I am very interested in discussions
"...focused on/related to Christ-centered Ultimate Restoration ... all saved because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross... He draws each one and gives them faith to believe in Jesus as Savior."
from revised ***First Post and Forum Guidelines
Hi Anna, so good to have you here. :HeartThrob:
This post certainly might be over-kill but I found its message so comforting as suddenly all the loose ends regarding the Book of Revelation fit.
I Tim. 4:9-10
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, Who IS THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN, specially of those that believe.
This certainly is a wonderful Scripture and hopefully you will find it easier to accept with what is to follow.
This comes from thestoryofDarren.com (http://thestoryofdarren.com)
The Complete Revelation
1 Corinthians 15:22-28
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
"The more one studies this Scripture as well as dozens like it, it becomes abundantly clear that as in Adam all died, the very same all will be made alive in Christ. There is not one in Adam who will not be made alive in Christ." - Louis Abbott
"Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 takes us much farther into the future than does the book of Revelation."
Some say that the teaching of universal salvation, or reconciliation, gives one license to do as he wishes with no fear for the consequences, and the "hell-fire" must be taught in order to keep them in line and get them saved. Some say also that Paul's teaching of salvation by grace gives license to sin, but consider this fact: Denominational teaching has included threats of eternal punishment in hell for many centuries, and it has not "saved" the masses of humanity as yet. Do men serve God best when they realize He loves humanity, or when they fear He will send them to "hell" forever?
Romans 5:8-12 tells us God loved us while we were yet sinners, and sent Christ to die for the sake of the irreverent. Although most seem to believe the book of Revelation tells of God's ultimate goal, Paul tells us it was given to him to complete the words of God and the consummation was revealed to him, not to John, even though in human measurement of time, Revelation probably was written after the books attributed to Paul. Paul says (Col. 1:25), "...of which I became the dispenser according to the administration of God, which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God."
Darby Translation:
Col 1:25 of which I became minister, according to the dispensation of God which [is] given me towards you to complete the word of God,
He was not speaking in terms of time, but in matters of revelation. It is through the writings of Paul that we get the truths concerning God's ultimate goal for mankind, as well as for the entire universe.
Dr. J.B. Lightfoot, in his commentary on Colossians, says (p. 67), "The word plerosai, to fulfill; i.e., to preach fully. To give its complete development to." Luther used reichlich predigen, "to preach fully," and Olshausen says: "That is, to declare the gospel in all its fullness and extent." Each of these writers were commenting upon the plerosai, the completing of the revelation of God, by Paul.
Mr. Ray A. Van Dyke, compiled a comparison between the revelation given in Revelation and that given to Paul, as recorded in 1 Cor. 15:22-28. His comments are reproduced here:
"In the book of Revelation we do not have the final plan of God. Paul, in 1 Cor. 15:22-28 takes us much further into the future than does the book of Revelation. To illustrate this more clearly, study the following: 1 Cor. 15:22-28 as compared with the new heaven and new earth of Revelation 20:21-22:
In 1 Cor. 15:22-28, we have:
* No more rule
* No more authority
* No more power
* No more enemies
* No more reigning
* All subjected
* No more death, death destroyed.
* All made alive, immortal
In Revelation 20:21-22, we have:
* Still rule (20:6; 22:5)
* Son still reigns (22:1-5; 11:5)
* Authority (21:24,25)
* Power (21:24,25; 22:2
* Kings (21:24-26)
* Saints reign (22:5)
* Second death still exists (21:5)
* The nations still mortal (22:2)
Christians who believe in universal reconciliation believe that the Bible is God's Word, and His Word cannot contradict itself, hence the inspired sacred Scriptures say in Rev. 11:15; 22:5, eis tous aionas ton aionon, "for the eons of the eons." Thus, Christ our Lord "reigns for the eons of the eons," not as the king's translators rendered, "forever and ever." Therefore, Revelation 20:21, 22 fits into the framework of the eons, and is truth relative to the eons. First Corinthians Chapter 15 fits at the consummation (end) of the eons. We give the second Adam, Christ, as much credit and numerical ability as the first Adam, and use 1 Cor. 15:22-28 also for this truth. (Read Rom. 5:18-21.)
Consequently, Col. 1:16-20:
* All in heaven and earth created in Him (verse 16)
* All for Him (verse 16)
* All estranged are reconciled (verse 20)
1 Corinthians 15:22-28 (Darby)
22 In Adam all are dying. In Christ shall all be made alive 23 But each in his own rank: the first-fruits, Christ; then those that are the Christ's at his coming. 24 Then the end, when he gives up the kingdom to him who is God and Father; when he shall have annulled all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that is annulled is death. 27 For he has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he says that all things are put in subjection, it is evident that it is except him who put all things in subjection to him. 28 But when all things shall have been brought into subjection to him, then the Son also himself shall be placed in subjection to him who put all things in subjection to him, that God may be all in all.)
Romans 5:18-21 (Darby)
18 so then as it was by one offence towards all men to condemnation, so by one righteousness towards all men for justification of life. 19 For as indeed by the disobedience of the one man the many have been constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted righteous. 20 But law came in, in order that the offence might abound; but where sin abounded grace has overabounded, 21 in order that, even as sin has reigned in the power of death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The literal Greek in 1 Corinthians 15:22 reads:
hosphor gar en to Adam pantes apothnEskousin houtos kai en to christo pantes zoopoiEthEsontai.
"Even as for in the Adam all are dying, thus also in the Christ, all shall be made alive."
The more one studies this Scripture as well as dozens more like it, it becomes abundantly clear that as in Adam all died, that very same all will be made alive in Christ. There is not one in Adam that will not be made alive in Christ. It is a perfectly balanced statement which Jesus said was already set in motion. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw (drag in Greek) all mankind unto Myself. (John 12:32, NKJV)
========================================================================
The footnote at the bottom of the page believes that this originated from Tentmaker
Love Julie :HeartThrob:
Thanks Anna :HeartThrob:
Though don't expect everyone to embrace it with open arms.
If you are interested I have some very interesting material regarding the Hell myth.
Love Julie :HeartThrob:
Account #274 for Anna :icon_jokercolor:
Quote from: WhiteWings on October 21, 2013, 09:24:47 PM
Account #274 for Anna :icon_jokercolor:
lol LOL = little old lady laughs out loud
Thanks WW, I really, really needed to laugh out loud...