Sibyline Oracles Mystery Match with Bible Verses Perfectly – Last Prophecies is demonstrated in Images below for Edification.
MERCY to ALL eventually
Firstly, Verse 11 – 12 (in James 2, Context) speaks of a person ‘though preaching right’ (e.g. says ‘don’t commit adultery’) but does ‘not practice it’ (i.e. ‘commits murder instead’) in the context of the ‘whole law’ too (Verse 10).
So, apostle James is reminding such persons that ‘by BOTH SPEAKING and ACTING properly’, we belong to the class of persons who will be judged by the ‘Law of Liberty’ —> Verse “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.” (James 2:12, NASB).
Next, apostle James warns ‘why’ we should ‘speak properly’ to ‘remain being Judged by the Law of liberty’ (and not be condemned with the world, implied first in James 2:12) in the next Verse as follows:
Kinda like, apostle James is saying that ‘if you don’t act like you preach’ (James 2:12) —> and you continue in adultery and those sins (James 2:11) in regards to the ‘Whole Law’ too (James 2:10) —> then you will face ‘Judgment without Mercy first’ in the afterlife (NO more place in the ‘Law of Liberty’, implied) as James 2:13 WARNS first (in agreement to a ‘believer’ receiving the ‘same condemnation as per the ‘unbelievers’ in Principle of Luke 12:46) —> but it does NOT end there as MERCY still TRIUMPHS (ends, NASB) or REJOICES AGAINST (KJV) that ‘afterlife Judgment Sentence’ which must be endured first for such ‘unrepentant transgressors’ (second part of James 2:13). The ‘Context’ is ‘Clear’ from the ‘Consecutive Verses’ itself.
“For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13, NASB)
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” (James 2:13, KJV)
First part of James 2:13 speaks of Judgment with no mercy to the one having shown no mercy —-> refers to “afterlife Judgment” (Isaiah 3:11, Galatians 6:7, Hebrews 9:27).
Second part of James 2:13 —> apostle James reminds that Judgment doesn’t have the final say —-> Mercy will Rejoice Over that ‘same afterlife-Judgment’ mentioned first in James 2:13 ending it (when Mercy will be shown, the ‘triumph, NASB’) —-> cause of “rejoicing AGAINST it” (KJV).
This agrees to apostle Paul’s conclusions of all Judgment of God in Romans 11:32 that ALL the DISOBEDIENT will be shown MERCY too eventually.
“For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.” (Romans 11:32, NASB)
“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.” (Romans 11:32, KJV)
In the end When Mercy is shown, we are saved (Romans 9:15 – 16).
So, when MERCY finally reaches “all” as Promised (Romans 11:32), Afterlife Judgments END and “rejoicing” begins (James 2:13).
It is Written. Irrefutable.
Be Glad. Peace to you.
P/S: Maybe?
God Does NOT Write “maybe’s” but only what He will Accomplish when it depends only on Him Fulfilling it (with “no” Creation’s will or role) as the Context of Mercy Warrants (Romans 9:16 with Isaiah 46:10) toward “ALL in disobedience” (Romans 11:32, NASB) or from the ‘other Manuscript’ toward “ALL in unbelief too” (Romans 11:32, KJV) as the Final Word on All Judgment of God (as Romans 9 – 11 Describe prior and ‘ends’ in Romans 11:32 – Can you see it? Proper Context ‘as it is Written only’) agreeing to James 2:13 (discussed above as well). Consistent Scriptural Exegesis (Perfect).
HalleluYah!
How about the Greek? Please consider this next in link below as follows:
AORIST – MERCY – Predestination – Creation’s Choice vs God’s Will
Conclusion
How about sin and its relation to body and soul?
Sin causes Bodily Death and implies the Soul to Die too eventually (Romans 6:23).
Verses:
Soul that sinneth shall die too (Ezekiel 18:20).
Body dies ---> to Dust (Ecclesiastes 3:20)..
Soul dies ---> eventually at Gehenna, Lake of Fire (as Christ said that BOTH BODY and SOUL can be DESTROYED at GEHENNA, Matthew 10:28)
For the righteous their 'soul' is 'ransomed' from 'Sheol' itself as Psalm 49:15 reveals (so it does NOT die, e.g. Abraham and Lazarus in Luke 16:19 - 31).
Christ's Soul did NOT die as for the Case of righteous, His SOUL is RANSOMED too (Acts 2:27 proves this).
Thus, only for the righteous, 'our souls don't get destroyed at Gehenna' like Christ's and is 'ransomed' (Psalm 49:15). So, just like Christ Died only in the 'Body', the righteous 'die' in the body too as His Full Ransom applies only to the 'righteous, many' including for the 'Forgiveness of sins' (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:28) hence 'believers don't come into any afterlife Judgment at all' (John 5:24).
As for the Wicked, this 'forgiveness does NOT apply' and 'they may pay in the Gehenna Final Fire' (Luke 12:49) but only 'till the last penny only' (Later Consecutive Verses, Luke 12:57 - 59) and both their soul and body can be destroyed at Gehenna eventually (Matthew 10:28) ----> and they only 'live with their spirits first post this Final Judgment' (1 Peter 4:5 - 6) ----> as only by MERCY which ENDS that afterlife Judgment Sentence (James 2:13, Romans 11:32) ----> His Ransom for being 'Made Alive Sinless part' (Context: 1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22) applies to the 'Wicked' too as a 'Hope' (Acts 24:15) ---> for their 'spirit' to be given a 'bodily resurrection' as 'spirit + body = spiritual body' (1 Corinthians 15:44) too ---> as that's how He puts away sin by the Sacrifice of Himself by Making them 'sinless' to ALL eventually (Hebrews 9:26, 1 Timothy 2:6) as the 'wicked or the rest of creation' only share this part/area or 'aspect' of the GLORIOUS LIBERTY (from sin, 'decay' or 'vanity' being SINLESS again) as it is Prophesied Majestically toward ALL Creation in 'Birth Pangs' (implying being BORN AGAIN eventually, in Romans 8:22) with Romans 8:20 - 21 (Consecutive Verses, Context).
Final Irrefutable Conclusion
AGE During LIFE to ALL FLESH in John 17:2:
Since NO PROPHECY of Holy Scripture is of any private interpretation, in 'obedience' to 2 Peter 1:20, I see that the following Conclusion matches the 'Sibyline Oracles Prophecy' (as shown in Images – above, prior) PERFECTLY.
"according as Thou didst give to Him authority over all flesh, that -- all that Thou hast given to Him -- He may give to them life age-during;" - Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:2, YLT)
Thus in light of all these Scripture we see that the "age-during life" given to "each of the ALL FLESH" mentioned in this Verse (John 17:2) must mean as follows:
(i) Life age-during in AGE1 onward is given to Sheepfold1 in the FLESH of their SINLESS RESURRECTED BODIES.
(ii) Life age-during in AGE2 onward is given to Sheepfold2 in the FLESH of their SINLESS RESURRECTED BODIES.
(iii) Life age-during in AGE3 onward is given to the formerly-Wicked post Lake of Fire Judgment in the FLESH of their SINLESS RESURRECTED BODIES (implied).
P/S: FLESH refers to a RESURRECTED BODY in these Verses (Context of afterlife and Salvation implies this). For example, the infamous Prophecy by Job that he will see God in the FLESH (or Resurrected Body)
"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my FLESH shall I see God:" (Job 19:26, KJV)
Please note that the 'Sibyline Oracles' is part of an accepted Book both within Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox churches and has NEVER been rejected as false in the entire History of Christianity itself. Either they just didn't understand it or did not believe it fully.
Peace to you
Truly, All Glory to Lord Jesus Christ the Blessed Saviour of ALL MEN! (as Prophesied Beautifully by apostle Paul too in Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 2:4-KJV toward this SAME END as it is described in 1 Timothy 4:10 as well).
"and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;" - apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:32, NASB)
ALL Glory to Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Saviour of the World!
Further Explanation
Please remember that believers are NOT the 'only' ones "given to Him" (as popularly erred in Calvinism, quoting John 6:37) without realizing that ALL [Created] things are GIVEN to Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:35, John 13:3, Luke 10:22) and apostle Paul understood it likewise too (Colossians 1:16 with Colossians 1:20).
Can you see the 'predestined Salvation' of All men eventually as Prophesied elsewhere in 1 Timothy 2:4 and 1 Timothy 4:10 way past any afterlife Judgments?
That's why God's Will is SOVEREIGN and IMMUTABLE and WILL COME TO PASS in its OWN DIVINE-KAIROIS TIMES eventually (1 Timothy 2:6).
Let's not be deceived otherwise.
Now, Who are the "all that the Father doth give to Me will come unto Me" (John 6:37)?
Let Scripture explain Scripture (e.g. Let John 17:2 interpret John 6:37).
Verses:
"all that the Father doth give to Me will come unto Me; and him who is coming unto Me, I may in no wise cast without" - Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:37, YLT)
"according as Thou didst give to Him authority over all flesh, that -- all that Thou hast given to Him -- He may give to them life age-during;" - Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:2, YLT)
where
"All Flesh" = ALL MEN after they are RESURRECTED or MADE ALIVE in CHRIST post afterlife Judgment (1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22).
Please note carefully in John 17:2 & John 6:37, that the similar phrase contained therein means this:
"all that the Father doth give to Me" (John 6:37) = "all that Thou hast given to Him" (John 17:2) = "according as Thou didst give to Him authority over all flesh" (example in the context or subset of ALL FLESH - highlighted, John 17:2) = ALL MEN in the RESURRECTED State (meaning of ALL FLESH, 1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22, Acts 24:15).
Please note that the 'first resurrection of the Wicked' (explained in John 5:28 - 29) is them being raised in a PERISHABLE FLESH (1 Corinthians 15:44) of some sort for JUDGMENT in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11 - 15) ---> where this FIRST RESURRECTED FLESH for JUDGMENT will be DESTROYED with THEIR SINS in the Gehenna Fires of Hades now mingled in the Lake of Fire to form the SECOND DEATH (Revelation 20:14) as the FINAL JUDGMENT toward THE DEAD (1 Peter 4:5) -----> but it doesn't end there as their SPIRIT will LIVE TO GOD post this FINAL JUDGMENT as 1 Peter 4:6 Reveals this Secret.
So, the WICKED DEAD die TWICE (first in their temporal life and a second time in the Lake of Fire) ----> the 'meaning of Second Death' (Revelation 20:11 - 15, 1 Peter 4:5) ------> but will LIVE TO GOD in their SPIRIT-state thereafter as the MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST (1 Corinthians 15:22) part applies in the Context of the Resurrection of the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:21) toward a HOPE of obtaining a SINLESS non-perishable (i. e. IMPERISHABLE Body too, 1 Corinthians 15:50) as Promised to ALL MEN (1 Corinthians 15:42, 1 Corinthians 15:49, 1 Corinthians 15:22) including the WICKED too (Acts 24:15).
Apostle Paul does NOT Write about the Second Death in the Lake of Fire at all in 1 Corinthians because he is focused in the BEYOND the afterlife Judgment-part toward the END result only in that "all men who die in Adam" will be "made alive in Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22, not immediately but post age-during Judgment in the Lake of Fire for some) ----> where "being MADE ALIVE in CHRIST" means in the FLESH of a RESURRECTED IMPERISHABLE SINLESS BODY eventually but with differing glory (1 Corinthians 15:38 - 44).
So, the "age-during life" given to ALL FLESH = ALL MEN eventually as John 17:2 Reveals Beautifully refers to
(i) Believers in Faith of Jesus Christ - Sheepfold1
Believers (John 3:16), Sheepfold1 who "know Him during their temporal life on earth itself" (Definition: John 10:14) or the dead in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 17) obtain the age-during life at the start hour "now is" (John 5:25) in the "Last Day" of this age itself - AGE1 during the "First Resurrection" (Revelation 20:4 - 6) and live onwards without ever dying (Luke 20:35 - 36).
(ii) Believers after Seeing Him (not faith) - Sheepfold2
Those who believe in Him after seeing Him in the afterlife (John 6:40) and are Saved by Lord Jesus Christ there (implied in analogy of John 3:14 - 15) are the righteous in life with good deeds (John 5:28 - 29) who did "NOT know Him during their temporal life on earth prior" (Definition: John 10:16) ----> who obtain the "Second Resurrection toward the righteous" (being raised in a FLESH or RESURRECTED BODY together with the WICKED - same time, as Described in both Daniel 12:2, John 5:28 - 29) -----> after the "1000-year Millennial Reign of Christ with His Bride toward those living on earth at that time is over" (Revelation 20:4 - 6) ----> obtain "age-during life" toward life in AGE2 (Matthew 25:46) onwards ----> post Great White Throne Judgment having been Raised during the last hour or the "hour is coming" (referred to in both John 5:25 and John 5:28 - 29) during this Last Day of AGE1 (John 6:40) having their names Written in the Lamb's Book of Life post Great White Throne of Judgment (Matthew 25:31 - 46, Revelation 20:11 - 15). Before the Resurrection, these live with their 'souls (with spirit)' either in the Blessed afterlife Regions (for the righteous) or in the Punishment regions (for the wicked) as Luke 16:19 - 31 in the story of the "Rich Man and Lazarus reveals". After the Resurrection, one gets to live in the FLESH (soul with spirit or spirit only if soul was destroyed in Gehenna Fire completely for some, Matthew 10:28) ----> gets a BODY (a Bodily Resurrection in a 'spiritual body', 1 Corinthians 15:44) ----> spirit + body = spiritual body = Bodily Resurrection in the FLESH.
Please note carefully that "two sheep folds or sheep pens" are referred to by Lord Jesus Christ in John 10:14 and John 10:16. The Greek Word "Aules" (meaning "pen" or "fold" or "house" or "courtyard" for the sheep) refers to its dwelling place and NOT the sheep itself.
Can you see it?
The popular fallacy of claiming that the "two sheep folds" (John 10:16) refers to "Jewish vs Gentile sheep" is flawed because if true, it means that "Jewish sheep go to a different sheep pen or sheep house than the Gentile sheep" ----> meaning that Jewish and Gentile sheep go to different places in the heavens with their souls after they die plainly contradicting Galatians 3:28 and Ephesians 3:6 in that there is NO AFTERLIFE Distinction between Jewish and Gentile sheep when they die.
Please note that when Lord Jesus Christ meant "sheep fold or sheep pen" (John 10:16), He is referring to the "dwelling place" (or "Home" or "House") of the sheep meaning that it refers to their AFTERLIFE DWELLING PLACES (John 14:2 - 3) and NOT an earthly sheep fold/pen/house in any way because we are 'strangers and pilgrims on earth' having only a HEAVENLY HOME (Hebrews 11:13 - 16).
