The Few ?: True Salvation

By Rear Admiral Joseph H. Miller

Jesus said, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. An attempt is made to identify the Few. One learns there will be many more people who are not among the Few. The problem is complicated in that most Christians are not true Christians. They will not be among the Few. A large number of Christians use the church as a social phenomenon. They have been called the Christian Paganism.

The last judgment is that of the Great White Throne Judgment and will reveal billions who had rejected Gods Grace, refused His Mercy, and spurned His Love. The unbelievers are raised at the end of the 1000 years of Christ reign on earth. (The believers are raised at the beginning of Christs reign on earth.) This is the unsaved of all ages. Billions upon billions will stand before God and be judged guilty. They are described as death and hell and are cast into the lake of fire, which is the Second Death. Billions and billions will die the Second Death. Read on to learn who are the Few.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477201480

Rear Admiral Joseph H. Miller

Rear Admiral Joseph H. Miller (MC) USNR retired from the Navy Reserve in 1986 after 34 years (credited with nine years of active duty) Since retirement with annual Permissive Orders he has had consecutive Navy Orders since 1952 or for 63 years. The Permissive Orders included informal visits to Navy hospitals. RADM Miller completed three years as the first reservist to serve as a Deputy Surgeon General, Pentagon, and concurrently as Commander Naval Reserve Force, Force Medical Officer 1983-1986. On active duty, he served as Chief of Neurosurgery, National Naval Medical Center, and subsequently as Chief of Neurosurgery, US Naval Hospital, Da Nang, Vietnam. As a consultant to the Surgeon General RADM Miller chaired a committee of five prominent civilian leaders of neurosurgery to develop a Navy neurosurgical residency. While in the Pentagon, with Dr. Barry, he wrote and staffed the directive for the establishment of Physician Reservists in Medical Universities and Schools. (PRIMUS) RADM Miller has been to Bethesda over 100 times, Yokosuka, Japan 40 times, San Diego 24 times, Pearl Harbor 22 times, and every other Navy Hospital in the world. (For two months, he personally provided neurosurgery coverage at the Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii) He served in the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J4) war planning section as the only Flag officer. Later, at his recommendation, a Flag officer billet was established in J4. The first assignment was a Navy Reserve Flag Officer. He had duty with the Commander in Chief Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, December 1982, February 1983, and February 1984. RADM Miller’s Military decorations include: Legion of Merit, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Navy Unit Commendations, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Navy Pistol Marksmanship, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, and Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V. In civilian life RADM Miller practiced Neurosurgery from 1960 through December 2000. He served as Chief of Neurosurgery at Methodist University Hospital, Memphis, and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery University of Tennessee and University of Tennessee Training Director in Neurosurgery at the Methodist University Hospital. (1983-2000) RADM Miller was Founder and Director of the Memphis Neurosciences Center at Methodist Hospital and the University of Tennessee. He developed an international academic interchange in Neurosurgery with 27 countries. He is currently on the Voluntary Faculty of USF Medical School, Tampa, Florida. He is certified by the American Board of Neurosurgery and his memberships include: The American Association of Neurological Surgeons, The Society of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, The American College of Surgeons, The Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces. Civilian activities include: Mission Service Corps, The White House, May 1978, served on the Boards of Union University, Mars Hill College, Samford University, and Regions Bank. He has researched and lectured on the Philosophy of War more than ninety-five times. RADM Miller has been a Christian for 74 years, a Southern Baptist Deacon for 64 years, and taught Sunday school for 58 years. He is currently a member of First Baptist Church, Brandon, Florida. He is a 5,258-hour pilot and recently passed the course to be a Coast Guard Captain. He is married to Cathy Miller and they live in Apollo Beach, Florida. He developed 24 Clinical Teaching Systems as a “cerebral computer model”. He was an invited medical lecturer 56 times and had numerous Medical Journal publications. He is a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia with an M.D. degree in 1955 and Mercer University with an AB degree in 1951. He was also a proud graduate of Ludowici

Book preview

The Few?

True Salvation

Jesus says:

Few there be that find life

Matthew 7:14

Rear Admiral Joseph H. Miller

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© 2012 Rear Admiral Joseph H. Miller. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 5/24/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-0150-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-0149-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-0148-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012907964

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Contents

Acknowledgment

Dedicated to the Greatest Preacher in the World.

A Plea to All Unsaved Christians.

I. Introduction to True Salvation

II. Biblical Few (Only a Few)

III. The Divine Attributes of God (LORD God)

IV. Holy Spirit

V. God’s Word –The Bible

VI. The Humanization and Sanctification of Man

VII. Death

VIII. Rewards and Punishments

IX. The Biblical Plan of Salvation

X. Judgment

XI. Election - Predestination

XII. Summary

References

About the Author

Acknowledgment

To the many Christians

Who are not Saved!!!

