WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?
This below comment, I posted on a friends facebook page and then my own. I didn’t think there was anything so terribly out of the ordinary or special about the comment, but it has really sparked a great conversation, and I was so surprised to see how many people were interested in hearing more, after reading this simple commentary on Facebook… I hope you enjoy it! Peace Jacob
My Reply as to what I believe! All mankind Saved.
A wonderful lady on here that I am friends with, always has something wonderful to say… Now we do believe differently, but unlike many others, she has recieved me for who I am and what I believe (I think she has at least, I know she would if she didn’t know) In any event… she posted something wonderful… I am going to share that. And then repost my comment, without mentioning her name out of my great respect for her, and because she has the best smile I have ever seen 🙂
Here is her post:
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. You need to believe it to receive it. What do the universalists do with that?
HERE IS MY REPLY
Hey (You) first I want to say I am NOT A UNIVERSALIST… A universalist believes all roads lead to God… I believe ALL ROADS LEAD TO CHRIST, WHO leads us to the father. Because there is only ONE WAY TO KNOW THE FATHER, AND THAT IS BY HIS CHILD…
So, not a Universalist here, but I do believe God finishes his creation in victory “he saw all that he made and said it was good” –
I personally believe God is not a failure, and that his arm is not slack that it cannot save, and for those who understand that Nothing can thwart God’s will, “neither him that runneth or willeth but God”, and for those that understand that it is GOD’S WILL that ALL BE SAVED and come to the KNOWLEDGE of the truth and the stature of the perfect man…
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth…
I don’t believe you can know the father without knowing who YOU ARE in the SON. But I do believe that ALL will CONFESS CHRIST and SUBMIT to Christ In Them, as it is written…
Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
— Now look at that next line, TO THE GLORY OF GOD – Lots will say, then it is too late. But no man knows the hour or time, or God’s ways for they are above ours.
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
Every – means Every… I believe that out of ALL the father gave the son to save, as Jesus put it, “I lost not one save the SON OF PERDITION” – remember who the Son of Hell is (The antichrist spirit/betrayer with in the heart of the religious, who would rather betray the love of God for money, than think better of God and others)
I believe that ALL of creation will sing praises to God, That GOD BRINGS in ALL — If the firstfruits (christ) be holy than the whole harvest is holy)
Also Romans states ALL THE GENTILES will be grafted in, and than ALL ISRAEL shall be saved. (that’s also pretty much everyone)
To believe that God is inept and cannot accomplish his goal, to make man in his IMAGE (CHRIST) – In CHRIST we ALL (EVERYONE) live breathe and have our existence, is to state God is not God.
To say God gave man free will, which I challenge anyone to show me what choice Moses, Joseph, Pharoah, Jonah, Jesus etc had… but let’s say Man has free will, meaning a WILL OUTSIDE OF GODS…
Even though Jesus said, “I can do NOTHING OF MYSELF”
But even if God leaves it up to mankind. What does a Good parent do for their children, correct them, teach them, or give up on them?
We don’t know how long life is, what happens after we die, we only have speculation, God is not mocked whatever a man sows he shall reap… Who is to say that God doesn’t have this very principle in place (If he wants us to “choose” him) – Even though Jesus said “You didn’t choose me, I chose you” and also IT IS WRITTEN “No ONE can come to the SON unless the FATHER DRAWS HIM“… But lets say God is not Soveriegn, that it is NOT ABOUT FAITH but about our WORKS (WHAT WE SAY AND DO) — Don’t you think OUR GOD is big enough to correct us justly, teach us correctly, and not be a HYPOCRITE.
If God says there should NEVER be an end to OUR FORGIVENESS, and that we SHOULD LOVE OUR ENEMIES… Why wouldn’t GOD who is perfect (who knows how to treat his children better than us) LOVE HIS?
