Fuel For The Fire

“…be filled with the knowledge of His will…” (Colossians 1:10)

19 years ago I began to pray the above prayer for myself. Soon thereafter I began to examine my doctrinal positions.  In doing so I had to face squarely a question I had avoided for the most part - Is it really God’s WILL to separate Himself from unbelievers, keeping them alive eternally to punish and torment them? 

I was determined to be "filled with the knowledge of His will" even if it meant to embrace this doctrine which seemed to me to contradict the love of God. And for 5 years I studied Scripture, and the more I studied, the more it became obvious that this doctrine was not in the original language of His Word.

When the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to punish the people of God who had refused to worship him, he had them thrown into a furnace of fire...

“But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.” (Daniel 3:6)

Is our God like Nebuchadnezzar?

When Jesus’s Jewish disciples wanted to reign down fire from heaven and destroy the Samaritans Jesus told them…

"You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." (Luke 9:56)

Of what spirit is the doctrine of eternal conscience torment? 

Paul had told Timothy...

"...instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines or devote themselves to myths..." (1 Timothy 1:3-4)

So how did it become a doctrine of the church?

It came by mixing the gospel of Jesus, the Savior of the world with Greek mythology, Greek philosophy and Greek theology - which has brought the institutional churches to a sorry state. Listen to one of the Saints of the Catholic church from the middle ages...

"The blessed in the kingdom of heaven will see the punishments of the damned, in order that their bliss be more delightful for them." - Saint Thomas Aquinas

And hear part of two sermons by Jonathan Edwards, a Protestant preacher whose sermons are still quoted by misguided evangelists in our modern era.

“The view of the misery of the damned will double the ardour of the love and gratitude of the saints of heaven...The sight of hell's torments will exalt the happiness of the saints forever. . .Can the believing father in Heaven be happy with his unbelieving children in Hell. . . I tell you, yea! Such will be his sense of justice that it will increase rather than diminish his bliss."

These men are insane and their words some of the most heretical blasphemy against God and Christ Jesus ever uttered. We were warned by Paul to avoid these servants of "Satan"...

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

And what will be the end of Saint Thomas and Jonathan Edwards?

"Anathema Maranatha!" (1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:9)

Meaning - such men are devoted to destruction at the coming of the Lord. They will be judged and cast into the lake of fire for their unbelief (the second death is the lake of fire, not eternal conscious torment although it would be poetic justice).

Paul specifically told Timothy what to "prescribe and teach"…

“As in Adam all die, even so, in Christ, shall all be made alive...this is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…God our Savior WILLS all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who have Himself a ransom for ALL...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL mankind, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2:3-6; 4:10)

You are not one of the "believers" if you do not teach the above, nor can people be a "believer" who teach the opposite - the myth of eternal conscious torment. 

When I finally became a "believer", it freed me from these "doctrines of demons". 

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in subsequent eras some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." (1 Timothy 4:1)

Rejecting the "doctrines of demons" is the only way to believe the clear statements in the Bible that it is the WILL of God that all be saved and the whole world reconciled to God. Read the Bible with the goal of harmonizing all of it with that WILL.  The truth is that God will be ALL in ALL His creation…according to His grace and mercy!

“...through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross" ... "that God may be All in All.” (Colossians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 15:28)

My faith has not been received well by the institutional church and I have found it is wasting time to argue. However, I will from time to time share my thoughts on the truth they ignore, and I will pray that those who read my thoughts will "ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will"...

“…ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him.” (Colossians 1:10)

You cannot please God by believing He will allow eternal torment. Trying to build on Jesus, our "foundation", with such teaching composed of "wood, hay and straw" will fuel the fire that will consume those false teachings when we all stand before Jesus to give an account of what we chose to believe about God.

"Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God...For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved - even though only as one escaping through the flames." (Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

My advice is to stop fueling the fire!

Dead Men Walking

The phrase “dead man walking” refers to an inmate sentenced to death on his way to be capitally punished. The Scripture speaks of mankind in the same way...

