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(1) Many created, but few saved. (6) He asketh why God destroyed His own works, (26) and prayeth God to look upon the people which only serve Him. (41) God answereth that all seed commeth not to God, (52) and that glory is prepared for Him and such like.
1 And He answered me, saying, The Most High hath made this world for many, but the world to come for few.
2 I will tell thee a similitude, Esdras, As when thou askest the earth, it shall say unto thee, that it giveth much mold wherof earthen vessels are made, but little dust that gold cometh of: even so is the course of this present world.
3 There may be many created, but few shall be saved.
4 So answered I and said, Swallow then down my soul, understanding, and devour wisdom.
5 For thou hast agreed to give ear, and art willing to prophesy for thou hast no longer space then only to live.
6 O Lord, if Thou suffer not thy servant that we may pray before thee, and Thou give us seed unto our heart, and culture to our understanding, that there may come fruit of it, how shall each man live that is corrupt, who beareth the place of man?
7 For Thou art alone, and we all one workmanship of Thine hands, like as Thou hast said.
8 For when the body is fashioned now in the mother's womb, and Thou givest it members, Thy creature is preserved in fire and water, and nine months doeth Thy workmanship endure Thy creature which is created in her.
9 But that which keepeth, and is kept, shall both be preserved: and when the time cometh, the womb preserved, delivereth up the things that grew in it.
10 For thou hast commanded out of the parts of the body, that is to say, out of the breast's milk to be given, which is the fruit of the breasts,
11 That the thing which is fashioned, may be nourished for a time, till Thou disposest it to Thy mercy.
12 Thou broughtest it up with Thy righteousness, and nourishedst it in Thy Law, and reformed it with Thy judgement.
13 And Thou shalt mortify it as Thy creature, and quicken it as Thy work.
14 If therefore Thou shalt destroy him which with so great labor was fashioned, it is an easy thing thing to be ordeined by Thy Commandment, that the thing which was made might be preserved.
15 Now therefore, Lord, I will speak (touching man in general, Thou knowest best) but touching Thy people, for whose sake I am sorry,
16 And for Thine inheritance, for whose cause I mourne, and for Israel, for whom I am heavy, and for Jacob, for whose sake I am troubled:
17 Therefore will I begin to pray before Thee, for myself, and for them: for I see the falls of us that dwell in the land.
18 But I have heard the swiftness of the Judge which is to come.
19 Therefore hear my voice, and understand my words, and I shall speak before Thee: this is the beginning of the words of Edras, before he was taken up: and I said:
20 O Lord, Thou that dwellest in everlastingness, which beholdest from above, things in heaven, and in the air,
24 O hear the prayer of Thy servant, and give ear to the petition of Thy creature.
26 O look not upon the sins of Thy people: but on them which serve Thee in truth.
27 Regard not the wicked inventions of the heathen: but the desire of those that keep Thy Testimonies in afflictions.
28 Think not upon those that have walked fainedly before Thee: but remember them, which according to Thy will have known Thy fear.
29 Let it not be Thy will to destroy them, which have lived like beasts: but to look upon them that have clearly taught Thy Law.
30 Take Thou no indignation at them which are deemed worse than beasts: but love them that always put their trust in Thy righteousness, and glory.
33 For the just which have many good works layed up with Thee, shall out of their own deeds receive reward.
34 For what is man that Thou shouldest take displeasure at him? or what is a corruptible generation, that Thou shouldest be so bitter toward it?
35 For in truth there is no man among them that be born, but but he hath dealt wickedly, and among the faithfull, there is none that hath not done amiss.
36 For in this, O Lord, Thy righteousness, and Thy goodness shall be declared, if Thou be merciful unto them which have not the confidence [substance] of good works.
37 Then answered He me, and said, Some things hast thou spoken aright, and according unto thy words it shall be
38 For indeed I will not think on the dispositon of them which have sinned before death, before judgement, before destruction.
39 But I will rejoice over the dispensation of the righteous, and I will remember also their pilgrimage, and the salvation, and the reward that they shall have.
40 Like as I have spoken now, so shall it come to pass.
41 For as the husbandman soweth much seed upon the ground, and planteth many trees, and yet the thing that is sowen good in his season, commeth not up, neither doeth all that is planted take root: even so is it of them that are sowen in the world, they shall not all be saved.
