A glorious future of true believers and earthly prosperity is promised in the OT over 90 times. Since all the nations are not now flowing to Jerusalem to worship Jehovah, these promises must be in the future. Some doctrines die in the OT.
But a terrible present reality with very few believers is promised repeatedly in the NT—few Christians, many false prophets, and constant persecution. These conditions hold until the Second Coming.
The OT promises a real, thrilling future hope, and the NT predicts a hard time with a small church. Here are some of those verses that predict there will be very few true Christians until the Second Coming.
- Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
The lost are many, and the saved are few. - Luke 12:30-32 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Jesus sees two groups throughout all his teaching.
He proportions one of these groups as “the nations” and the other a “little flock.” - Luke 13:24 Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Jesus prophesied that a great number will try to be saved, but they will fail at their attempt. He clarifies in the next verse that this will be seen at the final judgment. - Luke 14:16-24 “They all alike began to make excuses…”
When men were invited to the feast, “they all” rejected. The feast itself is in a house compared with the streets, lanes, highways, and hedges of the world. A few accepted, and the majority rejected. - Luke 17:26-29 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; 29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.”
In Noah’s time, only 8 were saved. In Lot’s time, only 3 were saved from Sodom. The Second Coming will see them all destroyed. - Luke 18:8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?
At the Second Coming, true faith will be rare. - Luke 19:12-27 “And he called ten of his slaves… But his citizens hated him…”
In the parable, the citizens hate the Lord when he comes, and only a few slaves are faithful. - Luke 21:17 [Before the Second Coming,] you will be hated by all because of My name.
Sinners will be “all” and believers will be persecuted and hated by the larger group. Persecution is promised in many passages of the NT. Persecution by the government is only possible when a super majority of the population is lost. - Luke 21:35 for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth.
[That day] of judgment when all will be destroyed will surprise a group described as all who dwell on the earth. - John 16:33 In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Men will always dominate and force true believers which they could only do if they were a super majority in society. - John 17:9 I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours;
True Christians are placed throughout the NT in opposition to the world. This must mean that the majority are lost and are therefore given a title that immediately brings that to our minds. - 2 Timothy. 3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
The last days will be full of sin. - 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
There are many antichrists in the last days. There are many false prophets (1 John 4:1; 2 John 7; Matt. 24:5; Titus 1:10). There are many false converts (Matt. 7:22; 25:1-13; 2 Pet. 2:2). - 1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
A group called “the whole world” is empowered by Satan. - Revelation 16:14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.
At the great day of God prophesied in the last book of the Bible, demons will gather all the kings of the earth for a tremendous war against God.
Conclusions
- We should emphasize evangelism in our religious labors rather than political action or societal change or entertainment because the majority are lost.
- We should place the Second Coming as our real Blessed Hope and thus pray for Him to come so that Christianity will win through Him as the OT promises.
