Too late for salvation

[RobertZ]

Yes, I believe that I have waited to long and have ignored Gods dealings with me far far to long, now im in a complete and utter mess and am deeply depressed.

Im 36yrs old and I have been going to church all my life so im certainly not a stranger to when God's Holy Spirit is convicting and drawing me to salvation. The problem is that each time a person refuses salvation their heart gets harder and harder making each offer that much more difficult to accept.

Long story short I just woke up and realized that for the past 10yrs of my life I have not had God dealing with me anymore and I had fallen into a deep deep sin with pornography. The last time I remember God dealing with my heart was 1999 at a church service and like an idiot I did not go forward to get saved. After that time is when I fell into a deep life style of sin and im just now realizing 10yrs later that God has let me go.

I have asked God to save me but I realize that unless he is drawing me then I am just talking to thin air, if any of you are debating on getting saved please dont put it off any longer or you could end up like me and wake up one day to realize that your day of grace is over.

I have had terrible things happening to me lately from dreams of being thrown into hell, I have woke up at night and litterally felt my skin burning, my wife even touched me and said that I felt like I was on fire. I think I may be under the Judgement of God.

 

[RobertZ]

I urge anyone reading my post to please view these two videos by John Piper, especially take note of the second one.

This describes the unpardonable sin and how one commits it.

YouTube - The Unforgivable Sin, Part 1 of 2- John Piper

YouTube - The Unforgivable Sin, Part 2 of 2 - John Piper

 

[SharonL]

I was doing some research to find just the right passage for you and ran across this:

Since Christians continue in Christ’s word, they could never be turned over to a reprobate mind. A believer may get to the point where his faith is weak or fall into sin and, consequently, go so far as to forget “that he was purged from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:9), but he could never be rejected or abandoned by God. The scripture says that “if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13). In John 6:37, we read these comforting words, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” The Lord Jesus has promised that he will not cast out – not reject – any one who comes to him. This blessed assurance from the lips of the Saviour himself leaves out any possibility of reprobation. And Christ says to those who are saved “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). It should be a great blessing to know that the believer will never be rejected or abandoned by God. The Lord “knoweth them that trust in him,” and you can be assured they will never be reprobated. Thank God for His wonderful salvation in Christ.
Nichols, John - read more here: A Reprobate Mind | Learn The Bible

I prayed before I even started to answer your post and this is where the Holy Spirit led me - this is for you.

Please know - your sins are no geater than any other sin - sin is sin - once you repent and ask forgiveness your slate will be white as snow and your sins removed as far as the East is from the West - you are not forgotten - this is the enemy putting these thoughts into your head - cast them aside and walk into the open arms of our Jesus - he is waiting for you - you will be a great witness because you can help others whom people have not walked in their shoes -

you can be a great witness of God's grace - repent and lay your sins at the foot of the cross and walk in the Joy of the Lord and let your light shine - you are not rejected - don't let the enemy tell you different - put it behind you and move ahead in the arms of Jesus.

God gave me the above passages for you - you are looking at yourself through your eyes - look in the mirror and see yourself as God sees you - a sinner just like the rest of us - no better - no worse - put a smile on your face and lead those hurting people to the arms of JEsus.

 

[SharonL]

Robert - I listened to this Part 2 - and my spirit did not accept all of what was being said because the Bible says that Jesus will always be with us. When you turn on water it runs freely, but when you turn it off - the water does not run, that does not mean that it is not still there.

God cannot look upon sin and while in your sin God turns away - that does not mean that you are rejected, never to be with Jesus again. I don't know what church you went to, but some churches have a lot of legalism in them that keeps us in bondage.

You have not committed the unforgiveable sin - if that is so then the Bible is wrong - Jesus said He will never leave you - You have stepped out of Grace by your sins and you need to repent, but you are letting the enemy put the thoughts into your head that you are beyond the reach of God - this is not so.

