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I think that, time and again, many Christians like to focus on the sins of others versus the grace God freely gives. I guess it's inevitable because people need to see how they stack up against others. So then they see heaven as something they get when they amass enough points, kind of like attaining Eagle Scout or something. Mind you, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't point out wrong behavior, for we have a duty to others. But at the same time, it is not our place to judge someone else's standing with God.
After all, Christ and Paul alike tell us repeatedly to not compare ourselves to others, instead focusing on how we live in the world. So as much as I'd like to say, "He is an awful person. He'll get his reward soon enough," that is not the right response. Sure, we're human, and we all think it from time to time. But that's a human response, not a Christian one.
So I think focusing on who will get into heaven and who will not is counter to our teachings.
Sorry I probably didn't word that right but what I was meaning was that was what I had been told when I was growing up .... based on revelations lake of fire. I could see that there was a hypocrisy there.
I left the church when I was around 15, and suffered anxiety/depression for many years because of the fear which I had internalized
The Lake of Fire is not literal as can be seen by the actual verse. It tells us the lake of fire "is" the second death, not torment.
KJV Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
I think that, time and again, many Christians like to focus on the sins of others versus the grace God freely gives. I guess it's inevitable because people need to see how they stack up against others. So then they see heaven as something they get when they amass enough points, kind of like attaining Eagle Scout or something. Mind you, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't point out wrong behavior, for we have a duty to others. But at the same time, it is not our place to judge someone else's standing with God.
After all, Christ and Paul alike tell us repeatedly to not compare ourselves to others, instead focusing on how we live in the world. So as much as I'd like to say, "He is an awful person. He'll get his reward soon enough," that is not the right response. Sure, we're human, and we all think it from time to time. But that's a human response, not a Christian one.
So I think focusing on who will get into heaven and who will not is counter to our teachings.
Plus it ignores.
KJV Psalm 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
Not everyone goes to heaven or the Lake of Fire/second death.
Sorry I probably didn't word that right but what I was meaning was that was what I had been told when I was growing up .... based on revelations lake of fire. I could see that there was a hypocrisy there.
I left the church when I was around 15, and suffered anxiety/depression for many years because of the fear which I had internalized
NOTHING came out of the mouth of Jesus straight, everything he said was veiled in parable, and he tells us that. .
I continually speak about an exclusive covenant with Ephraim and Judah because that is the truth of the matter, only Ephraim and Judah were brought a new covenant, nobody else.
While I earnestly believe this to be true, and while it may offend others to say, I don't often explain myself after I have made such statements.
The covenant is for Judah and Ephraim and nobody else but this is only the physical reality of things.
I will look a Christian right in the face and say,'' The covenant is for Ephraim and Judah and seeing that you are neither a Jew or a Gentile who has converted to the religion of Jews, you aint Ephraim either, so what does the covenant have to do with you?''
I can say this because it's true.
But there is another truth.
Jesus came and took two men named Ephraim and Judah and he made them one, so the flesh is Ephraim and the spirit is Judah, and so if Jesus only brings a new covenant for Ephraim and Judah, it's also understood in the spirit that ALL are Ephraim, and all are Judah.
I don't really believe all people are the same, but I do believe that everyone is pretty much saved.
I wouldn't go out and tell anyone they were going to burn in hell for eternity, simply because I don't believe it, and I have reason to understand that it is metaphor for Jewish idioms, of Jewish understandings, concerning the feasts and how far a person will excel at the coming of the Lord.
For my first 40 years, I was just as every Christian when somebody did something wrong to me, I thought to myself,'' God will repay you.'' I also believed that most people were going to go to a hell where they will burn, and then after studying the feasts, I saw the scriptures of hell as Jewish idioms pertaining to whether or not you receive the rain of the feast of Tabernacles when a flood of spirit is promised at the second coming of Christ. Jesus comes to fulfill all at the feast of Tabernacles, we can see this in it being detailed in Zechariah 14.
Being that the Temple is in 3 sections to shadow what the kingdom of heaven is, I figured there were 3 sections of heaven, all saved.
Next step. Consider if there is an after life for all, equally, there is a god for all - equally?
Hebrews 8:5
They serve at a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary. That is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle, "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
I have been running around saying Judah this and Ephraim that and how Jesus brought an exclusive covenant to Ephraim and Judah.
I was seeing people in an outer court of darkness being the least in the kingdom, and the Holy of Holies being the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and one section in between, known as the Holy place.
I saw all the scriptures how people come into the kingdom and are escorted out, and how people come to the wedding feast and are escorted out. How virgins would come up to the bridal chamber to consummate a marriage, and how some of them could not get in. I saw the scripture where it says the works of all men will be tested by fire and some die but are saved, while others receive a reward.
But now I see that everyone will be the same, and there wont be any elite groups or people in a higher kingdom because God has grace and has made us all the Same, let us rejoice and throw off all that hinders, when we are calling people sinners and acting as if everyone wont be the same.
I have finally been convinced that everyone is the same, even the most evil of men will be just like everyone else, and I see no way to even exclude Hitler.
Praise God, Praise God that we are all the same and nobody will be punished.
Now I can do all those things I have been trying not to do, and I can be assured that the grace of God is all I need, when I simply believe in Jesus.
I have been trying so hard for so long and now, I don't know what I was thinking, God's grace is good enough.
I mean, I don't believe in a hell like some Christians, I know God is all merciful just like Jonah knew, but I was sure there were 3 sections of heaven, and today I found out that there isn't, and that we will all be the same in heaven, there will be no elite groups who have obtained special rewards, and there is no hell where anyone will be punished.
Brothers, sisters, praise God, Praise God, it has now come to an end.
This means you are changing from Judgement and E/T to buying into UR and an afterlife for all?
This means you are changing from Judgement and E/T to buying into UR and an afterlife for all?
I haven't believed in eternal judgment and torment ever since I began studying the Jewish feasts and idioms. I haven't believed in hell for years.
As I said, I believe that pretty much everyone is saved.
I just believe there are 3 levels of that salvation.
Again, everything Jesus said was veiled in Parable, and all those scriptures of eternal torment relate to whether or not you receive the rain of Sukkot, it is showing 3 types of resurrections for 3 types of salvation.
BUT ALL ARE SAVED.
Your body is on fire as we speak, if your fire is not quenched when you don't receive the rain of Sukkot, in comparison, it is that you did not obtain to their level, and although you are saved, you didn't receive the highest reward. Those people who weep and gnash their teeth are in the outer court of the temple, and they weep and gnash their teeth at what could have been but they are still happy and blessed BECAUSE of their salvation, but there reality is that they didn't receive the same body of resurrection that some did.
The seed that is given to you needs the rain of Sukkot, if you don't receive that rain, it is as if your fire isn't quenched, but you are not standing in flames forever, it's just that you were not made the same as some of the others.
If you don't receive the rain, it's that your seed can never die and this is a worm that will never die, the same worm that people think hell is about, the same fire people think as hell, it all relates to the understanding of Jewish feasts, gentiles don't know this simply because they don't know the feasts.
So they see hell with it's eternal torment when it is not, it is just a comparison from one to the other.
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