So, if the sheep are separated into two types based on their AFTERLIFE DWELLING PLACES or "sheep pen/fold/house" -----> then "Sheepfold1" vs "Sheepfold2" go to a 'higher vs lower' blessed afterlife regions (different houses - area) in the AFTERLIFE ----> where Sheepfold1 (John 10:14) KNOW Him (hence any believer in the Faith of Jesus Christ, be it Jew or Gentile, 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 17) while Sheepfold2 (John 10:16) do NOT know Him until they are brought in by Lord Jesus Christ (i. e. Saved in the afterlife, John 3:14 - 15) and only recognize Him after SEEING Him there as their Saviour (John 6:40) being brought into their respective "sheep fold/pen/house" respectively as John 10:16 clearly means.
Lord Jesus Christ makes these two sheep folds into one on Judgment Day (Revelation 20:11 - 15) as both sheep inherit age-during life but His Bride (Sheepfold1) is always 'higher' having lived 1000 years earlier too (Revelation 20:4 - 6).
Sheepfold1 inherits age-during life in AGE1 itself in their RESURRECTED FLESH (as promised "in this time (or last day during the 1000 years Millennial Reign itself - Revelation 20:4 - 6, of this current AGE1)" in Luke 18:30, Mark 10:30) and in the "age to come too (AGE2)" (Luke 18:30, Mark 10:30 - post Judgment Day) while Sheepfold2 only obtains age-during life post Judgment Day (Matthew 25:46) into life in a RESURRECTED BODY or FLESH in AGE2 onwards.
Scripture's Depth and Accuracy is incredible if we take each Verse and phrases contained therein to mean details as we just discussed above.
Please also note that in Matthew 25:31 - 46, some of the righteous are "genuinely surprised" that the Lord considers them having done Good to His Brethren which proves that these must be Sheepfold2 and not Sheepfold1 especially since no Christian would be surprised by it (KNOWING the Lord and His Words).
Also, please note that the Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20:11 - 15) occurs after the 1000 Millennial Reign of Christ (Revelation 20:4 - 6 first) meaning that ---> Sheepfold1 being the only ones having the RESURRECTED in the FLESH with a PERFECT IMMORTAL GLORIOUS BODY to "live on earth" (Luke 20:35 - 36) alongside "mortals" too prior (e. g. Isaiah 65:20) ----> surely MUST KNOW that the "Second Death" cannot harm them in any way (Revelation 20:6) -----> and thus Sheepfold1 CANNOT be hypocritically "surprised" to realize that their names are in the Book of Life (as Matthew 25:37 - 39 mentions these 'surprised sheep') because they have already reigned with Christ 1000 years earlier (Revelation 20:5) and thus must surely know that their names are in the Book of Life!
Best proof of Sheepfold2 is by the Mouth of our Blessed Savior Himself Who Declares that this Second Resurrection (John 5:28 - 29) which refers to both the wicked + righteous raised at the 'same time, simultaneously hence it cannot be the First Resurrection (Revelation 20:5, Daniel 12:2)' ------> consists of the Sheepfold2 referring to "those who did GOOD DEEDS" (please note this phrase carefully in John 5:28 - 29) and NOTHING is mentioned regarding "faith in Christ or believing in Him prior in these Verses" (let's not add to His Blessed Words) ----> agreeing to apostle Paul's Judgment Day Description in Romans 2 where he also does NOT mention any Judgment with regard to 'faith in Christ or believing prior in their temporal life' (Romans 2:5, Romans 2:16, Romans 2:6) but only a Final Judgment based on GOOD WORKS toward these (Romans 2:7) as it is Written agreeing to all this.
(iii) The Wicked
The phrase "those who don't obey the truth" (Romans 2:8) refers NOT to 'faith in Christ or believing prior in their temporal life' ----> as nowhere in Romans 2 it is linked to that ---> but rather it refers to "WHATEVER GOOD DEEDS vs BAD DEEDS" (Romans 2:6) which matches or is against God's Law accordingly (Romans 2:12 - 13) as Verses below Describe too:
"For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the [Judgment] Day when, according to my Gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus." - apostle Paul (Romans 2:14 - 16, NASB)
[Emphasis Mine]
The believing vs not believing Judgment-part is from the time now till before the Final Great White Throne of Judgment. Can you see it?
The Verse in Romans 2:6 makes it clear that this Final Judgment is based on what one did only and those who have believed in Him (Sheepfold1 in faith - 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 17 while Sheepfold2 after seeing Him in the afterlife-John 6:40) are 'safe on Judgment Day' -----> where the WICKED who refused to believe Him and have done abominable deeds will find themselves in the Lake of Fire first (Romans 2:9, Revelation 20:15, Revelation 21:8).
Please note that some of the wicked will not be forgiven till the next age (AGE2) as it is WARNED in Verse below (please do NOT utter things against His Holy Spirit - I implore you):
"Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age [AGE1] or in the age to come [AGE2]." - Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:32, NASB)
The Lake of Fire Sentence is to the "age to come [AGE2]" because Judgment Day occurs on His Throne on this Last Day of this AGE [AGE1, i.e. AGE1 is OVER by then, Matthew 25:31 & Revelation 20:11 for this Context first):
"And these [wicked] shall go away to punishment age-during [in AGE2], but the righteous to life age-during [in AGE2]." - Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:46, YLT)
There are "ages [plural] to come" referring to 'AGE2 and AGE3 at least' because 'future ages cannot refer to the current age' [AGE1, excluding this age] as it is revealed in Verse below:
"so that in the ages to come [AGE2, AGE3, ...] He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:7, NASB)
Thus since the MAXIMUM Judgment Sentence is till AGE2 (Matthew 12:32, Matthew 25:46) as per Verses above, the HOPE for the RESURRECTION of the DEAD for the WICKED (Acts 24:15) to be MADE ALIVE in CHRIST (1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22) must this happen in AGE3 onward as the 'three ages Mystery regarding the Salvation of All Men may be referred to in Verse below':
"He [Lord Jesus Christ] spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened." (Matthew 13:33, NASB)
Where, leaven = Christ's Leaven is SALVATION
three pecks = Three AGES
flour = All MEN
all leavened = ALL [Men] SAVED
Regardless if the parable above refers to this interpretation or not, the remaining wicked men (now not wicked anymore post Lake of Fire Judgment in AGE2) ---> MUST be SAVED (as per Acts 4:12 and stronger Verses stating this Fact Plainly such as 1 Timothy 2:4-KJV, Titus 2:11 even believers contrasted as a special subset to which God Saves ALL MEN eventually is mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:10 too, Romans 5:18 - 19 as well) as His MERCY Triumphs and ENDS any afterlife Judgment Sentence (even if it's the 'eternal Hell Sentence') as it is Mentioned in James 2:13. God does NOT Change from His Perfect Principles Revealed in Holy Scripture.
Consider also these Verses regarding ALL FLESH PROPHETICALLY Written toward this END [Please note the word ALL FLESH carefully in each Verse]:
"And they shall go forth, and look upon the CARCASSES of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto ALL FLESH." (Isaiah 66:24, KJV)
"according as Thou didst give to Him authority over ALL FLESH, that -- all that Thou hast given to Him -- He may give to them life age-during;" - Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:2, YLT)
"And ALL FLESH shall see the Salvation of God." (Luke 3:6, KJV)
"And the Glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and ALL FLESH shall see it together: for the Mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." (Isaiah 40:5, KJV)
What do these Verses mean?
So these Verses imply that ALL FLESH (in their Respective IMPERISHABLE - SINLESS Resurrected Bodies - 1 Corinthians 15:42, 1 Corinthians 15:50, being Made Alive by Christ eventually in the END, 1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22) ----> will EXPERIENCE God's Salvation because:
1) CARCASSES ONLY
CARCASSES = Dead Body with NO SOUL and NO SPIRIT (hence NO Conscious Torment remains)
"CARCASSES of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched" (Isaiah 66:24) = Eventually in this Fire that is NOT quenched ONLY the LIFELESS Dead Bodies remain with NO SOUL and NO SPIRIT of any man being DESTROYED because SIN DWELT there (refers to the absolute destruction of the bodies which contained sin).
2) SPIRIT lives to God post Lake of Fire Judgment
What happened to their 'soul and spirit'?
As Explained prior, in the Lake of Fire which contains the Fires of Gehenna (from Hades, Revelation 20:14) ---> causes the Second Death toward the BODY + SOUL only belonging to these WICKED (Matthew 10:28) ---> Man is made up of Body + Soul + Spirit distinctly though there may be overlaps (1 Thessalonians 5:23 reveals this distinction) ---->so the wicked is Resurrected in a PERISHABLE FLESH first for JUDGMENT in the LAKE of FIRE which is DESTROYED, hence perishable (John 5:28 - 29) ---> but their SPIRIT is SAVED because it LIVES to GOD after this Judgment in the Lake of Fire (1 Peter 4:6).
This SPIRIT may be given a SPIRITUAL BODY (1 Corinthians 15:44) as the General Context of the Resurrection of the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:21) applies toward ALL MEN eventually (1 Corinthians 15:49) in their 'own order (or time, implied in 1 Corinthians 15:23)' as the HOPE for the Wicked too (Acts 24:15) toward this END for ALL MEN to be MADE ALIVE by CHRIST (1 Corinthians 15:22).
MADE ALIVE by CHRIST (1 Corinthians 15:22) = In an Imperishable Sinless Body (1 Corinthians 15:42, 1 Corinthians 15:50).
Is there Hope beyond the Lake of Fire as Described Earlier? Yes, to quote:
Reconciliation from the Lake of Fire is Prophetically mentioned in the Mysterious Verse below (after their Judgment first in the Lake of Fire, 'their part' in Revelation 21:8):
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” (Revelation 22:17, NASB)
Please note that the ‘Bride’ (His Church, believers) are calling out to the “thirsty” ones (from the ‘lake of Fire’, post Judgment) to be ‘relieved of their thirst’ (as ONLY those being punished in the Lake of Fire can feel thirsty, right?). Believers can never thirst in the afterlife (John 6:35, John 4:14) and thus cannot be the ones referred to in the verse above (Revelation 22:17) especially since 'all believers of faith' are His BRIDE (mentioned distinctly in Revelation 22:17).
3) ALL FLESH together = ALL MANKIND in their IMPERISHABLE RESURRECTED BODIES of differing Glory accordingly (1 Corinthians 15:35 - 49)
Hence the quoted Verses referring to ALL FLESH (all men ever created being in their respective resurrected bodies) SEE the SALVATION of God and in Isaiah 66:24 ---> some of them also look at their FORMER CARCASS or DEAD BODY in sin being destroyed in the 'unquenchable Lake of Fire' ---> they 'loathe their past self in that body' (because now they are SAVED in an IMPERISHABLE Resurrected Body HATING SIN too) as it is PROPHETICALLY Revealed in Verses above agreeing in PRINCIPLE in Verse below (toward such amongst these):
"Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations." (Ezekiel 36:31, NASB)
So, Isaiah 66:24 must refer PROPHETICALLY to somewhere a Time in AGE3 because only then ALL FLESH (All Mankind ever Created are SAVED being Resurrected in an Imperishable Sinless Body too). Deep, isn't it?
The Word of the LORD is Such (Deep and 'a little here, a little there'):
"To whom would He teach knowledge,
And to whom would He interpret the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just taken from the breast?
“For He says,
‘Order on order, order on order,
Line on line, line on line,
A little here, a little there.’” (Isaiah 28:9 - 10, NASB)
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More Details, Please consider the Write Up below too:
Gehenna - Is there Hope beyond it?
Firstly, note that both the 70AD and 587BC events are true and represent the 'earthly shadow' of Gehenna but NOT the actual spiritual reality of Gehenna which is the Lake of Fire (in Principle of Hebrews 10:1, Colossians 2:17, John 1:45, Luke 24:44, Luke 24:27).
So, to speak of half of it (e. g. The 70AD Theory) is to know a half truth but missing out on the deeper spiritual reality spoken of in Holy Scripture.
Let's begin, from an earlier write up:
Secrets from the Wise Jews may be seen as follows:
(i) What’s the Difference between Gehenna and Sheol (Hades)?
To quote (Page 34):
“Hanhart (1966:32) states that according to Jeremias, however, it is fundamental
for our understanding of the New Testament to make a sharp distinction between Hades
and Gehenna.
Hades is used exclusively for the interim period, Gehenna on the other side
for a state of punishment after the last judgment. In Hades, the punishment is provisional, in Gehenna eternal.”
Source: https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/gehenna-is-salvation-possible-from-gehenna/
To quote further:
The ancient Aramaic paraphrase-translations of the Hebrew Bible known as Targums supply the term “Gehinnom” frequently to verses touching upon resurrection, judgment, and the fate of the wicked. This may also include addition of the phrase “second death”, as in the final chapter of the Book of Isaiah, where the Hebrew version does not mention either Gehinnom or the Second Death, whereas the Targums add both. In this the Targums are parallel to the Gospel of Mark addition of “Gehenna” to the quotation of the Isaiah verses describing the corpses “where their worm does not die”.[20]
Example – Rabbinical Judaism
The picture of Gehenna as the place of punishment or destruction of the wicked occurs frequently in the Mishnah in Kiddushin 4.14, Avot 1.5; 5.19, 20, Tosefta t. Bereshith 6.15, and Babylonian Talmud b.Rosh Hashanah 16b:7a; b. Bereshith 28b. Gehenna is considered a Purgatory-like place where the wicked go to suffer until they have atoned for their sins. It is stated that the maximum amount of time a sinner can spend in Gehenna is one year. There are also four people who do not get a share in Olam Ha-Ba.[21] Those people are Doeg the Edomite, Ahitophel, Balaam, and Gehazi.
Source:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gehenna
(vi) If their concept of Gehenna is wrong, Christ wouldn’t have mentioned it.
But does it mean that Rabbinical Judaism got the facts regarding Gehenna right?
The Rabbinical writings contain some truth but they missed some part of it.
That’s why when Lord Jesus Christ spoke of Gehenna, He is referring to what they know but corrected their understanding of it and revealed more details as it is Written in New Testament verses.
Some ‘secrets’ regarding Gehenna in the Context of Universal Reconciliation in Christ (Colossians 1:16, Colossians 1:20) may only be known through His Prophets (or Saints) as Amos 3:7 mentions in New Testament times (Colossians 1:26). Yes, the secrets revealed in New Testament times includes the fact that the ‘Gentiles are co-heirs in Christ’ (Colossians 1:27) and that God Will Reconcile All Created things (Colossians 1:16) back to Himself too eventually (Colossians 1:20) as the Context of Consecutive Verses in Colossians implies irrefutably as it is Written Majestically in Holy Scripture as well.
Source:
There is there Hope beyond Gehenna as it is even mentioned in Rabbinical Judaism similar to the Sibyline Oracles Prophecy too, to quote:
To quote (Page 38):
“Bernard (1915:290) quotes two passages from the Bereshith Rabba to show that this idea was prominent in Jewish literature. He is, however, unsure of the dating of the literature.