You just get on your knees and be sincere with God and repent and you will find Jesus there with open arms. Put those thoughts of the enemy out of your head - they are not of God.

 

[probinson]

Robert, I am reminded of the parable of the Prodigal Son. In that parable, the father allowed the son to run off and do his own thing. The Bible doesn't tell us just how long it took, but if he wasted his entire inheritance, it's a pretty safe assumption that it took some time for that to happen.

You'll note that the father in that parable did not stop his son from sinning. He allowed him to go out and do his own thing. But he also watched for his son's return, anxiously anticipating that day when his son would return to him.

How do I know that? Because the Bible tells us that while he was a long way off, his father RAN to him. So that tells me that even though the father was probably displeased at his son's choices, he still waited and watched for his return. Not only that, but the father ran to him and embraced him BEFORE his son repented.

The bottom line is, there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the Love of God. Neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the His Love.

There is not one thing you can do that will make God Love you more. There is not one thing that you can do that will make God Love you less. It is not about us. It's all about Him.

He SO LOVED YOU that He gave His One and Only Son... for you... even while you were still a sinner. His Love for us is so incomprehensible, and that just begins to describe the Love that God has for you.

It is not based on your performance. It is based on the selfless Love sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

God is waiting for you to come home. He hasn't let you go. He's waiting and watching anxiously for your return.

 

[freeport]

Yes, I believe that I have waited to long and have ignored Gods dealings with me far far to long, now im in a complete and utter mess and am deeply depressed.

Im 36yrs old and I have been going to church all my life so im certainly not a stranger to when God's Holy Spirit is convicting and drawing me to salvation.

<snip>

I have had terrible things happening to me lately from dreams of being thrown into hell, I have woke up at night and litterally felt my skin burning, my wife even touched me and said that I felt like I was on fire. I think I may be under the Judgement of God.

Never too late for repentance. Get rid of the pornography.

Or it will get worse.



It is real simple like that.

 

[RobertZ]

Robert - I listened to this Part 2 - and my spirit did not accept all of what was being said because the Bible says that Jesus will always be with us. When you turn on water it runs freely, but when you turn it off - the water does not run, that does not mean that it is not still there.

God cannot look upon sin and while in your sin God turns away - that does not mean that you are rejected, never to be with Jesus again. I don't know what church you went to, but some churches have a lot of legalism in them that keeps us in bondage.

You have not committed the unforgiveable sin - if that is so then the Bible is wrong - Jesus said He will never leave you - You have stepped out of Grace by your sins and you need to repent, but you are letting the enemy put the thoughts into your head that you are beyond the reach of God - this is not so.

You just get on your knees and be sincere with God and repent and you will find Jesus there with open arms. Put those thoughts of the enemy out of your head - they are not of God.

Sharon thanks for your replies but I think perhaps you are misunderstanding me a bit. My issue is not one of a backslidden christian who thinks God left him.....................My problem instead is the fact that I think I have rejected salvation for so long that its no longer being offered to me by God.

This is what John Pipers videos are talking about, its talking about someone who has put off salvation for so long that the Holy Spirit has not choice but to abandoned the sinner. After this happens all chances for salvation or over.

 

[RobertZ]

Never too late for repentance.

I used to think that way but after studying some scripture and listening to pastors in regards to the unpardonable sin I have to disagree. It is possible to sin so much for so long that it puts you beyond repentance.

Im not looking at porn anymore btw. I tried to get saved last November and my life has only gotten much worse since that time as I can only think about the times that God was drawing me to be saved, if only I had walked down that isle and gave my heart to Jesus then.

I have tried to read the Bible but its becoming more like work and im slowly losing interest in it. I know this sounds aweful but its as if im slipping away without any control of this situation at all.


Salvation is all of God and if he never draws me again then Im done.

 

[SharonL]

Robert - I was raised in a church where every time you sinned you had to be saved all over again - I was saved and saved and saved - This is not the way it works. When you are saved you are saved, you might slip and go back, but once repentence is done you are back on track.