Love the world SO MUCH he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON that whoever BELIEVES and scripture says ALL WILL, and not only that, but submit to Christ to the GLORY OF GOD… Don’t you think it is possible, that a God of Love, could change a persons heart as easily as he Hardens it (Pharoah)
There is so much false teaching, there are so many lies we have been sold over the years, I trust a God of Love, one that has a plan, one whose mercy endures forever, who’s plans and will MANKING cannot thwart God’s will…
1 Timothy 2:3-4 …God our Savior; Who will have ALL mankind to be saved…
John 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world
Christ didn’t come to CODEMN but to save… because it is GOD’S will that ALL WILL BE SAVED! Everyone, it is written, will come to the KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH and the STATURE OF CHRIST. Everyone!
But I will leave you with this last scripture…
Ephesians
1:9 when He made known to us the secret of His will. And this is in harmony with God’s merciful purpose 10 for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it–the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the WHOLE CREATION to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in Heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him
So I agree, that anyone who thinks YOU DON’T HAVE TO BELIEVE won’t recieve, I will HOLD OUT HOPE, that scripture is true and that ALL WILL BELIEVE AND RECIEVE and GOD’S CREATION is finished in victory, and EVERYTHING HE MADE GOOD AND WORTHY OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING.
But I am NO UNIVERSALIST…But I do question, why I think HIGHER OF GOD’S PROMISE AND SOVEREIGNTY and LOVE and COMPASSION than a majority of Christians who believe a majoriy of those God created will be LOST, or worse still cast into some place of infinite torture… (Which by the way does not exist) – But why? I question do most people believe our Perfect and Wonderful and Almighty God is a Callous Hateful Vindictive God?
If we would never do this to our children, if we would always love and NEVER give up on our children, Is God more Righteous than us by giving up on his own, who he created, placed in the Garden, created the enemy, made us subject to vanity (romans 8:20), and proclaims YOU CANNOT COME TO THE SON UNLESS you are drawn… I mean why? Why would anyone think God is going to fall short? That everything he made is some cosmic mistake… No, Our God is in control. And that is why I do not think less of anyone who believes differently, who does horribly, or who condemns because they worship a god who condemns…. The truth is, ALL WILL COME TO THE TRUTH this GOD PURPOSED and will bring to pass, and NO ONE CAN LOSE!
But we all will reap what we sow, and this is how God teaches his children to stop touching the hot stove.
You know I love you(awesome persomn whose name I will not name :)), I really wanted to give you a heartfelt response and say I AGREE YOU CANNOT RECIEVE without BELIEVING, but I have faith that ALL WILL BELIEVE, not just because it is clearly written… The only thing destroyed is “hell, devil, anti-christ, false prophet, and every name (which translates directly into NATURE – NOT A LITERAL NAME) but every NATURE that is NOT written in the BOOK OF LIFE (Life has many natures, love, forgiveness, patience, charity, peace, joy, etc. ect) but the NATURES IN MAN that are NOT WRITTEN IN LIFE (CHRIST) will be destroyed… The natures of GREED, HATE, BIAS, CONDEMNATION, etc etc…
And remember GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE (LAKE OF FIRE) – Christ baptises with FIRE…. FIRE is good, we ALL have out part in THIS LAKE OF FIRE, it just doesn’t hurt those that ARE RISEN TO KNOW, GOD IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL!
GREAT TOPIC!!!! I sure hope my answer will not be seen as something negative, but an honest heartfelt answer as to why I believe, GOD WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT KNOW IT (1st Tim 4:10) Jacob 🙂
— AN ADDITION
There has been a great discussion on my friend’s page. A couple of points were made, and I was asked by my friend to respond. Without posting there comments (as my answers pretty much sum up what they wrote) I wanted to add it here for those interested. Enjoy.
