Part 1:
Alternative 1: The entire world
Here are some Bible verses that say that Jesus is the Savior of the whole world.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (Jhn 1:29).
It is he who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world’s. (1 Jhn 2:2)
who desires [θέλω thelō Strong’s 2309 1. to be resolved or determined, to purpose] all men to be delivered and to come to a full knowledge of truth. (1Tim. 2:4).
1 Tim 4:10 To this end we work hard and struggle because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, that is, of those who believe.
According to verse 4:10, God is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Does Jesus indeed save ALL MEN, however sinners they maybe? The verse can also be interpreted so that the believers will naturally get salvation and all people in the world have the same chance (if only they believe).
God is the Savior of believers, it is clear. Is God REALLY the savior of ALL PEOPLE? Everyone? OK, God says this way, but could it be possible for all, just every person, to get rid of their sins – whether they want or not? 1 Cor speaks of the cleansing fire that brings purification of sins. Not for everyone, but for those who have built their ‘house’ at least to some extent on the foundation of Christ.
Tit 1:10 For there are many people who are rebellious, especially those who are converts from Judaism [Lit. those of the circumcision]. They speak utter nonsense and deceive people.
Rebellious men can be found among all kinds of people, but especially … If this is compared to 1 Tim 4: 9-10, which speaks of the salvation of God, and especially whether it concerns all (every one of us), or it concerns especially believers, but also others. There are three possible interpretations: 1) Salvation applies only to believers 2) Salvation applies especially to believers, but equally to others 3) Salvation is without any doubt for the believers but also for others “under certain conditions”.
In fact, I am inclined to the third option. I think it means this: Salvation applies to all people who at least, at some stage of their lives have built their faith in Christ, but especially for the true believers. This is on the condition that the content of the gospel has been comprehensively communicated to those people. Then the responsibility for salvation is transferred to the listener. He can believe or not.
Such a person can be saved who has never even heard of Christ, as long as the acts of the law are in his heart. Rom 2:14 For whenever Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that what the law requires is written in their hearts, a fact to which their own consciences testify, and their thoughts will either accuse or excuse 16 on that day when God, through Jesus Christ, will judge people’s secrets according to my gospel.
What if people do not believe that God wants to have them saved? What if they have never heard of God Jehovah? God could, if he wanted to, bring himself and his will know to all people! But only a small part of the large crowd of billions of people even knows the God Jehovah. Even those who know God, few know his will.
But people do not obey God’s will! If a person believes his sins can be forgiven on the basis of Jesus’ redemption sacrifice, and repents his evil deeds, he will be saved and will not suffer the second death in the final judgment. What if people do not even realize that they have committed sin? For humans, both for the theologians and word listeners, it is clear that a sinner not repenting will be subject to eternal pain in the lake of fire, that is, to experience the so-called second death. This is perfectly clear in the Bible and is told many times. Or is it?
You must want the salvation. Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let every one who hears this say, “Come!” Let everyone who is thirsty come! Let anyone who wants the water of life take it as a gift!
Jer 29:13 says: And you shall seek and find me when you search for me with all your heart. Heb 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards [with eternal life] those who diligently search for him. Jhn 12:32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth [after resurrection], I will draw all people to myself.
The verse above shows that everyone is offered salvation. Salvation does not require much, but something important; man will be saved IF he only wants to take the free ‘water of life’ or ‘step by the door’, which is Christ. You need to want to become saved. Jer 29:13 promises that you will find Christ when you search for him with all your heart. You have to do something to achieve it. The matter can be turned the other way; if you do not do so – step in the door of Christ or drink water for free – you will not be saved. Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder [with eternal life] of those who seek him. It is easy to find Christ because he is drawing all men to himself (Jhn 12:32).
Alternative 2: All the believers in the world
Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Instead of Jesus taking away the sins of men throughout the world and bringing them to salvation, John 3:16 explaining God’s promise says: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. When the above verses stated that the whole world might be saved (universalistic interpretation: the whole world and all its people), then according to John 3:16 salvation requires that a person believes in Jesus!