As Pete said above - nothing can come between the love of God.

The unforgiveable sin is not going forth to be saved (if that was the case none of us would be saved) - it is calling what the Holy Spirit does as being of the devil. You are listening to the wrong message if they are telling you that you cannot have salvation.

That goes against everything the Bible tells us. God is not rejecting you. I can hear the HOly Spirit loud and clear and He is not telling me to move on.

If you would just reject these thoughts, go to Jesus and talk to Him, pray with Him as the Holy Spirit to lead you and be sincere - God will only do what you believe He can do - put those thoughts out of your mind, they are wrong thinking.

Reading the Bible is hard because of allowing these thoughts to take over your mind. What is happening to you is because of what you are allowing to control your mind, the enemy has succeeded in placing these thoughts in your mind - it is up to you to replace those thoughts with the thoughts of repenting and asking Jesus into your heart. You can do it - remove the blocks from your mind and get on your knees.

 

[flaglady]

You are never and can never be beyond repentance. That is the glorious mystery of God. You are judging God by our pitiful standards and they fall far short of His. His love is greater and stronger and more forgiving than ours, his patience more long lasting and his desire for us more steadfast. Don't ever, ever think of Him and expect him to judge you like other men do. We are His creation and He loves us with a passion that surpasses all earthly desires. He will forgive and forgive for ever, so long as we are repentant. And you clearly are. Jesus said for us to forgive "seventy times seven" which, as brother Pete once worked out, is every 2.93 minutes of the day! If He expects us puny mortals to forgive that much, just think how much HE is prepared to forgive.

And that you are under attack is a good sign as it means you have reached the stage where you are seeking God because you desire Him! You very post rings of your desire to seek and reach God. Don't try to tell us otherwise.

So believe. Take that first step right now and believe. Deny the lies the enemy is feeding you and just say, out loud and boldly, "I believe - Lord, help my unbelief".

 

[RobertZ]

You are never and can never be beyond repentance.

Hebrews 12:16-17

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

 

[seashale76]

If you're not physically dead, there's still hope. Your race is not finished and you have yet to endure to the end. Your idea of it being too late is a fairly popular lie these days. You can be dead in your sins but made alive in Christ.

YouTube - Rejoice O Bethany - Byzantine Chant for St. Lazarus - Chanted in English

 

[freeport]

I used to think that way but after studying some scripture and listening to pastors in regards to the unpardonable sin I have to disagree. It is possible to sin so much for so long that it puts you beyond repentance.

Im not looking at porn anymore btw. I tried to get saved last November and my life has only gotten much worse since that time as I can only think about the times that God was drawing me to be saved, if only I had walked down that isle and gave my heart to Jesus then.

I have tried to read the Bible but its becoming more like work and im slowly losing interest in it. I know this sounds aweful but its as if im slipping away without any control of this situation at all.

Salvation is all of God and if he never draws me again then Im done.

Well, it sounds like you want to believe these guys telling you that it is possible to get beyond repentance, which logically leads one to feeling, "Might as well sin! God isn't saving me!"

That is how we are saved. Not by works, but by faith. You are making your choices with your faith: whom to believe and who not to believe. I am telling you the truth, other Christians are... you are not believing us. I am wondering who you are believing. Sure isn't from God.

And that is okay, but time to turn and start believing God, and stop believing whatever lies you hear in your heart from the evil one... or whatever lies you hear out there from some teachers you went after to follow.


When Peter or the writer of Hebrews said, "How much worse for those who fall from grace", they said that so you would believe it and keep the words as a warning -- for change.

Jeremiah 18:7-11 (New International Version)

7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
11 "Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'

Is that verse truth or lie? Is it true, so you will believe it? Or is it a lie so you will not accept it?


