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Are the “Unsaved” Lost?
Astonishing Surprises About Judgment Day—The Last Day!
Chapter 12, Part 1 Preview: What will Yehovah (God) do with all of the “good” people who die, who didn’t know Yeshua (Jesus)? The Bible teaches us that there is going to be a Judgment Day. We almost innately believe that the wicked (whoever they are) will be separated from the good (presumably us). But can we know exactly who will be given eternal life, and when, and who will be cast into Gehenna, the lake of fire, and why? The Biblical explanation for Judgment Day has been horribly misrepresented. You can be pretty certain where your “unsaved” friends and relatives will end up, and the verdict is much different than you’ve been told—and often much better!
The Clueless Sheep and Goats
Let’s start my overview of a prophecy that is just slightly disguised as a parable concerning Judgment Day. Then just do a CAREFUL reading of the whole account—maybe for your first time ever. This account actually demonstrates that both the sheep and the goats will be judged as soon as Yeshua returns by how they treated people! But the kicker in this account is that the sheep and the goats are all totally clueless as to what is happening. The sheep are shocked when they hear, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father! Inherit the Kingdom!” You would think that if the sheep are really Christians here that they would be saying, “Halleluyah, We have been waiting for You!” But instead they are asking, in essence, “Why would You welcome us into Your Kingdom and credit us with charitable works towards You?”
And just as shocked are the goats when they hear, “'Go back to your journey away' from Me. You are doomed to the everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels.” and then they’ll reply, “Sovereign, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and not help You?” 45 Then He will reply, “I am certain that whenever you didn’t do anything for one of those 'insignificant' ones, you didn’t do anything for Me. 46 They’ll go away for an eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’—The Gabriel Bible
Do keep in mind that the people who manage to survive the end times will live on to repopulate the earth. But everyone who ever lived and died will be resurrected and face judgement. “All the nations will be gathered in front of Him”. (Compare to Daniel 12:1-4 & John 5:28-30).
(The Firstfruits, the true followers of Yeshua who are held to a much higher threshold will have already received their long anticipated reward, as well as the Kingdom in the blink of an eye!)
Now just carefully go over the whole account:
Matthew 25:31-34 When the Human Son comes in His splendor, and all His spirit messengers with Him, He’ll sit on the throne of His splendor. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of Him, and He’ll separate them from each other, just like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He’ll put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father! Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 I was hungry and you gave Me some food, I was thirsty and you gave Me a drink, I was a stranger and you took Me home. 36 I needed clothes and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you cared for Me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 And the righteous will ask Him, ‘Sovereign, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see that You were a stranger and take You home, or needing clothes and give You some? 39 When did we see You sick or in prison and come to You’? 40 The King will reply, ‘I can say with certainty that whenever you did anything for one of My brothers, who others thought of as insignificant, you did it for Me.’
41 Then He’ll say to those on His left, 'Go back to your journey away from' Me. You are doomed to the everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 When I was hungry you didn’t give Me any food. When I was thirsty you didn’t give Me anything to drink. 43 When I was a stranger you didn’t take Me home, when I needed clothes you didn’t give Me any, when I was sick and in prison you didn’t visit Me. 44 Then they’ll reply, ‘Sovereign, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and not help You?’ 45 Then He will reply, ‘I am certain that whenever you didn’t do anything for one of those 'insignificant' ones, you didn’t do anything for Me. 46 They’ll go away for an eternal punishment [6], but the righteous to eternal life.’”
[6] The Greek root word of “penalty” is kolazo: “to cut off or prune, as trees and wings.”
Sabbath keeping Churches of God and Jehovah’s Witnesses: Did you notice that the goats who had not showed kindnesses (good works) to people in need are NOT told: “You are in luck! Because you didn’t know about Me, you get a free redo, a pass from the fiery pit. You get another lifetime to do good, now that you know I’m watching you! You might be really good, I’m just not sure yet. Again, remember I’m watching closer this time!”
