Each day after Armageddon will be increasingly better as Jehovah removes plagues upon us and the Earth. There will be plenty of good food. There will be increasing peace for every living thing. The stresses of living today will be gone. Jehovah will open the hope of eternal life to Every One Calling Upon His Name.
Who Will Not Be Saved?
Revelation 21:8 states “But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and the sexually immoral and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death.
Learn More of God’s Forgiveness and Directions for Us.