Nevertheless, it still demonstrates the basic purpose of the descent:
‘When they are bound, they that are in Gehinnom, saw the light of the Messiah, they
rejoiced to receive him’; and ‘This is that which stands written, We shall rejoice and exult thee.
When?
When the captives climb out of hell, and the Shechinah at their head.’
The only difference here is that the captives are in Gehinnom and not Sheol.”
P/S:
Source for both Quotes are from this phD Dissertation (link below, please read it). Indeed, the phD thesis I referred to may be found in link below:
https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/27130/dissertation.pdf?sequence=1
Here’s a Word of Wisdom when reading such ‘Research’:
‘Focus on their facts, and not their interpretation or acceptation of it’
Peace to you
All Men - All Humanity?
Sometimes the answers are in Verses we have never seen before. Example (a Prophetic Psalm below concerning ALL MEN - 'Context'):
"O You who hear prayer, to You ALL MEN come. Iniquities prevail against me; as for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, You FORGIVE them." (Psalm 65:2 - 3, NASB)
"O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall ALL FLESH come; Iniquities prevail against me: as for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, Thou shalt PURGE them AWAY." (Psalm 65:2 - 3, KJV)
"Hearer of prayer, to Thee ALL FLESH cometh. Matters of iniquities were mightier than I, OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, — Thou dost COVER THEM." (Psalm 65:2 - 3, YLT)
"O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee doth ALL FLESH come. The tale of iniquities is too heavy for me; As for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, Thou wilt PARDON them." (Psalm 65:3 - 4, JPS Tanakh 1917)
ALL FLESH = ALL MEN = ALL HUMANITY in their 'Resurrected Sinless Bodies eventually'. Remember the discussions regarding it in other posts (example the one below, in regards to this with respect to AGE1, AGE2 and AGE3)?
Peace to you
https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/lake-of-fire-death-and-hades-second-death-last-things/
Yes, God does NOT Change. He NEVER Changed.
P/S: The 'Worm that Dieth Not'
A Preterist View is limited to the earthly mirror only (Principle of Hebrews 10:1, Colossians 2:17).
For example, by quoting Isaiah 66:24 in 'regards to the Worm that Dieth not' & linking it to the 70AD Timeline, the Preterist View 'misses' the 'New Heavens & New Earth' (Context of Timeline, Isaiah 66:22, Revelation 21:1) and the entire exegesis does NOT fit in the right Timeline in regards to the 'actual prophecy' meant which is the 'Lake of Fire' (Gehenna).
Too much to explain here, please consider the two posts below (the first discusses the Sabbath Relevance in regards to the Salvation of All Men while the Second Discusses further into the Details as how the Modus Operandi of the Last Prophecy regarding the Lake of Fire can be understood in the Context of the Salvation All Men using ancient Christian-Judaism texts).
Peace to you
1) https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/tithing-and-sabbaths-for-gentile-believers/
2) https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/lake-of-fire-death-and-hades-second-death-last-things/
Justin, Iraneous and Polycarp - Eternal Hell, Annihilation or Universal Restoration?
Introduction
The writings of Justin, Iraneous and Polycarp are the most reliable early church writings which are respected and accepted by all churches in general.
Now, which view of Hell did they teach - Eternal Hell, Annihilation or Universal Restoration?
The Problem with Christian websites quoting them to 'prove the same stance with them' often do it in English hence NOT letting you see the 'actual' Greek Word used in their writings. The common word in their writings is the same Greek Word use for punishment in the New Testament (e.g. Matthew 25:46, Jude 1:7), namely "aion" or "eon" (noun or adjective) meaning 'age-during literally' (a singular age, as there are plural-ages to come too proving this distinction irrefutably, e. g. Ephesians 2:7).
Example (you don't need to be a Greek Scholar to study a single word aion-eon and its derivations):
"If we do the will of Christ, we shall obtain rest; but if not, if we neglect his commandments, nothing will rescue us from eternal [age-during] punishment" (Second Clement 5:5, 150AD).
Can you see it? There's a dilemma in the translation as whether 'eternal punishment' or 'age-during punishment' is referred to in the above since Clement of Rome (in the above) must have used the 'same' phraseology of 'aionion kolasin' in Greek (Matthew 25:456 or equivalent) agreeing with New Testament (NT) Inspired Writings.
Here's a serious question to ponder (which may explain 'why' this analysis is important or are we wasting our time ---> One of the 10 Commandments mentions that we should NOT bear a false witness, and hence after reading this brief write up, please decide the danger as to whether we have interpreted them & their doctrine correctly or have erred as per the Latin fathers of the Church, where the Greek fathers such as Clement of Alexandria seem to to point to a different understanding using these 'same phraseology' too [during the parallel Timeline next, e.g. Tertullian vs Clement of Alexandria] - Shocking, isn't it?)
Another Example:
Eternal Hell/Annihilation Theologians may quote:
"Theophilus of Antioch, 181AD "Give studious attention to the prophetic writings [the Bible] and they will lead you on a clearer path to escape the eternal [age-during] punishments and to obtain the eternal [age-during] good things of God.. [God] will examine everything and will judge justly, granting recompense to each according to merit. To those who seek immortality by the patient exercise of good works, he will give everlasting life, joy, peace, rest, and all good things.. For the unbelievers and for the contemptuous, and for those who do not submit to the truth but assent to iniquity, when they have been involved in adulteries, and fornications, and homosexualities, and avarice, and in lawless idolatries, there will be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish; and in the end, such men as these will be detained in everlasting [age-during] fire" (To Autolycus 1:14)
[Emphasis Mine throughout this Writing]
Please note that the Greek Word for 'Immortality or Incorruptibility' (e.g. in 1 Corinthians 15) as it is found in quote above too has NEVER been used to describe the duration of any 'afterlife Judgment' in the Bible and is NOT from the Greek Word "Aion or Eon" proving further distinction on the 'fine details' (in case you didn't realize this well known fact).
What is the "[age-during, and NOT eternal] good things of God" which is mentioned in the above?
It refers to the Coming First Resurrection to live in this Renewed Old Earth under this present Old Heavens (Revelation 20:4 - 6) during His Millennial Reign for 1000 years. This Reign is NOT eternal and the good things from this OLD earth is NOT eternal since at the end of this age (after the 1000 years are up), the Great White Throne of Judgment takes place next (Revelation 20:11 - 15) and thereafter a NEW heaven and a NEW earth with NO sea too will be made for us to dwell (Revelation 21:1).
Holy Scripture itself proves the existence of 'non eternal but age-during good things which last to the end of this current age only in the OLD earth & OLD heavens' (2 Corinthians 4:18) because that's the 'first reward' we receive upon the 'Resurrection of the Just' during the 1000 year Millennial Reign of Christ. Even St. Iraneous explained this distinction in 'against Heresies' that the 'General Resurrection' (Chapter 35, Daniel 12:2, John 5:28 - 29) is 1000 years later than this 'First Resurrection' (called the 'times of the kingdom', Chapter 34, Revelation 20:4 - 6) proving distinction though he did not go into much details for the 'General Resurrection'. To quote:
(i) First Resurrection (Revelation 20:4 - 6, 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 17)
"Again John also says the very same in the Apocalypse: "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the FIRST RESURRECTION." Then, too, Isaiah has declared the TIME when THESE EVENTS shall OCCUR; he says: "And I said, Lord, how long? Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses be without men, and the earth be left a desert. And after these things the Lord shall remove us men far away (longe nos faciet Deus homines), and those who shall remain shall multiply upon the earth." Then Daniel also says this very thing: "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of those under the heaven, is given to the saints of the Most High God, whose kingdom is everlasting [age-during till the end of this age during the LAST DAY for 1000 years, Daniel 7:27], and all dominions shall serve and obey Him." And lest the promise named should be understood as referring to this time, it was declared to the prophet: "And come thou, and stand in thy lot at the consummation of the days." - (Iraneous, Against Heresies, Book 5, Chapter 34:2)
(ii) General Resurrection (Daniel 12:2, John 5:28 - 29)
The GENERAL RESURRECTION is only AFTER the TIMES of the KINGDOM (1000 years Millennial Reign for the 'First Resurrection') toward the NEW Earth
"And in the Apocalypse John saw this new [Jerusalem] descending upon the NEW earth. For AFTER the TIMES of the KINGDOM, he says, "I saw a Great White Throne, and Him who sat upon it, from whose face the [OLD] earth fled away, and the [OLD] heavens; and there was no more place for them." And he sets forth, too, the things connected with the GENERAL RESURRECTION and the judgment, mentioning "the dead, great and small." ... Lake of Fire, the second death." Now this is what is called Gehenna, which the Lord styled eternal [age-during] fire. "And if any one," it is said, "was not found written in the book of life, he was sent into the lake of fire."... "For there shall be a NEW heaven and a NEW earth; and there shall be NO remembrance of the FORMER, neither shall the heart think about them, but they shall find in it joy and exultation." Now this is what has been said by the apostle: "For the fashion of this world passeth away." To the same purpose did the Lord also declare, "[OLD] Heaven and [OLD] earth shall PASS AWAY." When these things, therefore, pass away above the earth, John, the Lord's disciple, says that the new [426-427] Jerusalem above shall [then] descend, as a bride adorned for her husband; and that this is the tabernacle of God, in which God will dwell with men. Of this Jerusalem the former one is an image-that Jerusalem of the former earth in which the righteous are disciplined beforehand for incorruption and prepared for salvation." - (Iraneous, Against Heresies, Book 5, Chapter 35:2)
Please note that in the above that there are 'two Jerusalems' spoken of namely that the 'earthly Jerusalem' (Image, Shadow on the OLD Earth during the 1000 Millennial Reign of Christ) vs the 'Jerusalem from above' (Galatians 4:26, Revelation 21:2, Actual - Substance in Christ) which descends upon the NEW Earth only (Revelation 21:1, consecutive Verse prior) proving the exegesis Principle of Hebrews 10:1 and Colossians 2:17 via Iraneous own writing above.
How do we know that the "everlasting fire" in the earlier quote by Theophilus is more accurately "age-during fire" since it must use the same Greek Phrase in NT (say in Matthew 18:8)? Because Theophilus of Antioch also wrote the below (hardly quoted by any eternal Hell/annihilation theologians, though they know that such a quote exists - a Universalist Quote):
"And God showed great kindness to man, in this, that He did not suffer him to continue being in sin forever; but as it were, by a kind of banishement, cast him out of paradise in order that, having punishment expiated within an appointed time, and having been disciplined, he should afterwards be recalled...just as a vessel, when one being fashioned it has some flaw, is remoulded or remade that it may become new and entire; so also it happens to man by death. For he is broken up by force, that in the resurrection he may be found whole; I mean spotless, righteous and immortal. --Theophilus of Antioch (168 A.D.)
Source:
http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/churchfathersquotes.htm
This Proves that Theophilus of Antioch did NOT understand 'age-during punishment' as 'forever' but 'only till the last penny' within the 'appointed time period of an age'.
In the Bible, we know that the 'aiōniou fire' in Jude 1:7 toward Sodom is NOT eternal since the Bible also Prophesies a Restoration toward the 'fallen Sodom' in Ezekiel 16:53 (as per the 'fallen Israel' - Context of Ezekiel 16 which will be Restored too till 'all Israel are Saved from their sins as well' - Romans 11:26 - 27 in regards to this Mystery or Secret of Judgment, Romans 11:25, in Principle of the RESTORATION of ALL THINGS, and 'not Israel or believing things only' as it is Majestically Prophesied in Acts 3:21).
Apostle Paul echoes a Triumph of Mercy ending Judgment likewise as the Final Word (Last Word of Judgment) in Conclusion in Romans 11:32 toward 'ALL the Disobedient (NASB)' or 'ALL in Unbelief (KJV)' too. So, [all afterlife] Judgment must be understood in the Context of the Mystery or Secret (Romans 11:25) of MERCY Triumphing or Rejoicing against Judgment (e.g. 'ALL Israel will eventually be SAVED from their SINS too' - Romans 11:26 - 27), ending the Judgment Sentence as 'the gift & calling of God is Irrevocable' (Romans 11:29) as even apostle James echoed similarly 'that an [afterlife] Judgment without Mercy must be endured first before this happens' in James 2:13 (agreeing with the Sibyline Oracles and Shepherd of Hermas too as we have seen in earlier posts).
Let's focus more on Justin, Iraneous and Polycarp as the views of others are 'later' and may not matter much as the 'earliest ones take precedence'. It is very easy to 'misunderstand' what they wrote without considering 'all that they wrote' as it will be demonstrated here. All quotes of 'Hell' are from the link below (unless specified otherwise):
http://www.bible.ca/H-hell.htm
"155 AD The Martyrdom of Polycarp "Fixing their minds on the Grace of Christ, [the martyrs] despised worldly tortures and purchased eternal [age-during] life with but a single hour. To them, the fire of their cruel torturers was cold. They kept before their eyes their escape from the eternal [age-during] and unquenchable fire" (Martyrdom of Polycarp 2:3)."
So, you may decide in the end whether they meant say 'eternal punishment' or 'age-during punishment' after reading this write up in full please (before deciding anything), I implore thee, thank you. Let's Begin.
Is there a Difference of Inheritance in the Heavens?
Yes, even for the righteous there is a distinction of inheritance.
Before that, please consider a famous fallacy arising from NOT understanding the definition of 'heaven' in the following quote (often used to prove 'soul sleep'):
"For if you have fallen in with some who are called Christians, but who do not admit this [truth], and venture to blaspheme the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; who say there is no resurrection of the dead, and that their souls, when they die, are taken to heaven; do not imagine that they are Christians." – Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Trypho, 80:9)
What did Justin mean when he says "... who say ...their souls, when they die, are taken to heaven; do not imagine that they are Christians?
Doesn't that plainly contradict Luke 16:19 - 31?
Not really. What Justin Martyr means as heaven is far more complex than 'what we assume' to be. Firstly, Luke 16:19 - 31 mentions of "Paradise" into which the "souls of the righteous go" and NOT heaven. Yes, "heaven" and "Paradise" are different as the Writings of Iraneous & even Papias reveal below (and Justin must be speaking from this 'same knowledge too'):
Yes, this definition of 'heaven(s)' may be more complex than usually assumed, to quote:
'A fragment from the early 2nd century of one of the lost volumes of Papias, a Christian bishop, expounds that "heaven" was separated into three distinct layers. He referred to the first as just "heaven", the second as "paradise", and the third as "the city". Papias taught that "there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce a hundredfold, and that of those who produce sixty-fold, and that of those who produce thirty-fold' (Papias, Fagments 5:1)
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_in_Christianity
This explanation is further proven True as Lord Jesus Christ went to "Paradise" on the "same" Day He Died with His SOUL (Disproving the Soul Sleep Theory that His Soul Slept in the Grave for Three Days, Luke 23:43) but after He Resurrected Gloriously, i.e. Three Days later, He Ascended to the Father in a RESURRECTED BODY into the "Heavens" eventually (John 20:17, Mark 16:19, Acts 1:2 - 3, Acts 1:9 - 11, Ephesians 4:9 - 10).