To those who are not among the Few!!!

It is not easy to be among the Few!

It requires Faith, Belief, Trust, Obedience, Action!

At the last judgment when all the unbelievers of the world are raised from their graves there will be billions and billions who are named death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire.

(Revelation 20:11-15)

The Christians who are not saved represent a baptized paganism who will be revealed on The Last Day. This is particularly related to the many young people who are in church all their life while at home, but when they leave home most of them never return to church.

Dedicated to the Greatest Preacher in the World.

Dr. John Thomas Green, III (1957-) Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Brandon, Florida, 1996-Present.

Dr. Green sees God’s hand in history, the power of God’s Word, the battle for the souls of men, and he is one of the architects of true religion.

He defends his deep faith, which rules his whole life, and there is no substitute for faith. Faith builds on faith. (Romans 1:17) He defends his faith and his faith confirms the dignity of man governed by his Creator and His commandments. All men are equal. Dr. Green wants to Christianize the world with truth. Truth in any part of the world is concerned with truth in every part of the world. Old preachers never die their faith just marches on. There is only one glory and genius and that is truth. In the war of truth against the world, right makes might. One must review the war to understand the greatness of its extent.

His patriotism means God’s love for all men and prayer for our Armed Forces who maintain freedom of mind, soul and country. He calls on all humanity to devoutly pray. His truth and spirit is a beacon to the whole world through his love of missions and the many souls he has led to salvation.

He is a spiritual man who unveils the truth and faces reality with spiritual eyes. He teaches that the conscience of each of us builds the conscience of the world. He serves our nation by his service to the world. He works for interdependence among nations that will bring all people closer together. He goes beyond Einstein who said, Security through national armament is a disastrous illusion. He goes beyond Einstein and says, Security in the world is only in the Creator of the world.

His life reveals that love is the only knowledge and happiness is the only good. Love is the torch for reason, the justice for worship, and is the only holy eternal religion. His message is that Christ, who is the only one that has overcome death in the world, is the only Savior of the world. Truth is sometimes bitter to unbelievers, but life without truth perishes on its own.

Dr. Green Teaches:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19)

And the gospel must first be published among all nations. (Mark 13:10)

My house shall be called of all nations a house of prayer. (Mark 11:17)

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. (Luke 12:30)

Dr. Green Reviewed For Us:

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 7:9-12)

(Dr. Green has no knowledge of this dedication or of this book and cannot be responsible for anything in the book.)

A Plea to All Unsaved Christians.

THE UNSAVED AMONG US APPEAR TO BE MORE IN NUMBER THAN THE FEW THAT WILL ENTER THE NARROW GATE. ONE MUST BE TRULY BORN AGAIN TO BECOME A NEW CREATION AND BECOME ONE OF THE FEW!

God is eternal. Eternal is not merely endless time. In time there is change. In eternity there is no change. Eternity is the highest order of existence. The soul in man is able to reference time with eternity. The desire of some theologians for independence is a root of evil. Ambrose said, The pagan emphasis was on independence, self-confidence, and self-reliance. Only as men and things are in God can man have any real existence in wisdom.

Men are bound to choose knowledge and independence just as Adam did. God created man and his flesh as well as his spirit was created for good not bad. Adam’s sin was due to pride, the greatest of all sins except for unbelief. It is said the love of money is the root of all evil. It is also said that pride is the root of all evil. Christian tradition, strained exegesis, rigorous logic, and unbelievable inconsistencies born of false religious instincts cannot be matched as absurdities of the thoughts of men.

The necessity of the obedience to the will of God is a condition of salvation and must be in harmony with the Divine will. If the motive is virtue for virtues sake and includes pride then the virtues are only vices.

There are several classifications about the nature of man, none of which apply to all men. I think this is best understood if one places all men in either a Higher Nature or Lower Nature depending on their relationship to their Creator. In all history God has been educating the human race leading man from earthly to Heavenly things.

In Gods will the professional, philosopher, psychologists and theologian must convert himself to a man of religion. I want to be called a Christian! We are God’s tools and exist to carry out His will. Our highest ambition is to serve and glorify Him. The Psalms are full of supreme happiness in enjoying communion with Him. Every Christian loves communion with God in study, prayer and worship.

I. Introduction to True Salvation

This book is not a sermon. It is not a religious discourse with speech, conversation, or a lecture on conduct or duty. Who are the Few? This can only be answered by Scripture. I have collected Scriptures and condensed them as a ready source of God’s Word as to who the few are and will be.

