The Offspring of God

I believe Scripture presents humanity as the offspring of God, created from one human family (Acts 17:26–29). 

Although all humanity is presently subject to death in Adam, God’s purpose in Christ is that all shall ultimately be made alive, each in his own order (1 Corinthians 15:22–23). 

Christ died not for Israel only, but to gather the scattered children of God into one (John 11:51–52). 

In the fullness of times, God will gather together in one all things in Christ, both those in heaven and those on earth (Ephesians 1:9–10). 

Christ is the Head, and the ecclesia is His body (Ephesians 1:22–23). 

Therefore, I believe that God’s ultimate purpose is for everyone to become a member of the body of Christ, each in his own order, until all things are subjected to Christ and ultimately “God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:24–28).

Death is to be "Swallowed Up in Victory"!

 "He will Swallow up death in Victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:8-9)

Does death being swallowed up in victory only apply to Israel?

No, it applies to all nations. Paul, the apostle to all nations, quotes Isaiah in his letter to Corinth...

"For even as, in Adam, ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall ALL be vivified...Lo! a secret to you am I telling! We all, indeed, shall not be put to repose, yet WE ALL shall be changed, in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump. For He will be trumpeting, and the dead will be roused incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality. Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54)

"And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:5)

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of Victory!

Every human will confess and be sealed with Holy Spirit

 "Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..." (Isaiah 45; Philippians 2:11-12)

"...no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3)

Therefore, everyone will one day be filled and sealed with Holy Spirit

"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise." (Ephesians 1:13}

Meditate On These Things

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

God cares about what fills my mind. This verse calls me to fix my thoughts on what is true according to God’s Word. I am to meditate on how to be noble in character, just in conduct, pure in heart, lovely in spirit, and of good report among those with whom I come in contact. When my mind dwells on what is virtuous and praiseworthy, my heart is drawn closer to the God of the Bible, and my life has a better chance of reflecting His beauty, love, grace, and mercy.

Revelation's Talking Peals Of Thunder

“When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them." (Revelation 10:4)

I’ve never heard or read a satisfactory explanation of the “seven peals of thunder”. I know from experience that we SEE lightening before we HEAR the thunder. And lightning is associated with the return of Jesus to earth.  

“For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:27)

Therefore it seems logical that the "peals of thunder" spoke of what follows the return of Jesus to earth. Chapters 1 through 20 deal with the seven years leading up to the return of Jesus to earth to reign for 1000 years. I think that in Chapters 21 and 22 John writes down what the thunders said to him in Chapter 10. It was the hope of a New Heaven and New Earth.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the former heaven and the former earth pass away…and I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God..God is with mankind...and He will be brushing away every tear from their eyes. And death will be no more, nor mourning, nor misery; they will be no more, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:1-4)

In Chapters 8 and 9 six angels had SHOWN John details of what will happen during the years just before the return of Jesus. Then in Chapter 10 he HEARD the "seven peals of thunder" tell him what would happen after the destruction of this earth, but was not allowed to write down what they said until he had written down the consummation of the “the mystery of God”.

“…in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished as He preached to His servants the prophets.” (Revelation 10:7)

So, I think the thunders told John about the New Heaven and New Earth. I think he heard about the salvation of all humanity and their reconciliation to God later revealed to the Apostle Paul by the risen Jesus. The prophet Isaiah called it  a time when humanity will “rejoice and be glad in His salvation”.

“And it will be said in THAT DAY, Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:9)

The Apostle Paul tells us that the “gospel” given to him by the resurrected Jesus was the mystery of Christ - the secret that all humanity, not just the people of Israel, will be saved.

“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:4-6)

Paul refers to this mystery as “my gospel", which had been “kept secret” in the past.

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to MY GOSPEL and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past…” (Romans 16:25-27)

Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, elaborates on what he calls “my gospel” in his New Testament letters. Paul explains in his letters that the mystery/secret revealed to is the good news of the grace of God bringing salvation and reconciliation of ALL created beings both on earth and in heaven.

“For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people…God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself not counting their trespasses against them...and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross…"  (Titus 2:11; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:19-20)

"Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence." (Colossians 1:21-22)

"…the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God…in this hope we are saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:19-25) 

Again - "Creation itself will be set free" and "in this we hope"  - Yes I do!

To me, the words of the "peals of thunder" is the really good news we HEAR about now, but will SEE in the future when God creats the New Heaven and New Earth. For now I just have faith in that future.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not being seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

All Things Are Of God

Paul makes the sweeping, unqualified statement, “All things are of God.”

 Paul repeats this six times:

"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things" (Romans 11:36).

"There is but one God, the Father, of Whom are all things" (I Corinthians 8:6).

"All things are of God" (I Corinthians 11:12).

"All things are of God " (II Corinthians 5:18).

"Him Who works all things after the counsel of His Own will" (Ephesians 1:11).

"For Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things" (Hebrews 2:10)

How many will be saved?

How many people will be saved?

"Ask of Me, and I shall give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession." (Psalm 2:8)

 

"The Father loves the Son and hath given all things into His hand."  (John 3:35).

 

"Now Jesus positively declares, all that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)

 

"For I came down from heaven not to do Mine own will but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." (John 6:38-40)

 

"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” (John 12:32)

"To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10)

There you have it, without any commentary!