The Christian life of a person begins at conversion. This is called the “Second Coming,” and Jesus is sent to the Person and indwells their Heart.
The person receives God’s grace through their humility before God, and they deny ungodliness.
There are times in their lives which are known only to God the Father. During these points in time the person is “Visited” or passes under the Rod of the Shepherd.
Paul illustrates this process when He emulates Jesus’ visitation in His letter to the Corinthians.
1Co 4:21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
During these times their evaluation they can be recognized as “Obedient” and the pass into the Kingdom of God to a greater degree.
This is seen when Jesus tells a person to “Enter the Joy of the Lord”.
Some followers of Christ will not be allowed to pass into the Kingdom of God because there is “Willful Sin” in their Lives.
This would mean that they had “Unconfessed” sin in their lives.
Similar to Job, these people do not recognize a certain activity as Sin.
Sin must be recognized and confessed to be forgiven.
As is seen in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2:11-12, this Fallen or sinful Christian has been given over to delusion by God so that they do not recognize this.
This happens so that the person can be judged and ultimately corrected for this willful sin/behavior.
This is the lesson seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 through 5:10.
Whether a Christian is “Willfully sinful” or “Obedient”, as long as they maintain their Faith, they will live with Jesus.
In keeping with the Grace of God, teaching them (Titus 2:11 and 12), these willfully sinful believers will experience what the Bible calls “The Day of the Lord” or discipline.
They will be exposed spiritually to the Spirits which occupy and for which Hell was prepared..
Lu 13:25 (BBE) When the master of the house has got up, and the door has been shut, and you, still outside, give blows on the door, saying, Lord, let us in; he will make answer and say, I have no knowledge of where you come from.
Lu 13:27 (MKJV) But He shall say, I tell you, I do not know you; from where you are. Depart from Me, all workers of unrighteousness!
On the “Day” of their visitation Jesus will not recognize where they are coming from as being the right place so He will not allow them passage into the kingdom during this particular visitation.
Thankfully, as long as we live, we can, as the wise virgins phrased it in Matt 25:8 and 9, “buy oil” and have another opportunity to pass the test and enter into the Joy of the Lord.
Mt 25:8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lights are going out.
Matthew 25:9 But the wise made answer, saying, There may not be enough for us and you; it would be better for you to go to the traders and get oil for yourselves.
Mt 7:21 ¶ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mt 7:22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
Mt 25:11 Afterward, the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
Lu 6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? (RSV)
They will be exposed to the presence of “Wicked Spirits” so that the Grace of God can teach them to deny the ungodliness to which they are exposed.
Jesus as the “Lion (Devourer) of the Tribe of Judah” will deliver and oversee this discipline.
The willfully sinful believer is exposed to the “Presence of the Devil and His Angels in Hell to teach the person not to blaspheme, 1 Tim 1:20.
Mt 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew 25:41 is an example of a person who, at a time of visitation or evaluation, is sent to Hell to learn to deny ungodliness.
Such a disobedient believer is referred to as a “Tare or Son of Disobedience” and will be exposed to the Negative or Demonic Spirits in Hell.
They will then develop the Spiritual strength to deny this ungodliness in the future, and at that time, they will be allowed to re-enter the Spiritual company of the obedient Christians, as is seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
They will not be tempted in Hell (in the spiritual presence of the Devil) more than they can resist, and they will be provided a path to escape and pass the examination/test, 1 Corinthians 10:13.
The disobedient believer will, after being corrected, be released from the presence of the Devil and His angels in Hell (Matthew 5:26) when they have corrected the behavior and again be a Joyful Christian.
Jas 1:3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Jas 1:4 but let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Mt 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
They will, having passed the “Trying” of their faith – again “Live” the resurrected life in Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
Col 3:1 if ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
This resurrected life in Christ is the “First Resurrection” or millennium as is seen in Revelation Chapter 20.
A Christian can go into and out of the Kingdom of God during this lifetime.
Re 3:10 because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Pr 16:7 ¶ When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Rev 3:12 Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.