This is a complex book. I expect very few will read it. But to make it simple as to how to be among the few in Heaven think on this:

Salvation is not only escape from sin, but also the knowledge of God, to know God (This is escape from sin.), to know Him, who is love, is to love Him, and to love Him is to keep His commandments. Love for God means knowledge of God, and love means obedience to God.

Accept Jesus as your Savior. Act as though you could hear God’s call to be a part with Him through a free and creative activity in His work. Develop in yourself a pure and holy conscience. Discipline your image and learn to struggle and overcome evil in yourself and around you. Attempt to teach, preach, and talk God’s created regeneration to the unsaved.

We must consciously and by choice proceed to salvation via sinner, conviction, conversion, repentance, Faith, Belief, Trust, atonement (propitiation), redemption (reconciliation, propitiation), regeneration, justification, adoption as sons of God, and the life-long path of sanctification, perseverance, and glorification.

An In Depth Study Reveals That We Must Make A Choice In Our Salvation

The basic points to note are: The atonement was for all, the invitation is to all, and the Holy Spirit is everywhere in the world. It is felt that most people at some time in their life come under the influence of the Holy Spirit. "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9, Psalm 19:3,4) (This is also noted in Psalms 22:27 and 24:1) It is well known that many people refuse the Holy Spirit and do not proceed to accept Christ and are thus not saved. (The Calvinists believe that those elected cannot resist the Holy Spirit and are always saved.) Saul, many times, until the day of his death resisted the Holy Spirit. (I Samuel 15:35) He abandoned God and was left to his fate. Evangelists, ministers, and all soul winners know that due to blindness to God and hardness of heart many refuse God so many times that God leaves them to their fate. God lets them go their own way. (CS. Lewis related this.) This is a mystery, but it is a fact.

In a study such as this we must know that all of God’s actions are righteous and good. God may act directly, indirectly, efficiently, permissively, and many other ways, but God’s actions are always righteous and right. The famous verses and warnings of James are to be reviewed. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. (James 1:13-16) Sin is the responsibility of man, not God. When God hardens the heart such as with Pharaoh and with the Jews at the time of Christ it is always a merciful action. The overall study reveals that Pharaoh is a case of self-hardening under mercies. Individuals are noted who hardern their own heart. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. (II Kings 17:14,15) This is also noted in Nehemiah 9:16 and Jeremiah 7:26.

No one knows what the first step is in ones salvation. But I say, have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10:18) The Holy Spirit enters after we believe. (Acts 19:2) The Holy Spirit has been in all the world since Jesus came. A man attended a Southern Baptist church many times. He was not a Christian, but came only to be with his wife. He had heard the Word and had refused the Holy Spirit many times. I witnessed to another man whose son was a minister. He had heard the Word many times. A few days before he died he said he had no need of salvation. The Holy Spirit does not, on His own, penetrate a man’s mind to force salvation. This would be more absurd than predestination. The rich man in Hell wanted to tell his brothers of Hell so they could avoid Hell. Here is Jesus’ answer. "And He said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though One (Jesus) rose from the dead." (Luke 16:31) The Holy Spirit enters us after we believe and then saves us, not before. Our preaching, teaching, witnessing, etc., does not cause the Holy Spirit to penetrate a persons mind for him to be saved. All of our efforts just gives the person a chance to refuse or accept the Holy Spirit once again. Jesus says that if one does not hear the Holy Spirit in all the world and the words of all the believers that speak of Me they would not believe someone that speaks from Hell. The sinner can hear tender and severe warnings and invitations and not be affected. Conviction (knowledge of need) must be present before one can be saved. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11) The knowledge of God opened their minds. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. We must repent and believe to receive the Holy Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (Acts 2:37-40) Peter says save yourselves!" The Holy Spirit was there in power. In conviction the eyes are opened to appreciate and understand the truths of God’s Word and to see ones own lost condition. Feelings are aroused and there is a sense of sin. The time has come for the individual to accept or reject his Savior. If it is accepted the person is led by the Holy Spirit to regeneration or a rebirth. One is born again spiritually.

What is the problem? This note is 500 years ago!

Some time after my eighth book since retirement was published, 23 November 2011, I began wondering about the few mentioned several times by Christ as those going to Heaven. I could not get this out of my mind. I began a study and a ninth book was begun on, Who Are the Few? I had never heard this even discussed, but when my book was almost completed I discovered an amazing paper, The Few Number Who are Saved by Saint Leonard of Port Maurice, Italy. (1676-1751) He was called the great missionary of the 18th century. He spent forty years preaching at retreats and parish missions. He had many other writings, but two of the most famous include, the Stations Of the Cross (Stations that he founded) and the Holy Name of Jesus. His preaching was mainly outside because the churches could not hold the thousands that came to hear him. He became so famous Pope Benedict XIV called him to Rome. The strain of his missionary labors had completely exhausted his body. Saint Leonard died on the day of his arrival in Rome.