If there are verses that interpret the people of the whole world to become saved and received eternal life, then there are verses in the Bible which testify that salvation is conditional. Such is one of the most famous verses in the Bible, John 3:16: Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will be saved. I checked what Strong’s say: πιστεύω pisteúō; from G4102 to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ): —believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
Could it be possible that there is a contradiction in the Bible, verses that are against each other? The starting point is that the Bible cannot be contradictory to itself. So if there are verses that seem to be opposing, how do we resolve the interpretation problem? Which one is the right one? In this case, does Christ really save all people in the world, or only those who believe in Him and call on his name for help? This is what I have to think about and study with the progress of my writing. Now I would like to say from the example above that the solution could be this: All people in the world are saved, but punishment for ungodly sinners is long and harsh, but not endless.
It is said in Jhn 3:16: … “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. Here is a definite condition and requirement. Salvation and the enjoyment of eternal life requires faith. According to this, not everyone will be saved. What about 1 Jhn 2:2, which says: he who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and he himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. – This could also be interpreted so that Jesus has reconciled the sins of human beings all over the world, and so they all are saved. However, the verse can be interpreted so that Christ has reconciled all sins and all can be saved if they only believe that Christ has done so for them.
According to another example of the Bible, “God wants all people to be saved”. Does not God’s will happen if only part of the people are saved? This is not the question of God being able to rescue every human being, though by force as Paul was converted. I believe that God makes salvation to all people as easy as possible. The world is tempted by the scourges of heaven and every person has many opportunities to shout for the one word needed to be saved – Jesus (or Jehovah) on the day of the wrath of the Lord.
To get to the bottom of which one interpretation is correct, I will examine what is the word used when the Bible speaks of God’s will.
The word is θέλω (THELÒ) Strong’s G2309 and it occurs 212 times in NT. Strong’s describes it: to be resolved or determined, to purpose, but also; to desire, to wish. The difficulty of translating is illustrated by how differently, for example, 1 Tim 2:4 has been translated. Is the salvation of all mankind the true will of God or should it be translated “God says It would be nice if all people were saved”? When studying the 200 plus verses where θέλω is used, most of them are about real intent.
Another example: Luke 18:41, where the blind man asked Jesus for help, and Jesus answered: What do you want me to do for you? And he [the blind] said: Lord, I want to regain my sight! – Who doubts the blind man’s will to get his sight back?
What happens when God wants to? Isaiah answers: 46:10-11 “… My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; … I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. – If God assures that he will do according to his will, i.e. to save ALL PEOPLE, then the question is: how can it happen when the Bible requires faith to achieve salvation? Well, the people who believe will be saved because of their faith (they are cleansed by the fire of God) and the unbelievers will be saved, because God will force them to know their sinful deeds and repent (as happened to Saul, later called Paul). The fire of the latter group may be much stricter and longer than the first group. I can imagine how A. Hitler and J. Stalin hold each other by their hands and howl, praying for mercy in the fire of God, when they are being scorched SPIRITUALLY.
Salvation is the people with regard to the main event, even if very few people think about it during their lifetime. This issue has been central to God ever since the creation of man, so it is not the same whether God wants or just “desires”.
According to the Bible, in the final judgment, people are divided into two groups; those whose names are written in the Book of Life will receive LIFE, while others whose names are not in the book, shall be condemned. There may be a variety of judgments, punishments of varying lengths in “lake of fire”. In the last chapter, I will study this punishment more closely. Is it just a perpetual punishment and whether a fiery lake is a concrete or figurative expression. Has the salvation been lost forever for those who are thrown in the lake?
Rom 8:20-21 because the creation was subjected to frustration, though not by its own choice. The one who subjected it did so in the hope that also the creation will be freed from the slavery of corruption to the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
God is here to announce that [the whole] creation is against its will subjected to futility, but will be delivered from the bondage of corruption, ie sin to the glory of the children of God. But, most of humanity should be condemned for their sins and to be punished and suffer forever in the fiery lake forever? The Letter to the Romans promises hope to mankind, but in many places of the Bible, it is instead promised damnation, gnashing of the teeth, eternal separation from the glory of God, etc.
