“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.”
–Mark 9:41
In the coming last days, there is one group of people on earth who may be somewhat surprised to find that they are admitted to the kingdom of heaven when many others they may know are rejected.
Who are these puzzled people?
God’s Word reveals them to be ANY and ALL who help the followers of Jesus Christ in the last days, when it will likely mean death to be found to be helping ANYONE who follows Jesus.
As Jesus Christ Himself explained:
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
–Matthew 25:31-40
So ANY who assist the followers of Jesus IN ANY WAY in their time of need will be considered by Jesus to be “righteous” (as Matthew 25:37 attests)–and will be admitted to heaven. Jesus will count the courage of those who brave the man of sin and other workers of iniquity to help his believers as “righteousness.”
The bravery shown by this group of people will be a case of backing up one’s convictions by one’s actions; of “putting one’s money where one’s mouth is.”
A FEW NOTES:
1- Those who assist the followers of Jesus Christ apparently don’t think of themselves as “righteous.” No doubt many have done things in their past which are contrary to God’s commands.
In addition, this group–which defies the man of sin in order to help the followers of Jesus–is clearly surprised at their being considered “righteous” for their deeds, as their responses in Matthew 25:37-39 demonstrate.
However, the assistance of the brethren of Jesus is of far greater consequence than their past transgressions.
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
–Romans 4:8
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
–Romans 4:5
Apparently, helping a follower of Jesus when the chips are down is counted as a sign of belief and faith.
2- There are many who teach that the passages in Matthew 25:31-40 refers to the poor. This might be true: the followers of Jesus in the last days are likely to have no possessions, including nothing to drink; nothing to eat; no clothes; no shelter; no friends to provide such comforts.
The reader can know that Jesus was referring to His followers and NOT to the general poor of mankind by His calling those who are given assistance “my brethren“: my brothers.
Jesus did NOT refer to the general poor of the population as “brethren.”
Jesus DID refer to his disciples as “brethren.” This was noted in the account given in Matthew 28.
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
“And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.”
–Matthew 28:1-2,5-10
The account given in John 20 agrees with the one given in Matthew 28.
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”
–John 20:16-18
As Hebrews 2 further explains:
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren”
–Hebrews 2:9-11
DOES the reader find it surprising that such actions and behaviors in the end times will be counted by God as righteousness?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 14 , 2020.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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Filed under: Biblical Teachings, END TIMES PREPARATION, SAVED: by helping the least of these