“...even as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin death, and thus death passed through into all mankind.” (Romans 5:12)

Mankind has been sentenced to death and so we are all “dead men walking”…but there is good news!

“For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a man also, comes the resurrection of the dead...you died, and your life is hid together with Christ in God.” (1 Corinthians 15:21; Colossians 3:3)

Senator John James Ingalls of Kansas once said...

“In the democracy of the dead all men at last are equal. There is neither rank nor station nor prerogative in the republic of the grave".

I am convinced by the study of Scripture that all dead men walking will again walk in newness of life – all equal in the eternal Republic of God.

“...we rely on the living God,Who is the Savior of all mankind...for even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified...that God may be All in all.” (1 Timothy 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

So, in light of that, stop worrying about how unrighteous you are...your life is "hid together with Christ in God" - your are safe in Christ Jesus!

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, that is superior to every frame of mind, shall be garrisoning your hearts and your apprehensions in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Denied But Not Damned

"...whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

What is denied is REIGNING with Christ in the ages to come.

"If we endure, we will also REIGN with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us." (2 Timothy 2:12).

When we are told we are to REIGN with Christ, who are we reigning over if Satan, the fallen angels, and all unbelievers are in hell?

None of God's created beings will be damned forever in the mythological underworld of hell. But they will be reigned over and righteously chastened until all bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord - to the glory of God. 

"As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God...at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11)

And when God's plan for the ages is complete God be "All in all". 

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ, all shall be made alive...For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet...that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:20-29).

There has always been a remnant of people who believe God. These all endure to the end of life or the return of Jesus with peace and hope in their heart.  All of them will be raised to REIGN with Christ Jesus over all creation, in perfect righteousness, in the ages to come. Some will reign over this earth and the New Earth.  Some will reign among the heavens.  Their reign will cease only when all creation has been reconciled to God and He is All in all.

The Second Death - What Is It?

“...in Adam all die…it is appointed unto men once to die” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:27)

All people are to die once, not twice.

“...and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God… and they were judged, each one according to their works…if anyone was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire - this is the second death…” (Revelation 20:7-15)

Everyone will die and be resurrected where they will be "standing before God".  The "lake of fire" is the "second death", not some eternal torture chamber conceived in the mind of religions. 

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive….The last enemy that will be abolished is death…so that God may be All in all…when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in VICTORY.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-54)

The "second death" and the "lake of fire" are the same thing...

"This is the second death - the lake of the fire.”  (Revelation 20:14)

In this figurative "lake of fire" all that seems to oppose God (unrighteousness) in this age is consumed after being "judged" before the great white throne where all mankind "small and great" appear, and are "changed". And at that judgment by Jesus Christ, EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

This "second death" will consume mankind's enemies - the adversary (devil), the governments of men (beast) and the religions of men (false prophet), as well as death (the grave). The consummation of those things will usher in a new creation "wherein dweths righteouness". 

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:13)

The bible speaks of the death of a person as a temporary condition, and Jesus referred to it as “sleep”.

"Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." (John 11:11)

Paul assures us that all will be awakened out of "sleep" at the resurrection and be saved.  

“And I have a hope in God…that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous…” (Acts 24:15). 

“…we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people…” (1 Timothy 4:10). 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord” (Romans 6:23). 

The grave, our adversaries, our governments, nor our religions will have the Victory over people.  The "last enemy", death itself, "will be abolished" in the "lake of fire".  Then God will be "All in all", not just a few religious folks who think they are the only ones in the body of Christ...

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive….The last enemy that will be abolished is death…so that God may be All in all…when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in VICTORY.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-54)

All mankind will "be changed" in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, to become a part of the new creation where God is "All in all".

