BeComingOne

Back to Home Page

(c) Copyright 1971-2016 by Walter R. Dolen

NM 14: Does All Mean All?

"All" in Context

Two More Resurrections

Three Orders to Immortality

More Proofs that All Will Be Saved

What is Meant by All?

How much forgiveness?

What about forever Punishment?

The Contradiction

NM14 Abstract

This is a follow-up paper to NM13 ("All Saved") in which we examine more scripture about all being saved. We will, in so doing, consider whether or not the Bible really meant to say "all." Does all mean all?

"All" in Context

nm412 >> This paper is concerned with the word "all" as it appears in scripture. When God, through the writers of the Bible, uses the word "all," does He mean all, or does he exaggerate? Does God stretch the truth like humans? This is very important. There are scriptures in which, if we take the word "all" to mean all, we see a different view of scripture than those who think God makes overstatements or exaggerates. There are psychological and spiritual reasons for some not understanding "all" as meaning all in scripture. 

nm413 >> Let us first examine some of the "all" scriptures. Then we will discuss some of the alleged impossibilities about taking "all" as truly meaning ALL. 

From Paul's resurrection chapter we read: 

For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive (1Cor 15:22; see Rom 5:14-18; Psa 82:7-8).

nm414 >> In this one sentence we have "all" repeated twice. Most believe the first "all," that is, because of Adam's sin all die. Most do not believe the second "all," that is, because of Christ all will be made alive. Does God, through Paul's writing, use "all" in two different ways in the same sentence? Is the second "all" ("all be made alive") a hyperbole or just a positive hope? Is the all powerful God just exaggerating here? 

All Made Alive in Christ

nm415 >> What is meant in 1Corinthians 15:22 by "be made alive"? Does it mean be made alive (resurrected) and thereafter be killed in some kind of hell fire? In context what does it mean to "be made alive"? 

  • "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection out of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order" (1Cor 15:21-23, NASB).
Christ is the First

nm416 >> Here it speaks of the resurrection of the dead. All shall be made alive, but not at the same time. There is an order to the "all shall be made alive." In context this resurrection has something to do with "the resurrection of the dead.":

  • "But each in his own order: Christ the first fruit, after that those who are Christ's at His coming" (1Cor 15:23, NASB).

nm417 >> Who was the first one in this "order" of being made alive or thus being resurrected? Christ was the first one resurrected from the dead to life (1Cor 15:12, 19; Rom 1:4; Rev 1:18; etc.). This resurrection of Christ was not a resurrection like Lazarus or like other resurrections reported in the Bible (John 11:23-44; Mat 27:52-53). Lazarus was merely resurrected back to physical and mortal life. But Christ the first of the "order" of the "all shall be made alive," was resurrected to permanent life - to immortal life. Paul in this very important chapter of 1Corinthians chapter 15, explains what kind of resurrection he had in mind: 

  • "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body ... for this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1Cor 15:42, 53).

nm418 >> So in context of this chapter in Paul's writings, Christ the first of the order was resurrected to immortal life. 

  • "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruit, after that those who are Christ's at His coming."

nm419 >> After Christ, the first of the order, comes "those who are Christ's at his coming." After Christ's resurrection to immortal life there is another resurrection at Christ's coming. 

Two More Resurrections

nm420 >> Scripture speaks of two more great resurrections. Acts 24:15 speaks of the resurrection of the JUST and UNJUST. John 5:29 speaks about the good having a "resurrection of life" and those who have done evil having a "resurrection of judgment." Those doing good, those that come to Christ and eat of the Spiritual manna will be resurrected "at the last day" and live "into the age" (John 6:39-44, 58, Greek text). These are those who are "worthy to obtain that age" - and who "are the children of God, being children of the resurrection" (Luke 20:35, 36).

nm421 >> This "last day," this "age" can be ascertained by other scripture and Biblical patterns. This last day is the 1000 year day (2Pet 3:8; Rev 20:2; see "Thousand Years and Beyond Paper" [NM 15]). Thus, "they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (But the rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection" (Rev 20:4, 5). There are two resurrections pictured here. The first one being those who will reign with Christ for 1000 years (Christians); the others are not resurrected until after the 1000 years. 

nm422 >> This first resurrection of Revelation 20:4-5 is also the "resurrection of the just," or "the resurrection of life" (Acts 24:15; John 5:29). These are resurrected to "that age," the "last day," or that is, the 1000 year antitypical Sabbath day - the last day. The next resurrection after the one at Christ's coming or at the beginning of the "last day," is the resurrection after the 1000 year day (Rev 20:5a). This is the "resurrection of the unjust," or the "resurrection of judgment," that is, the resurrection of the evil bunch who are to be judged-down for the 1000 years. 