This means that when we die, as Christians, with 'our soul we will enter Paradise' immediately (as per Luke 16:19 - 31) and await the 'redemption of the body' (Romans 8:23) to enter 'heaven' later when He Returns during the First Resurrection (Revelation 20:4 - 6). Yes, a soul with spirit can live in the afterlife abodes or regions such as 'Abraham's Bosom' or Paradise (Luke 16:19 - 31, Revelation 6:10) or be gathered in the New Jerusalem City for the Wedding (Galatians 4:26, Revelation 21:2, Revelation 19:7 - 9) but to 'live on earth again or to enter higher into the heavens', we need to partake of the Resurrection First (Revelation 20:4 - 6, Hebrews 11:39 - 40, Hebrews 12:21 - 24).
Example:
"we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." - apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 5:8, NASB)
So, the phrases in Verse above may mean as follows:
'absent from the body' = Bodily Death = Soul with Spirit separates from the Body where the latter sleeps in the dust of the earth.
'to be at home with the Lord' = Soul with Spirit enters the abodes of the righteous
The 'Unconscious' Part of being 'dead' refers to the 'body primarily' and in the context of NOT knowing anything that is 'done under the sun' (earthly context - not speaking of afterlife unconsciousness in Ecclesiastes itself). Example of a good post explaining this, please consider:
Please note that the Twenty Four Elders may be in the Heavens (in the Throne Room of God Itself, Revelation 4:4, Revelation 4:10, Revelation 11:16, Revelation 19:4) because these may be the WORTHY SAINTS of the past who may already obtained their RESURRECTION in the BODY just 'after' Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:52 - 53) who may be the ones that 'sit on the thrones' during the First Resurrection for Christians itself (Revelation 20:4 - 6).
Please note 'carefully' that we explained earlier how St. Iraneous when speaking of the wicked must have meant the following (where most of our popular theological misunderstanding is due to viewing body, soul & spirit with no distinction or mixing these up causing contradictions in such exegesis):
(1) Conscious Punishment and Annihilation
The Annihilation part is usually signified by phrases such as 'cease to exist' or 'to the end' or 'die' or 'death' while the Conscious Torment part is signified by 'phrases describing the suffering or agony'.
What suffers and is annihilated eventually?
The 'Body + Soul' of the Wicked ---> Suffers in accordance to one's own sins first (Galatians 6:7, Isaiah 3:11) and then are annihilated or 'cease to exist' later (Matthew 10:28); and NOT the spirit which lives to God thereafter post afterlife Judgment (1 Peter 4:5 - 6).
Example quotes which actually refer to the BODY or SOUL or BOTH to be ANNIHILATED as per Matthew 10:28 - Biblical Ground:
"our interests are in jeopardy,-the salvation, I mean, of your SOULS; and unless you give yourselves to seek to know the Supreme God, a cruel death awaits you when freed from the bonds of body, not bringing sudden ANNIHILATION, but destroying by the bitterness of its grievous and long-protracted punishment" - (Arnobius' second book of Against the Heathen, 330 AD)
Note: "... SOULS ... cruel death ... ANNIHILATION..."
"The way of darkness is crooked, and it is full of cursing. It is the way of eternal death with punishment." (Pseudo-Barnabas, c. 70-130 AD)
Note: "... eternal [age-during?] death ..." (where the SOUL dies, Ezekiel 18:20).
"You should fear what is truly death, which is reserved for those who will be condemned to the eternal fire. It will afflict those who are committed to it even to the end." (Letter to Diognetus, c. 125-200)
Note: "... fear what is truly death... eternal [age-during] fire ... afflict ... even to the end" (the word 'end' refers to the 'true death' or ceasing to exist part of the Body + Soul in the 'age-during fire').
"Sinners will be consumed because they sinned and did not repent." (Shepherd of Hermas, c. 150)
Note: "Sinners ... CONSUMED ..." (refers to the Body + Soul ceasing to exist).
"Those who have not known God and do evil are condemned to death. However, those who have known God and have seen his mighty works, but still continue in evil, will be chastised doubly, and will die forever." (Shepherd of Hermas, c. 150)
Note: " ... chastised doubly ... die forever [to the age?]" (refers to the level of punishment received and the word 'die' refers to 'body + soul' which endures these punishments to cease to exist).
"We believe...that every man will suffer punishment in eternal fire according to the merits of his deed. ... Sensation remains to all who have ever lived, and eternal punishment is laid up." (Justin Martyr, c. 160)
Note: "... punishment in eternal [age-during] fire according to the merits of his deed ..." (refers to the wicked receiving back according to what they have sown only, Galatians 6:7).
"Hell [Gehenna] is a place where those who have lived wickedly are to be punished." (Justin Martyr, c. 160)
Note: Gehenna as the Lake of Fire definition (refuting the earthly mirror only claim by the 70AD and 587BC proponents or equivalent).
"Some are sent to be punished unceasingly into judgment and condemnation of fire." (Justin Martyr, c. 160)
Note: "... punished unceasingly into judgment..." (refers to the continual nature of the punishment in that there is NO rest day or night when it takes place - not hinting on the duration of the entire punishment which is to the age as Verses and other quotes clearly prove).
"We are persuaded that when we are removed from the present life we will live another life, better than the present one...or, if they fall with the rest, they will endure a worse life, one in fire. For God has not made us as sheep or beasts of burden, who are mere by-products. For animals perish and are annihilated. On these grounds, it is not likely that we would wish to do evil." (Athenagoras, c. 175)
Note: " ... worse life, one in fire ... For animals perish and are annihilated... we would wish to do evil" (Points to the meaning of 'perish' in the context of being 'annihilated' where animals cease to exist entirely, hinting on the 'body + soul' of the wicked ceasing to exist entirely as well after Judgment in 'fire', echoed in analogy toward those who wish to continue in 'doing evil').
"Eternal fire is prepared for sinners. The Lord has plainly declared this and the rest of the Scriptures demonstrate it." (Irenaeus, c. 180)
Note: "Eternal fire ... rest of the Scriptures demonstrate it" (Points to the Usage of Scripture to understand its meaning, for example the 'eternal fire' in Jude 1:7 is not forever as Sodom is Promised to be Restored later too, Ezekiel 16:53 pointing it to mean 'age-during more accurately').
"All souls are immortal, even those of the wicked. Yet, it would be better for them if they were not deathless. For they are punished with the endless vengeance of quenchless fire. Since they do not die, it is impossible for them to have an end put to their misery." (Clement of Alexandria, c. 195; from a post-Nicene manuscript fragment)
Note: The Post Nicene Era (325AD - 451AD) copyist fragment of Clement of Alexandria (150AD - 215 AD) above if true, has an error namely that 'souls are not immortal' as these can be destroyed in Gehenna or Lake of Fire (Matthew 10:28).
Probably Clement was beginning an argument as to the common Greek assumption that 'souls are immortal' and illustrating the point (or contradiction) above of which we only have a 'fragment of it'. In other words, Clement could be pointing out the error that by 'assuming that the souls of the wicked are immortal', then the implication is that 'Since they do not die, it is impossible for them to have an end put to their misery'. Hence, the conclusion must be that the SOULS of the WICKED are NOT Immortal but can be DESTROYED (as per Matthew 10:28 - proving again that God is Good in Destroying these Souls of the Wicked so that He can raise their 'spirit' up to new life as explained in the Restoration Part next).
Here are 'other Fragment Writings belonging to Clement of Alexandria' which Proves that He did NOT teach an 'Immortal Soul Concept' as per the Greeks, to quote:
"... For He said again, that the SOUL never returns a second time to the body in this life; and that which has become ANGELIC does not become unrighteous or evil, so as not to have the opportunity of again sinning by the assumption of flesh; but that in the RESURRECTION the SOUL returns to the BODY, and both are joined to one another according to their peculiar nature, adapting themselves, through the composition of each, by a kind of congruity like a building of stones... SALVATION of your SOULS. Hence it appears that the SOUL is NOT naturally IMMORTAL; but is made immortal by the Grace of God..." (Clement of Alexandria, Fragments)
Source: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/clement-fragments.html
So, the fragment above appears to agree with the explanation given earlier in that Clement sees that the SOUL itself needs SALVATION and hence if the wicked have immortal souls by nature, it is impossible for them to have an end to their misery (and hence the converse must be true, in that the wicked must have non-immortal souls which is for their good as they can be 'made new' post 'destruction'). Also, the only way a SOUL can be IMMORTAL (as it is with the case of Christians) is that it may be SAVED by the Grace of God making it 'sinless' or as Clement says, 'angelic'.
The earlier quote also does NOT agree to Clement's Universalist quotes which questions its reliability such as (from the same source above):
"Ver. 2. "And not only for our sins,"--that is for those of the faithful,--is the Lord the propitiator, does he say, "but also for the whole world." He, indeed, SAVES ALL; but some [He saves], converting them by punishments; others, however, who follow voluntarily [He saves] with dignity of honour; so "that every knee should bow to Him, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth;" that is, angels, men, and souls that before His advent have departed from this temporal life." (Clement of Alexandria, Fragments)
How about St. Iraneous regarding refuting the Soul Sleep heresy & revealing more in his writings than often understood?
The Logic is simple: It CANNOT be that the ‘modern scholarship’ discovers a type of exegesis NOT found amongst the earliest Christianity. If two opposing ideas are found, I make a choice based on ‘which is earlier’ and also ‘which authority of Doctrine’ is quoted from the early church period too especially in regards to ‘accepted’ Writings (non-rejected by both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches) such as the Shepherd of Hermas, Sibyline Oracles and even the Writings of St. Iraneous of Lyons too. Perhaps they didn’t quite ‘fully understand’ the Mystery found in these Texts, for example:
(a) St. Iraneous of Lyons Explains that there is NO ‘soul sleep’ as the Example of Lord Jesus Christ also Proves:
“If, then, the Lord observed the law of the dead, that He might become the first-begotten from the dead, and tarried until the third day “in the lower parts of the earth” [Eph. 4:9] ; then afterwards rising in the flesh, so that He even showed the print of the nails to His disciples [John 20:20, 27], He thus ascended to the Father; [if all these things occurred, I say], how must these men not be put to confusion, who allege that “the lower parts” refer to this world of ours, but that their inner man, leaving the body here, ascends into the super-celestial place? For as the Lord “went away in the midst of the shadow of death” [Ps. 23:4], where the souls of the dead were, yet afterwards arose in the body, and after the resurrection was taken up [into heaven], it is manifest that the souls of His disciples also, upon whose account the Lord underwent these things, shall go away into the invisible place allotted to them by God, and there remain until the resurrection, awaiting that event; then receiving their bodies, and rising in their entirety, that is bodily, just as the Lord arose, they shall come thus into the presence of God.”
Source: http://www.regels.org/Irenaeus-Millennarism.htm
Comment: Iraneous’ Exegesis agrees perfectly with the Bible —> as ‘TODAY you will be with ME in Paradise’ is Written here (in Luke 23:43). Christ didn’t refer to His Kingdom though they thief asked to be ‘remembered’ in it.
(b) St. Iraneous of Lyons mentions that the Gospel is Preached to the Dead and Salvation has occurred in the ‘afterlife’ at Hades
‘the Lord descended into the regions beneath the earth, preaching (evangelizantem) His advent there also and the remission of sins received by those who believe in Him’ – Iranaeus (160-230 CE), Prescriptions Against Heretics IV, 27:211
If it happened once, can’t it happen again?
The Description above is regarding the Lord’s Descent and Preaching of the Gospel to the Dead (1 Peter 3:18 – 20). The ‘Shepherd of Hermas’ Book (which Iraneous considers as Scripture) mentions that the Gospel is Preached to the Dead even by the apostles, hence it’s NOT a one time event (agreeing to 1 Peter 4:5 – 6), to quote:
Shepherd of Hermas (1st or 2nd Century CE), Ninth Similitude IX, 16:5-7 Writes:
‘These, the apostles and teachers who preached the name of the Son of God, after they had fallen asleep in the power and the faith of the Son of God, preached also… to them that had fallen asleep before them, and themselves gave unto them the seal of the preaching. Therefore, they went down with them into the water, and came up again… So by their means they were quickened into life, and came to the full knowledge of the name of the Son of God.’
Source for that phD thesis by Marietjie du Toit (most likely an ‘eternal Hell’ believer):
https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/27130/dissertation.pdf?sequence=1
I repeat, I may NOT agree with the author’s deductions on ‘who’s right or wrong’ but I stick to the historical quotes found here.
(c) St. Iraneous of Lyons Voices in Favour of Evil being NOT eternal and NOT Immortal in men, Generally:
“Wherefore also he drove him out of paradise and removed him far from the tree of life, not because He envied him the tree of life, as some dare assert, but because He pitied him and desired that he should not be immortal and the evil interminable and irremediable.” — St. Iraneaus of Lyons (182 A.D.), author of ‘Against Heresies’ and the ‘hearer of Polycarp, the Disciple of John the Beloved of Lord Jesus Christ’
Source:
http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/churchfathersquotes.htm
This Statement agrees to the Bible in the Following way concerning Universal Salvation:
That life toward immortality transcends beyond after God becomes all in all toward all Creation later in the END (1 Corinthians 15:24 – 28) being set free from sin (vanity, futility) too sharing in this “aspect or area” of our Liberty (Romans 8:20 – 22).
Source:
https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/resurrection-christians-vs-the-rest-of-the-dead/
(2) Universal Reconciliation and Restoration
"whom indeed it behooves Heaven to receive [Lord Jesus Christ] until the TIMES of RESTORATION of ALL [Created] THINGS, of which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from the age." (Acts 3:21, BLB)
All Creation, really? How about plants or animals or the cockroach? It's explained in detail in write up below:
https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/reconcile-all-created-things-how-about-plants-and-animals/
The explanation in write up above is in principle of St. Iraneous' own words in considering such details as follows, to quote (refuting 'strong annihilation - theory' in his own words, implying that 'nothing ceases to exist in its essence of life' ----> please note the phrase 'NEITHER is the SUBSTANCE NOR the ESSENCE of the CREATION ANNIHILATED'):
"For since there are real men, so must there also be a real establishment (plantationem), that they vanish not away among non-existent things, but progress among those which have an actual existence. For neither is the substance nor the essence of the creation annihilated (for faithful and true is He who has established it), but "the fashion of the world passeth away;" that is, those things among which transgression has occurred, since man has grown old in them.
