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THE GRANDEST TRUTH
IN THE SCRIPTURES
Are you Tardy of Heart to be Believing ALL?
DO YOU BELIEVE ALL?
THE BIBLE seems to teach two different destinies for unbelieving mankind. Almost all agree that the believer, who trusts alone in the blood of Christ, is certain of eternal bliss. But those who do not believe—what is their destiny? Many insist that they will be tormented forever, others say that they will cease to exist, and a few believe that they also will eventually be saved. All bring forward texts from the Bible. In each group are earnest, consecrated Christians who desire to know the truth and to live it out.Teachers of eternal torment find quite a few strong texts in the Bible, such as the phrase “everlasting punishment” in Matthew 25:46. However, according to other divine declarations, all men will be saved, justified, made alive, and finally reconciled to God (1 Tim. 4:10; Rom. 5:18; 1 Cor 15:22; Col. 1:20). How can this be true? What is the cause of this clash?
It lies in the translation, not in the inspired Original. The words everlasting, eternal, forever, forever and ever, all come from a word meaning age or eon. There are five of these. We are living in the third. Two are future. They are called the eons of the eons. This is translated “forever and ever.” Even in English we can see that “forever” cannot be endless if “and ever” may be added to it. “Forever” lasts until the new earth. “And ever” commences then. These words never denote endlessness.
An age or eon is a definite period of time.
The present eon began at the flood and will last to the coming of Christ. The next eon will last for a thousand years.
The Scriptures speak of a time before the eons (1 Cor. 2:7). They were not eternal in the past. They also speak of the ends of the eons (1 Cor. 10:11). They will not be everlasting in the future. They will come to a close at the “end” or consummation, when the Son abdicates the throne in favor of the Father (1 Cor. 15:24). The throne of the Son lasts for the eon of the eon, not forever and ever (Heb. 1:8).
“Everlasting punishment” is for only one age or eon (Matt 25:46). Eternal torment is limited to the age-times or eonian times.
This leaves us free to believe all of God’s word. It magnifies the cross of Christ. It glorifies God. Sin, judgment, and death are temporary, confined to the times of the eons. After the ages of the ages (usually rendered forever and ever) God’s great purpose will be fully accomplished. The eonian life of the believer will merge into the real eternal life, when death will be abolished, and all will be made alive in Christ, even as all are dying in Adam (1 COR 15:22). All mankind will be justified (Rom. 5:18). The entire universe will be reconciled to God through the blood of Christ's cross (Col. 1:20). God will become All in all.
Here is a God worthy of your worship and adoration!
SALVATION OF ALL
“For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all” (Romans 11:32).“Our Savior, God, Who wills that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
“We rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of all mankind” (1 Timothy 4:10).
JUSTIFICATION OF ALL
“Through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also … through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying” (Romans 5:18).VIVIFICATION OF ALL
“For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified” (1 Coronthians 15:22).RECONCILIATION OF ALL
“Through Him to reconcile all to Him, making peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20).A. E. Knoch
Thank you Jerry …..
I have been thinking that an age ended at 70AD …….. the Jewish age had an ending and another age started with the destruction of the physical temple ….. what are your thoughts on that?
Quote Even in English we can see that “forever” cannot be endless if “and ever” may be added to it.
Interesting.Quote (meerkat @ Jan. 24 2009,13:07) Thank you Jerry ….. I have been thinking that an age ended at 70AD …….. the Jewish age had an ending and another age started with the destruction of the physical temple ….. what are your thoughts on that?
Hi meerkat.
Thanks for your reply. The Greek word aion and aionios, are translated eon and eonian in english. The scriptures speak of five eons. I can't begin to explain this in this quote, but if you go to the “Concordant Publishing Concern”, their website is 'Concordant.org', go to “expositions(HTML)”, then “His achievement are we”, scroll down to “the living God and the eons”, there is a very good explanation and examples of the five “eons”.
This is also one of my favorite websites. If you do look at it, please let me know what you think of it.Blessings.
Consider also that the disciples asked Jesus to give them the signs that would herald the end of the “aion”.