His famous sermon, The Little Number of Those Who Are Saved, is the one he used for the conversion of great sinners. To him the subject was a grave one that caused the pillars of the church to tremble. His observations led him to believe that the number of Christians that were saved was far less than the number of Christians who were damned. He said to begin his sermon, I observe in God a sincere desire to save you, but I find in you a decided inclination to be damned. So what will I be doing today if I speak clearly? I will be displeasing to you. But if I do not speak, I will be displeasing to God." Pride joined forces with the Devil and the fear of God was cast out of the hearts.

• Eusebius said reassuring souls usually were actually damning them.

• Suarez was quoted, The Most Common sentiment which is held is that, among Christians, there are more damned souls than predestined souls.

• Saint Simeon Stylites decided to live standing on top of a pillar for forty years, exposed to weather, etc. He reveals a Model of penance and holiness for everyone.

• Saint Gregory said, "Many attain to faith, but few to the heavenly kingdom."

• Saint Anslem declared, "There are few who are saved."

• Saint Augustine states, "Few are saved in comparison with those who are damned."

• Saint Jerome at the end of his life spoke these dreadful words, Out of one hundred thousand people whose lives have always been bad, you will find barely one who is worthy of indulgence.

• Saint Chrysostom with tears in his eyes said, I do not believe many priest are saved; I believe the contrary, that the number of those who are damned are greater.

Because the generation was wicked God destroyed them all in the flood except for a few of eight people, Noah’s family. (Genesis 6:5, 18)

Of the two million Hebrews in the Exodus only two of the original group, Joshua and Caleb, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived and were allowed to go into the Promised Land. All of those over age twenty were to die in the wilderness. (Numbers 14:29-30) Out of all those millions Joshua and Caleb is certainly a few. The people mourned greatly, but they still died. (Numbers 14:39) Out of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Pedmah, Zebalim, and Zoar only four people escaped. They were cited as divine judgment to the vilest sinners. (These cities were never to be inhibited and have not been to this day.) (Isaiah 13:19,20; Jeremiah 49:18, Amos 4:11; Matthew 10:15; II Peter 2:6; Jude 1:7)

"Two roads lead to Heaven; innocence and repentance. Very few take either of these roads and one must conclude that few are saved. Salvianus said, It is easier to find countless multitude of sinners immersed in all sorts of iniquities than a few innocent men."

Questions People Ask:

• Are workers honest and faithful in their duties?

• Are merchants fair and equitable in their commerce?

• Are craftsmen exact and truthful?

• Are salesmen disinterested or sincere?

• Do lawyers forsake equity?

• Do soldiers tread upon innocence?

• Do employers withhold salaries?

• Do doctors do no harm?

• Are ministers truly saved?

Everywhere the good are rare and the wicked are great in number. Where will one find virtue? Little is the number that flees evil. The whole world is "seated in wickedness, very few are saved."

In repentance there are many distorted confessions, many studied excuses, many deceitful repentances, false promises, and ineffective resolutions.

Many confess boldly at death, thus most of them are damned.

Saint Chrysostom says that most Christians are walking on the road to Hell all through life. Most Christian adults with experience, reason, authority, propriety, and Scripture all agree that the greater number is damned.

Most people have virtually no knowledge of the attributes of God, much less His justice. Many souls are going to Hell running to the cliffs. The majority does not understand what it means to be saved or to be damned for all eternity. It is inconceivable that many know about salvation and also know about Hell and make no effort to select either one. No choice is a bad eternal choice. The most ancient is that there is a God. The unpardonable sin of all sins is unbelief.

It is amazing that in the Last Days, (the end of the world), that men due to the wickedness of their hearts do not repent, and even blaspheme the name of God. This is not a few men, but the overwhelming mass of humanity. (Revelation 16:9,11,21, 17:2,3) Men were tormented five months by locusts. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that t hey should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. (Revelation 9:5,6) One third of the men on earth were killed, and those not killed would not repent. "By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Revelation 9:18, 20,21) They saw all their sins and still would not repent at the time of the world’s end. Even at the end of the world most men will be deceived by the power of Satan. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. (Revelation 13:14-16)

There were a few who survived:

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:12,13)

At the end of the world there will be horrors, but most men still will not believe. The odds are that most of us will not be here at the end of the world, but the story is the same. All men are in the formula of life, which by its design all men are dying as they live. Unbelief now is the same as in the last days. It is probably worse because many men today have no