This may be the most important message of all for there will be many believers left behind.  The deception will be great, so great as to deceive all but the very elect.  Rev 14:9-11 tells us that all who receive the mark of the beast or worship his image shall receive the wrath of God and shall be tormented day and night with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb without ceasing for ever and ever.  (Whoever said hell was just the absence of God).
 
I believe modern preaching that you cannot lose your salvation is wrongly preached.  Once saved always saved is taken one step too far.  There is an element of personal choice that is overlooked.  God will not over rule your right to choose. John 10:28 tells us that those Jesus gives eternal life, no man can pluck from his hand.  If you hold fast and endure to the end, no man nor the devil can take your salvation which Jesus has given you.  But there is a personal obligation here to hold fast on your part.  Hebrews 3:14 tells us we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.  Heb 6:4-6 takes it a step farther by saying it is impossible for those once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and made partakers of the Holy Ghost.....if they shall fall away to renew them again to repentance.  John 8:31 says if ye continue in my word, then ye are my disciples.  These ifs show us a need on our part to not deny Jesus, but hold steadfast to the end.
 
There is grave danger for all those which are left behind in the tribulation.  For those who are trying to hold fast to the faith, there will be suffering and death, even a martyrs death.  Jesus tells us in Rev 3:5 that whoever overcomes shall be clothed in white raiment and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.  Vs 8 tells us that those that have kept his word and not denied his name, Jesus has an open door.  You should get two things out of this.  One, salvation requires an obligation on your part.  Two, your name can be erased from the book of life.  You don't have to be perfect, but you better remain steadfast and not deny the name of Jesus.  You must endure to the end.  Neither let temptation and testing nor the cares and riches of this world make you unfruitful for John 15:5-6 tells us the unfruitful branch is withered and cast into the fire.
 
I discussed earlier that by comparing the parable of the 10 virgins (Mat 25) with Hezekiah's Second Passover (2 Chorn 30) and the rapture passage of 1 Thes 4, we could see that there is a time period over which the 3 events (resurrection of the dead/midnight cry), (the changing of the living) and (departure/ascension of the living) would take place.  Following the midnight cry, the virgins are seen trimming their lamps.  This is a period of intense confession and repenting in order to make their light shine.  It parallels the 7 day period of unleavened bread in which leaven (sin) is removed from the home (your body the temple).  How we approach this 7 day period may have an affect on whether or not we are changed.  Notice the changed wise still talk to the unchanged unwise.  I suspect this may continue up to departure on ascension day.  The Elijah/Elisha example in 2 Kings 2:1-15 is a preview, but as in Jesus' day, the left behind will have to wait 10 days to receive the outpouring of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost.
 
Those left behind have been cast into the fires of the tribulation to be made pure (as gold and silver are refined).  There is weeping and gnashing of teeth, much crying and wailing, but these have not lost their salvation.  They have been kicked out the immediate opportunity to serve with Christ in His kingdom.  But, as I will explain there is still an opportunity.  There is grave danger though for during this period of great stress (trials and temptations) the cares of this world (food, health care etc) will be cause many to cave in and deny the name of Jesus.  We see the result of that in the opening paragraph of this letter.  Only a strong outpouring of the Holy Spirit can deliver these souls who so easily fell into all the temptations prior.  It is imperative that at Pentecost they are ready to receive.  Those that do will be the white horse of the first seal which goes forth to conquer.
 
Let's take a look at the 10 virgins of Mat 25.  These are believers, the same as the 7 Christian churches to which Jesus wrote letters in Rev 2-3.  These were not Jewish synagogues, nor Islam, Hindu, Buddist etc.  These were the churches which Paul and the apostles founded.  All 7 are found in the area known as Asia minor, most in what is now western Turkey.  They were representative of the Christian body of believers.  In the years after Solomon, the Hebrew nation of Israel divided into Judah in the south and Israel to the north in Samaria.  At various times God called both these nations whores, because they would not follow His commandments and fell into idolatry.
 