So, God created men, and he subjugated them under ‘corruption’. Older English translations such as the KJV use the word vanity, which could be described as not only vanity, also seeking only their own interests and walking according to the course of this world. God also ensured that among the people there are righteous people who are his chosen ones.
Now I come to this important conclusion: For some, he gave plenty of faith and for others less, to each one according to His own discretion. This means that God made in his wisdom an important dichotomy in His creation. For the sake of salvation, people go from a different starting point to compete for the prize of eternal life. However, I am that God corrects the situation with the final judgment and provides an opportunity for easy salvation. We know from the Bible that to reach salvation it is enough to shout just one word: Jesus!
Part 2: All will be saved – God’s great plan
- God wants everyone to be saved and God does according to his will
- Spirit in the Bible
- What happens to souls in heaven according to the Bible?
- The feast of the firstborn and the righteous spirits made perfect
- What does God promise to man and mankind?
- Resurrection
- What is God’s great plan?
- The fire in the lake of fire is symbolic
- Salvation after death and Phases of salvation
The Bible says that God wants everyone to be saved. Everyone also includes non-believers, that is, even those who have not even heard of Jehovah or Christ. After thinking about the questions of salvation for two or three years, I came to the result I presented in this article.
I believe I have found God’s great plan!
God wants everyone to be saved and God does according to his will
The following Bible verses are the most important for the salvation of man and humanity.
1 Tim 2:4 Who [God] wills that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth.
Isa 46:10 who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,‘
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.
Kol 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven. – God has made peace and reconciliation through Christ’s death with everyone in heaven and on earth. With everyone!
1 Cor 15:22 for even as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive,
In the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both in heaven, and on earth; even in him.
2 Cor 5:19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.
The above verses confirm that God has reconciled all the people of the world to himself.
Spirit in the Bible
Joh 11:26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” – It sounds downright incomprehensible. Jesus promises that whoever believes in him will never die. This is easy to deny; all people die! However, we have misunderstood death. Jesus already explained in the previous verse: 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies,
– Let’s stop and think for a moment. The person lives even if he is dead. So, dead believers live. The verse means that people’s bodies in the grave go down, but their spirits live on. Everyone knows that people have a spirit, but almost no one knows the great importance of the spirit for the future of humanity and every person.
Where are the spirits of believers if they are not with the bodies of the dead? The only correct answer is, with God in heaven. Can we find justification for this concept in the Bible?
Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Eccl 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.
God gives man life. Verse 12:7 of Ecclesiastes proves that people’s spirits return to heaven when a person dies. However, this is not the same as people believing they will “go to heaven” when they die? So, what about the resurrection of the dead? They are already in heaven! If the spirit of all, including the “wrong”, people ascends to heaven, then how are the sinners chosen who end up in the “lake of fire”? What if sinners have evolved into new kinds of people in heaven, firm believers in God? Should they also return to earth to answer for their old sins?
In the Old Testament, many near death pray to God: 1 King 19:4 … ” I’ve had enough! Now, O LORD, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.”
Jonah 4:3 So now, LORD, kill me instead, because I would rather die than live!”
In the New Testament, the prayer is often directed to Christ:
Act 7:59 They continued to stone Stephen while he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
Important Biblical truth: The spirits of all the dead are with God in heaven. Eccl 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.
What happens to the souls who ascended to God over time? The letter to the Hebrews answers this: ”12:23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,
– I myself had not noticed this extremely important Bible verse. Ascended spirits are to the greatest extent imperfect, but over time they are perfected. No matter how ungodly a resurrected spirit is, and according to normal biblical thinking, completely unworthy of salvation in heaven, they will all be perfected.