It is particularly important that you notice that these “righteous” are totally oblivious as to why they are being rewarded! They don’t understand why they are being offered eternal life! They had certainly not understood Yehovah’s plan for humanity! Yet this is a very positive judgment. It is an invitation to pre-qualified (i.e. not wicked) people to become “like the Messengers” (Angels). I seriously doubt that anyone will decline the offer when Yehovah says to them: “Enter into the joy of your Master”. This is, however a very brief account. I fully expect that these people, when Yehovah has their totally undivided attention, will be exceedingly willing to pledge their allegiance to Yeshua, their Savior, as they ask for forgiveness of their sins. These compassionate “gentile” survivors will be EXCUSED and will be welcomed into the earthly Kingdom to live out their physical lives!
Actually, it may be easier to judge someone who is not “being good” just in order to obtain an eternal reward, or someone who fears hell and wants “fire insurance”. A person who, due to his “nature”, treats his fellow man with love, not expecting personal gain, is sure to be looked on quite favorably by Yehovah!
Further down there will be a more detailed explanation of Yeshua’s Judgment Day account. Just note that the sheep here, still a common metaphor for ignorant people, are not the wise followers of Yeshua, as is so commonly taught.
The Firstfruits know well what John mentioned in these verses:
John 14:15 If you love Me, obey My Commandments!
Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are those who obey His Commandments [2]. They’ll have access to the Tree of Life and be permitted to enter thru the gates into the city. 15 Outside of the city are 'perverts', sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters and everyone who loves to tell lies.
[2] The Wescott & Hort versions of Revelation (most modern versions) inexcusably substitute “wash your robes” for “obey the Commandments”, unlike the Peshitta and the Majority text versions (the KJV “family”). See Matthew 19:16-19.
This chapter is about the others: people who were not fortunate enough during their life times to obey the first four of the Ten Commandments—the universal laws that are only found in the Bible—and not discernible from reason alone. This chapter is about the good natured people who were not deceived by false religions or tyrannical political systems or other psychopaths into believing that people have no human rights if they don’t conform to popular societal influences. It’s about people who lived and died, whose consciences prevented them from beoming evil, but without the benefit of having had a true whole Bible based extended family, or had a Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus type of awakening, but, on the other hand were not “'perverts', sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters and liars”.
This article in not about a supposed need for rehabilitating the wicked by educating them in doctrine and Biblical truth, by giving people a “second chance” or a “fair chance” (a dire heresy). It is entirely about the criteria Yehovah uses to judge the ignorant by their “works” (a fairly right link) in this life, but whose names have not been blotted out of The Book of Life (names are never added!), even for many who are not expecting Him to return!
Hebrews 9:26b-28 ... But now, at the end of the age, He has offered Himself once as a zebak [sacrifice] to abolish sin. 27 And just as people are destined to die once, and after their death comes Judgment [Day], 28 so the Messiah was also offered once, and personally placed on the altar to bear the sins of many, and He’ll appear a second time, not to bear sin, but for the eternal life of those who expect Him.
It is quite understandable that people would seek an alternative view to the “Satan wins in the end” viewpoint where the vast multitudes of humanity over 6000 years burn at the end, yet those who have taught the “second chance” doctrine in the last two centuries are still wrong. While often having taught other truths better than most, they lose considerable credibility due to this equally erroneous doctrine!
This chapter is about Biblical destiny—a genuine hope that the “up or down” crowd never even consider—a Judgment Day where good but ignorant people can be exonerated, and ignorance can be an excuse.
Tolerance is a consideration:
Luke 10::12-14 I can assure you that it will be more tolerable for Sodom on Judgment Day than for that town. 13 I pity you Chorazin, I pity you Bethsaida. If the miracles that had been done in you had been seen in Tyre and Sidon, they would have amended their ways long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than it is for you.
Some people view eternal life as wishful thinking, preferring to believe that humanity is the result of random chance happenings in a “primordial soup”—the soup also being the result of a mindlessly “created” universe, filled with random laws of physics that just happen to perform in a magnificent way.
Aside from this minority, most people assume that the judgment will involve a “heaven” or “hell” type of scenario, or some other similar but equally erroneous concept, also of pagan origin. Most people inherently believe that Heavenly fairness will somehow ultimately be achieved in some far away place. But they’re totally unaware of the coming Everlasting Kingdom—on earth! Those who know about the Earthly Kingdom have some equally unbiblical ideas that will be covered here! I was taught that Judgment Day involved a resurrection of everyone who ever lived without a full understanding of “the truth” coming back to life after the millennium where they were to live out another life for 100 years, because this life does not count. Even Adolph Hitler supposedly did not have an opportunity to prove whether he was fit for eternal life! (What about Hebrews 9:27!) Others I know believe that Judgment Day is about Jesus coming back to incinerate the earth. To recognize a counterfeit teaching, you only need to know what the genuine looks like.