Quote What is the sign of your coming and the end of the age [aion]? If it means “forever” then how could the disciples ask about its end?
thinker
Quote (thethinker @ Jan. 27 2009,13:45) Consider also that the disciples asked Jesus to give them the signs that would herald the end of the “aion”. Quote What is the sign of your coming and the end of the age [aion]? If it means “forever” then how could the disciples ask about its end?
thinker
thinker.
I'd never thought about it that way, an obvious conclusion.Blessings.
This appears to be quite an interesting discussion.
Although I may not agree with the idea that all will be saved. Simply because the wicked will perish and be destroyed. It is written not once or twice but many times. Do a search on Biblegateway on the words 'wicked destruction' or 'wicked perish'.
It could be that the next eon is the millenium, and the followign one is a new heaven and new earth whereby all that is wicked is destroyed so that there will be no more sin.
Destruction means what it says. The Lake of Fire is the same fire that will destroy the old heaven and earth as well as the wicked.
2 Peter 3:7
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.2 Peter 3:11-13
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.Quote (chosenone @ Jan. 26 2009,16:41) Meerkat.
Are you there? I'm interested in your opinion.Blessings, Jerry.
Jerry,been on a couple of days holiday …….. reading soon ……
Jerry,
The reason I think that an age ended at 70AD and we are in another now is the words used to describe the then about to come judgement leading up to 70AD by Jesus and the apostles.
The word mello means coming shortly/about to begin not coming in 2000 years time the same as the word aion is pertaining to the age/life and is not eternal.
When Jesus says about the “unforgivable” sin Matt 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world = {age = aion= Jewish pre 70AD judgement}, neither in the [world] to come.
Jesus mission was to the Jews for them to repent for the kingdom of God was at hand – When Jesus gave his Olivet discourse it was about the coming destruction of 70AD and the dispersion of the Jews into the nations.
G3195
μέλλω
mellō
mel'-lo
A strengthened form of G3199 (through the idea of expectation); to intend, that is, be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation): – about, after that, be (almost), (that which is, things, + which was for) to come, intend, was to (be), mean, mind, be at the point, (be) ready, + return, shall (begin), (which, that) should (after, afterwards, hereafter) tarry, which was for, will, would, be yet.http://www.angelfire.com/ca/DeafPreterist/mello.html
I don't agree with all the preterist beliefs however I do agree that when about to be is used it means about to be and not 2000 years later …………..
where I disagree with them is where they think that Revelation has been entirely fulfilled in 70AD I have more of a historicist view where some relates to 70AD and some is continuing throughout the past 2000 years.
Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Preterist seem to emphasise the shall be = mello soon to be, whereas I am thinking that the shall be = starts and the hereafter { means that it continues after it has started
G3326
μετά
meta
met-ah'
A primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly denoting accompaniment; “amid” (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive case association, or accusative case succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 or G1537 and G1519 or G4314; less intimate than G1722, and less close than G4862): – after (-ward),X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-) on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-) to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.G5023
ταῦτα
tauta
tow'-tah
Nomitive or accusative neuter plural of G3778; these things: – + afterward, follow, + hereafter, X him, the same, so, such, that, then, these, they, this, those, thus.meercat, I think that a great deal of prophecy in the Bible can be explained by the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, which I think was an end of an age… for instance, t8 brought up the passages in 2 Pe, if you think of those verses in terms of the destruction of Jerusalem, it explains a lot, not in the sense that everything literally burned up, but Peter uses apocalyptic language like that use don John's Revelation and Ezekiel and Daniel… there is a great commentary on 2 Pe. available at google books, and unlike some other newer books, this one has all the pages viewable… its at
http://books.google.com/books?i….mmary_r
see page 67ffblessings,
kenQuote (epistemaniac @ Jan. 31 2009,12:29) meercat, I think that a great deal of prophecy in the Bible can be explained by the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, which I think was an end of an age… for instance, t8 brought up the passages in 2 Pe, if you think of those verses in terms of the destruction of Jerusalem, it explains a lot, not in the sense that everything literally burned up, but Peter uses apocalyptic language like that use don John's Revelation and Ezekiel and Daniel… there is a great commentary on 2 Pe. available at google books, and unlike some other newer books, this one has all the pages viewable… its at
http://books.google.com/books?i….mmary_r
see page 67ffblessings,
ken
Ken,I believe you are right that it was the ending of an age (70AD)
I am reading that book …… very interesting, thank you very much!!!
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