Facts are all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  That we sin puts us at odds with God, i.e. we are in rebellion.  In our relationship to God we are whores, because when we sin we serve another.  Plainly, once a whore your virginity is forever shot.  The only way to get it back is divine healing.  For believers, God's grace has tossed your sins far away into the depths of the sea.  While we do sin, God the Father only sees Jesus' blood.  In the Father's eyes we are virgins.
 
Why then is there a division among the believers?  I will get more into "worthiness" a couple letters down the road, but I dread to tackle it.  It is a little over my head and frankly my worthiness qualification is a long way below many, many saints.  But, the facts are you see the word worthy used by Jesus throughout the New Testament and the word overcomer is used as well by Jesus in His letter to the 7 churches.  Those not worthy are cast out of the kingdom and into the tribulation.  A good read of Rev 2 & 3 is a good start.  The last 2 churches (Philadelphia and Laodecia) seem to offer not only a clear delineation but seem as well rather prevalent in the last days.  The parable of the King who gave his son a wedding (Mat 23:1-14) offers insight.  The last vs ends many are called but few chosen.  The parable of a man who gave a great supper (Lk 14:16-35) also gives insight.  Mat 20:1-16 tells us that Jesus does not necessarily see things (judge people) quite the same way man does again ending in not only many be called and few chosen but also the last shall be first and the first last.
 
The parable of the sower who sowed the seed in Mat 13 points us towards fruitfulness and John 15:5-6 tells us those things not fruitful are withered and burned in the fire.  Fruitfulness seems to have more to do with developing the fruits of the spirit than bringing in the sheaves (winning others to Christ) though that is important as well.  I do believe Jesus judges us as individuals.  He says to whom much is given much is required and obviously there is a vice versa.  That is all I am going to say on why the division.  Jesus came to bring division not peace.  There is not only a division between believer and non-believer but among God's people as well.  The purpose is that those selected (worthy and made worthy) are to be rulers (pillars, kings, priests) in Christ' kingdom on earth.  This is a reward.
 
The parable of the 10 virgins ends with the wise departing/ascending into heaven and the door is shut.  The unwise virgins are seen crying open to us, but the Lord says I know you not.  It is sad, but they are at least wise enough to not be falling for the alien/UFO deception.  Secondly, Mat 24:33 says doors (pl).  The door will open again 7 years later, but they will have to be resurrected to go through it.  Lk 13:25-30 is a good read of those left behind.  We can see there are those who not only did partake in the Lord's Supper but also taught and preached in His name.  Lk 12:37-47 is a good read of those which watch vs those who say that He delays His coming.  Vs 51 tells us the above is divided.
 
Lk 11:5-13 is a very important passage from Jesus to those left behind.  It is His written guarantee.  There are two keys in this passage that tells us that this is written to this group.  One is it is at midnight.  It is all about the midnight cry from the original Passover to the resurrection of the dead in the parable of the 10 virgins.  Secondly, there is a man on a journey (a far journey, Jesus, the Groom)(Mat 25:14 & Num 9:10).  Interestingly, Jesus plays two parts here.  He is the man who is visiting from a far journey and He is also the friend to whom the man goes to borrow 3 loaves of bread.  I believe the 3 is the first hint that we are talking Holy Spirit here.  Vs 13 then confirms it.  It could though have also an implication concerning the third part of the first resurrection.  The man has nothing to set before his friend who is arriving from a journey.  The unwise virgins were likewise out of oil for their lamps and could not shine for the Groom.
 
Jesus' reply to the man is interesting.  The door is shut and Jesus will not open it because His family is in bed with Him (His bride on their honeymoon).  Jesus then tells the man He will not rise and give him bread because He is his friend, but will give the man the bread because of his importunity.  This is another key to understanding why the man was left in the first place.  Jesus said if you love me, obey my commandments.  He also commanded those who love Him to watch.  If you do these things, Jesus said I will come in and sup with you, i.e. I will be your friend.  The wise bride was Jesus' friends.  The left behind had never developed this relationship.  It is worded funny in the KJV, but Jesus is telling the man that he was not His friend.
 