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruit, after that those who are Christ's at his coming." (1Cor 15:22-23)

nm423 >> The first in the "order" to the new life was Christ who was the first to be resurrected from death to immortality. The second order in the resurrections mentioned in 1Cor 15:22-24 is also the "first resurrection" of Revelation 20:4-5, and is the resurrection of the real Christians who will be resurrected to immortality at Christ's coming and will rule with Christ for the 1000 years. 

nm424 >> Scripture says "in Christ ALL shall be made alive. But each in his own order." If ALL are to be made alive, then most will be resurrected in the third of the "order." Christ was one person. Christians are few in number compared to the billions who died without Christ's Spirit. Thus, the resurrection with the greatest number of persons is the third order of resurrections, which is the resurrection after the 1000 years (Rev 20:4-5). 

nm425 >> Pattern. As we have seen, these resurrections are resurrections to immortality. There is a pattern here. Christ, the first in the order, was the first to be resurrected to immortality. Christians, the second in the order, will be resurrected to immortality. The third in the order must also be resurrected to immortality. Thus, "in Christ ALL shall be made alive" (1Cor 15:22). They will truly be made alive; they will be given immortality. By taking these scriptures in context, by taking "all" to mean ALL, then "as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive." Thus, "so then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to ALL men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to ALL men" (Rom 5:18) Or, "for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead" (1Cor 15:21).

Three orders to immortality

nm426 >> 

  • "And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in THREE measure of meal, till the whole was leavened" (Luke 13:20-21).
  • "For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade [Christ], then the ear [Christians], after that the full corn in the ear" (Mark 4:28).
  • "Three times in a year shall your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles" (Deut 16:16).

nm427 >> Christ's resurrection was represented by the waving of the sheaf of the first fruits of Israel's first harvest of the year. Christians' resurrection was represented by Israel's spring harvest and its feast of weeks. The resurrection of the final harvest is represented by the final harvest of Israel in its feast of tabernacles (see "God's Appointed Times or Seasons Paper" [NM 16]). Another antitypical pattern is the Biblical Joseph (Christ), Manasseh (Christians), and Ephraim (the resurrection of the multitude of nations) (see "Seed Paper" [PR1]).

Notice: 

  • "For as in Adam ALL die, so also in Christ ALL shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruit, after that those who are Christ's at his coming, then comes the end" (1Cor 15:22-24).

nm428 >> The third order is resurrected at the end. The "end" Paul is speaking about here is amplified on in verses 24 to 28. The end comes when: 

  • Christ has abolished all rule and all authority and power of his enemies (v. 24b & 25).
  • The last enemy abolished is death. 
  • At that time ALL things have been put under Christ's feet (The exception to "all" is indicated in verse 27b).
  • At that time God will be ALL in ALL. 

nm429 >> At the end there will be no death. This chapter in 1Corinthians chapter 15 is speaking about resurrections to life, about immortality. Thus, after the third resurrection to immortality, then death is abolished, then the God is ALL in ALL. Satan and his evil influence will be abolished. Death, Satan's greatest power (Heb 2:14), is abolished at the END. Since God is ALL in ALL at the "end," and since God is love (1John 4:8), then Biblical love will be in ALL at the "end." There will be NO evil. In Christ all shall be made alive. This is, alive in the Spiritual sense of alive - being immortal and being inside the true life, being inside of God and His true Biblical love. 

nm430 >> After death is abolished, then comes true the saying, "death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?" (1Cor 15:54, 55; see Hosea 13:14)

More Scriptural Proof that All Will Be Saved

nm431 >> Here is some further proof that all will be saved:

  • (1) "For God has concluded them ALL in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon ALL" (Rom 11:32).
  • (2) "For out of Him, and through him, and to Him, are ALL things" (Rom 11:36, see Greek text).
  • (3) "The Lord is good to ALL, and His mercies are over ALL his works. ALL thy works shall give thanks to thee, O Lord" (Psa 145:9-10, NASB).
  • (4) "And so ALL Israel shall be saved" (Rom 11:26).
  • (5) "In the Lord shall ALL the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory" (Isa 45:25).
  • (6) "ALL the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and ALL the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee" (Psa 22:27). [Here, in the antitype, it speaks of real worship; the only way you can really worship God is with the Spirit of God (Rom 8:8-9; John 4:24).]
  • (7) "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of ALL flesh: is there any word too hard for me?" (Jer 32:27)

God is the God of ALL flesh. But now in this age Satan is the god of the flesh belonging to this present evil age (2Cor 4:4). Thus at some future time God will truly be God of all flesh. 

After Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were dead, God spoke to Moses, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exo 3:6). To give proof for the resurrection of the dead Christ said, "now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for ALL live unto him" (Luke 20:37-38).

By God calling Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when they were dead, He was projecting their future resurrection to life. By God saying He is "God of ALL flesh," He is projecting the resurrection of all flesh to life in the future.

  • (8) "Praise ye the Lord: praise ye the Lord from heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, ALL HIS ANGELS ... Praise the Lord from the earth ... kings of the earth, and ALL people, princes, and ALL judges of the earth: both young men, and maidens; old men, children ... Let EVERYTHING that has breath praise the Lord" (Psa 148:1, 2, 7, 11-12; 150:6).

These Psalms were not placed in the Bible for mere words of hope; they are words of prophecy like Psalms 22, 110, and all others. All will praise God in the truest sense (note Phil 2:10-11; Rom 14:11; Isa 45:23).

In order for ALL to praise God, then ALL must be resurrected to life. Thus, 

  • (9) "For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee" (Isa 38:18, 19).

As this scripture shows, for number (8) to come true, then all must be resurrected to life - Spiritual life. 

  • (10) "The Father loves the Son, and has given ALL things into his hand. He that believes on the Son has aeonian life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life [in the aeonian life - 1000 years]; but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:35-36).

In order to understand the wrath of God, when it is, and what it is; and in order to understand the aeonian life, you must read the "God's Wrath Paper" [PR4], the "Thousand Years and Beyond Paper" [NM 15], and the "Reward for Christians Paper" [NM 11]. Those that do not believe the Son are those resurrected with the unjust after the 1000 years (see above).

  • (11) "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for ALL, therefore ALL died; and he died for ALL, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf" (2Cor 5:14-15).

He died for ALL (1John 2:2); we live for Him and to Him. 

  • (12) "The man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for ALL to be testified in due time" (1Tim 2:5, 6).

Now is that time. 

  • (13) "And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world [kosmos]" (John 6:51).
  • (14) "And he [Christ] is the propitiation [mercy seat] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world [kosmos]" (1John 2:2) 
  • (15) "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be savior of the world [kosmos]" (1John 4:14).
  • (16) "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL unto me" (John 12:32). 
  • (17) "And the nations shall bless themselves in him [God], and in him shall they glory" (Jer 4:2).
  • (18) "And ALL the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the Name of the Lord" (Jer 3:17). 
  • (19) "And teach ALL nations, baptizing them [all nations] into the Name of the Father..." (Mat 28:19).
  • (20) "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save" (Luke 9:56).
  • (21) "For I came not to judge the world [kosmos], but to save the world [kosmos]" (John 12:47).
  • (22) "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL people" (Luke 2:10).
  • (23) "And ALL flesh shall see the salvation of God" (Luke 3:6).
  • (24) "With a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of ALL things in Christ, things in the heavens [angels] and things upon the earth [mankind]" (Eph 1:10).
  • (25) "For it was the Father's good pleasure for ALL the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile ALL things to Himself ... whether things on earth or things in heaven" (Col 1:19-20).
  • (26) "And has put ALL things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over ALL things to the church, which is his body [the Church is his Body], the fullness of him [his Body, his Church] that fills ALL in ALL" (Eph 1:23).
  • (27) "He who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill ALL things" (Eph 4:10).
  • (28) "Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of his glory, by the exertion of the power that he has even to subject ALL things to himself" (Phil 3:21).

Remember the True God is ALL powerful; He can "even subject ALL things to himself." 

  • (29) "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now ALL things are out of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world [kosmos] to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ" (2Cor 5:17-20).

We are ambassadors for Christ, and our word, our message, is the message of reconciliation, that is, the reconciliation of the whole cosmos to Christ. All are to go into the Church of Christ, that is the body of Christ (Eph 1:23; and other above scripture).

What Is Meant By all?

nm432 >> "Therefore also God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee should bow, of those who are in heaven [angels], and on earth [mankind], and under the earth [the dead]" (Phil 2:9-10).

nm433 >> By putting the above scriptures together, how can anyone with the Spirit of God say anything else but that Christ is the Savior of the whole cosmos - all the angels and all the flesh. The ALL powerful God has the Spirit of Biblical love. This love, this Spirit is one of MERCY: 

  • "For God has concluded them ALL in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon ALL" (Rom 11:32).