“…we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible... Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away…and God Himself will be among them…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away…these words are faithful and true.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; Revelation 21:1-5)

Jesus Is Not a Substitute

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sin according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3)

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross..." (1 Peter 2:24)

The bible does not say sin is a debt that needs to be paid to God, but a result of bad behavior. All die as the result of sin - there are no exceptions, not even Jesus. But Jesus did not die for his own sin, but “for our sins". He “bore our sins in his body on the cross". Jesus IDENTIFIED himself with sinful men to demonstrate God’s love for sinners.

"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

In the resurrection of Jesus God has revealed that the death of a sinner will be "swallowed up in Victory" when resurrected - a free gift.

"The wages of sin is DEATH but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.” (Romans 3:23) 

Almost all Christian theologians teach that when Jesus died on the cross it was as our "substitute" to "pay" for our sin. No, he "bore" the sin of Adam and everyone else, and died "for" Adam's sin and everyone else's, because he had no sin of his own to die for. We will all "die" like Jesus, and be "made alive" like Jesus.

"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...The last enemy to be destroyed is death...so that God may be ALL in ALL....death has been swallowed up in Victory." (1 Corinthians 15:22-29,53)

Purpose of the Ages

“In accord with the purpose of the ages, which He makes in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (Ephesians 3:11).

“Purpose” means that God has a plan concerning the outcome of creation. The ages were made by and for Christ, and they are unfolding according to the plan of God. Mankind's so called “freewill” will not deter the purpose of God. God is the God of certainty and not of chance, and He made up His mind what He wanted to do and then created the ages to work out His plan.

At the close of the ages God will be "All in all" of His creation.

"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

In our troubled world I am glad God has a plan to save His creation.  Faith in that plan gives me "peace".

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

Everlasting Destruction - Not Exactly

"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed." (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10)

I had a friend who asked me to address some of the passages used to deny the eventual salvation and reconciliation of all, like the verses above. I wanted to say why? Most Christians only believe what they are told by theologians - and I am not one. And they sure don’t believe the clear teaching of the salvation of all, regardless of how many verses I show them that clearly teach it.

But for my friend, and the handful of others who give a damn about the damned, here is the explanation, in context, of the above verses.

Paul is speaking to his fellow JEWS who believed that Jesus was their Messiah.  These Jewish believers were being persecuted for their belief, being banned from the synagogues, and the non-believing Jewish leaders wanted them dead. He was not talking to Gentile believers.

"on the day he comes" is referring to the “Day of the Lord” (also known as the Great Tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble, and the 70th week of Daniel). It is mentioned often in the Hebrew Scriptures (old testament) and was well known to Jews as the time just before their Messiah appears to restore the Kingdom to Israel on this earth. At that time Jewish believers will be resurrected to rule over the entire earth with Jesus during this period. They are the “holy people”. All the unbelieving Jews will stay dead, along with all dead Gentiles, until the end of that age. They “perish” (stay dead) during that time only. And I mean DEAD, not confined in some mythological underworld of hell. The book of Revelation tells us that this earthy Kingdom will last 1000 years, at the close of which all dead people are resurrected and a New Heaven and Earth created. The Greek word mistranslated "everlasting" is “aionian” which means “pertaining to the age” and in this context is the 1000 year Kingdom age. The “destruction” is referring only to this period of time.

“They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years…” (Revelation 20:4-6)

However, even the unbelieving Jews who had Jesus crucified will eventually be saved when their blindness is lifted:

“Father forgive them, they don’t understand what they are doing…Blindness has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles is come, then ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED” (Luke 23:34; Romans 11:25-26).

God will save all mankind and He will be "All in All" at the close of the ages whether Christians like it or not. (1 Corinthians 15:20-29)

This teaching of the salvation and reconciliation of all is clear but has been hidden by the false teachers for 1700 years. And their students just don’t seem to care enough to question false teaching or study in detail the Bible for themselves. Guess that is part of the plan for now – but they will know someday!

All In All

"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19).

The secret to worthwhile faith is figuring out whom we believe - God or man.

That is no easy job. For who among us has actually had a two way conversation with God? We pray but it is always one sided. We talk to God, He doesn’t talk back…does He?