For those who ostensibly believe in the Biblical account, there are many shocking statements made in the Bible, if only you look for them without preconceived ideas! This chapter considers many of them. Here, for example, is a question to carefully contemplate: Will “good” people go to heaven on or before Judgment Day, while the “bad” people go elsewhere?
Matthew 19:17 He replied, “Why are you calling Me good? No one is good but One, namely Aloha [God]. But if you want to enter into eternal life, OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS” [2].
[2] This is the world’s most important question, but virtually no one believes His answer, even tho it is repeated in Mark 10:17-22 & Luke 18:18-23! These are the six “love your neighbor” Commandments, (counting covetousness, vss.21-22). The first four Commandments are the “love your Aloha” Commandments, while the last six Commandments apply to human relationships. There is a greatly overlooked means of obtaining eternal life for righteous people who are ignorant of the Torah, as explained in Are the “unsaved” Lost?.
The statement “No one is good but One” above is extremely interesting. It implies that goodness is a relative thing. While no one epitomizes “goodness” to the degree that our Heavenly Father does, we can still certainly be accounted as “good enough” to enter the Kingdom of Aloha, so long as we keep the Royal Law—more about that later.
Here are a couple of interesting thoughts that are absolutely contradictory to today’s Christian teachings (that differ greatly from 1st century chosen ones {saints} or Nazarene teachings). This one is “buried” just three verses away from what used to be the most quoted verse in the Bible. Few are honest enough to teach this:
John 3:13 NO ONE HAS GONE UP TO HEAVEN EXCEPT THE ONE WHO CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, the Human Son who is in Heaven. [Commentary]
(As an aside, why does the Bible never refer to anyone as “unsaved? For that matter, why does the Bible never say, “I am saved”, “he was saved”, “she got saved”, Peter, Paul or Mary “were saved”? And why do you see “shall be saved” so often.)
What is the Fate of the Wicked?
Here is a similarly blunt comment—one of many—contrasting the fate of the wicked to that of the righteous:
Psalm 37:10 In a little while the wicked will no longer exist. Tho you carefully consider their standing, they aren’t there.
Once more—where is the reward of the saved?
Proverbs 10:25,30 When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone, but the righteous have an everlasting foundation... 30 The righteous will never be removed [from the earth], but the wicked won’t remain on earth.
In the chapter Judgment Day—The Last Day, the focus was primarily on the Biblical passages relevant to the timing and prophetic circumstances surrounding the Day of Judgment. In this sequel, the topic is primarily the criteria that every member of humanity will be eternally judged by. There is a wonderful surprise in store for the “believers” within all of the world’s confused religions, as well as for non believers—so long as they have merely loved their neighbors! There are even some surprises in store for the Commandment keeping faithful—because the vast majority of them do not understand the exact purpose and timing of the resurrections!
Just as happened to Daniel, Yehovah singles you out, beginning with your first contact:
Daniel 10:12 Then he told me, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel, because from the first day that you dedicated yourself to understanding, and humbled yourself before your Elohim, your words were heard, and I’ve come as a result of your 'prayers'.
Is it true that, “The Bible reveals that only those called into the assembly are being judged now”? The verse cited as proof states:
1 Peter 4:17 because it is time for judgment to begin...
But the teaching doesn’t end there, the verse continues:
...and if it begins with us, what will be the end state of those who don’t obey the Good News of Yehovah? 18 If the righteous barely enter life, 'what chance' do the spiritually destitute and sinners have?
Paul answered this question, as I’ll soon show. Frankly those who are thoroly wicked are doomed. Peter may have been comparing his day to the time when Yehovah will begin the end time slaughter in Jerusalem:
Ezekiel 9:4-6 Yehovah said to him, “Go thruout the city, thru central Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the highly detestable things that are committed there.” [1] 5 Then I heard him say to the others, “Go thru the city after him and kill. Don’t look on them with pity or spare them. 6 Kill all of the old men, young men, maidens, little children and the women. But don’t come near anyone who has the mark, and begin at My 'Cherished' Place. So they began with the elders who were in front of the 'Temple'.