And therefore this [present] fashion has been formed temporary, God foreknowing all things; as I have pointed out in the preceding book, and have also shown, as far as was possible, the cause of the creation of this world of temporal things. But when this [present] fashion [of things] passes away, and man has been renewed, and flourishes in an incorruptible state, so as to preclude the possibility of becoming old, [then] there shall be the new heaven and the new earth, in which the new man shall remain [continually ], always holding fresh converse with God. And since (or, that) these things shall ever continue without end, Isaiah declares, "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I do make, continue in my sight, saith the Lord, so shall your [428-429] seed and your name remain..." (Iraneous, 'Against Heresies', Book 5, Chapter 36:1)
"These, if they will, may go Christ's way, but if not let them go their way. In another place perhaps they shall be baptized with fire, that last baptism, which is not only painful, but enduring also; which eats up, as if it were hay, all defiled matter, and consumes all vanity and vice." --Gregory of Nazianzeu, Bishop of Constantinople. (330 to 390 A.D.) Oracles 39:19
What is 'heaven', again? The quote from the Fragment of Papias must ring true as St. Iraneous himself seems to mention it thus in his own writing below, to quote:
"... And as the presbyters say, Then those who are deemed worthy of an abode in heaven shall go there, others shall enjoy the delights of paradise, and others shall possess the splendour of the city; for everywhere the Saviour shall be seen according as they who see Him shall be worthy.
[They say, moreover], that there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce an hundred-fold, and that of those who produce sixty-fold, and that of those who produce thirty-fold: for the first will be taken up into the heavens, the second will dwell in paradise, the last will inhabit the city; and that was on this account the Lord declared, "In My Father's house are many mansions." For all things belong to God, who supplies all with a suitable dwelling-place; even as His Word says, that a share is allotted to all by the Father, according as each person is or shall be worthy. And this is the couch on which the guests shall recline, having been invited to the wedding. The presbyters, the disciples of the apostles, affirm that this is the gradation and arrangement of those who are saved, and that they advance through steps of this nature; also that they ascend through the Spirit to the Son, and through the Son to the Father," (Iraneous, 'Against Heresies', Book 5, Chapter 36: 1 - 2)
How about the Bible giving HOPE toward those who did not keep His Command or Law or Prophets?
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth shall pass away, not even one iota, nor one stroke of a letter, shall pass away from the law, until everything should happen. Whoever then shall break one of the least of these commandments and shall teach others the same, he will be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever shall keep and shall teach them, he will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens. For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall abound above that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall never enter into the kingdom of the heavens." - Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17 - 20, BLB)
Firstly, we know from apostle Paul's Writings that the challenge Christ issued in that ---> 'unless your righteousness shall abound above that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall never enter into the kingdom of the heaven' (in Matthew 5:20 above) ---> was NEVER attained by any human being as it is Written -----> "because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight..." (Romans 3:20, NASB) and this aspect of Salvation regarding the Faith of Jesus Christ unto Salvation (for us to obtain the 'Righteousness of God through Him only' - Romans 3:21 - 22 toward ALL and 'those who believe' too, is explained in post below):
https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/faith-jesus-christ-2/
Thus, the Verse in Matthew 5:19 may be seen as including all men including the 'ones who break His Commands too to be in His Kingdom of the Heavens - eventually by His Mercy which is Promised to ALL the Disobedient/Unbelieving too, Romans 11:32, applying post [afterlife Judgment Sentencing first] - James 2:13' (in the Context of breaking any Law & Prophets, as Matthew 5:17 - 18 mentions first) towards being in 'a part of heaven designated for the formerly-wicked vs the righteous' (making sense of the 'plural-heavens' found in this Verse in actual Biblical Koine Greek which is OUTSIDE the Holy City - Revelation 22:15 & them NOT inheriting the Kingdom of God which is the 'Inner Heavens', you may say that this is only for the 'Hundrendfold ones' explained prior - 1 Corinthians 6:9 - 11) where this region of the heavens where the formerly-wicked dwell after being reconciled from the Lake of Fire ('the thirsty or failed ones'- Revelation 21:6) toward whom the Immortal-non-Thirsty-Perfected Bride (His Church - Overcomers, Revelation 21:7) also calls out too (in Revelation 22:17) to be Reconciled and Drink of the River of Life FREELY (unmerited, unearned favour) which flows OUTSIDE the Holy City itself agreeing to both the Details found in both the Shepherd of Hermas and the Sibyline Oracles as it is Explained in Detail in the later parts of the Post below as well (agreeing to Colossians 1:16, 20):
https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/lake-of-fire-death-and-hades-second-death-last-things/
How about St. Iraneous in regards to Universal Restoration?
To Quote (albeit lengthy):
"... and that in due time the Son will yield up His work to the Father, even as it is said by the apostle, "For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." For in the times of the kingdom, the righteous man who is upon the earth shall then forget to die. "But when He saith, All things shall be subdued unto Him, it is manifest that He is excepted who 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 who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."
John, therefore, did distinctly foresee the first "resurrection of the just," and the inheritance in the kingdom of the earth; and what the prophets have prophesied concerning it harmonize [with his vision].
For the Lord also taught these things, when He promised that He would have the mixed cup new with His disciples in the kingdom. The apostle, too, has confessed that the creation shall be free from the bondage of corruption, [so as to pass] into the liberty of the sons of God. And in all these things, and by them all, the same God the Father is manifested, who fashioned man, and gave promise of the inheritance of the earth to the fathers, who brought it (the creature) forth [from bondage] at the resurrection of the just, and fulfils the promises for the kingdom of His Son; subsequently bestowing in a paternal manner those things which neither the eye has seen, nor the ear has heard, nor has [thought concerning them] arisen within the heart of man, For there is the one Son, who accomplished His Father's will; and one human race also in which the mysteries of God are wrought, "which the angels desire to look into;" and they are not able to search out the wisdom of God, by means of Which His handiwork, confirmed and incorporated with His Son, is brought to perfection; that His offspring, the First-begotten Word, should descend to the creature (facturam), that is, to what had been moulded (plasma), and that it should be contained by Him; and, on the other hand, the creature should contain the Word, and ascend to Him, passing beyond the angels, and be made after the image and likeness of God." (Iraneous, 'Against Heresies', Book 5, Chapter 36: 2 - 3)
Translation Source used for Iraneous' 'Against Heresies':
http://www.textexcavation.com/irenaeusah5.html#chapter36
An Example (in Context, Consecutive Verses) —> A Secret referred to in Colossians 1:26 is that ‘believing Gentiles are co-heirs in Christ’ (Colossians 1:27) and also that HE will RECONCILE (both ways, meaning in Greek) ALL [Created] THINGS back to HIMSELF as it is Written (in Colossians 1:16 – Definition with Colossians 1:20 – Action), to Quote:
“because in Him were CREATED ALL THINGS in the heavens and upon the earth, the VISIBLE and the INVISIBLE, whether thrones or lordships or rulers or authorities; ALL [Created] THINGS have been CREATED through Him and unto Him. and by Him to RECONCILE ALL [Created] THINGS to Himself, having made PEACE by the BLOOD of His CROSS through Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.” – apostle Paul (Colossians 1:16, 20, BLB)
We know that ALL CREATED THINGS (Definition: Colossians 1:16) will be RECONCILED (two ways) back to Lord Jesus Christ eventually by His BLOOD (Colossians 1:20, Context: Consecutive Verses) as even this "rarely known fragment" of St. Iraneous of Lyon's writing itself PROVES IRREFUTABLY that this Universal Reconciliation Exegesis is the Biblical One (quoted from some of the most respected church historians below):
Schaff admits that the opinions of Irenaeus are doubtful from his (Schaff's) orthodox standpoint and says: 12 "In the fourth Pfaffian fragment ascribed to him (Stieren I, 889) he says that 'Christ will come at the end of time to destroy all evil----and to reconcile all things-- from Col. i:20--that there may be an end of all impurity.'
This passage, like I. Cor. xv:28, and Col. i:20, looks toward universal restoration rather than annihilation," but good, orthodox Dr. Schaff admits that it, like the Pauline passages, allows an interpretation consistent with eternal punishment. (See the long note in Stieren.)
Dr. Beecher writes that Irenæus "taught a final restitution of all things to unity and order by the annihilation of all the finally impenitent. The inference from this is plain. He did not understand aionios in the sense of eternal; but in the sense claimed by Prof. Lewis, that is, 'pertaining to the world
to come,'" not endless. Irenæus thought "that man should not last forever as a sinner and that the sin which was in him might not be immortal and infinite and incurable."
Bunsen's View. Says Bunsen: "The eternal decree of redemption, is, to Irenæus, throughout, an act of God's love. The atonement, is, according to him, a satisfaction paid, not to God, but to the Devil, under whose power the human mind and body were lying. But the Devil himself only serves God's purpose, for nothing can resist to the last, the Almighty power of divine love, which works not by constraint (the Devil's way) but by persuasion.13 The different statements of Irenæus are hard to reconcile with each other, but a fair inference from his language seems to be that he hovered between the doctrines of annihilation and endless punishment, and yet leaned not a little hopefully to that of restoration. He certainly says that death ends sin, which forecloses all idea of endless torments. It is probable that the fathers differed, as their successors have since differed, according to antecedent and surrounding
influences, and their own idiosyncrasies. Of Christian writers up to date, all assert future punishment, seven apply the word rendered everlasting (aionios) to it; three, certainly did not regard it as endless, two holding to annihilation and one to universal restoration. Remembering, however, the doctrine of Reserve, we can by no means be certain that the heathen words used denoting absolute endlessness were not used "pedagogically," to deter sinners from sin.
The Wicked's General Resurrection in the 'Flesh' (John 5:28 - 29) in their 'Body, Soul and Spirit' (1 Thessalonians 5:23) on Judgment Day (before the Great White Throne, 1 Peter 4:5) ----> causes their FLESH to be DESTROYED when JUDGED in the FLESH (1 Peter 4:6) ---> which refers to both their BODY and SOUL which contained SIN to eventually CEASE to EXIST as the word being DESTROYED means (Matthew 10:28) ---> but their 'Spirit' will 'live to God' (1 Peter 4:6) which is to be understood as the 'Made ALIVE Part' which applies to ALL MEN (1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22) as apostle Paul skipped this Judgment part never mentioning Lake of Fire in 1 Corinthians 15 at all ---> where these formerly wicked may be given a 'spirit + body = spiritual body' (resurrected bodily - sinless, as the HOPE toward them too, Acts 24:15) as Promised to include ALL MEN (1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22, Romans 5:18 - 19, 1 Timothy 2:4 - KJV, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 4:10) but 'differing in glory & substance too' (1 Corinthians 15:38 - 49).
Regarding the Greek Word 'Conciliation' (as an 'ambassador' - one way offering) vs 'Reconciliation' (as a two way reality eventually), please consider the following analysis as quoted in link below (by an expert too - question 3 in link below):
The Word “NOW, PRESENT TIME” (Colossians 1:22) to you (believers, Colossians 1:21) being reconciled (on earth in this life, right?) speak thus.
The HOPE (please note the word HOPE in Colossians 1:23) of the Gospel (beyond this life, implied, 1 Corinthians 15:19 too) —> ‘that you have heard’ (Colossians 1:23, NASB) —> as it was described prior in Colossians 1:16 with Colossians 1:20 [with NO IF’s meaning that it is a HOPE which will take place eventually] —> where this HOPE includes the GOSPEL which will be PREACHED or PROCLAIMED to ALL CREATION (Mark 16:15), yes please note the phrase “proclaimed in all creation” (Colossians 1:23, NASB) as apostle mentions this as part of the HOPE (not yet Done in full but will be Done as it is Written, hence a certain HOPE with NO ifs mentioned together with it) —> agreeing to the GOSPEL being PREACHED or PROCLAIMED to the DEAD too (1 Peter 4:6) —> so that ALL CREATION will be SET FREE into the GLORIOUS LIBERTY of the CHILDREN of GOD too eventually (Romans 8:20 – 22).
Other Related Verses are quoted above to explain this HOPE further toward ALL Creation as it is Written agreeing with ALL THINGS CREATED being RECONCILED to HIM as Prophesied here (in this HOPE) in Colossians 1:16 & Colossians 1:20 as well in the FULLNESS of the TIMES (Ephesians 1:10) for His RANSOM to be applied to ALL eventually (1 Timothy 2:6) causing ALL things to be RESTORED (Acts 3:21) and MADE NEW too (Revelation 21:5) to achieve this till God becomes ALL in all eventually (1 Corinthians 15:28).
Conclusion
St. Iraneous of Lyons (being a hearer of Polycarp who was the disciple of apostle John & also who quotes Justin Martyr in his own writings), being endorsed as the author chosen to write 'against heresies' could not have erred in teaching all three views of Hell (eternal conscious torment, annihilation and universal restoration).
It is clear from the explanation above that St. Iraneous of Lyons is clearly a Christ Centered Universalist where he speaks of the 'body + soul' to be annihilated only after a period of 'conscious torment' during Judgment as he cannot be teaching that the 'spirit ceases to exist' or 'eternal hell' which contradicts 'Matthew 10:28' and his own quote that 'Christ will come at the end of time to destroy all evil----and to reconcile all things-- from Col. i:20--that there may be an end of all impurity.'
We have grossly misunderstood the early church fathers by misquoting and misunderstanding their explanations especially when 'we don't quote them in full' or 'when we quote them in English translations as opposed to the original Biblical Koine Greek' as well as 'when we think it refers to body + soul + spirit' where punishment only refers to 'body + soul' even when it is not written in their writings as Christ Himself Defined ONLY those two to be Destroyed ('cease to exist') in Gehenna (or Lake of Fire) in Matthew 10:28 (Let's not add to His Word, right?) but it doesn't end there as after the Judgment in the 'resurrected flesh for Judgment' (John 5:28 - 29, 1 Peter 4:5), the wicked's "spirit" (distinct from body + soul, definition 1 Thessalonians 5:23) will LIVE to God post this [afterlife] Judgment as the next Consecutive Verse (Context) in 1 Peter 4:6 prove Irrefutably 'as it is Written'.
This 'formerly wicked-spirit' which 'lives to God' (please note the word LIVES in 1 Peter 4:6 which ties it up to being made ALIVE in 1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22) to obtain a HOPE in the Resurrection of being made ALIVE (yes, NOT the 'resurrection of Judgment earlier', each being distinct, Acts 24:15) is explained in apostle Paul's Inspired Writings in that these must 'obtain a sinless spiritual body too thereafter' (1 Corinthians 15:44) which is Promised to ALL MEN (1 Corinthians 15:21 - 22, 1 Corinthians 15:48 - 49 including the Wicked, Acts 24:15) which marks the Full Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1 - 2, in Principle of Romans 4:5 too where we obtain a righteousness without works by believing in 'God Justifying the Ungodly or Wicked' according to Scripture).
How do I know that the definition of Body, Soul and Spirit in a Man is distinct as thus allowing for such an interpretation?
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” – apostle Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NASB)
Body, Soul Spirit - What are those in a Man?