What most people believe God has said comes from a man or women who claims to have spoken with God. If we have not heard from Him directly ourselves, we must then decide whether the person who is preaching to us has…or simply thinks he has…or is actually conning us knowing he hasn’t.

So what are you saying Robert?

Well, first of all I am saying I have NOT directly heard from God, and it is my conviction that I have NEVER met or listened to someone who has.

What I have done is to assume that God spoke to men of old, inspired to do so, and wrote down what God told them. And I am assuming that over time all that God wanted to say has been said and collected into a book we call the Bible.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…for everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.” (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4)

That does not mean God actually did it that way, but I have chosen to believe that is what happened. It puts limits on what I study, and allows me to ignore anyone else who claims to have a word from God.

I have placed my faith in that book not because it is true, but because I have chosen to believe it is true - although quite honestly I cannot prove it is true.

OK, now what? 

Well now I have to figure out what the Bible actually says. That is also no easy job and most people do not bother. But it has been an obsession for me and one of the ways I determine for myself what it says is whether in the end it gives “hope” for all mankind, not just a few folks. 

It clearly does give me hope and peace, and thus was born my “random thoughts on the really good news”. My thoughts are written down with no expectations of people buying into them. Just food for thought. 

Paul sums it up this “hope” I have this way in his great chapter on resurrection.

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive… so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

God “All in all”.

Now that is a God worth placing my faith in, and committing my hope to!

"I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day...with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you." (2 Timothy 1:12-14)

The Evil Eye

Jesus said…

”...is it not lawful for me to do what I want with what is mine...is your eye evil because I am good..." (Matthew 20:15)

Muslims believe they are the only ones destined for heaven. Christians think the same thing. The reason is that both want their good deeds or faith to determine their salvation. Nevertheless, the world has only one Savior, and his salvation is a free gift, according to the Bible…

“For by Grace are you saved...For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life...For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive...The last enemy that will be abolished is death… so that God may be all in all.” (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

Christians and Muslims alike have leaders whom they believe are men of God. They follow their teaching and trust and put faith in those men. They may think their faith is in Allah or God, but it is really in what their leaders have told them about Allah or God.

Nevertheless all are destined to hear directly from Jesus, a few in this life and all in the next. And then they will finally understand what God is doing through Jesus His Son, and will declare...

"It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)

God saves by "Grace" because God is "good", but religious men see the saving "of the world" by such grace and goodness as "evil".

That is sad...the evil eye.

Fire Is A Good Thing

"...Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven...removing those things that are shaken...that those things which cannot be shaken may remain...for our God is a consuming fire". (Hebrews 12:27-29)

Is FIRE good or bad? 

Well, it depends on whether your perspective is short term or long term. In the short term fire can be an awfully destructive power, but in the process it purifies its object or victim.  God is a "consuming fire" that will purify his creation. The "lake of fire" is part of that process.

"...And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire...where the beast and the false prophet are... And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire...And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:6-15)

The "lake of fire" consumes the "devil" (slanderer), and the "beast and false prophet" (adversaries of God). It will also consume "death and hell" (the enemies of mankind). And any "not found in the book of life" will be consumed as well (consumed by the fire, not eternally tortured).  But even they will eventually be "made alive" when “death is abolished”.

"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...(when) death is abolished...that God may be all in ALL" (1 Corinthians 15:22-58) 

All will then be "reconciled" to God...

"...and through him (Jesus) to reconcile to himself ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:20)

Fire is good according to God...it is false religious doctrine that makes it eternally bad.