HERE IS MY REPLY:
Wow, what an outpouring, and in such a loving way! It’s rare to see such a thing, that says a lot about you Gaye and the company that is drawn to you… It would be very hard for me to answer everyone, I will say, without posting the address, I do have a blog with over 90 essays, videos extra, that I have (if you friend me, or simply google my name and blog) you’ll find it… I think every single concern is answered in many of those essays… But I will answer a few people briefly…
@(PERSON 1) I in no way minimize God’s judgment, quite the opposite, I made it very clear, we all reap what we sow… I simply say, we don’t reap MORE than we sow, and that in God’s CORRECTION (which hurts indeed) we are brought to the knowledge of Christ. Many Christians preach that life is supposed to be filled with candy, that God doesn’t want anyone sick, doesn’t want bad things to happen… Yet, that undermines the very judgment you speak of. God is in control of all things, and it is through MUCH TRIBULATION we enter the Kingdom. believe me when i say, YOU HAVE TO PICK UP YOUR CROSS it is the only way, many “christians” don’t even understand what this means, and preach against it, tickling people’s ears, filling people with religious pride that They did something good so they are saved, and others are beneath them because they did not… But when you understand that God is in control of everything, and it rains on the just and unjust, and that even as the scripture’s state, “the wicked are God’s sword” – that even bad people in our lives, like Pharoah, or Joseph’s brothers, are there to further us into the Kingdom, then you REST in God. You understand what is happening to you IS HAPPENING FOR YOU, and that is judgment. Judgment means to SEPERATE God from the World, this is the allegory of the sheep and goats, wheat and tares, the TRUTH in us and the LIES in us, the NATURES IN US, is what is being Judged… and JUDGEMENT BEGINS IN US, “the house of the lord” – we are all being judged, and we all, I believe and hope and pray, (because like I said, I am NOT the authority and always leave the possibilty that I could be wrong) but I believe with all my heart, God is capable of doing what he says he wants, and that through ONE MAN’S DEATH (ADAM) – all Mankind died (became ignorant) and HOW MUCH MORE, buy ONE MAN’S SACRAFICE AND LIFE shall ALL BE MADE ALIVE… So I take pretty much everything literally and allegorically.
For this next person, I wanted to share their comment to me, and then my response:
PERSON 2:
I was reading a scripture the other day in Revelation about how God will send the angels to come and some will be thrown into the lake of fire and some not. So it is clear that there will be a separation. I’ll try to find and post it on here…. Matthew 13:47-50 (Amplified Bible) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a [a]dragnet which was cast into the sea and gathered in fish of every sort. When it was full, men dragged it up on the beach, and sat down and sorted out the good fish… into baskets, but the worthless ones they threw away.So it will be at the close and consummation of the age. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) And cast them [the wicked] into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and wailing and grinding of teeth
HERE IS MY RESPONSE:
@ (PERSON 2) it’s interesting you use a literal parable to describe something as literal, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to not answer you, I just saw your comment now. – First off, THE SEA is a symbol of THE WAYS OF THE WORLD (Cares of the world) Which… is death. This is why JESUS walked above the sea, and could calm the storm… He said I will make you fishers of men, meaning we will literally fish people out of the death and depths of their ignorance… now the Kingdom of God is WITHIN us, in this parable it is described as a net… and the Kingdom of God is RIGHTEOUS, PEACE AND TRUTH, AND POWER in the Holy Ghost… And this seperate the GOOD (Truth) in US with the Bad (Lies) in US.
Now before the scripture you mentioned, remember Jesus compares the Kingdom to many other things. THE MOST IMPORTANT of which I believe is to a PEARL OF GREAT PRICE (pearl comes out of long suffering) – which — Pay attention to this next line, “when one finds THEY SELL ALL THEY POSSESS to have it” – In other words, when you understand the TRUTH OF GOD (Kingdom of God) you get rid of every false belief you once held… We cannot serve two masters. But let’s look at the scripture you posted.
47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
First of all, GOD TRIES US ALL in the FURNACE OF FIRE… this is how we are set free of our idolatry.
Isaiah 48:10
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the FURNACE OF AFFLICTION.
(Through this tribulation we LONG SUFFER to find that PEARL (KINGDOM OF GOD which is WITHIN US, not coming with observation)
This is the way GOD CHOSE to seperate us from the lies of the world, and YES when we are afflicted we weep and complain (gnash teeth)
James 4:9
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Now the END OF THE WORLD, doesn’t mean the LITERAL WORLD… But the world is THE LUSTS IN MAN…
1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
So at the END OF OUR LUSTS, the TRUE MESSAGE (angel=message/messengers (literal translation) – At the END OF OUR LUSTS the TRUE MESSAGE OF GOD will come forth (be revealed) — and guess what, the DAY OF THE LORD is scary… It is a day of darkness, where you understand you don’t know a thing, and every foundational belief you once held is shaken… SO YES, when the TRUTH OF GOD is revealed to you, you will SUFFER until you GET RID OF EVERY FALSE BELIEF you once held.