God's Spirit is one of forgiveness: 

  • "If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink" (Prov 25:21, 22).

nm434 >> The higher meaning here is giving your enemy Spiritual bread to eat, and Spiritual water to drink. The truest enemy of God is Satan. Since Satan is a spiritual angel, and since angels cannot die (Luke 20:36), then the only way God can be ALL in ALL at the "end," is for Satan to be given repentance and then given the Spiritual bread and Spiritual water. Remember God is ALL powerful, and it is God who gives repentance (Acts 5:31; 11:18; 2Tim 2:25; Rom 11:29; 2:4; 2Peter 3:9).

nm435 >> If you look up these scriptures just listed you will see God does give repentance. If you read other papers we have like, "Predestination Paper" [NM 8], the "Proof Paper" [NM 10], the "Reward for Christians Paper" [NM 11], the "According to Works Paper" [NM 12], the "All Saved Paper" [NM 13], and other papers, then you will begin to understand that the ALL powerful God is in total control of the cosmos and is leading it to the final state where God will be in the truest sense - ALL in ALL. 

How Much Does The Spirit of Love Forgive?

nm436 >> 

  • "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus said unto him, I say not unto you, until seven times: but seventy times seven" (Mat 18:21-22).
  • But love covers ALL sins (Prov 10:12).
  • "It [love] covers ALL, it believes ALL, it hopes ALL, it endures ALL" (1Cor 13:7, Greek text).
  • Christ came to save ALL (John 4:42; 1John 4:14). Christ saves ALL, by forgiving ALL sin or by covering ALL sin by his sacrifice. 
  • "And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51).
  • "But this one [Christ] after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time..." (Heb 10:12).
  • "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1John 2:2).

nm437 >> The ALL powerful God will be ALL in ALL (1Cor 15:28) because God's Spirit of love will fill the whole universe at the true END or at the true fullness of the ages (Jer 23:24 - truest sense of this scripture, see God Papers).

What About forever Punishment?

nm438 >> If we are to believe that the ALL powerful God is in full control, and will be the Savior of the whole cosmos through his Son, and will fill ALL in ALL with his Spirit, then what about the scriptures that apparently say that those who do evil will be punished with forever punishment? 

nm439 >> First it is true that God through his built-in laws (cause and effect) does punish (Exo 34:7; etc). Satan - the main cause of evil (see "Other Mind Paper" [NM 21]) - will be punished for 1000 years (Rev 20:2).

God's Wrath and Punishment

nm440 >> But how does God judge? How does God's wrath work? How does God make war against his enemies? 

  • (1) "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:47-48; see Hosea 6:5; Rev 20:12-13).

Notice they will be judged in the last day - that 1000 year day (see above, see "Thousand Years and Beyond Paper" [NM 15]). 

  • (2) "In RIGHTEOUSNESS he does judge and make war" (Rev 19:11).
  • (3) "The Lord: for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Psa 96:13; 98:9; 1Chron 16:33). 
  • (4) "The Lord is known by the judgment which he executes. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands" (Psa 9:16).

nm441 >> God's wrath is not like man's wrath, "but the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).God's wrath is to let evil destroy evil (Psa 9:15; 10:2; Prov 11:6; 12:13; Isa 3:11; 59:18; Joel 3:4; Obad 1:15; Jer 25:32; Isa 19:2; Mat 24:7; Ezek 38:21; 32:12; Hag 2:22; Zech 14:13; Rev 17:16; see "God's Wrath Paper" [PR4]). 

  • Psa 10:2 (NKJV): The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. 
  • Pro 11:6 (NKJV): The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be taken by their own lust.
  • Pro 12:13 (NKJV): The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will come through trouble.
  • Isa 3:11 (NKJV): Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
  • Isa 59:18 (NKJV): According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; the coastlands He will fully repay.
  • Joe 3:4 (NKJV): Indeed, what have you to do with Me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia? Will you retaliate against Me? But if you retaliate against Me, swiftly and speedily I will return your retaliation upon your own head;
  • Oba 1:15 (NKJV): For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head.
  • Jer 25:32 (NKJV): Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, disaster shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the farthest parts of the earth.
  • Isa 19:2 (NKJV): I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; everyone will fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
  • Mat 24:7 (NKJV): For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
  • Eze 38:21 (NKJV): I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains, says the Lord God. Every man's sword will be against his brother.
  • Eze 32:12 (NKJV): 'By the swords of the mighty warriors, all of them the most terrible of the nations, I will cause your multitude to fall.' They shall plunder the pomp of Egypt, and all its multitude shall be destroyed.
  • Hag 2:22 (NKJV): I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them; the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
  • Zec 14:13 (NKJV): It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from the Lord will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor, and raise his hand against his neighbor's hand;
  • Rev 17:16 (NKJV): And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

nm442 >> There is nothing righteous about man's wrath, but God's wrath is fair - mankind punishes themselves. Satan also punishes himself. He will start the Last War, through his evil influences. This Last War's bombs will be flying everywhere at once. The earth will actually begin to burn up (2Pet 3:10; Isa 64:1-3; Psa 97:1-5; Rev 18:8; Mal 4:1; etc.). But Christ is the Savior, thus he will cut this day of wrath short (Mat 24:22). But Satan and his angels will dwell in the fire they made for 1000 years (Rev 20:2; Mat 25:41).