Elementary Teaching about the Christ

“Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1-3)

Of all of the mistranslations of Scripture into English Satan’s crown jewel in my opinion is the translation of the Greek words "krimatos aioniou" as “eternal judgment”. However there are a few Bible translations whom Satan has not been able to influence. Here are two of the three I am familiar with…

“…of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on also of hands, of rising again also of the dead, and of judgment age-during” (Young’s Literal Translation), and

“…of the teaching of baptizings, besides the imposition of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and of judgment eonian.” (Concordant Literal Translation)

What the writer of Hebrews is talking about is moving on from basic teaching that all Christians should be aware of to the maturity of knowing all of what God has planned for mankind. These elementary teachings are…

1. Jesus is the Messiah
2. Works cannot save us
3. Our faith is to be in God alone
4. Baptism and laying on of hands has no power to save or cleanse
5. The dead will be resurrected
6. The judgment that follows will determine our role in the following ages.

Christianity for the most part has been arguing about these elementary teachings for about 1800 years and rarely moves on to MATURITY. Maturity for me is a peaceful realization that at the close of the ages ALL creation will be reconciled to God and all will joyfully give Him the glory He is due. Paul summarizes this as follows:

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

Read this Scripture over and over until the “ALL in ALL” meaning sinks in…then you will be as close to MATURITY as you can get in this age it seems to me.

All Must Give Account To God

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (1 Timothy 1:15; Colossians 1:20)

I think I am sometimes misunderstood by being so adamant about the final Salvation and Reconciliation of ALL mankind to God. I am adamant about it because it is what the Bible teaches and it is not being taught by mainstream institutional Christianity. If I do not share this good news, then who will?

That being said, it is not correct for people to assume that I do not believe there are and should be consequences for sin, including the sin of unbelief, both in this life and in the next.

Bad people should be punished for their sin in this life by enforcing the laws of the Land. Evil people like abusers of children and the Terrorists of this world should themselves be killed and removed from society in my opinion. But even if they are not caught in this age and punished, all of those evil people must give an account to God and endure whatever judgment God has determined is just after their resurrection.

However, His punishment will not include the awful and sadistic punishment of being tortured in hell forever and ever. That is a lie and should be exposed as such.

And even believers must give account to God after they die if we are to believe the Bible. Christianity implies that if one has accepted the “offer” of salvation then the person is saved and will never have to “account” to God for their actions after they die. They seem to believe that saved people just go to heaven when they die and all is well. Nevertheless, they will give an account as do the unbelievers because that is what the Bible says...

“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God...For this reason also, God highly exalted Him (Jesus), and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father...(when) the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.” (Romans 14:10-12; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 4:5)

So when I emphasize the Salvation and Reconciliation of All, I am referring to the final condition of all mankind after God dishes out the chastening and discipline of a righteous Father. This may last for thousands of years but when God is finished, all will agree that the chastening that they endured was JUST. The final result will be that all creation will "bow" and "give praise to God" and all will "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father". 

God will then be “All in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).

Shall All Be Made Alive?

"You always resist the Holy Spirit…Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Do not quench the Spirit." (Acts 7:51; Ephesians 4:30; and 1 Thessalonians 5:19)

As I have said before, I look at the Holy Spirit as the POWER of God. It is the unseen means by which God’s plan is accomplished. It is like the wind which moves the tree branches but cannot be seen. It is futile to resist this unseen POWER of God. We often resist this unseen POWER which is working out God's plan. We quench the power of God only in the sense that we lose the joy and  peace it can bring when we believe what God will accomplish through this power, the reconciliation and salvation of all at our resurrection.

“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…death is abolished…that God may be All in All” (1 Corinthians 5:22-28)

Spin Doctors

At the end of the ages I find that the Bible teaches that ALL are saved and justified...

“So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to ALL MEN, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to ALL MEN.” (Romans 5:18)

 And I find that ALL are alive and reconciled to God...

“For as in Adam ALL DIE, so also in Christ ALL WILL BE MADE ALIVE...and through Him to reconcile ALL THINGS to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Colossians 1:20)

 And I find that there is no more death or sin when ALL are immortal and God is ALL in ALL.

“...our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel...at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin...the last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put ALL in subjection under His feet...then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected ALL to Him, so that God may be ALL IN ALL.” (2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 9:26; 1Corinthians15:26-28)

We are not told in the Bible what God has done prior to creating the ages nor what will happen after the ages come to an end. We are simply told that these are...