To quote:
"The resurrection is a resurrection of the flesh which died. For the spirit dies not; the soul is in the body, and without a soul it cannot live. The body, when the soul forsakes it, is not. For the body is the house of the soul; and the soul the house of the spirit. These three, in all those who cherish a sincere hope and unquestioning faith in God, will be saved." - Justin Martyr (Chapter 10 - The body saved, and will therefore rise, On the Resurrection)
Source:
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0131.htm
Is the Soul Immortal? The soul is mortal just like the body according to Justin agreeing in that both the BODY and SOUL can be DESTROYED (i.e. CEASE to EXIST) as it is Declared by our Blessed Saviour Himself in regards to Gehenna (or Lake of Fire, in Matthew 10:28), to quote:
"But I do not say, indeed, that all souls die; for that were truly a piece of good fortune to the evil. What then? The souls of the pious remain in a better place, while those of the unjust and wicked are in a worse, waiting for the time of judgment. Thus some which have appeared worthy of God never die; but others are punished so long as God wills them to exist and to be punished." - Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Tyrpho)
Source:
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-dialoguetrypho.html
P/S: God is Good even toward the Wicked
The SPIRIT will be SAVED by GOD after this 'Resurrection for Judgment in the FLESH for the Dead/Wicked' (as John 5:28 - 29 mentions these wicked to be 'resurrected for Judgment' while Revelation 20:11 - 15 calls these wicked as 'the dead' before His Great White Throne as does 1 Peter 4:5 - 6 refer to these 'resurrected wicked for Judgment' as 'the dead' as well - please note 'carefully').
"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to DESTROY both SOUL and BODY in HELL [Gehenna]." - Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:28, NASB)
"who [the wicked] will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and THE DEAD. For to this end the Gospel was proclaimed even to THE DEAD, so that they might be JUDGED indeed according to men in the FLESH, but they might LIVE in the SPIRIT according to God" (1 Peter 4:5 - 6, BLB)
So,
'JUDGED indeed according to men in the FLESH' (1 Peter 4:6) = 'The Wicked or the Dead' being Judged in their Resurrected for Judgment-Body in Gehenna of the Lake of Fire (1 Peter 4:5, John 5:28 - 29, Revelation 20:11 - 15) where at most both the BODY and SOUL is DESTROYED (i.e. 'cease to exist', Matthew 10:28)
It does NOT end there as:
'but they might LIVE in the SPIRIT according to God' (1 Peter 4:6) = these formerly-wicked live in the spirit-state to God first post this Final Judgment.
A Word of Biblical Wisdom
"Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee." (Proverbs 9:8, kjv)
The Final Prophecy:
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, WILL DRAW ALL MEN to Myself.” - Lord Jesus Christ (John 12:32, BSB)
God does NOT Fail or write 'vain attempts'; He Speaks what He Will Fulfill. Let's have a 'little faith'.
A Good Discussion Read (in link below):
A Word of Biblical Wisdom
"Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee." (Proverbs 9:8, kjv)
The Final Prophecy:
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, WILL DRAW ALL MEN to Myself.” - Lord Jesus Christ (John 12:32, BSB)
God does NOT Fail or write 'vain attempts'; He Speaks what He Will Fulfill. Let's have a 'little faith'.
A Good Discussion Read (in link below):
Two Resurrections - Man as Sheepfold1, Sheepfold2 and the Wicked
1) First Resurrection - Resurrection of the Just
Resurrection of the Just (His Bride, believers in Faith only, Sheepfold1 in John 10:14 - Revelation 20:4 - 6, 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 17) who come under NO afterlife Judgment (John 5:24) having been Judged on earth itself during their temporal lives prior (Hebrews 12:6, Revelation 3:19, Proverbs 3:12).
2) Second Resurrection - General Resurrection
General Resurrection toward Sheepfold2 in John 10:16 & the wicked (Revelation 20:7, Daniel 12:2, John 5:28 - 29) followed by the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11 - 15, Romans 2:5 - 8,) to the Jew first (Matthew 25:14 - 30, Romans 2:9 - 12, Romans 2:17 - 25) and Gentile next (Matthew 25:31 - 46, Romans 2:13 - 16, Romans 2:26 - 29).
Against Heresies (Example):
"Irenaeus declares that the Antichrist's future three-and-a-half-year reign, when he sits in the temple at Jerusalem, will be terminated by the second advent, with the resurrection of the just, the destruction for the wicked, and the millennial reign of the righteous. The general resurrection and the judgment follow the descent of the New Jerusalem at the end of the millennial kingdom."
Source:
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Irenaeus#Time.2C_Times_and_Half_a_Time
Conclusion
"Why should any living mortal, or any man, Offer complaint in view of his sins?" (Lamentations 3:39, NASB)
How do we know that the 'General Resurrection' which is after about 1000 years from the First Resurrection contains Sheepfold2 to mean the 'righteous who did NOT believe in Lord Jesus Christ during their earthly lives prior'?
Two ancient quotes prove this Irrefutably (below, one from Justin Martyr & the other from Shepherd of Hermas which reveals that to such a 'righteous who did not believe in Christ on Earth prior, these will believe Him in the afterlife AFTER Seeing Him' or 'hearing about Him there', agreeing to the Mystery in John 3:14 - 15 and John 6:40), please consider:
1) Justin Martyr implies the existence of Sheepfold2.
(i) A Quote:
'In the early Church, Justin Martyr, a Church Father, taught that those who lived according to the logos are Christians, though they might not know about Jesus Christ.'
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fate_of_the_unlearned
(ii) From Justin's own writing in his own words revealing this 'secret':
Source:
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-firstapology.html
"But lest some should, without reason, and for the perversion of what we teach, maintain that we say that Christ was born one hundred and fifty years ago under Cyrenius, and subsequently, in the time of Pontius Pilate, taught what we say He taught; and should cry out against us as though all men who were born before Him were irresponsible--let us anticipate and solve the difficulty.
We have been taught that Christ is the first-born of God, and we have declared above that He is the Word of whom every race of men were partakers; and those who lived reasonably are Christians, even though they have been thought atheists; as, among the Greeks, Socrates and Heraclitus, and men like them; and among the barbarians, Abraham, and Ananias, and Azarias, and Misael, and Elias, and many others whose actions and names we now decline to recount, because we know it would be tedious.
So that even they who lived before Christ, and lived without reason, were wicked and hostile to Christ, and slew those who lived reasonably. But who, through the power of the Word, according to the will of God the Father and Lord of all, He was born of a virgin as a man, and was named Jesus, and was crucified, and died, and rose again, and ascended into heaven, an intelligent man will be able to comprehend from what has been already so largely said. And we, since the proof of this subject is less needful now, will pass for the present to the proof of those things which are urgent." - Justin Martyr (Chapter 46, CHAPTER XLVI -- THE WORD IN THE WORLD BEFORE CHRIST)
Comment: Please note carefully the words such as 'atheists', 'barbarians' etc. to realize this fact.
Christian Theologians often remark that 'this is for those before Christ' and Justin refers to them as an example, yes. He does NOT limit it as per their claim. That's a lie and it is EASILY REFUTED by Justin's own words in the above (translation). How?
Justin's quote 'So that even they who lived before Christ ... And we, since the proof of this subject is less needful now, will pass for the present to the proof of those things which are urgent' ---> means that he quotes 'famous good people - generally' such as Socrates etc. to be 'saved' to 'prove his Biblical claim'.
Also, Justin's quote 'We have been taught that Christ is the first-born of God, and we have declared above that He is the Word of whom every race of men were partakers; and those who lived reasonably are Christians, even though they have been thought atheists; as, among the Greeks, Socrates and Heraclitus, and men like them; and among the barbarians, Abraham, and Ananias, and Azarias, and Misael, and Elias, and many others whose actions and names we now decline to recount, because we know it would be tedious.' ---> Justin is claiming the Salvation of Sheepfold2 in a 'General Manner' first here as he only describes the 'example proof' part next evidenced by the phrase 'So that even they who lived before Christ..' to 'prove his general claim toward those of the past too’.
This proves that Justin is claiming the Salvation of Sheepfold2 in a 'General Manner' as per apostle Paul's Revelation of the Judgment of God in Romans 2 itself agreeing to Lord Jesus Christ's OWN WORDS in John 5:28 - 29, that these are those 'who did GOOD deeds' and Matthew 25:31 - 46 as well describes them as having done GOOD DEEDS only (yes, there is NO mention of 'belief in Christ during the Great White Throne Judgment' in Revelation 20:11 - 15, Matthew 25:31 - 46, Romans 2 and John 5:28 - 29 which Describe this 'General Resurrection' - where 'obedience' is measured with respect to GOOD DEEDS only & NOT belief at all - let's NOT add to His Word, and this Proves that Justin Martyr is right).
2) The Shepherd of Hermas Book implies the existence of Sheepfold2 also.
The Description above is regarding the Lord’s Descent and Preaching of the Gospel to the Dead (1 Peter 3:18 – 20). The ‘Shepherd of Hermas’ Book (which Iraneous considers as Scripture) mentions that the Gospel is Preached to the Dead even by the apostles, hence it’s NOT a one time event (agreeing to 1 Peter 4:5 – 6), to quote:
Shepherd of Hermas (1st or 2nd Century CE), Ninth Similitude IX, 16:5-7 Writes:
‘These, the apostles and teachers who preached the name of the Son of God, after they had fallen asleep in the power and the faith of the Son of God, preached also… to them that had fallen asleep before them, and themselves gave unto them the seal of the preaching. Therefore, they went down with them into the water, and came up again… So by their means they were quickened into life, and came to the full knowledge of the name of the Son of God.’
Source for that phD thesis by Marietjie du Toit (most likely an ‘eternal Hell’ believer):
https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/27130/dissertation.pdf?sequence=1
Comment: I repeat, I may NOT agree with the author’s deductions on ‘who’s right or wrong’ but I stick to the historical quotes found here. Please note that in the quote above, the Shepherd of Hermas Book mentions that this Preaching is done by the 'apostles and teachers' (agreeing to 1 Peter 4:6 in that the 'Gospel is indeed Preached to the Dead') and it is NOT the Christ's First Preaching of the Gospel to the Dead as 1 Peter 3:18 - 20 mentions proving Irrefutably that it was NOT a 'one time occurrence only toward those who existed before Christ' (as so easily & popularly erred against these TRUE & EARLIEST AUTHORITIES of Doctrine).
Can you SEE it now?
"Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar." (Proverbs 30:6, NASB)
P/S: The 'First and Best' of Christians know this Mystery or Secret
Example: Sadhu Sundar Singh
It is well known that Sadhu Sundar Singh mentioned regarding "Hindu Saints" who have believed in Lord Jesus Christ in the 'afterlife' after enduring some Judgment for their 'unbelief' first (Hebrews 9:27) as illustrated in his visions of heaven and hell (in link below):
https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/sadhu-sundar-singh-a-christian-universalist/
Please note that Sadhu Sundar Singh's visions are consistent with the Shepherd of Hermas afterlife Vision. These are Consistent with Christ Centered Universalism, for example:
All ‘Verses’ Quoted here are from this free online Translation of the Shepherd of Hermas (in link below) unless otherwise stated:
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/shepherd-lightfoot.html
Example: Christians who backslide from the Truth – the Rejected Stones
Bible Verses:
“So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:20 – 23, NASB)
“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES” (Hebrews 10:26 – 27, NASB)
“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4 – 6, NASB)
26[103]:6 “And this I say not in reference to these days, that a man after denying should receive repentance; for it is impossible for him to be saved who shall now deny his Lord; but for those who denied Him long ago repentance seemeth to be possible. If a man therefore will repent, let him do so speedily before the tower is completed; but if not, he shall be destroyed by the women and put to death.” (Shepherd of Hermas)
What is meant by “no repentance is possible after death” for ‘such Christians’ described in Verses above?
To quote from the Shepherd of Hermas (‘not’ my opinion – please take note):
7[15]:3 But the others, which are near the waters and yet cannot roll into the water, wouldest thou know who are they? These are they that heard the word, and would be baptized unto the name of the Lord. Then, when they call to their remembrance the purity of the truth, they change their minds, and go back again after their evil desires.”
7[15]:4 So she finished the explanation of the tower.
7[15]:5 Still importunate, I asked her further, whether for all these stones that were rejected and would not fit into the building of the tower that was repentance, and they had a place in this tower. “They can repent,” she said, “but they cannot be fitted into this tower.
7[15]:6 Yet they shall be fitted into another place much more humble, but not until they have undergone torments, and have fulfilled the days of their sins. And they shall be changed for this reason, because they participated in the Righteous Word; and then shall it befall them to be relieved from their torments, if the evil deeds, that they have done, come into their heart; but if these come not into their heart, they are not saved by reason of the hardness of their hearts.”
The Shepherd of Hermas clearly reveals that “no repentance is possible” links to them NOT being part of the ‘tower of repentance’ which describes the HIGHER INHERITANCE LOT which is ‘only for believers in faith who obey His Commands’ (1 John 2:4, John 14:15).
The Shepherd of Hermas also describes that ‘these fallen believers of faith’ —> “Yet they shall be fitted into another place much more humble, but not until they have undergone torments, and have fulfilled the days of their sins.”
The Duration of their afterlife Judgment or Punishment is ’till the last penny only and NOT forever’, comparison phrases:
“And they shall be changed for this reason, because they participated in the Righteous Word; and then shall it befall them to be relieved from their torments, if the evil deeds, that they have done, come into their heart; but if these come not into their heart, they are not saved by reason of the hardness of their hearts.” [7[15]:6, Shepherd of Hermas] = “the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? “For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. “I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.” (Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 12:46, 57 – 59, NASB)
Source:
https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/shepherd-of-hermas-afterlife-judgment-visions/
Example, to quote (regarding afterlife Judgment and Repentance – Mystery of the Gospel being Preached to the Dead, 1 Peter 3:18 – 19, 1 Peter 4:5 – 6):
15[92]:2 “It was necessary for them,” saith he, “to rise up through water, that they might be made alive; for otherwise they could not enter into the kingdom of God, except they had put aside the deadness of their [former] life.
15[92]:3 So these likewise that had fallen asleep received the seal of the Son of God and entered into the kingdom of God. For before a man,” saith he, “has borne the name of [the Son of] God, he is dead; but when he has received the seal, he layeth aside his deadness, and resumeth life.
15[92]:4 The seal then is the water: so they go down into the water dead, and they come up alive. “thus to them also this seal was preached, and they availed themselves of it that they might enter into the kingdom of God.”
15[92]:5 “Wherefore, Sir,” say I, “did the forty stones also come up with them from the deep, though they had already received the seal?” “Because,” saith he, “these, the apostles and the teachers who preached the name of the Son of God, after they had fallen asleep in the power and faith of the Son of God, preached also to them that had fallen asleep before them, and themselves gave unto them the seal of the preaching.
15[92]:6 Therefore they went down with them into the water, and came up again. But these went down alive [and again came up alive]; whereas the others that had fallen asleep before them went down dead and came up alive.