[1] Sparing the righteous is plainly illustrated in Jeremiah 24: Good Figs, Bad Figs
Take a close look at this contrastingly optimistic verse! Notice that Yehovah is the Savior of “ALL men, especially” (but by inescapable implication even more so for) “those who believe”.
1 Timothy 4:10 That is why we’re working so hard and are discredited so much, because we trust in the living Aloha who is the Life Giver of all humanity, especially of those who believe. [4].
[4] This statement is careful not to exclude the ignorant from being given the opportunity for life!
Four Classes of People!
Paul began a thoro and powerful lecture on the Torah (Law) and Judgment by carefully explaining four distinct classifications of people, not simply referring to the righteous and the wicked! To understand the amazing truths of Judgment Day, you must understand Romans Chapters 1 and 2! Discovering that everyone, not just the faithful, are being eternally judged by how they treat their “neighbors” is the largest unknown truth in all of the Bible! Knowing about the Messiah, right now, is not the only way to arrive in the Kingdom of Aloha, but being among the faithful, one of the Ecclesia, is the only way to a part of the best resurrection. Paul referred to the “Torah” (Law) 77 times in the book of Romans (76 times using “nomos”, and one time using “anomos” meaning “against the Torah”). This is one third of all the references within the The Testimony of Yeshua (New testament). There is a direct connection between “Torah” and “Judgment”. The second most Torah filled chapter in the Testimony of Yeshua is Romans 2, (followed by the most lawful chapter Chapter, Romans 7.) Chapters 3-6 are also quite lawful chapters, within the same context. These are great supplemental reading.
There are two types of people who are “without Law”, (1) “gentiles”, “who don’t have the Torah, who by NATURE do the things in the Torah”. They are ignorant of the Torah, yet their noble thoughts will be “excusing them”. (2) “Gentiles” who don’t respond to their supernaturally given conscience have “their own thoughts accusing” them, based on the last six “natural” Commandments that Yeshua explained to the rich young ruler. Then there are two groups of the called: (3) those who “have sinned ‘in’ [aware of] the Torah”, who were offered eternal life, but declined it—hearers only; and finally there are those who (4) “obey the Torah”, who were “called” and then chose to seek eternal life.
Matthew 22:14 Many guests are invited [Gr. kletos], but few have chosen to participate.
Romans 2:15 THEY DEMONSTRATE BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TORAH, BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS—WHILE THEIR CONSCIENCES ALSO BEAR WITNESS. THE DECISIONS OF THEIR CONSCIENCE ARE EITHER A LEGAL ACCUSATION OR A LEGAL DEFENSE EXCUSING THEM...
Conscience is the supernatural ability to come to a knowledge of the difference between good and evil, within our interpersonal relationships. Scientists are only now “discovering” this. (See footnote #1 at the bottom).
Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in mortal humanity [1], and the breath of the Conqueror gives them consciousness.
[1] There should be a simple and short definition to differentiate the human spirit from the conscience. I suggest that the human spirit is simply for the purpose of self preservation. This would include concern for offspring, but with little difference from the animals other than some bells and whistles, while Heart or conscience includes various degrees of concern for others: ‘others preservation”, as manifested by the last six Commandments.
All four groups mentioned in Romans 2 have one thing in common—judgment based on their behavior:
Psalm 62:12 Sovereign, You epitomize faithful love, because You compensate people in proportion to their work.
The Bible mentions these four groups as well: the “unjust, filthy”, the naturally “righteous”, and the “'special'” [holy] (Revelation 22:11)
I want to quote some more of Romans 2, because it explains the four groups of people, and the standards that each is judged by:
Romans 2:1 So people have no excuse when they pass judgments against 'others', because by judging others you pass judgment against yourself, because those of you who judge them have reverted [1] to your old ways.
[1] See why the word “revert” should be used in verses 1-3. Keyword revert.
The word “condemn” (or “pass judgments”), as used here, is “krino”, another legal term, translated as “judgest” in the KJV. It is unique to the book of Romans, with the exception of James 4:12, where it is in the same context concerning the “one Torah-giver and Judge, who can cause you to live, or can destroy you; but who are you to judge your neighbor?”