nm443 >> But what about the forever punishment? There are scriptures in many English translations that speak of "forever" or "everlasting" punishment. How can God be ALL in ALL at the "end," if at the same time there are those being punished with forever punishment? How can God have mercy on ALL if some are being punished forever? How can God be the Savior of the whole cosmos, if some are being punished forever? How can ALL praise and worship God, even those under the earth (in graves - Phil 2:9-10), if some are being punished forever? Isn't this a great contradiction? You bet it is! 

The Contradiction

nm444 >> We know that all the words that go out of God will happen (Isa 55:11; 46:10-11; etc.). We also have intuitive knowledge about the Law of Contradiction: One thing or event cannot at the same time be and not be (see God Papers).We know that God, who created wisdom and logic, cannot be illogical. God does not think against the very basic Law of Contradiction. It would be pure foolishness to reason against the Law of Contradiction as Aristotle once showed (GP1; and Metaphysics). We have in this paper gone over in some detail the scriptures on ALL being saved. It would be very difficult for someone with God's Spirit to deny these scriptures and their ordinary meaning. Thus, we come to the word translated "forever" in many (but not all) translations of the Bible. The apparent contradiction has to do with a gross mistranslation. 

nm445 >> The mistranslation of "forever" appalled me when I first found it out. The mistranslation projects the length some will go to feed fearhate, and unforgiveness to their sheep. This mistranslation also forces some not to take God's word for what it says - all will be saved - God is in control. Satan is foolish and does not know the mercy and kindness of God. Satan was allowed his evil power for a purpose much like the Pharaoh (a type of Satan): 

  • "For scripture said unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my Name might be declared throughout all the earth" (Rom 9:17; see the "Predestination Paper" [NM 8]). 

nm446 >> But because Satan does not understand God's mercy, he is very dangerous. So dangerous is he, that he will influence mankind to begin to destroy themselves in the Last War (see "God's Wrath Paper" [PR4]).

nm447 >> The mistranslation of "forever" has helped to cause many to ignore the predestination scriptures. But what is "free" choice? Did Israel have free choice? They did not have God's Spirit, thus could not "please God" (Rom 8:7-9).Because of this, physical Israel did not have the power to choose good (note Deut 30:15-20). Adam and Eve also did not have any "free" choice (see "Free Will Versus Predestination" paper [NM 9]).

nm448 >> Not all English translations have mistranslated "forever." These translations correctly translate this word(s): 

  • (1) The Emphasized Bible,

by Joseph Bryant Rotherham

  • (2) Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

by Robert Young

Author of the Analytical Concordance to the Bible

  • (3) The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation from the Original Languages, by J. N. Darby [not in all verses]

nm449 >> Many Interlinear Bibles in Greek also translate these words correctly (the Zondervan Parallel New Testament in Greek and English). Some English translations from time to time correctly translate these words. (Note "for ever" in the KJV versus "lasting" in NIV, Exo 28:43; in Gen 17:13 note "everlasting covenant" in the KJV versus "a covenant to time indefinite" in the New World Translation; etc.)

The Correct Translation

Aeonian Punishment not Forever Punishment

nm450 >> In many English translations "forever," "everlasting," and "eternal" have been mistranslated from words from Hebrew (olam) and words from Greek (aionaionios) that mean age, ages, agelong or aeonian, hidden time, life-long, life-age. We have covered this subject in our "Age Paper" [NM 7]. We constantly use the correct translation throughout our study of the Bible. Thus, those of evil go to agelong punishment, not "forever" punishment. That age is the 1000 year age (Rev 20:2). Thus, an agelong or aeonian plan of God is projected in scripture once the correct and proper translation is used. Therefore, it is not only possible for God to save ALL, but it will be. God will be ALL in ALL. God will prove his ALL powerfulness. God is God. Who can stop Him? 

BeComingOne

Donate to spread the Word
Back to Home Page

(c) Copyright 1971-2021 by Walter R. Dolen