Hi Lori,
Although I'm talking to people, there's a good few people I'm avoiding (cowardly) regarding the Truths we learn. My boss is an ordained minister in his spare time, a recovered alcoholic for 20 years now and a hard man at that. I asked him once, how could we get the concept of "hell" so wrong, after centuries and centuries of Bible reading? His reply was "You are asking highly theological questions, which only great God's men could answer. Just believe." ... Well, since then, we haven't talked about it.
One friend asked me to stop sending emails regarding these matters - previously (before the Truth) everything I said about the Bible was 'respected' by all. Another friend sums up the situation as just 'another opinion'.
Yet another close friend is trying to pshycologically analyse me, because I seem to have a dark spot. I told this person that I'm actually very content, knowing what this dark spot is and knowing/trusting that all will work out for good, whatever bad may happen. I told this person, that I'm sick and tired of opinions made out to be truths, and that I believe in 1 Truth and 1 Truth only - not 15 000 different opinions.
The other day I saw on some software I have, a piece regarding some commentaries on Revelations, and the title read :"Revelations, 4 views". Four different guys, all who 'walk' with Christ, having 4 different views on Revelations. When you point stuff like that out to people, no-one finds anything wrong with it. Exactly like Arcturus said "...It really gives insight as to what the blind "see"..."
Kat shared a powerful little Scripture...
Col 1:20 "...And through Him having made peace through the blood of His cross, it pleased the Father to reconcile all things to Himself through Him, whether the things on earth or the things in Heaven..."
...If you lived 2000 years ago, and you told people that Satan will be reconciled, I think you'd be stoned in a second. In today's world, you'd be chased away like a dog, but remember, those chasing you away like a dog, shouts "God is Love" and "Love your enemies" and in the same breath they are very comfortable with a deity punishing all men forever and calling it justice, in the name of love. Every action has a reaction, so what exactly is the reaction of going to hell forever. Like Ray says "You discipline someone to correct that someone, not forever."
May your heart be at peace, because all works out for the good.
Regards
CDJ :-)