15[92]:7 So by their means they were quickened into life, and came to the full knowledge of the name of the Son of God. For this cause also they came up with them, and were fitted with them into the building of the tower and were builded with them, without being shaped; for they fell asleep in righteousness and in great purity. Only they had not this seal. Thou hast then the interpretation of these things also.” “I have, Sir,” say I.
Source: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/shepherd-lightfoot.html
Comment:
The phrase “for they fell asleep in righteousness and in great purity. Only they had not this seal” together with the phrase “came to the full knowledge of the name of the Son of God” with the phrase “others that had fallen asleep before them went down dead and came up alive” ——> with the phrase “to rise up through water, that they might be made alive; for otherwise they could not enter into the kingdom of God, except they had put aside the deadness of their [former] life” —> seem to point 🤔 to “the Sheepfold2” (John 10:16) which refers to the “righteous in good works (e. g. John 5:28 – 29, Daniel 12:2) who died without believing in Christ” but believed in Him ‘after seeing Him, John 6:40 (in the afterlife too, implied in John 3:14 – 15)’ as it is Discussed in Great Detail in Posts below regarding this Mystery for Edification:
Source:
https://www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/shepherd-of-hermas-free-translation-secrets/
More details in line with this exegesis: Sheep and Goats – FAQ
Peace to you & Christ Triumphant!
Blessed be His Most Holy Name for His Unfathomable LOVE!
Lake of Fire Or Gehenna Final Judgment - Afraid or Not Afraid?
Introductory Question (rephrased)
Are you preaching fear based religion? Doesn't that cause people to go mental?
Introductory Reply
Fear has its Purpose for Judgment.
You don't need to be mental about it. Fear trains us to keep away from danger (its purpose). So, when we learn to 'keep away from danger' (being in a safe place such as 'abiding in His Love'- John 15:9 which is in the Context of Obeying His Commands - John 15:10, Context of Consecutive Verses), fear comes to an 'end' (in Principle of 1 John 4:18 with John 14:15 or John 15:14 too).
For example in nature, when we see a lion, we run away (quoted in Principle of Romans 1:20 in that 'His Attributes', e.g. 'fear when we see the lion (danger)' is clearly seen & understood from nature as well).
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." - apostle Paul (Romans 1:20, NASB)
So, fear keeps us from sinning (and is a punishment for those who continue to sin, 1 John 4:18) but toward others, the particular 'fear of God' becomes the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) and wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), who thereafter keep from sinning due to Love are being Perfected (1 John 4:18, John 14:15).
God created both the Lion and the Lamb.
Question
Doesn't the Bible Teach "do not be afraid" cancelling out the "be afraid" part proving that God doesn't Judge because He Loves all?
Reply
1 Corinthians 13 clearly mentions that His Love does NOT rejoice in evil. It's Written in Scripture that His Judgment is done for the Purpose of Love too (that is to correct us as the Greek Word kolasin in 'kolasin aionion' or 'age-during chastisement' in Matthew 25:46 means).
The Word "Kolasin" is two edged meaning both 'Retribution followed by Betterment' ("Chastisement") during Judgment where the 'Retribution's level of Pain' is according to what one has done toward others only (Galatians 6:7, Isaiah 3:11, Malachi 4:1, 2 Peter 3:7, Judging Evil - Principle of 'eye for an eye', Luke 12:59's till the Last Penny) which is followed by 'His Refiner's Fire which Purges or Purifies as well Medicinally thereafter' (Malachi 3:2, Mark 9:49, the 'Overcoming Evil with Good' part - Romans 12:21).
Please note that the "worm does not die & the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48) is Written in the Context of "Everyone will be salted with Fire" (Mark 9:49) which is for "Good" (Mark 9:50, proving the 'Overcoming Evil context which is Good only' - Romans 12:21) as the Context of Consecutive Verses in Mark Prove but this Fire 'does NOT harm Sheepfold1 in any way as it does toward the rest' (Revelation 20:6) and only 'refines the quality of their work' (1 Corinthians 3:13 toward the Work built on the Foundation of Lord Jesus Christ - 1 Corinthians 3:12 where the work is measured against the Gospel - 1 Corinthians 3:11, toward others too Romans 2:16).
Regarding being afraid vs not being afraid, please consider the following contextual argument:
To say that 'we don't need to fear God' based on the 'do not be afraid Verses' is inaccurate & a popular fallacy by some preachers.
Here is what's actually Written 'accurately':
"And you should not be afraid of those killing the body but not being able to kill the soul. Indeed rather you should fear the One being able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." - Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:28, BLB)
Please read Matthew 10 carefully where
(i) Do not be afraid - Earthly Context
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and can do nothing more.
Means that it refers to not being afraid on earth in one's temporal life toward others (context) as the phrase 'kill the body and do nothing more refers to earth only'.
(ii) Be afraid - Afterlife Context
But rather be afraid of Him Who is able to Destroy both Body and Soul in Gehenna (Lake of Fire).
Body and Soul (and not 'body only') can only be destroyed after the 'resurrection for Judgment' for the wicked (John 5:28 - 29) proving afterlife Context of Judgment in the flesh in Gehenna or the Lake of Fire.
Peace
Conclusion
1) Fate of the Wicked or Goats
Who are the 'Wicked' or 'Goats' reserved for the Final Gehenna or Lake of Fire Judgment during His Great White Throne Judgment in regards to their 'resurrection of Judgment in the flesh' (John 5:28 - 29) where both 'body + soul only will have tribulation and be destroyed' (Matthew 10:28, Romans 2:9) toward "the dead" (Revelation 20:11 - 15, 1 Peter 4:5, Romans 2, Matthew 24:31 - 46) but these formerly wicked will live first in their spirit-state (1 Peter 4:6) post this Judgment (1 Peter 4:5) where their spirit will only be saved in the Day of Lord Jesus post this 'destruction of the flesh' (1 Corinthians 5:5)?
"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8, NASB)
Please note that those "unbelieving" in verse above is well deserved to be in the Lake of Fire since they refuse to believe in Him when the Gospel is Preached to them in the afterlife too (in Principle of the Mystery echoed in John 3:14 - 15, John 6:40 in the Context of 'believing after seeing possibility' - see point 4 below in regards to the 'Gospel Preached to the Dead').
2) What's the meaning of the 'Resurrection of Judgment' for the Wicked (John 5:28 - 29) in the "flesh" (body + soul + spirit)?
To quote, a Definition first (by Justin Martyr, an early authority of doctrine):
Body, Soul Spirit – What are those in a Man?
To quote:
“The resurrection is a resurrection of the flesh which died. For the spirit dies not; the soul is in the body, and without a soul it cannot live. The body, when the soul forsakes it, is not. For the body is the house of the soul; and the soul the house of the spirit. These three, in all those who cherish a sincere hope and unquestioning faith in God, will be saved.” – Justin Martyr (Chapter 10 – The body saved, and will therefore rise, On the Resurrection)
Source:
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0131.htm
Is the Soul Immortal? The soul is mortal just like the body according to Justin agreeing in that both the BODY and SOUL can be DESTROYED (i.e. CEASE to EXIST) as it is Declared by our Blessed Saviour Himself in regards to Gehenna (or Lake of Fire, in Matthew 10:28), to quote:
“But I do not say, indeed, that all souls die; for that were truly a piece of good fortune to the evil. What then? The souls of the pious remain in a better place, while those of the unjust and wicked are in a worse, waiting for the time of judgment. Thus some which have appeared worthy of God never die; but others are punished so long as God wills them to exist and to be punished.” – Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Tyrpho)
Source:
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-dialoguetrypho.html
More Details in regards to this?
www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/last-afterlife-secrets-god-saves-from-hell/
3) What is the meaning of the Resurrection of Judgment toward the Destruction of the flesh?
Verses:
"and He gave Him authority to EXECUTE JUDGMENT, because He is the Son of Man. “Do NOT MARVEL at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the GOOD DEEDS to a Resurrection of LIFE, those who committed the EVIL DEEDS to a Resurrection of JUDGMENT." - Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:27 - 29, NASB)
"who [speak EVIL] will give account to Him who is ready to JUDGE the living and THE DEAD. For to this end the GOSPEL was proclaimed even to THE DEAD, so that they might be JUDGED indeed according to men in the FLESH, but they might LIVE in the SPIRIT according to God." - apostle Peter (1 Peter 4:5 - 6, BLB)
"I have decided to deliver such a one to SATAN for the DESTRUCTION of HIS FLESH, so that HIS SPIRIT may be SAVED in the Day of the Lord Jesus." - apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 5:5, NASB)
The "destruction of the flesh" (1 Corinthians 5:5) during the 'Judgment in the flesh after the resurrection (body + soul + spirit), for Judgment toward the wicked' (John 5:28 - 29) refers to their 'body + soul only being destroyed or cease to exist during this Gehenna or Lake of Fire Final Judgment' (so let's be afraid of God! Matthew 10:28, 1 Peter 4:5) where their 'spirit will be saved, yes they live in the spirit state first' (1 Peter 4:6) on the Day of Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 5:5).
The actual person to whom apostle Paul gave up and judged toward this Final Gehenna Judgment in the Lake of Fire due to his wickedness and attitude of unrepentance prior (implied) caused apostle Paul to 'Prophesy' this 'Final Judgment' on him in 1 Corinthians 5:5 but later as some scholars say that 'this sinful believer repented' & hence that prophesied Judgment is cancelled (2 Corinthians 2:6 - 8).
Yes, apostle Paul distinctly mentions the existence in the 'spirit state' (proving the distinction of body + soul + spirit in a Man, generally in 1 Thessalonians 5:23) by the phrase 'his spirit', referring to the 'wicked or fallen believer's spirit' in 1 Corinthians 5:5 which may be Saved on the Day of Lord Jesus (a specific future Time Period or Interval).
4) Gospel Preached to the Dead
Gospel is Preached to the Dead toward who are 'not wicked' but are of 'Sheepfold2' where though these did 'not' believe in Lord Jesus Christ during their earthy lives prior, they lived relatively-in-a-good manner agreeing to Gospel Principles. Hence, to them a chance may be given according to God's Decision (no one can trick God).
Example of the past '(human) spirits in prison' surviving in their 'spirit state' after the 'destruction of their soul in Hades prior' (implied toward these formerly disobedient ones fron the Time of Noah) is seen in 1 Peter 3:18 - 20 where Lord Jesus Christ Descended & Preached the Gospel to them to be "Saved" if they received Him as even St. Irenaeous Reveals this rarely understood truth:
‘the Lord descended into the regions beneath the earth, preaching (evangelizantem) His advent there also and the remission of sins received by those who believe in Him’ - St. Irenaeus of Lyons (160-230 CE), [Prescriptions Against Heretics IV, 27:211]
Source & more proofs regarding this from earliest authorities of doctrine:
www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/secrets-of-the-gospel-being-preached-to-the-dead/
This is NOT a one time occurence of the 'Gospel being Preached to the Dead' for those 'before Christ only' as popularly erred as even the Shepherd of Hermas Writing (which is next to New Testament Scripture, meaning that it is 'higher' than any early church leaders' writing even endorsed by Pope Callixtus I, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria and Irenaeous too as 'Scripture') which reveals further that this 'Gospel Preaching to the Dead' was done next by the 40 apostles + teachers too after they died, to quote:
"15[92]:5 “Wherefore, Sir,” say I, “did the forty stones also come up with them from the deep, though they had already received the seal?” “Because,” saith he, “these, the apostles and the teachers who preached the name of the Son of God, after they had fallen asleep in the power and faith of the Son of God, preached also to them that had fallen asleep before them, and themselves gave unto them the seal of the preaching." (Shepherd of Hermas Book)
Source:
www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/shepherd-of-hermas-afterlife-judgment-and-repentance-faq/
To Prove that the 'Shepherd of Hermas Book' cannot be taken word to word as Scripture, one has to quote a proper authority in Doctrine 'before Pope Callixtus I, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria and Irenaeous' as authority is by Precedence ----> which doesn't exist. Can you see this Truth Irrefutably now? -----> This is in obedience to 2 Peter 1:20 when it relates to the meaning of Bible Verses such as 1 Peter 4:6 which proves the Shepherd of Hermas Verse above to be TRUE in that the 'Gospel being Preached to the Dead' is NOT a one time event (the first time was 1 Peter 3:18 - 20 by our Most Blessed Savior Himself).
Apostle Peter Reveals further that the "Gospel is Preached to the Dead" likewise in 1 Peter 4:6, generally causing the 'spirit to be saved in that these live to God after the destruction or Judgment in the flesh where at most body + soul may be destroyed in the Final Judgment (Matthew 10:28) when He Returns to Judge the living and the dead' (proving the Timeline of 1 Peter 4:5 to refer to the Final Gehenna or Lake of Fire Judgment - Revelation 20:11 - 15, Revelation 21:8) where these 'spirits belonging to the formerly wicked' may also 'live or be saved' likewise (1 Peter 4:6) in the Day of Lord Jesus (as apostle Paul Prophesied in 1 Corinthians 5:5 regarding this rarely known Mystery in regards to the Judgment of the Wicked or Fallen believers who share the 'same fate in regards to the Final Judgment', Luke 12:46).
So, 1 Corinthians 5:5 gives a rare glimpse of how apostle Paul understood the Final Gehenna Judgment in the Lake of Fire in the "resurrected flesh for Judgment" (John 5:28 - 29) toward the "unrepentant believers who share the same fate as the wicked" (Luke 12:46) in this 'unkindled Lake of Fire of the Second Death' (Context: Luke 12:49 first) which is only 'till the last penny, signifying an end' (Luke 12:59) according to the 'measurable punishments of few vs many' and NOT 'infinite or endless' (in Luke 12:47 - 48) implying 'limitedness again justly and NOT eternal Hell or everlasting punishment in any way' which Christ Himself Implies as "Right" (Luke 12:57 toward the 'punishment lasting till the last penny only' in analogy of afterlife-Judgments in Luke 12:58 - 59 as the Context of Consecutive Verses prove Irrefutably).
