Is There Another Way?

Q.  I have loved ones who are not saved.  They are really wonderful loving people that have had a terrible experience  with “religion” and are just confused.  Plus you know how the enemy can  cause people to have blinders.  I pray for them every day and realize there is only so much I can do but it’s hard when I know we are so close to the rapture.  Is there a possibility that God may allow those who were confused, under satanic attack, or for whatever reason (besides the known issues such as mentally unable or small children etc) another chance to repent?

A.  Because our God is a just God, He cannot allow anyone to be unjustly condemned.  But Hebrews 9:27 makes it clear that our chance to be saved expires at death. This means everyone will have had at least one legitimate offer of salvation sometime during their lifetime.

The Bible offers no other path to salvation than to accept the Lord’s death as payment in full for the sins of our life.  We can all sympathize with the “bad religion” experience you mention, but in Romans 1:18-20 Paul wrote that God has made Himself so obvious to us that men are without excuse.

Your loved ones are not at the point of no return yet.  If they are not believers at the time of the rapture, your disappearance could be the event that changes everything for them.  But even if it isn’t, God will make His existence so clear in the end times judgments that people will have to consciously choose to deny Him in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.  Remember, God wants everyone to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:3-4, 2 Peter 3:9), so He’s going to do everything possible to help your loved ones make the right choice.