Romans 2:2-16 We understand that Yehovah’s judgment is objective regarding those who revert to committing such things. 3 How do you reconcile passing judgment against those who practice such things, when you have reverted to committing them yourself? Do you think you’ll escape Yehovah’s judgment? 4 Do you scorn the wealth of His integrity, His tolerance and the opportunity that He is giving you? Don’t you know that Yehovah’s benevolence should lead you to change the way you think and act?
5 But because of the stubbornness of your unchanging minds, you are hoarding a cache of punishment for the day of punishment, when Yehovah’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He’ll compensate everyone in direct proportion with their behavior. 7 Those who persevere in good behavior, and search out praise, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life, 8 but for those who are self-promoting partisans seeking control, refusing to uphold the truth, and who obey wickedness, there will be passionate anger and fury. 9 Tribulation and extreme suffering is reserved for everyone who is evil, starting with the Jews, but also every other ethnicity. 10 Yet praise, honor and peace of mind is granted to everyone who is a good servant, beginning with the Jews, but also ever other ethnicity. 11 Yehovah does not show partiality.
12 Anyone who sins without the Torah will also die without the Torah. When anyone wanders from the Torah of Yehovah, their judgment will be determined by the Torah. 13 It’s not those who hear the Torah who Yehovah deems righteous, rather, those who obey the Torah will be deemed righteous. 14 WHEN PEOPLE OF OTHER ETHNICITIES WHO DON’T HAVE THE TORAH INSTINCTFULLY DO WHAT THE TORAH REQUIRES, THEY, WHILE NOT UPHOLDING THE TORAH, ARE ESSENTIALLY THEIR OWN TORAH [2]! 15 THEY DEMONSTRATE BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TORAH, BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS—WHILE THEIR CONSCIENCES ALSO BEAR WITNESS. THE DECISIONS OF THEIR CONSCIENCE ARE EITHER A LEGAL ACCUSATION OR A LEGAL DEFENSE EXCUSING THEM 16 ON THE JUDGMENT DAY, WHEN YEHOVAH WILL JUDGE THE SECRET BEHAVIOR OF HUMANITY, AS MY GOOD NEWS DECLARES THRU YESHUA MESSIAH.
[2] This chapter is on the same topic as those Sheep & Goats in Matthew 25 above—those in total ignorance of the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31.
This is an absolutely stunning concept! Why doesn’t anyone teach this?
The context undoubtedly is showing that “eternal life” (v.7) and “ wrath and punishment” (v.8) are dispensed in one day, “ON [THE GREAT] JUDGMENT DAY, WHEN YEHOVAH JUDGES THE SECRETS [thoughts] OF HUMANITY ...” (v.16).
Yehovah is taking note of both the thoughts and the behavior of those who will be excused. They will not be condemned to eternal death; Yehovah “will render to each one according to his deeds”. However some might only be beaten with a few “stripes”, that is, endure some suffering (Luke 12:47-48). Note that the word “accusation” (kategoreo) referred to here is also a legal term, meaning “to charge with some offense”, and this word is also unique in the Bible, same comment for the word “excusing” (apologeomai) meaning “to make a defense”. The KJV inserts “one another” (v.15), yet the context of Romans 2 remains clearly Yehovah's “judgment” (vs.2,3,5,11,12,13 and 16). Yehovah will judge both the “secrets” and the thoughts shared among “one another” in that day. The first four of the Ten Commandments are the most important, that is why they are listed first. The first four Commandments are spiritually discerned; you don’t live by these Commandments without having knowledge of Biblical truth. The last six Commandments can all be understood “instinctively”, by those who “don’t have the Torah” by people using “their hearts” (minds) and “their conscience”. These last six Commandments are often referred to as “The Golden Rule”.
How to Inherit Eternal Life
(Remember, to inherit something, someone has to die!)
Here is the world’s best question, followed by the world’s best answer!
Luke 18:18-25 One of the leaders asked Him, “Good Sovereign, what must I do so that I can inherit eternal life?” 19 Yeshua asked him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except Aloha alone. 20 You know the Commandments, [Aramaic order] ‘You must never murder. You must never commit adultery. You must never steal. You must never give a false testimony. And honor your father and your mother.’ 21 He replied, “I have obeyed all of these from my childhood.”