5) My understanding
Based on the Verses and explanations above by early church authorities, I understand the quoted Verses as follows [with my emphasis - added for edification]:
I repeat the Verses above with [my emphasis for clarity - in brackets]:
"and He gave Him authority to EXECUTE JUDGMENT, because He is the Son of Man. “Do NOT MARVEL at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs [those who are NOT part of the First Resurrection, Revelation 20:5] will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the GOOD DEEDS [who believe after seeing Him, John 6:40 or hearing the Gospel in the afterlife, John 3:14 - 15 with 1 Peter 4:6] to a Resurrection of LIFE [toward Sheepfold2 as Sheepfold1 has Resurrected 1000 years earlier, Revelation 20:4 - 6], those who committed the EVIL DEEDS [against the Gospel, Romans 2:16] to a Resurrection of JUDGMENT [toward the Wicked, Romans 2:5 - 11]." - Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:27 - 29, NASB)
"who [speak EVIL] will give account to Him who is ready to JUDGE the living and THE DEAD. For to this end [Purpose] the GOSPEL was proclaimed [Preached] even to THE DEAD [in the Afterlife Regions, e.g. Hades], so that they might be JUDGED indeed according to men in the FLESH [body + soul destroyed in Gehenna as per Matthew 10:28 OR their soul destroyed there now with their spirit having the potential of being saved from the prisons of Hades as per 1 Peter 3:18 - 20], but they might LIVE in the SPIRIT according to God [either 'after enduring the Judgment for their unbelief & sins for Sheepfold2 in Principle of Hebrews 9:27 as it is possible now as per the case in 1 Peter 3:18 - 20 as Christ has Come' or for the 'wicked only post Lake of Fire Judgment as the Context of 1 Peter 4:5 warrants' meaning that apostle Peter is implying that even in the 'worst case scenario of Last Gehenna Judgment, their spirit will live after the 'body + soul is destroyed' in Judgment in the future Resurrected flesh or 'if the soul dies and is destroyed in the current Hades Judgment']." - apostle Peter (1 Peter 4:5 - 6, BLB)
"I have decided to deliver such a one to SATAN [now, for afterlife Judgment in Hades, Luke 16:19 - 31] for the DESTRUCTION of HIS FLESH [the person gets punished bodily till he dies on earth while his soul gets destroyed or dies at Hades eventually], so that HIS SPIRIT may be SAVED in the Day of the Lord Jesus [his spirit is saved on that particular Day of either His Advent on a White Horse or His Advent on His Great White Throne or the a Day after the Lake of Fire 'age-during chastisement - Matthew 25:46' - I can't be sure of 'which Day' - where this fallen believer may have to wait in whatever state or regions as per the 'formerly disobedient (human) spirits in prison' in the past too from the time of Noah who waited for Christ's First Advent in 1 Peter 3:18 - 20']." - apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 5:5, NASB)
6) Age-During Punishment vs Age-During Rewards
[The Popular error and fallacy is to translate this Greek Word Aion or Eon as 'eternal' and claim that 'these early church leaders taught eternal Hell']
Question
So, did these early church leaders mean 'age-during' or 'eternal' where each employs the same Greek term 'aion or eon'?
Explanation
Example of Early Church Leaders Quotes:
"He shall come from heaven with glory, accompanied by His angelic host, when also He shall raise the bodies of all men who have lived, and shall clothe those of the worthy with immortality, and shall send those of the wicked, endued with eternal [age-during] sensibility, into everlasting [age-during] fire with the wicked devils." - Justin Martyr (First Apology 52)
Please note that the word 'Immortality' and 'age-during' which is translated as 'eternal' in such quotes exist in the above within the 'same sentence' (Yes, 'Immortality or Incorruptibility' is a different Greek word as found in 1 Corinthians 15 or in the 'same sentence' with 'age-during life' proving that these two are DIFFERENT WORDS which exists in the Bible Verse in Romans 2:7 itself - in case you didn't 'realize it').
Meaning?
eternal [age-during] sensibility into everlasting [age-during] fire = Resurrected for Judgment (John 5:28 - 29) to endure to the age for their body + soul where this 'sensibility' or 'consciousness' lasts only till when the 'body (Romans 6:23) + soul (Ezekiel 18:4)' which sinned 'dies' (yes, each component as the Verses imply) or 'ceases to exist' or 'destroyed' (Matthew 10:28) proving by usage here itself that 'age-during is NOT eternal'.
As explained earlier, Justin and Irenaeous own quotes itself explains them to refer to the annihilation of the 'body + soul' which proves that they never understood the meaning of 'Aion or Eon' to mean 'eternal' but 'age-during only' as per their own words below:
(i) Justin on the Annihilation of Body + Soul agreeing to Matthew 10:28
"But I do not say, indeed, that all souls die; for that were truly a piece of good fortune to the evil. What then? The souls of the pious remain in a better place, while those of the unjust and wicked are in a worse, waiting for the time of judgment. Thus some which have appeared worthy of God never die; but others are punished so long as God wills them to exist and to be punished." - Justin Martyr (Fifth Chapter on the Dialogue)
Comment:
Justin clearly believed that at death the soul goes to an intermediate place to await resurrection and judgment. Once again, we defer our discussion of this point until later. For now it will suffice to say that Justin also, just as clearly, believed in the annihilation of the wicked. He mentions the fact that only some worthy souls “never die”. Others, he says, exist only “so long as God wills them to exist and undergo punishment.” To put this the other way around, Justin must mean that after a time of punishment, when God no longer wills the wicked to live, they will simply cease to exist. Justin does elsewhere suggest that the period of conscious punishment of the wicked is quite long, being “not only, as Plato said, for a period of a thousand years” , but longer. The wicked do however, eventually die.
Source:
https://www.afterlife.co.nz/articles/justin-martyr-immortality-soul/
(ii) Irenaeous on the Annihilation of Body + Soul agreeing to Matthew 10:28
"It is the Father of all who imparts continuance for ever and ever on those who are saved … [who] shall receive also length of days for ever and ever. But he who shall reject it … deprives himself of [the privilege of] continuance for ever and ever … shall justly not receive from Him length of days for ever and ever.” (St. Irenaeous of Lyons, Against Heresies)
We reject the quotes which are NOT written in Greek because it disagrees to the actual word found in New Testament Scripture (our Immovable Base).
Comment:
Taken at face value, Irenaeus seems to be saying that although God would that the saved live forever, everlasting life will be withheld from the unsaved. Conditionalists today could hardly put it more clearly, that whereas “continuance … [and] length of days for ever and ever” will be gifted to the redeemed of God, those who reject him will not receive “continuance … [and] length of days for ever and ever.” The only alternative is that they will die, never to live again. Consequently, as the New Catholic Encyclopea reads, “From time to time there has recurred the idea of conditional immortality … Irenaeus said that the soul is not immortal by nature, but it can become immortal if it lives according to God’s law.”
Source:
http://rethinkinghell.com/2012/11/03/deprived-of-continuance-irenaeus-the-conditionalist/
Who is right then?
Firstly, we reject the quotes which are NOT written in Greek because it disagrees to the actual word found in New Testament Scripture (our Immovable Base).
How do I know that it's age-during and NOT eternal as per the 'Professor of Koine Greek's claim'?
Let's call the current age as AGE1 which has an end (Matthew 13:49). So, does the next age have an end too or is it eternal?
Simple, I will use the Bible ONLY to refute this. Please note that the 'same root Greek Word Aion or Eon' exists in both Matthew 25:46 (as a 'singular age') and Ephesians 2:7 (as a 'plural - ages'). Can you see it?
This means that the 'next age to come' (AGE2) ---> where the righteous gain rewards of inheritance (Luke 18:30) while the wicked gain their part in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:46) ----> is NOT eternal simply because ---> there are "ages to come" (Ephesians 2:7, call it AGE2, AGE3, etc.).
So for AGE3 to exist (implied by the Plural in Ephesians 2:7), the next age or AGE2 must END. Since Matthew 25:46 refers to the punishment in AGE2, this punishment or life is NOT eternal either. The life spoken of in AGE2 toward the righteous transcends further to greater Glory and sometimes unrevealed things (in Principle of 1 Corinthians 2:9 & John 17:3 in Context of John 17:2 toward ALL FLESH too - Shocked? There's more).
Ever wondered what's your best professor's argument against the claim above?
The cannot refute it and so they claim that the 'ages to come' is just a 'figure of speech denoting the richness'. I mean, 'seriously, a professor of linguistics?' Can't you see that Ephesians 2:7 is a FACTUAL Statement and NOT a linguistic fantasy you claim it to be?
Do you dare claim that the phrase 'ages to come' in Ephesians 2:7 is just a 'linguistic fantasy' which does 'not prove the existence of at least two other ages to come' as per the LITERAL meaning of this FACTUAL Verse?
Are you sure that in the presence of our Blessed Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ ---> apostle Paul is going to say, 'well done, professor; you understood my figure of speech to mean that there are NO ages to come'? Let's be 'wise'.
"who [Sheepfold1] may not receive back manifold more in this time [Times of the Kingdom during His 1000 years Millennial Reign on the Last Day of this Current AGE1 itself - Revelation 20:4 - 6] , and in the coming age [AGE2], life age-during [in AGE2]." - Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 18:30, YLT)
"And these shall go away to punishment age-during [in AGE2], but the righteous to life age-during [in AGE2]." - Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:46, YLT)
"so that in the AGES to COME [Future Ages, Plural in Koine Greek implying at least TWO future ages, AGE2, AGE3], He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." - apostle Paul (Ephesians 2:7, NASB)
Surprisingly, St. Irenaeous seems to teach implying 'age by age reward too' (from this AGE1 to AGE2, next) agreeing to this exegesis Perfectly, to quote:
" ... at the Resurrection of the Just [First resurrection, Revelation 20:4 - 6].” And again He says, “Whosoever shall have left lands, or houses, or parents, or brethren, or children because of Me, he shall receive in this world [age, AGE1] an hundred-fold, and in that [age] to come [AGE2] he shall inherit eternal [age-during] life [in AGE2 as well].” For what are the hundred-fold [rewards] in this word, the entertainments given to the poor, and the suppers for which a return is made? These are [to take place] in the times of the kingdom, that is, upon the seventh day [Last Day of this AGE1, called the 'Day of the Age' - 2 Peter 3:18 using YLT Translation] ,..." - St. Irenaeous of Lyons (Chapter 32:2, Against Heresies)
7) Last Day and its Two Prophesied Resurrections
The Last Day is when all Resurrection happens for all men (some to life while others to Judgment in the 'flesh' or 'resurrected body' where the 'soul gets a body' ---> where only for those inheriting the 'resurrection to life' during this specific Last Day Time Period, these obtain the 'spiritual body to live on earth' too chiefly, 1 Corinthians 15:44 of 'differing Glory', as God Wills 1 Corinthians 15:38 - 49).
In John 5:25, Christ mentions two hours relating to the Last Day since these prophesied resurrection (Daniel 12:2 or Revelation 20:4 - 6) only happens on the Last Day --> the "hour now is" and "hour is coming" where
"hour now is" (John 5:25 only) = start hour at the Last Day (First Resurrection only, Revelation 20:4 - 6 toward Sheepfold1- John 10:14 called the 'Resurrection of the Just', Luke 14:14 and NOT the 'resurrection of the Just and unjust' which is next).
"hour is coming" (John 5:28 - 29) = end hour of this same Last Day (the resurrection where both the remaining righteous of Sheepfold2-John 10:16 and the wicked are raised simultaneously, John 5: 28 – 29, Daniel 12:2).
In Acts 24:15, apostle Paul shares the 'SAME Hope' in the Pharisees where they believed in the Daniel 12:2 resurrection where the 'just and the unjust' (i.e. the General Resurrection as Irenaeous calls it) where both the 'remaining righteous and wicked from the tombs' get resurrected simultaneously (agreeing to John 5:28 - 29) which does NOT refer to the First Resurrection (which refers only to His Bride, Revelation 20:4 - 6) as this was only revealed in obvious detail after Christ was Manifested.
This HOPE is for 'the remaining all men' (Acts 24:15) but to be part of the First Resurrection is a 'hope ONLY for the believers of faith, Sheepfold1' (as 1 Thessalonians 4:13 proves Irrefutably as it refers to the First Resurrection implicitly in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 17 next in the Context of Consecutive Verses).
Also, St. Irenaeous of Lyons himself (who was a hearer of Polycarp the disciple of John who wrote the Book for Revelation) says this same thing regarding the Two Resurrections with a Gap of about 1000 years as mentioned in Revelation 20: 5 to which your exegesis contradicts all this.
So, Irenaeous (third from John who wrote the Book of Revelation) did not understand the 70AD theory? Isn't that a Joke? I cannot accept such absurdities. Sorry.
Daniel's Prophecy comes in Pieces where it must be harmonized with New Testament Verses as already demonstrated in my posts.
The 70AD Theorists or Preterists completely ignore the phrases 'hour now is' vs 'hour is coming' in regards to the Two resurrections for the righteous itself (implied in John 5:25 for Sheepfold1 vs Sheepfold2 respectively) with the 1000 year gap mentioned in Revelation between these Two Resurrections (the First Resurrection vs the General Resurrection - Revelation 20:5), in which Irenaeous does NOT err. You guys erred, big time.
Here's a one line refutation of Preterism type Universalism which assumes that there is only one resurrection of the dead: 'Explain 1 Thessalonians 4:13 only please in which the rest of the dead have NO Hope?'
How do we explain that Biblically with Verses?
Please explain only using 1 Thessalonians 4 itself if possible regarding which NO Hope is being referred to in the context of the 'resurrection of the dead' since it is pointed to 'the dead' in HOPE of a Particular type of Resurrection (a simple and obvious implication) where 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 17 itself points to this HOPE being only fulfilled when 'all believers' are 'numbered'.
Here's a non-contradictory explanation:
Yes, the rest of the dead have NO Hope (you ignore this Verse, 1 Thessalonians 4:13) which points to a particular Resurrection only (1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 17), the First Resurrection which comprises of 'believers in faith only' (Revelation 20:4 – 6) which refutes the 'just and unjust resurrection simultaneously in Daniel 12:2 or John 5:28 - 29' (the General Resurrection) implying that these are Two Different Resurrections as Irenaeous himself explained being separated by 1000 years (Revelation 20:5).
Yes, what is this HOPE reserved 'only for the believers in faith' (Sheepfold1) as per 1 Thessalonians 4:13?
Hoping for the First Resurrection which can only be fulfilled when 'all believers of faith are numbered' (1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 17, Hebrews 11:39 - 40, Revelation 20:4 - 6) in which the rest of the dead cannot be part of it (Revelation 20:5).
Here's a word of Wisdom:
To ignore the 'little things' causes us to 'miss the big things'.
I don't agree with you and will stick to Irenaeous and the 'little details' pointed out here with NO contradictions. Thanks for sharing your view though (for comparison).
8) God's Judgment till the Victory of Universal Reconciliation
"A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth Judgment unto Victory." (Matthew 12:20, KJV)
God's Righteous Judgment is to END all evil and to RECONCILE ALL CREATION (Colossians 1:16) back to HIMSELF eventually (Colossians 1:20).
This is what it means to speak of 'Righteous Judgment':
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." - Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:24, KJV)
The 'Inescapable Love of God' (as Professor Thomas Talbott calls it) is described by Irenaeous himself, to quote:
In the fourth Pfaffian fragment ascribed to St. Irenaeous of Lyons (Stieren I, 889), Irenaeous says that ‘Christ will come at the end of time to destroy all evil—-and to reconcile all things– from Col. i:20–that there may be an end of all impurity.’
Source and further discussion:
God's Justice is Good & Logical.
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