Or from Isaiah:

1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

Or, what about the book of Jonah? God sent Jonah to Nineveh with a message, and Jonah preached that message, that the city would be destroyed. The people said, "What if God might not relent if we repent?" And so they called a fast. And God relented and the city was saved.




If you repent and turn from your sins, God will save you.




If not, you know the alternative.




I am not asking you to go and do something to be saved. I am not giving you a chore. You should already know the words of Jesus and have them in your heart. Why do you have to be reminded of that? You are only asked to believe to be saved.




Nothing else. Faith. First to last.


And the question for you is, "Do you believe God is love and therefore loves even you?" Or, as sinners and unbelievers and the cowardly do not, can you not believe that?




Because that is the real question of faith -- faith that God can love you and therefore cares about you and would never let you be lost. 'Let the dead worry about themselves'. Your faith is between you and God.




And what you think and therefore can believe about God. Not church. Not what you can do or think. Faith.




Trust.

God is asking you to trust you and you have that choice: should you trust God, or not?


Why would God take pleasure from damning you? That is not God.

He reproves you so you will change course and will keep doing so until you do change course.


Stop going after teachers who are saying something else. It is an utter waste of time and apparently leading you down the wrong path.

 

[Hisgirl]

Robert,

God's arm is not short and there is not a pit of sin deep enough that His arm won't reach.

Ezekial 18:23 "Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

You had a 'suddenly' moment and you are coming to your senses. Just like the prodigal son.

God desires that all men might be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4 ..."who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

I would ask you, where is your focus? Are you searching for verses to support why you may have missed your chance? Or are you searchiing for verses that support why you are accepted? Where your focus lies is where you will put your faith. The reason you are being tormented at night is because the enemy knows he has your attention and he's overplaying his hand. This can be dealt with by praying before you go to sleep and asking God to bind up anything not of Him and to loose a spirit of peace while you sleep. His presence is a wonderful thing when He sends it. Ask Him.

Sounds like a good dose of God's mercy and grace would be a good thing for you Go look up Andrew Womack or John Sheasby. Liberated Living Ministries :: Index I'm sure both have messages you can hear and there you will find LIFE and LOVE and HOPE. Stay away from anything that is sowing fear, doubt, and hopelessness. That is not pointing you to life. Go to youtube and check out some Jesus Culture videos. Listen to some worship music...talk to God....ask someone to pray for you. Salvation is there and waiting for you.

 

[freeport]

Hebrews 12:16-17

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

You are totally twisting that to damn yourself, I guess because you want to believe it.

16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

Does not mean if you are sexually immoral you are surely damned forever without hope of repentance. It just says to stay away from that.

Are you Esau? Is that what you believe? You have no choice on what you can believe? Would you be Esau or Hitler or some villain? Why? Why not strive to be a hero instead?

Why choose to be the bad guy?

Why believe the worst?

If someone calls you a bad name as an insult, do you always believe it? Why accept such a thing? Believe the better. The writer of Hebrews wrote that hoping people would not want to identify with Esau or Judas or other villains and want to be better, like Jesus, whom we are called to follow.


If you even read further in Hebrew, you see this plainly, as well:

18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."[c] 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."[d] 22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

You are going to the wrong mountain when you choose to believe such things. It says it right there right after the very words you quoted (out of context).



Now, Hebrews does have some strong words to say, such as:

Hebrews 10
26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[d] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."[e] 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But, again... you have to consider context.

To do that, go back to chapter 6...

4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because[b]to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. 10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

What is said? "Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case--things that accompany salvation".

And why speak such a way? I have that bolded above, as well:

11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.


The real issue is simply to believe Jesus when He says you can be forgiven your sins and have eternal life just for believing. Why not believe that?


Is God unjust or cruel? Why would God create you just to damn you?

Romans 9

10Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."[d] 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."[e] 14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[f] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."[g] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "[h] 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 2

Verse 22 especially there shows a very big "what if".

What can you believe?

In fact, what else explains the situation of the damned -- for God made wicked and righteous alike?