Remember, we are held over the hottest part of the flame, as silver is, and we are only released for it, when the SMITH sees HIS IMAGE clearly in it.
So in any event, when you really take the scriptures and search the other scriptures for witness of the words, like Furnace, Fire, etc… it becomes a lot easier to see the Truth of God, which is Salvation of all, through so great a plan, that the ONLY ONE LOST is the SON OF PERDITION (the adamic ignorant carnal antichrist nature in man)…
In any event, I hope this adequeatley explained that scripture for you. Peace. Jacob
Thank you all so much for being so supportive and loving and understanding we are all where we are, and if we be teachers we MUST BE long suffering, meak, gentle, loving, not seeking to strive, etc… And so far so good. Much love to you all, peace Jacob
AND SOME MORE
—- Here is some more response from comments made: This one focuses on Rev 20:15, where it says, depending on the translation that Every name not written in the book of life is cast into the Lake of Fire… First my response to what the word Name – really means.
“ONOMA” is indeed the correct greek word for Name which means “the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, ex. for one’s rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc. ” — It is the total NATURE of that PERSON … of course we say, Jesus and if we look at it literally, there are a lot of Jesus’s out there, but they all have different characteristics… So instead of believing in the name, we believe in the nature of that name… EVERYTHING the name covers…
Look at how dictionary.com translates NATURE when it applies to PEOPLE… reality, as distinguished from any effect of art: a portrait true to nature. 8. the particular combination of qualities belonging to a person, animal, thing, or class by birth, origin, or constitution; native or inherent character: human nature. 9. the instincts or inherent tendencies directing conduct: a man of good nature. 10. character, kind, or sort: two books of the same nature. 11. characteristic disposition; temperament: a self-willed nature; an evil nature.
So even with Onoma we are talking about the NATURE of the PERFECT MAN CHRIST. Or the NATURE of the ADAMIC man.
Like you said, we’re on the same page. And I don’t get to caught up which bible is perfect or not, they all have mistranslations, additions, deletions… which is why the spirit of revelation comes in handy. 🙂
— Now here is a complete breakdown of Rev 20:15
Revelation 20:15 Anyone whose NAME was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Some translations leave the “Name” part out) This I grabbed from the NIV…
But a GREATER MYSTERY is revealed when… you translate each of those words from the Greek.
15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
WHOSOEVER translates from the Greek into (whatever/whoever)
NOT means Pretty much NOT
BUT FOUND: wow, when you translate FOUND… it opens your eyes. It doesn’t mean, found, like you find a chapter and verse in a book… It means:
FOUND= to come upon, hit upon, to meet with
after searching, to find a thing sought without previous search, to find (by chance), to fall in with those who come or return to a place
to find by enquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience to see, learn, discover, understand
FOUND, basically means, the person sought and found – It is the REVELATION of CHRIST.
WRITTEN: means TO DESCRIBE, or EXPRESS, OR WRITE
BOOK: Translates into SCROLL (which we are meant to eat, which many saw in visions)
LIFE (ZOE) one of my favorites, means TO BE ALIVE, to live, breathe, be among the living
CAST means: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls
INTO means: INTO
LAKE means: a harbour, haven
FIRE means: FIRE (God is a consuming FIRE)
Now watch what happens when you put them all together.
“Whoever or whatever did not find after searching the expression of LIFE (christ) is let go without worrying where it falls into a haven of God’s consuming fire!”
And the very next verse, after this is Rev 21:
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Like you said Christine, it is the FIRST NATURE OF MAN (adam) that is LET GO OFF, And burned (to keep with the allegorical theme) AWAY.
in adam all die (1st man is last) in christ (2nd man) all are made ALIVE (All find the expression of Christ)