22 When Yeshua heard that, He replied, “You still need to do one thing. Go and sell everything that you have and give 'the money' to the poor, and you’ll have a treasure in Heaven. Then come and follow Me.” 23 When he heard this he was overcome with sorrow, because he was very rich. 24 When Yeshua saw how sad he was, He said, ”It is very difficult for those who are wealthy to enter into Yehovah’s Kingdom! 25 It is easier to push a rope [2] thru the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter Yehovah’s Kingdom!
[2] See why it’s not “A camel.” Keyword “camel.”
Virtually no one believes His answer, even tho Matthew and Mark also recorded it: Matthew 19:16-22 & Mark 10:17-22!
In answering the most important question of all time, Yeshua actually, in essence, took Himself out of the equation for those who only have the last six Commandments, the ones that come as part of the human conscience—not by revelation like the first four, even to the point of belittling His role: “Why do you call Me good?” You might think He would have said that not only were you to think of Him as good, but that you need to acknowledge Him as Master, Messiah and Aloha! But those requirements only apply to those of us who are called! People who live their lives doing good as best they know how to can meet the MINIMUM requirements for obtaining eternal life!
You may ask, since Yeshua was singling out the “neighborly” commandments, why He didn’t mention the 10th Commandment: covetousness? Actually, He did. That was this man’s problem and Yeshua addressed it with the most commentary in verses 22-25. Yeshua gave him a customized test for the absolute minimum requirements (to be excused for ignorance as we are about to see) and he failed.
Why didn’t Yeshua even hint at calling on the name of His Savior? (Not to mention the fact that He didn’t even mention that He was the Savior!)
There’s a Higher Level of Obedience Required for the Called!
A few chapters earlier a “lawyer” (an advanced Torah teacher) asked Yeshua the same exact question about eternal life and got an answer that required knowledge of and compliance with the Torah:
Luke 10:25-28 One day a Torah teacher stood up to test Him and asked, “Sovereign, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 Yeshua asked him, “How is it written in the Torah? How do you understand it?” 27 He replied, “You must love Yehovah your Aloha with all of your intellectual endeavors, with all of your consciousness [psyche, Gr: psuche], with all of your understanding, and with all your ability, and love your neighbors as yourself.” 28 Yeshua told him, “Your reply is correct, do this and you’ll Live.
The Torah teacher’s answer involved both loving Yehovah (the first 4 Commandments) as well as loving your neighbors (the last 6 Commandments)!
Surprisingly, perhaps even the (now second) most quoted passage in the Bible equates good behavior/works/deeds with coming to the Light:
John 3:16-21 Yehovah loved the world so much that He gave His unique Son, so that whoever continues believing [present, active] [4] in Him would not be destroyed, but have eternal life. 17 Yehovah didn’t send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, because of Him could receive eternal life.
18 No one who believes in Him faces an adverse judgment, but those who refuse to be persuaded will be summoned to trial, because they refused to believe in the unique Son of Yehovah’s name. 19 This is the grounds for condemnation—the Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness more than the Light because their deeds [works] have been wicked. 20 Anyone who does highly detestable things hates the Light and doesn’t come to the Light, fearing that their actions will be exposed. 21 But anyone who does what is right eventually comes to the Light, so that it becomes apparent that their works were performed in compliance with Yehovah.
[4] See shemitah link
Ironically, many of the people who teach that good works can not enable anyone to enter the Kingdom of Elohim will enter only on the merits of their works—if at all, having been excused on the grounds of ignorance and totally without regard to any of their religious beliefs!
The entirety of Ezekiel 18 describes how a Torah observant Israelite, who had little idea (not a hint in the chapter) about what the coming Messiah would do, explains exactly what was expected of them (“every soul”: v.4) to live! That is how everyone, deprived of that precious knowledge was and is to be judged by! Don’t expect them to be second class in the Kingdom either! Every deed will be weighed in the balance! Ezekiel 33 adds more context about this life and death issue: faith without works (as they say). The chapter concludes with people actually liking to listen to Ezekiel said—they just don’t believe what he said: vs.29-33. Just like they don’t believe what James said in Chapter 2:14-26:
Does anyone actually believe what Ezekiel was inspired to say? Do a web search something like this: “What happens to people who lived before Jesus”. The first on that I see explains that everyone has to by resurrected in the flesh and have a second chance to get it right (I believed to these people years ago). Other articles just vaguely suggest that it will work out somehow in the end. I've heard others say they just fry for eternity.