When God left this part of humanity on earth outside of His own kingdom, He did not forget these people in heaven. People there are also perfect in faith. They are already resurrected and perfected, so to speak. Why should they return to earth for resurrection when they are already ‘resurrected.’ Nowhere does the Bible speak of the end of the ascension of spirits to heaven. However, believers are still comforted by the fact that the biblical ‘resurrection of the dead’ from the graves would take place.
The creed speaks of the resurrection of the body, but at least the physical body does not rise, there is often nothing left of it. When Jesus comes the second time, those who make it to the first resurrection will rise against Jesus in the ‘clouds’. Would Jesus be the only spirit and the resurrected ones in physical bodies would meet him in the clouds?
Rev 20:13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. – The Book of Revelation tells how those who died in the sea rose from the sea for the resurrection, as well as those in the Abyss and those in Death. This is a figurative expression. I wrote above that the spirits of all the dead are with God in heaven; there is no need to collect bones from the sea or countless graves. After all, there is nothing left of many – except a perfect spirit in heaven. A perfect spirit means that an imperfect spirit, after ascending to heaven, develops into a perfect one.
What does the Bible say happens to souls in heaven?
Heb 12:23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,
Many readers ignore the above verse without paying more attention to it. In the verse above, my attention is first drawn to the words perfected. Where and how do spirits become perfect? Very few people can say that even on earth he was perfect. So the answer must be in heaven. Were the spirits righteous before they were perfected, or did righteousness come along with being perfected? According to Ecclesiastes 12:7, the spirit returns to God, who is the giver of the spirit. So all spirits return to God.
What about spirits becoming perfect? Will all spirits become perfect? Of course it is possible for God. And what about the final judgment? Will the spirits who have become perfect return to Jesus on earth to be judged? It doesn’t seem very logical to judge perfected spirits for old sins committed in the past!
Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
The feast of the firstborn and the righteous spirits made perfect
Heb 12:23 talks about the feast of the firstborn written in heaven and coming to the church and coming to the righteous spirits who have been perfected.
Now, if we believe that the spirits that get to heaven are refined and they are washed clean from the influence of sin. Can they all be called the feast of the firstborn and the “church of heaven”? According to estimates, there are billions of them, maybe as many as 120 billion, but on the other hand, why couldn’t the party crowd of firstborns be this big?
What about the spirits of the righteous who have become perfect? The righteous are people who strive to follow and live according to God’s will. Even the righteous do not become perfect while living on earth, but they become perfect when their spirits have ascended to heaven.
The righteous who lived on earth will not have a very long journey to perfection. What about others who died as believers? Or those who died as heathens? Their spirits also ascend to heaven. What is their fate? I am of the opinion that there is nothing unholy or imperfect in heaven. That is, the souls who died as sinners or outright pagans are perfected, so that in accordance with the Bible we can speak of “the souls of the righteous who have become perfect.”
At the time of Jesus’ second coming, the earth may be inhabited by billions of people, most of whom are pagans or Christians, but sinners. The Bible tells about the thousand-year reign of Jesus. The people of that time are still all mortal. Will their spirits also ascend to heaven when death comes and evolve there?
Let’s jump to Heb 12:22: but you have gone to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels of angels. – Verse 22 refers to the future event described in the Book of Revelation: God Himself will come down out of heaven. It is the promise of the future. 23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.
Rev 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.”
Eph 1:10 toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ – the things in heaven and the things on earth.
Gal 4:4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Kol 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.
1 Tim 2:4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Cor 15:22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
2 Cor 5:19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.
God decides how much faith each person gets: Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.
What does God promise to man and mankind?
1 Cor 15:22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
1 Tim 2:3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. – Timothy conveys God’s will: God wants all people to be saved.
Isa 46:10 who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire, – And Isaiah assures that God will do all that He wills.
Isn’t the question of mankind’s salvation already clarified and resolved with these verses?
Joh 6:63 The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
1 Corinthians says that all men die as it has happened since Adam. The letter to the Corinthians conveys Christ’s promise: Everyone, i.e. every person, believer or pagan, will receive immortality, or eternal life, in the future.
