Hi - looking forward to conversing with others here. I've believed in "the larger hope" for over 10 years now. Gary and Louis Abbott were very influential in my choice to reject eternal torment. Before reading some of Gary's and Louis' writings, I discovered something "fishy" with the non-literal english translations of the original language words behind "forever and ever", "everlasting", "eternal", "hell" etc. while using a Strong's concordance. In 97', I was really struggling with God knowing the future of those doomed to "eternal torment" and the fact that God still created them even though God knew that they would eventually end up in "endless suffering". My God is All-knowing and knew everyone's destiny even before He chose to put them into existence. ET didn't match up with the God who revealed His love powerfully to me many years earlier and who knows the ending from the beginning. It didn't matter if they ended up there by their choice alone, God's choice alone, or a mixture of both - God knew their horrible and "eternal" destiny of suffering BUT still chose to put them in existence. If God was truly good and knew the future before creating anyone, then God wouldn't choose to create them in the first place knowing their horrible destiny. I am evil and sinful compared to God, who is described in the scriptures as "Love", and I wouldn't even do that. I wouldn't do that to the worst human being that ever existed. Eternal torment just didn't seem to line up with the God that I came to know as "Love" years earlier when God powerfully and supernaturally revealed the meaning and purpose of the cross to me. There was just something up with all of this. I prayed with my entire being in agony "God, You are good and loving. You knew their outcome but still created them. How could You and still be the loving and good God that I have come to know?" I immediately sensed in my spirit God communicating with my spirit saying "Good job son, you have passed the test. I am now going to show you my TRUE word." By this I believe God meant He would teach me through the original languages of the bible, as well as reveal greater truths about Jesus - "the Word made flesh". Life has never been the same since. Thank You God.
Hi Tree,
Glad you've joined Tentmaker. Things are pretty laid back here, as I was explaining to someone earlier. We're hoping to confine the mud wrestling to the debate boards. Not sure if you could have joined a better forum on the subjects covered here.
Martin
Hi Tree
Welcome :bigGrin:
kept
Hey Tree... :welcome: :hithere:
Hi Tree
:welcome: on board
Blessings
"Tree" That's a nice name... Hi, Tree! :icon_flower:
Hopeful
Thanks guys for welcoming me.
QuoteI then sensed in my spirit God communicating with my spirit saying "Good job son, you have passed the test. I am now going to show you my TRUE word." Life has never been the same since. Thank You God.
:Yesss: :nod: :goodpost: :smile: :wink2: :boydance: :boogie: :Egyptdance2: :grin: :bigGrin: :Sparkletooth: :winkgrin:
AAAAMEN