Wicked behavior—deliberately hurting other people (the last 6 Commandments)—is a universal means of rejecting the Light, and is the sole reason for condemnation to the Lake of Fire! Ignorance, combined with a clean conscience can be dealt with later!
Yehovah knows everything about us and our works, apparently from conception:
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart. I’ve selected you to be a prophet to the nations.” [abortion?]
Yehovah can see into the future, He can read you like a book, yet He does not make your decisions. You choose life or death:
Deuteronomy 30:19 Today, I am summoning heaven and earth to witness that I have 'offered' you life or death, blessings or curses. Now, choose life, so that both you and your descendants will live.
In the end, the vast majority of humanity will have lived out their lives unaware that they were living out a test—or at least Who was conducting the test and what was at stake. This is for the best! A great fictional analogy is Willy Wonka & the Choolate Factory. In the movie [preview], five children are offered the chance to obtain a lifetime’s worth of chocolate. None of the contending children touring the factory know about the great reward for the conscientious child who might pass the test. The owner conducting the tour distances himself from the contenders deliberately in order to observe the children’s character without their trying to impress him for any favor. Only in the end does Willy praise, commend and greatly reward the unwitting contestant for his good “works”.
Yehovah custom makes tests of character for each of His prospective sons! Random chance has nothing to do with calling and testing. Being called to be kings (Revelation 5:10), and choosing to accept simply requires more extensive, “interactive testing”. Contrast that with:
Matthew 7:21-23 Not just anyone who says to Me, “Sovereign, Sovereign”, will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who actually do the will of My Father in the Heavens. 22 Many will say to Me on 'Judgment' Day, “Sovereign, Sovereign, didn’t we prophesy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons, and perform many miracles in Your name?” 23 Then I’ll tell them publicly [see root words 3674 and 3056], “I never knew you. Get away from Me you Torah breakers” [2].
[2] The Greek nomos almost always means Torah in the Testimony of Yeshua, while anomos means without Torah.
Truly, this is not an exaggeration; their “relationship” with Yeshua had never ever existed! These “Christians” were complete strangers to Yehovah, even tho they called themselves Christians! These wicked bogus kadishea (saints) do serve us tho, by testing our character and our spiritual resolve right now!
Who are the called? They are reasoning, “willing and obedient” volunteers!
Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, let’s reason together,” says Yehovah, “Even if your sins are like scarlet, they’ll be as white as snow. Tho they are crimson red, they’ll look like wool. 19 If you’re willing to obey, you’ll eat the best the land produces; 20 but if you refuse to obey My Word* and rebel, you’ll be 'killed' by swords.” The Word* of Yehovah has spoken.
While Yehovah formerly called a nation, He is now working with scattered individuals who are truly seeking to find the Divine Physician because they know that they are spiritually sick!
Luke 5:31-32 Yeshua replied, “Healthy people don’t need a physician, but the seriously ill do. 32 I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners to change their ways.
Two More Resurrections in One “Hour”
There is good reason to accept the following admonition literally:
John 5:21-29 The Father raises the dead, and gives them life again, so the Son also gives life to whoever He wants to. 22 Father doesn’t judge anyone because He has delegated all judgment to the Son, 23 so everyone should honor the Son, as He honors the Father. Anyone who doesn’t honor the Son, doesn’t honor the Father who sent Him.
24 I tell you with absolute certainty that anyone who hears My Word, and believes in the One who sent Me has eternal life. They won’t come into condemnation, but have passed from death to life. 25 I tell you with absolute certainty that the time is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of Yehovah, and those who 'respond' will live. 26 The Father has life in Himself, so He has also enabled the Son to have life in Himself, in the same way. 27 More importantly, He has also given Him the authority to judge everyone, because He is the Human Son.
28 Don’t be amazed at this, because the time is coming when everyone in their graves will hear His voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things to a Resurrection resulting in life, and those who have committed evil to a Resurrection resulting in Condemnation [4].
[4] This statement alludes to Daniel’s Judgment Day statement (12:1-3). Judgment Day will occur during the most horrific time in world history. Yet “at that time your people [Israel] will be saved.”