22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?


What if.

Do you believe God did this?

Is that your view of God and what you will believe of God?



Or is there something else going on?


Regardless, even if you were the most vile worm on the planet, God could and would still save you.


Never a point of no return.

 

[heymikey80]

As I remember it, blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is the only unforgivable sin.

What is keeping you from turning around?

 

[lovesblessing]

So, Robert, why do you even care? Why are you posting in here trying to get other folks saved?

If you are really in such a reprobate state that you figure God has decided to send you to hell, why do you want to keep others from that same fate?

People who are total reprobate sinners that have rejected Jesus as their Saviour have absolutely NO interest in trying to get other people saved from hell and eternal death! They are happy in their sins, their biggest thing is themselves and what they can get and have......they could care less about others.

What I see in your posts is someone who got saved years ago, and doesn't even realize it, and is feeling so guilty and condemned by their sins commited after their salvation, that they are trying to make amends for their sins, in the hope that maybe God will appreciate their good work and not punish them so badly.

You know just going forward in an alter call doesn't get you saved.....the thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus didn't answer an alter call....he simple said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me" and Jesus told him that "he would be with Him that day in paradise". And that was all it took......legalism will tell you that unless you do everything in a certain way, it doesn't count......God says that whoever calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. Period and forever.

I was saved for years before I even knew about what being saved meant. And then when I did finally understand what it meant, I still thought I had to keep repenting of all my sins and trying with all my might to keep myself saved! The only thing that happened was that I began to feel more and more condemned and guilty about everything all the time. I was one miserable christian. And then when I came to the end of myself, Father God, who is so gracious kind, sent me the real truth of the gospel of His grace and set me free from the lies I had been believing, that I had anything whatsoever to do with my salvation and keeping it or not.

God did this by introducing me to the ministry of a pastor from Singapore, no less!

A pastor who when he was a young man, thought he had commited the unpardonable sin and rejected Jesus......so he went out and tried to get others saved from their sins, so that God would look down on him in hell and think kindly of him......until one day, God woke him up to the truth of the gospel of grace. And he realized it wasn't all about him, and how good he kept all the rules, and repented of all his sins constantly, but it was all about Jesus and what Jesus had done for him.

So, since you like listening to preaching on You tube, here are some links you should really give a listen to. Oh, and also a link to the Pastor's church website, with some wonderful teaching available. His church now has over 20,000 people and he preaches 4 times each Sunday, for which people line up for hours to get in to the services......all to hear about Jesus and what He has done for them!

YouTube - The Root Cause Of Your Problem Is Condemnation

YouTube - Will The Real Christianity Please Stand Up?

YouTube - Condemnation Kills (4-DVD Album ? NTSC)

New Creation Church
New Creation Church

New Creation Church

 

[RobertZ]

Thanks everyone for the support, I just dont know what I think. I believe that God will speak to us time and time again to try and save us but eventually there does come a time when he will give up on someone who continually rejects his callings.

I know I sound negative but I am just terrified that I crossed this deadline, a lot of well known pastors agree that this can happen to an individual.

YouTube - Adrian Rogers - Crossing God's Deadline. Part 1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnu4EGoIey8&NR=1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axBw5WdLmQs&NR=1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pG6PxvsdLQ&NR=1

 

[seashale76]

Thanks everyone for the support, I just dont know what I think. I believe that God will speak to us time and time again to try and save us but eventually there does come a time when he will give up on someone who continually rejects his callings.

I know I sound negative but I am just terrified that I crossed this deadline, a lot of well known pastors agree that this can happen to an individual.

Yeah, that time is called physical death. Christ desires that all be saved. Even those who come at the last hour.

 

[RobertZ]

Yeah, that time is called physical death. Christ desires that all be saved. Even those who come at the last hour.

Im not so sure about that, there are scriptures which seem to indicate that physical death is not neccessarily the cut off.