These promises come from God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. No conditions are set for salvation.
In many parts of the Bible, instructions have been given to man, such as: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and so will your family.” – Everyone knows that people have a spirit, but almost no one knows the great importance of the spirit for the future of humanity and every person. There are also common misconceptions about the soul. – Joh 11:26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
It sounds downright incomprehensible. Jesus promises that whoever believes in him will never die. This is easy to deny; all people die! However, we have misunderstood death. Jesus already explained in the previous verse:
Joh 11:25 Jesus said to him: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies.” – Let’s stop and think for a moment. It lives even if it is dead. So, dead believers live. The verse means that people’s bodies in the grave go down, but their spirits live on. Where are the spirits of believers if they are not with the bodies of the dead? The only correct answer is, with God in heaven.
Eccl 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.
God gives man life. Verse 12:7 of Ecclesiastes proves that people’s spirits return to heaven when a person dies. Is this the same as people believing they “go to heaven” when they die? What about the resurrection of the dead? They are already in heaven! If the spirit of all, including the “wrong”, people ascends to heaven, then how are the sinners chosen who end up in the “lake of fire”? What if sinners have evolved into new kinds of people in heaven, firm believers in God? Should they also return to earth to answer for their old sins?
- Every person’s spirit goes up to God in heaven when he dies. Every person will be perfected in heaven; So if all the people who have lived and died so far – their souls – are in heaven, there are many billions of them there. Most of them were Gentiles on earth. Now they are righteous servants of God.
- Religions generally claim that only those who fear God will go to heaven. No, all of them.
- The invented doctrines of religions, which the churches have transferred to the Bible, keep humanity under their control by scaring people with eternal suffering in the lake of fire. There is no such lake and never has been.
- Even the most devoted pagans will develop into true servants of God in heaven.
- What about the part of humanity that will be on earth at the time of Christ’s second coming? If his kingdom lasts a thousand years, most will die during this time. And their spirits go up to heaven and then… well you know.
There are many fables and beliefs expressed by different people in the Bible. The churches have used and modified them in order to control the masses of people – and collect money from them to build themselves fancy churches and palaces. High churchmen are often described as well-fed and living in splendid palaces.
Resurrection
1 Cor 15:52 in a moment,in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Tes 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Joh 5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and will come out – the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation.
Earlier I wrote about the human spirit. Based on that, it is believable that when people die, the spirits all go to heaven. Here there is an obvious contradiction between the resurrection of the spirit and the body; a person’s spirit has ascended to heaven to God after his death. How can there be a resurrection from the graves without a spirit? Even if the soul is still on earth, or at the bottom of the sea with the body, or, for example, in the explosion of an atomic bomb, the body has completely disappeared into non-existence, does not the human soul still need to be resurrected?
What about the last judgment? When the Bible says that a person will be judged after the resurrection, does the person’s spirit have to come from God from heaven? Would the spirit return from heaven during the ascension and settle in its former body?
If, on the other hand, a person’s spirit is not needed in the resurrection body, but is allowed to remain in heaven, where it has developed, can the resurrection judgment be contradictory? A person’s spirit in heaven has developed positively, but what if his earthly life does not support a positive resurrection judgment?
The apostles believed in the resurrection of the body. How will the “heavenly bodies” participate in the resurrection? See 1 Cor 15:40 And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The glory of the heavenly body is one sort and the earthly another. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed –
The resurrection body is a spirit body: Mat 22:30 “ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” – Angels are spirits. The Bible teaches in Acts 24:15 that “I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.“
The above message from Corinthians and 1 Thessalonians is startling; “we do not all sleep until we die, we all change, the dead rise incorruptible, we who remain here until the coming of the Lord…” These reflect the fresh presence and influence of Christ and the many promises that the Followers of Christ received. The church at that time was waiting for Christ’s quick return and the resurrection of the dead.