OK, once more to establish the timing:
Daniel 12:1-2 AT THAT TIME, Michael will take a stand, the great commander who stands for your people, and there will be a time of trouble [the Great Tribulation, worse than 536 A.D, The Worst Year In History], such as there has never been since the first nation up until that time, AND AT THAT TIME [during the “time of the end!”] your people will escape, everyone whose names are still found {niphal} recorded in the Book [of Life]. 2 Multitudes of people sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some of them to everlasting life, and the others to shame and everlasting contempt.
(Or as Yeshua said—“EVERYONE who sleeps in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt”.)
Some people don’t think that the “ALL” or “EVERYONE” of John 5:28 means all. In case Yehovah calls “too many” people to be kings, would you like to wait until the thousand years are finished to be resurrected? Conversely, which of the wicked should await judgment until later? Notice: “all” who have ever lived are resurrected in one hour! It may be a literal hour, but if we apply the “day for a year principle” to this “hour”, we have 1/24 of a year, and this is precisely fifteen days, in an end time prophetic 360 day year. The Day of Trumpets is on the first day of the seventh month and the most 'special' Day of the Feast of Tabernacles is on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Figuratively, this is “one hour”, a perfect fit both in time span and in the prophetic significance of these days! In the very beginning, there is evidence that months were 30 days long and full moons were exactly 15 days after New Moons. Israel, symbolized by the moon, will be shining at maximum full light when our jobs begin in the seventh millennium. Here is how this “EVERYONE in their graves” could fit the Biblical Days within one “hour”: At the Day of Trumpets the Day of Yehovah “hits” the earth!
Joel 2:1 Blow a shofar in Zion [1]! Sound the alarm on My 'special' mountain [2]! All the inhabitants of the land should tremble because the Day of Yehovah is coming, it’s soon!
[1] “Blow a shofar in Zion”: The Scriptures mention blowing a shofar five times: 1) Every year on the Day of Atonements {Leviticus 25:9}; 2) A separate blowing on Atonements to proclaim an upcoming Jubilee year; 3) The Ten Commandments were being implemented (Exodus 19) {or about to be again}; 4) When war is imminent; and 5) by musicians in the Temple. In this chapter, with Mount Zion standing in for the Temple just destroyed, all five reasons apply! [2] This is another account of a still future destruction of Jerusalem, this time from an invincible army!The Day of Atonement represents the time when Israel finally becomes at one with Yehovah and becomes the bride (or fiancée) of the Messiah. Then on the First day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the “Great Multitude” will be able to become citizens of the next generation of the household or Kingdom of Aloha. They are given “white robes” (Revelation 7:9), symbolizing that they have been purified, and given an opportunity to drink from the “living fountains of water”. Don’t make the assumption that the whiteness and purity of the great multitude indicates that these are immortal beings. They are still being refined! Notice the terms used to describe these very human people at the end of this age:
Daniel 11:35 Some of the wise will fall away to refine them and to purify them and make them white all the way to the end time, but it will still happen at the appointed time.
By the Eighth Day (concerning day 7 & 8), salvation will begin for all of the other nations. The bottom line is that virtually everyone who survives the great tribulation will have at least 100 years of millennial bliss to repent within.
The term “hour” used above, in Greek, is not a nebulous word that can mean anything you want it to. Our word “hour” is a direct transliteration of the Greek word “hora”, (it means the exact same thing.) Webster adds something interesting: “Astronomy: a unit of right ascension representing 15 degrees, or the 24th part of a great circle”. That is 15/360ths! Also the Hebrew word for “degrees” (parts of 360) used in 2 Kings 20:11, where “He brought the shadow 10 degrees backward” on the sundial, also has to do with ascension. It literally means “a journey to a higher place” as well as “a step or grade-mark” (Strong’s # 1509). I believe that the mathematical use of “degrees” dates back to before the great flood, when years appear to have been 360 days long. The use of degrees can be traced as far back as Babylonian tablets. Might Webster’s “great circle” have originally been the circular path of the Earth around the sun? horisons [or circle] of the earth, and views its inhabitants like grasshoppers ...” (Isaiah 40:22). I once asked my dad, who was an atomic scientist: “why 360 degrees, why not 100 or 400?” Apparently, the answer precedes written history!
Chapter 11 /
Are the “Unsaved” Lost? continues in Part 2