 But, Jesus knows the predicament these left behind are in.  He knows the tribulation comes.  He will emphatically give him all the bread (Holy Spirit) he needs.  Verses 9-13 shows us Jesus' earnest commitment to the left behind.  The Father knows how to give good gifts.  The Elijah/Elisha example in 2 Kings 2:1-15 was the OT preview.  Elisha knew Elijah was going to depart even before Elijah told him.  They crossed over Jordan before the ascension.  Elisha received the mantle of Elijah and a double portion of his spirit.  That Elijah is one of the two witness stated to be returning adds credence.  Clearly, the left behind will receive a Pentecostal Holy Spirit outpouring twice as powerful and big as did the apostles.  They will need it as the conditions will be much worse than what the apostles and early Christians faced.
 
We have seen where the bride is around the throne before the seals break in Rev 5:9-10.  There is no mention of number, just the fact that they are made up of every nation, people, kindred and tongue.  The tribulation saints are seen in heaven in Rev 7:9-15.  They are a multitude too great to number.  Obviously, the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit was very effective.  These people carry out a great world wide revival during the 3.5 years prior to the 4th seal and 4th horse when the antichrist (Death) and false prophet (Hell) come to power (Rev 6:8).  They are the white horse of Rev 6:2.  A crown was given to him and he went forth to conquer.
 
Everything about Jesus and His kingdom government is always mentioned as white.  He, His angels and His bride saints are all dressed in white.  The saints even are given white stones.  Jesus returns on a white horse and at the second resurrection presides over the white throne judgement.  That's the reason the 3 resurrections are seen as clouds.  Rev 1:7, He returns with clouds (pl).  As the trib saints begin to die in Rev 6:9-11, they are given white robes.  From the beginning of the Bible when light divided darkness, white is associated with light and black with darkness.  Even our early cowboy movies had it right.
 
The antichrist comes in with flatteries, even speaking peaceably.  But he is speaking lies and is full of deception.  He fools the unsuspecting non-believers.  Already one can see where these folks prefer a lie.  They hate the truth.  Satan is able to appear as an angel of light to those gullible to the deception, but he does not deceive these Holy Ghost filled saints.  God would never use white to describe His arch enemy in His own word.  He has reserved that for Himself.  You cannot get in His house unless you have on white.
 
Elijah and the other witness (Enoch, I think) do not arrive on the scene until the antichrist and false prophet come to power.  They arrive about the time of the 4th seal.  The great world revival has already reached its peak and now the antichrist must move to eliminate this problem.  Elijah is a prophet to stand against these two just as he did in his first earthly visit battling with Ahab and Jezebel and all their false god priests.  I think much of their mission has also to do with gathering, training and sealing the 144,000 of the tribes of Israel.
 
These first 3.5 years of seals 1-3 are still very trying.  The red (war) and black (rationing) horses ride.  There is probably nuclear war here and maybe some natural disasters.  There will be death and sickness and many Christians will not only die because of these things, but persecution will be on the incline.  Rev 6:9-11 gives us the first hint that all the tribulation saints will have to die and be resurrected.  Rev 20:4 seems to confirm this.  Maybe a few live to be raptured alive, but you can't find any such suggestion in Revelations.  They are resurrected with the two witnesses in Rev 12:12 (come up hither --- in a cloud).  This would be on Pentecost Sunday, 7 years after the rapture of the bride.  Notice the two witnesses died 3.5 days earlier (vs 11).  That would mean they died on a Wednesday about the same hour as Jesus.  The trib saints are invited to the wedding supper (Rev 19:9).  They will be priests with God for a 1000 years (Rev 20:4-6).  They are the last loaf of the first resurrection.  The Holy Spirit can now rest and declare His work good.
 
I believe the false prophet came to power just before the death of the two witnesses and is the one responsible.  When the resurrection event occurs, it will be time for the wedding supper.  Following the wedding supper, the great tribulation begins.  This is the period of the woes of the 5th , 6th and 7th trumpets and the last 3.5 years known as the great tribulation.  The 144,000 sealed are hidden and protected.  The rest of men on the earth are the unrepentant.  Jesus will return in the fall with His saints at the Jubilee (50th year).
 
I could probably write a bit more here, but if it is to get into Friday's letters, I better send it.  I will try to have the letter concerning the unfolding of the seals of Revelation in Saturday's post.  If not, I will get it in on Monday.
 
Your friend and fellow laborer in Christ, Steve