It is God whom has chosen the believer and cause him or her to come to God
John 6:44 (MontgomeryNT)
44 answered Jesus; "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him; then I will raise him up on the last day.
The twelve disciples were chosen
John 6:70 (MontgomeryNT)
In reply Jesus said to them. "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? And yet even of you one is an enemy."
Though some believe in Him yet Jesus did not choose them
John 6:14-15 (KJV)
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
John 2:23-25 (ASV)
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did. 24 But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, 25 and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
They were not chosen by God, the Father
John 6:63-71 (MontgomeryNT)
63 "The spirit is what gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words which I have been speaking to you, are spirit and are life.
64 "Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who should betray him.
65 So he added, "This is why I told you that no on can come to me unless it be given from the Father."
66 Therefore many of his disciples drew back and no longer companied with him.
67 So Jesus appealed to the Twelve. "You also do not wish to leave me, do you?"
68 Simon Peter answered. "To whom shall we go Master? You have words of eternal life;
69 and we have learned to believe and we know that you are the holy one of God."
70 In reply Jesus said to them. "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? And yet even of you one is an enemy."
71 Now Jesus was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; for Judas was to betray him, although he was one of the Twelve.
Then there are those who don’t understand the gospel; Satan also prevents the message from taking root in their mind
Matthew 13:19 (KJV)
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Do we understand what Jesus is saying here? Satan is the one who steals away what is put in the mind of this individual; Satan does not allow what is sown to take root and grow. This is happening with out the person realizing it. To such a person he or she just believes that they are not interested in the message, and just forgets about it and go on with their lives.
Jesus did not want everyone to know who He was
Mark 1:23-26 (KJV)
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
Mark 1:34 (KJV)
34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
What would be a better witness (not counting the miracles that He did) than the demons themselves of who Jesus was? Had Jesus aloud the demons to speak all the people would began to believe that Jesus was whom He said He is….the Son of God…God in the flesh.
Jesus did not want those whom the Father had not called to understand His message
Mark 4:11-12 (KJV)
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
The unbeliever is already separated from God; they are already dead….spiritually.
Matthew 8:21-22 (GW)
21 Another disciple said to him, “Sir, first let me go to bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Most unbelievers do not believe not because he will not but because he cannot….it is not in our nature to do what is right in God’s eyes. Our natural nature is to do what we feel is best to us or as we see it.
Romans 8:7-8 (KJV)
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Jeremiah 10:23 (ASV)
23 O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Deuteronomy 12:8 (NASB77)
8 "You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;
Proverbs 21:2 (ASV)
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
Our natural nature is to do what we feel is best to us or as we see it. But our experience often tells us that more often that not what we thought was right was not right after all.
Proverbs 14:12 (ASV)
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
God allows the unbeliever to be the way they are so that He will have mercy on them.
Romans 11:32 (BBE)
32 For God has let them all go against his orders, so that he might have mercy on them all.
Luke 23:34 (MontgomeryNT)
34 Jesus kept saying, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his garments among them, casting lots for them,
God does not hold the unbeliever responsible for their unbelief….Satan, whom the Bible calls the god of this world is the one who is responsible for deceiving the unbeliever.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (ASV)
4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.
God will have mercy on the unbeliever and at the time appointed and raise them from the dead or if alive at Jesus’ second return open their mind to the truth.
Revelation 20:5 (NKJV)
5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
Both the just (Christians) and the unjust (unbeliever) will be resurrected…but the unjust will not be resurrected together with the just. The just will be resurrected to eternal life, but the unjust will be resurrected to their former state of existence. It is that time God will offer them eternal life, by giving them His Holy Spirit as He did Christians, whom at this time have been gloried.
Acts 24:15 (ASV)
15 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.
The prophet Ezekiel in a vision was told by God that He will resurrect the house of Israel from the dead. They along with all people who died without hope God will pure out His Spirit on them, then they will not only know that God is, but they will be able to obey Him as well.
Ezekiel 37:3-14 (ASV)
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah.
5 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and, behold, an earthquake; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
8 And I beheld, and, lo, there were sinews upon them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.
12 Therefore prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O my people.
14 And I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it and performed it, saith Jehovah.
Joel 2:28 (ASV)
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
As a result of God’s love and mercy all nations will come and worship before the feet of Jesus in His kingdom; which He will set up in Jerusalem.
Psalms 86:9 (ASV)
9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify thy name.