The Bible proves that the dead know nothing: Eccl 9:5 “For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward – and even the memory of them disappears” – People are pretty much confused when they think about the fate of their dead loved ones. They like to see that the dead are buried in the family grave, where they take flowers in memory of the deceased. In their opinion, the dead themselves are in heaven. In an American TV show, a family had a discussion about a deceased relative and the mother of the family claimed that the deceased was watching their actions from heaven. Understanding the fate of the dead becomes more difficult if the deceased has drowned in the depths of the ocean or in a war, a bomb has destroyed him without leaving anything behind.
Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death – the lake of fire.”
What does the Bible mean when it says that “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” (Revelation 20:14). Does God seek to punish Death and Hades? Have Death and Hell/Hades sinned against God? P.S. The word Hell is used here, but it could just as well be Hades which means a god in Greek mythology.
This verse, I think, is a clear indication only that Death and Hades are henceforth unnecessary. In mankind no one sins any more; all remaining people have received eternal life. When no one dies anymore, there is no need for graves. Death and Hades are figuratively destroyed.
Death is a stage in a person’s life cycle. God created man to be immortal, but with the fall, death became the last stage of man’s life. With the resurrection, the dead have a chance for a new life.
What is God’s great plan?
We remember that God himself left the Gentiles to worship the heavenly bodies and that God himself knowingly gave different people different amounts of faith: Deut 4:19 When you look up to the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars – the whole heavenly creation – you must not be seduced to worship and serve them, for the LORD your God has assigned them to all the people of the world.
Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.
God’s plan seems to include initially focusing on God’s chosen people Israel and leaving the heavenly bodies to be worshiped by the Gentiles. Even otherwise, God has distributed faith to everyone ‘sparingly’ according to his own discretion. “The fiery lake, which burns with fire and flint, burns really bad people, their flesh forever.” – This kind of Bible translation and interpretation was accomplished by the priests of the Catholic Church after the apostolic era, when the first collections of Bible writings began to circulate in the churches. Christ’s message about God’s love was twisted into a hideous intimidation, with which the Catholic Church thought it could control humanity.
Heb 12:6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” – If a child’s father disciplines his child severely, isn’t God’s discipline better because God’s discipline is not physical? The most important thing in God’s chastisement is that God thus molds man into the likeness that man was originally created to be.
The fire in the fiery lake is symbolic
As we study some of these passages of Scripture that relate to our sufferings, it is necessary to gain a proper understanding of God’s judgment upon the world in the lake of fire and the second death. The question is not that these are punishments. God doesn’t punish us, He teaches us, and that makes a big difference. Undeniably, however, the message of the Bible has been described throughout the centuries as a painful and eternally burning punishment. At least that’s how it is for humanity.
What is this teaching? It is teaching to bring about repentance. The fiery lake is not a real fire, but a symbolic one. For countless centuries, Christendom’s clergy have misinterpreted the Bible and portrayed symbolic language as physical reality. This is how the masses of Christendom have been kept in the fear of God – in real fear, and not just in awe of God. That’s what the ‘fear of God’ should really mean.
And then what about the fate of high angelic princes like Satan? Is Satan’s punishment eternal suffering or destruction? According to the Bible, Satan and the angels who support him were kept chained for a long time, and when he was freed, he did not show that he had improved his ways, but continued his rebellion.
2 Pet 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment,
Jud 1:6 You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day. – Even Satan himself is bound for a thousand years: Rev 20:2 He seized the dragon – the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan – and tied him up for a thousand years.” – Satan is called a dragon in the Book of Revelation.
Rev 12:9 So that huge dragon – the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.
20:3 ”The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished. After these things he must be released for a brief period of time.” – Satan’s fate is described in principle the same as that of sinful people; 20:10 ”And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever.”
Actors with other names appear on the stage, such as the beast, the dragon and the false prophet. See, for example, Rev. chapter 13. The Bible tells the final fate of Satan and his angels.