42 I answered then, and said, If I have found grace, let me speak.
43 Like as the husbandsmans seed perisheth, if it come not up, and receive not the rain in due season, or if there come too much rain and corrupt it:
44 Even so perisheth man also which is formed with Thy hands, and is called Thine own image, because Thou art like unto him, for whose sake Thou hast made all things, and likened him unto the husbandmans seed.
45 Be not wroth with us, but spare Thy people, and have mercy upon Thine own inheritance: for Thou art merciful unto Thy creature.
46 Then answered He me, and said, Things present are for the present; and things to come, for such as be to come.
47 For thou commest far short, that thou shouldest be able to love My creature more than I: but I have ofttimes drawen nigh unto thee, and unto it, but never to the unrighteous.
48 In this also thou art marvelous before the Most High;
49 In that thou hast humbled thyself as it becometh thee, and hast not judged thyself worthy to be much glorified among the righteous.
50 For many great miseries shall be done to them, that in the latter time shall dwell in the world, because they have walked in great pride.
51 But understand thou, for thyself, and seek out the glory for such as be like thee.
52 For unto you is Paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the time to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready, a city is builded, and rest is allowed, yea perfect goodness and wisdom.
53 The root of evil is sealed up from you, weakness and the moth is hid from you, and corruption is fled into hell to be forgotten.
54 Sorrows are passed, and in the end is shewed the treasure of immortality.
55 And therefore ask thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perish.
56 For when they had taken liberty, they despised the Most High, thought scorn of His Law, and forsook His ways.
57 Moreover, they have troden down His righteous,
58 And said in their heart, that there is no God, yea and that knowing they must die.
59 For as the things aforesaid shall receive you, so thirst and pain are prepared for them; for it was not His will that men should come to nought.
60 But they which be created, have defiled the Name of Him that made them, and were unthankful unto Him which prepared life for them.
61 And therefore is My judgement now at hand.
62 These things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee. Then answered I, and said,
63 Behold, O Lord, now hast Thou shewed me the multitude of the wonders which Thou wilt begin to do in the last times: but at what time, Thou hast not shewed me.
Those who reject our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire: as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment. Lo! Allah is ever Mighty, Wise. (As for) those who disbelieve in Our communications, We shall make them enter fire; so oft as their skins are thoroughly burned, We will change them for other skins, that they may taste the chastisement; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.
It getting to be ridiculous what some people will use to promote their false doctrine.
I guess each of us will individually make up our own minds about what is true or false eh?
GOD’S PLAN FOR THE AGES OF TIME AS I SEE IT
God’s purposes are not completed in this current age, but worked out in successive ages. (Eph. 2:7) The message of God’s saving work through Christ is glorious, and it is not limited to this lifetime as the orthodox church would have us believe. It is not in God’s plan “to save as many as He can before this life ends” only to throw the rest of His precious creation in the dumper for all eternity. Jesus did not pray for the world, but for those whom the Father gave Him (the disciples). (John 17) Those who are Calvinists will twist this prayer of Jesus to say that God only has intentions to save the elect, while the rest are reserved for never-ending punishment, but they make the same critical mistake that most of Christendom does in that they do not see that God’s purposes for mankind do not end with this life.
THE EONS OF THE BIBLE WITH CONCORDANCE The eons of the Bible With Concordance, Gods purpose of the eons.
Everything will be accomplished in GOD’S TIME, not ours. God’s purpose in this age is to bring a people to Himself (elect) in order to reach the non-elect in the ages to come. He is calling US in order to show forth His kindness to OTHERS in the ages to come. Once you see this truth, you will then understand why most people will never come to Christ in this age. This does not mean God has forsaken the many and given them up to suffer never-ending punishments. The mercy, love, and compassion of our God will never fail and the Good Shepherd will keep on seeking and saving until each and every last sheep (good and bad) is brought into the fold.
The following link is a great exposition on what I perceive the Bible teaches about this subject. God, All in All! God, All in All!
I'll always stand upon my King James Version...I love my Bible.
so you consider the apocryphal writings to be inspired? (the original KJV contained the apocrypha such as 2nd Esdras etc., a book never included in any German bible)
so you consider the apocryphal writings to be inspired? (the original KJV contained the apocrypha such as 2nd Esdras etc., a book never included in any German bible)
Yes.
I use the 1611 King James Version.
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