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Question regarding universal reconciliation
Kat:
Hi Bob,
No one will be saved in this life.
Mat 24:13 "But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved."
"Shall be saved," is yet a future event.
Little chilldren will not be in the first resurrection either. You must first be called, to come to know Christ. Then chosen and have your eyes open to the truth, and then remain faithful for the rest of your life.
Rev 17:14 "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."
The faithful few are those in the first resurrection, this is the elect that will reign and rule with Christ.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
These thrones tho symbolic are for the elect to judge the rest of mankind. They along with Christ will be the Lake of fire.
Heb 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire.
1John 3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.
In Rev. 20:4 it says "reigned with Christ a thousand years."
This thousand years is symbolic, and means how ever long it takes.
2Peter 3:8 "But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."
This is the second resurrection it is an age where the whole world will be raised and judged. They will give account and be purged and cleansed, according to what is needed to remove all of the fleshly carnal nature. Then they will be taught the truth.
Luke 12:47 And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;
v. 48 but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.
Think about the prophets of the OT and John the Baptist, I don't think it will take much for them to be brought into the kingdom. But even they must come to recognize Christ's sacrifice, which came after their deaths. I think that would be the few stripes.
Now there are those who have hardened hearts to the point it will take a long time and many stripes to purge and cleanse them. But this is to last an age of time, and 2 peter gave a day to a thousand years, so that should be a good judge of how long it will last.
This is what I have come to understand about the first and second resurrections.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
YellowStone:
Hi Diana,
Sorry, but I must comment on something you wrote: :)
--- Quote ---Personally, I find it unbearable some days contemplating that I may have yet another 40 years or so of struggling against the beast in this flesh....but I know, how ever many days God has in store for me, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
--- End quote ---
Please let me share they way I see it.
Psa 23:1 The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
Love in Christ,
Darren
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Diana, I am sure you have read the Scripture above a 1000 times. Do you see what I see?
God has so mercifully and graciously provided for us, by giving us:
* Protection
* Food, Shelter
* calmness and tranquillity
* leading us along the paths of rightousness
* keeps us safe through the valley of the shadow of deat
* provides comfort
* prepares a table
* anoints us and our cup fills to overflowing
All this that we too can know that goodness and mercy will be with us all of the days of our life, we need fear no evil or cast a worry. God has how back.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
If we put our Trust in God, we need not worry, fear or be anguished. Rather, let's walk with our head high and our hearts filled with love for God for all that he has provided us and know that the days ahead are going to be fine because God will be with us, no matter what happens.
Yes, you will be able to do all things, because he does strengthen you.
gmik:
This is a great thread, started way back in April. Bradigans, hope you are still reading, I think your answer is beginning to be answered.
When all the nations see the Lamb, they bow down, and worship Him. It won't take more than a nano-second to look into the Lamb's eyes and repent. Didn't take much for Paul on the Damascus road. Is Pauls' life an example of "punishment by fire"?
Obviously, actual stripes are not what we are awaiting. When you see Jesus and repent, why would there be a need for any kind of punishment? Or do you see the Lamb after the LOF?
Eirik & Darren, good food for thought.
pylady:
I recently listened to Ray's audio of June 3rd, "Saved By Grace Through Faith."
And have been thinking how this applies to the salvation of all mankind.
Ephesians2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God."
According to Ray grace is divine influence on our hearts. And according to Eph2:8 this divine influence on our hearts is a gift from God.
Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to ALL men."
So according to Titus 2:11 this same grace which has appeared with Christ Jesus and saves the elect also saves all mankind.
It seems like in the LOF where the majority of mankind will be saved it is God Himself who will influence each persons very heart to want to acknowledge, serve, love and be pleasing to Him. As with each of us our purifying experience with our Creator is uniquely personal, so it seems it will be with every person among mankind in the LOF. He knows each of us inside and out and knows exactly what experiences and how much time each one of us needs to be purified in His eyes. Or, as Gina said He can do it in a nanosecond.
A real eureka moment for me while reading the LOF series, was realizing that the Lake of Fire is not so much God's wrathful punishment of mankind for their disobedience. But it is His judgments, His discipline with the purpose of teaching, chastening, and correcting mankind. All to make us into His image.
And to think He has given to some of mankind the wonderful priviledge to share in this strange work. Who can believe it???? Yet He tells us it is so.
What an incomparable God we have!
With Christian love,
Cindy
humblebob:
From Humble-Bob:
Wow! Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful responses to the question about duration in the refiinng process. I'm certainly much more enlightened than before.
As I understand, God's elect will take part in the refining process of the world, as part of God's consuming fire of refinement (1 John 3.2). Perhaps this was in Paul's thought when he mentioned that the saints will one day judge the world (1 Corinthians 6.2-3).
When it was said of Jesus that "a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, until He brings justice and a just cause to victory," perhaps this was in reference to His continuing the judgment of fire upon a person until he is completely refined. From a universalist perspective, this judgment of fire was probably in Jesus' mind when He said that "everyone shall be salted with fire."
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