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A question about lost people.

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Dave in Tenn:
This is not so much a hypothetical question as it is theoretical.

Ray says, and there is general agreement here, that for one to 'come out of Babylon' she or she must first be IN Babylon.

What does this mean for your regular run-of-the-mill 'lost' person, unbeliever, sinner without Christ, person who has never heard the gospel (or church heresies for that matter)?

Is this covered anywhere specifically?  If not, do you have any wisdom to share?

dogcombat:
Dave In Tenn,

Ray has covered the second half of your question on this topic in a letter critiquing a "sermon" by the late D. James Kennedy (He of the 6 degrees and zero understanding of spiritual matters) called "What About Those Who Never Heard?"

 http://bible-truths.com/kendy2.htm

In a nutshell, as pertaining to the first part of your question, my 3 cents worth is that God places you IN Babylon to see how Blind its followers are to their "Tradition of the Elders" (ways of Man that is) in order for us to fully
comprehend His truths when we are called out of her (Rev. 18:4).  In other words Babylon is used by God to fufill His purpose in our lives.

Ches

Dave in Tenn:
Thanks, I'll read it again.  What I recall from that letter was word about the ultimate salvation of those categories of people after death and ressurection.

What I'm mostly driving at is the front end.  Does God ever draw sinners, unbelievers, people who have never heard, to faith without first subjecting them to false christian doctrine and practice?  I was in the Church and believed those doctrines.  But not everybody does that.  Could God, for example, bring a man to repentance and secure his Election without him ever being 'religious' before?  Or does 'babylon' possibly refer to more than the christian Church?

OBrenda:
Interesting question Dave,

I know many people who don't associate with any "church", but still accept the belief that there is a heaven and hell.  Even the atheists have an understanding of the delusions and false teachings of the church. ???
Can they come out of that as Babylon? 

David:
None believers that come to Christ will go into "Babylon", just as those who are Gods elect have come through "Babylon". A few will come out, most will stay there.
In my experience, when new believers first come to Christ its a bit like being back in primary school to begin with, only a bit more "graphic" in the detail. They learn the nativity story all over again, the easter story.....then  comes some of Christs teaching from His Ministry. But for many thats as far as it goes, they just get bogged down in Church doctrine, Church life etc and think they are serving God, just as we here did.
If somone dies without knowing Christ, then I believe that 1 Tim 2:4 will be as true and profound a statement as it is to those who know Christ during their lifetime. They WILL be saved, and they WILL come unto a knowledge of the truth, and part of that truth will be the "Babylon" experience.

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