“...things which eye hath not seen and ear has not heard, and which HAVE NOT entered the heart of man...” (1 Corinthians 2:8-9)

Religious spin doctors of Christian institutions over the past 1700 years have managed to hide most of the glorious truth about the ages by adding their own doctrinal “spin”. Their commentaries will be burned up with this present world but the Word of God will endure for the "olam va'ed” (as far as we can see...and BEYOND).

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed… but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” (2 Peter 3:10; 1:25)

So just read the Bible and trust in its good news.  You do not need help from me or the spin doctors...you are the object of this glorious good news - the salvation and redemption of sinners - REJOICE!

End Of The Ages

God is the King of "the ages" and He made the ages through Christ Jesus His Son...

“Now to the King of the ages, the incorruptible, invisible, only, and wise God...in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages” (1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 1:1-2)

And AGE is a long period of time with a beginning and an end. In Hebrew the word is “olam” and refers to a period of time so long that one cannot see beyond it. The phrase "olam va'ed” is usually translated in English Bibles as “forever and ever” but that is NOT what was meant. It means “as far as one can see and beyond”. The Greek word for Age is “aion” and clearly refers to a definite period of time with a beginning and an end even though it is translated “forever” into English sometimes in our Bible...in error. It seems to me that 5 ages  are reflected in the Bible with a beginning and an end of which two of them are past...

Age 1 - the original age when all things were created and ended in the earth becoming without form and void. (Genesis 1:1)

Age 2 - the regeneration of the earth after it became without form and void and ended with the flood of Noah. (Genesis 1:2).

Age 3 – This is present age which began after the FLOOD and Paul calls “the present wicked age”...it will end with the return of Jesus to establish the Messianic Kingdom on the earth.

“Who gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4)

There are two ages which are future in which the riches of His grace and kindness (saving of sinners) will be displayed...

“...in the ONCOMING AGES, He should be displaying the transcendent riches of His GRACE in His KINDNESS to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)

Age 4 - The 1000 year Kingdom Age promised to Israel (Acts 1:6; Revelation 20:6)

Age 5 - The final Age of a New Heaven and New Earth at the end of which God will be "All in All". (Revelation 21:1; 1 Corinthians 15:28)

“…THEN COMES THE END, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death....then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be ALL IN ALL.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

Power To The People!

“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength...those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31)

Use common sense when you read verses like the above. Look around and observe your personal experience with life. It is our experience to grow old, get weaker, suffer from that condition, and then die. None of what Isaiah says becomes permanent in this life. Some suffer more than others, and often it is the very best and most faithful to God that suffer the most like Paul…

“…in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, and I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27)

He suffered all this for sharing the good news that Jesus is the Savior of All, and will reconcile all creation to God, and that God will become All in All (1Timothy 4:10; Colossians 1:20; and 1 Corinthians 15:28). And when Paul prayed to God for deliverance from his suffering God told him…

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9)

So WHEN will the weak get power and gain strength? When will the young who become old and weak have their failing strength renewed? And when will Paul’s weakness become perfect strength?

NOT IN THIS LIFE, common sense tells us that aging, weakness, and death is the plan of God for us all in this Age, and the Hope of all is the "resurrection of the dead"…

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.” (1 Corinthians 15:13-15)

The World Is A Theater

"The world is a theater, the earth a stage which God and nature do with Actors fill" – John Heywood

"In a beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1)

“Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me…Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish. Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, What you are about to do, do quickly.” (John 13:21-28)

Really Jesus! Shouldn’t you have talked to him and warned him of the consequences for his action? And who were you talking to anyway…Judas or Satan…or both? Really “do quickly”. Sounds like you are approving and encouraging them to betray you.

“The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil….” (Proverbs 16:4) 

“Then Jesus replied, Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil! Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him." (John 6:70-71)

The Bible tells me that God wrote the script for this great drama of life, and we are simply playing the part he has written for us. And when this great play concludes, all of the actors will be gathered before him, and receive praise for the role written for them to play.

“Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.” (Psalm 96:13) 

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)

The villians, Satan, Adam, and Judas may receive an academy award for their perfect performance…all to the glory of God, the writer of the script.  Our Hero, the Lord Jesus Christ, is playing the leading role as the Savior of the world!

“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…death will be abolished…so that God may be ALL in ALL…We  have seen and do testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world...He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 1 John 4:14; Revelation 22:20)

”For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge…” (1 Corinthians 8:5-7)

I suppose that there are as many gods and lords as there have been cultures and religious men over the years. And of course Paul is talking about those men or idols made up by men that people worship. He does not condemn such people to hell, but simply says that all men do not have the knowledge of the “one God, the Father, from whom are all things…and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things”. But they will one day, if not predestined to do so in this life, then after the resurrection of both the just and the wicked. Jesus told his listeners...

“Verily, verily, I say to you — He who is hearing my word, and is believing Him who sent me, hath life age-during, and to judgment he doth not come, but hath passed out of the death to the life…. Wonder not at this, because there doth come an hour in which all those in the tombs shall hear his voice, and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practiced the evil things to a rising again of judgment." (John 5:24-29 YLT)

Jesus was speaking to Israel concerning the Kingdom AGE to be established on earth and Revelation 20 tells us this AGE will last 1000 years. At the BEGINNING of that Kingdom those who did the “good things” will be raised from the dead to LIFE and LIVE in that AGE (Daniel 12 tells me that resurrection will occur exactly 1335 days after the Messiah Jesus returns to earth) and these will rule and reign with Christ during that AGE. Revelation also tells us it is at the END of that AGE that the wicked who have practiced “evil things” will be raised from the dead and judged. So what happens to them at the "judgment"?

“And when the thousand years may be finished, the Adversary (Devil) shall be loosed out of his prison, and he shall go forth to lead the nations astray…and there came down fire from God out of the heaven, and devoured them; and the Devil, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night — to the ages of the ages. And I saw a great white throne, and Him who is sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven did flee away, and place was not found for them; and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God… and they were judged, each one according to their works…if anyone was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire…— this is the second death…” (Revelation 20:7-15)

The Bible is true, men not so much. Christianity has made the “lake of fire” equivalent to their fictitious hell, but GOD says the “lake of fire” is the "SECOND DEATH". I choose to believe God, you can believe who you want.

But you say, they are still dead. Yes but not forever. I won’t quote the Scripture now but Revelation tells us about an AGE that will follow the 1000 year AGE. It is the AGE of the New Heaven and New Earth. Those of the first rising will continue to rule and reign with Christ while the rest will be dead the SECOND time. Paul was given the mystery of what happens at the close of that age and it is summarized as follows…

“And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead — the first-fruits of those sleeping he became…for even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive, and each in his proper order, a first-fruit Christ, afterwards those who are the Christ’s, in his presence, then — the end, when he may deliver up the reign to God, even the Father, when he may have made useless all rule, and all authority and power — for it behoveth him to reign till he may have put all the enemies under his feet — THE LAST ENEMY IS DONE AWAY – DEATH...for all things He did put under his feet…and when the all things may be subjected to him, then the Son also himself shall be subject to Him, who did subject to him the all things, THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL….The Death was swallowed up — to victory...” (1 Corinthians 15:20-54 YLT)

I am confident that my family and I, along with most of you, will be among those in the “first rising” and we will be happy about it and we do not have to more about the second death (the lake of fire).

“Happy and holy is he who is having part in the first rising again; over these the second death hath not authority, but they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)

But I am equally certain that the bible teaches that death, even the second death, will be abolished and all of God’s creation will have then been reconciled to God by Christ Jesus.