– The Concordant translation says otherwise: “And they shall be tormented day and night for the eons of the eons.” If this translation is correct, I ask: what will happen to Satan and his forces? Will they learn from the fiery lake punishment or not? Frankly, I can’t imagine Satan and his army being saved from the lake of fire.
The many kinds of suffering experienced by Paul are a perfect example of a Christian’s life: Act 14:22 “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.”
Salvation after death
The Bible’s teaching about salvation includes the idea that repentance and repentance, which leads to salvation, must happen during a person’s life. Achieving salvation after death is not possible according to Christian doctrine.
However, the biblical reality is that most of mankind will be saved in the judgment after death. Only the ‘firstfruits’ are saved in this first life before the resurrection to judgment. If God really intends to save all of humanity, it means that the vast majority of those who receive salvation will only receive salvation after death. Remember the 120 billion Gentiles who have died. Now someone says that the Bible teaches that Gentiles can be saved; Rom 2:15 They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them,
Some argue that Jesus did not want sinners to repent and turn and be saved in their own time. Why so? Doesn’t Christ understand that even according to current Christian teaching, no one can be saved after death without being saved before death?
Joh 7:38 let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.” – Even though the entire crop is harvested in the third harvest, there is always some rotten fruit left unharvested. This John’s verse contains this “rotten fruit” idea: whoever believes in me will be saved. He who does not believe in me is rotten fruit that remains unharvested.
Isaiah wrote that God had said: Even though the entire crop is harvested in the third harvest, there is always some rotten fruit left unharvested. John’s verse contains this “rotten fruit” idea: whoever believes in me will be saved. He who does not believe in me is rotten fruit that remains unharvested.
Isaiah wrote that God had said: Isa 45:23: I solemnly make this oath – what I say is true and reliable: ‘Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm;
Fil 2:9 As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. – God has made Jesus Lord; Act 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”
The book of Revelation tells what happens with Satan’s forces: 20:9 They went up on the broad plain of the earth and encircled the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and devoured them completely.
10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever.
The Concordant translation says: they shall be tormented day and night for the eons of the eons. It does not mean endlessly forever, but nevertheless a long period of time – from period to period.
Salvation takes place in stages
Deu16:14 You are to rejoice in your festival, you, your son, your daughter, your male and female slaves, the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows who are in your villages. 16:16 Three times a year all your males must appear before the LORD your God in the place he chooses for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Temporary Shelters; and they must not appear before him empty-handed.
At these three annual festivals, the men of the nation of Israel were to gather together. These celebrations also symbolize that salvation takes place in stages. The first feast: Feast of Unleavened Bread (the first fruits of those who are saved), the feast of weeks: (When the firstfruits of the earth were harvested and the third: the great autumn harvest.
Regarding the salvation of mankind, the notion has been presented that the Third Feast describes the comprehensiveness of salvation; the entire harvest will be carefully harvested, so salvation will apply to all who have not yet been saved. I myself would not have found such symbolism, I only considered this as a commandment given by God to the Jews, but when I read about such an interpretation, I say that it is possible.
Joh 7:38 let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.” – Even though the entire crop is harvested in the third harvest, there is always some rotten fruit left unharvested. Em. John’s verse contains this “rotten fruit” idea: whoever believes in me will be saved. He who does not believe in me is rotten fruit that remains unharvested.
Isaiah wrote what God had said: Isa 45:23 ”I solemnly make this oath – what I say is true and reliable: ‘Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm;
Phi 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. – God has made Jesus Lord; Act 2:36 ”Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”
– Philippians is clear in determining who must acknowledge Christ as God’s appointed Lord: all in heaven, all on earth (alive) and all under the earth, i.e. the dead. How could the dead acknowledge Christ as Lord? The dead know nothing (Eccl 9:5)! They acknowledge when there is the resurrection of the dead.
Rev 20:2 ”He seized the dragon – the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan – and tied him up for a thousand years. 3 The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished. (After these things he must be released for a brief period of time.) 4 Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection 6 Blessed and holy is the one who takes part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Joh 7:38 “Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.”