“And himself is the head of the body…a first-born out of the dead, that he might become in all things…first…and through him to reconcile all things to himself — having made peace through the blood of his cross — through him, whether the things upon the earth, whether the things in the heavens. And you — once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did he reconcile, in the body of his flesh through the death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before himself…" (Colossians 1:18-22)

Saints - Part Two

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:1-2)

Yesterday I was thinking about who the saints are and want to continue my thoughts. Religious dogma has altered the meaning of “saint” to restrict it to a few people whom their particular sect considers to be more righteous than other folks…even praying to them on occasion. It appears to me, however, that to God all mankind are holy to Him and set apart…therefore Saints….despite the fact that He also clearly says, “there is none righteous, no not one”, and “all have sinned”. God created mankind to be made into His image. At least that is how I read the Scripture. But only a few of these saints have been “faithful” since their creation.

Paul was chosen to reveal the glorious future of all mankind to those who God has predetermined to hear and believe in this present evil age…and it has been my experience that those who hear and believe the good news of the eventual reconciliation and salvation of all rejoice. They are at peace with God, giving Him praise and thanksgiving for this promise. Some of them are driven to tell others about it...like Paul who said…

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He PREDESTINED us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of HIS WILL, to the praise of the glory of His GRACE, which He FREELY bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:2-7)

But whether the faithful saints are destined to tell anyone or not, one future day, after the final resurrection of both the just and unjust, and after death has been abolished, ALL people will be completed by God into His righteous spiritual image…and ALL will believe and rejoice in their Salvation…God’s plan will be complete and He will be "ALL in ALL".

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive….The last enemy that will be abolished is death….so that God may be ALL in ALL.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

I get the impression sometimes that we Christians do not think it fair that God would save everyone. But we should have the same kind of attitude about it as Christ Jesus had…

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-7)

And why did he have this attitude? Paul again tells us it was to demonstrate the LOVE of God for mankind (Saints) and that He would deliver mankind from His wrath (death)….

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him…for the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:8-9; 6:23)

Sorry Christians, but we do not have the franchise of God’s love as a result of any wise decision we make in this life…God loves everyone the same and Jesus died for ALL and as a result of his faithfulness God has highly exalted HIM and every knee will eventually bow and confess him as the Lord of their Salvation…

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

This makes a “faithful” saint happy.

“Thou shalt not steal…” (Exodus 20:15)

When I was very little I would go to the grocery store with Mom and when I saw the candy I would take some of it. Mom would tell me “no” and would explain why it was not a good thing to do. I would grab some more and she would get “irritated” and sternly try to shame me into being sorry for not obeying her. Of course I did it again, and then, in her “wrath”, she would spank me. The result is that I would no longer steal candy - in her presence.

Mankind are all the children of God according to the bible….

“He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God… and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist…for we also are His children. Being then the children of God …” (Acts 17:26-29)

We children do all sorts of bad stuff which God says we should not do in the course of a lifetime. Some worse than others. The Bible calls it sin and our Father God deals with us as follows it seems to me:

First He lovingly advises us of what is bad and tells us in the Bible what not to do. Unfortunately, what we want is more attractive than doing what He wants, so we do it anyway, usually making all kinds of excuses why it is OK, sometimes even forming religious institutions to join to help us feel better about ourselves.

This makes God irritated – because we do not trust that His advice is for our own good. It is apparent to me that God has arranged this life experience in such a way that all bad behavior eventually brings a negative consequence. These consequences help control our bad behavior until we die – for it is written that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23).

When we are honest with God and ourselves we realize with Paul that we have a problem that only the GRACE of God can fix…

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Grace! Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24 CLNT)

The wrath of God toward his sinful children is finished when death comes. There is no eternal conscience torment for anyone. And God is NOT finished with us in death. He will fix us after our repetitive disobedience has served its purpose, because of His GRACE…

“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, GRACE abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so GRACE would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21)

The plan of God to make mankind in His image WILL be completed. God WILL be ALL in ALL.

"Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule… as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive… The last enemy to be destroyed is death…so that God may be all in all.” (Genesis 1:26; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28)