Isaiah 2:2-4 (ASV)
2 And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.
4 And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Now there will be those; and I believe it will be just a few who will still reject God’s gracious gift of eternal life. God will not force people to receive His Holy Spirit if they refuse it. God will not force anyone that does not want to become His son and the blessings of inheriting everything that He owns….those that knowingly reject His gift will be cast into the lake of fire. They will be burnt up….they will cease to exist. Contrary to what many Christians believe God will not torcher sinners in hell forever. Unrepentant sinners are not promise life without end in hell. The wages of sin is death, not spiritual death; they were already spiritually dead. Now, when they are cast into hell (fire) they will be burnt up. The ultimate separation from God is to be removed from existence….all life comes from God and belongs to Him, so He will remove or separate them from existence.
Revelation 20:14-15 (ASV)
14 And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.
15 And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
God will destroy both soul (psucho) and body in Hell
Matthew 10:28 (ASV)
28 And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
No one will live forever in an ever burning hell….the Bible says the wicked will go into eternal punishment. Notice that it does not say, “eternal punishing” but eternal punishment. The punishment not only will be final and irreversible, but nothing about them will ever be remembered….it will be as if they had never existed.
Matthew 25:46 (ASV)
46 And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.
What does the word that is translated Eternal means?
Eternal:
Greek Word: αἰώνιος
Transliteration: aiōnios
Phonetic Pronunciation: ahee-o'-nee-os
Root: from <G165>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 1:208,31
Part of Speech: adj
Vine's Words: Eternal, Everlasting
from <G165> (aion); perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well) :- eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).
—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
If you notice that the Greek word that is translated eternal does not only refers to the future but the past as well. The word does not just mean immortal, but means without beginning or end. The word immortal simply means incorruptible. Why do I say this? Because the word that is translated Eternal in Mathew 25:46 is the same Greek word that is used to describe God. God is eternal, meaning He has always existed and will always exist in the future as we know it.
No more past
Isaiah 65:17 (ASV)
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
This is why it is called eternal punishment….time will be erased; like cleaning off what was written on a black board….the past will exist no more which actually mean that the past never existed. The earth and the former things of this world has become something that never was and will never be. The saints will be with God in eternity…where time does not exist.
Even Satan will no longer exist
Ezekiel 28:15-19 (KJV)
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
This is how the ASV reads it…the last part.
Ezekiel 28:19 (ASV)
19 All they that know thee among the peoples shall be astonished at thee: thou art become a terror, and thou shalt nevermore have any being.
So with this understanding, what should we do as Christians?
Mark 16:15 (KJV)
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
And if they don’t believe, what should we do?
Matthew 10:14-15 (ASV)
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Mark 6:11 (KJV)
11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Jesus is saying that one would not be responsible for the unbeliever not hearing the gospel; because they heard it but choose not to accept it. It will be much easier for Sodom and Gomorrah because there is a greater witness than Lot, which is Jesus, yet they did not repent. Mathew is not saying that they are doomed, but in there Day of Judgment repentance will be harder than those from Sodom and Gomorrah.
Now, we have read all those scriptures, the question is, what does it have to do with me personally? The answer has something to do with the question that the disciples asked Jesus about who was the greatest in the kingdom of God?
Here is Jesus’ answer
Matthew 18:3-4 (ASV)
3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
In other words what Jesus is saying is that in order to be called the greatest in the kingdom, we must have a teachable attitude in relation to God’s word. If we insist that what we have always believed is the truth, and I am not changing that, even when the scriptures tells us you’re incorrect, then you not the greatest in the kingdom. In fact, you might not even be in the kingdom, since having a childlike/teachable attitude enables one to enter the kingdom.
So when we are witness to an unbeliever, bare in mind what the scriptures says about the carnal mind, and that only God is able to give the individual a receptive attitude of the gospel….a Christian’s responsibility is to help spread the message regardless whether or not anyone believes.
John 6:44 (MontgomeryNT)
44 answered Jesus; "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him; then I will raise him up on the last day.
The twelve disciples were chosen
John 6:70 (MontgomeryNT)
In reply Jesus said to them. "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? And yet even of you one is an enemy."
Though some believe in Him yet Jesus did not choose them
John 6:14-15 (KJV)
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
John 2:23-25 (ASV)
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did. 24 But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, 25 and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
They were not chosen by God, the Father
John 6:63-71 (MontgomeryNT)
63 "The spirit is what gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words which I have been speaking to you, are spirit and are life.
64 "Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who should betray him.
65 So he added, "This is why I told you that no on can come to me unless it be given from the Father."
66 Therefore many of his disciples drew back and no longer companied with him.
67 So Jesus appealed to the Twelve. "You also do not wish to leave me, do you?"
68 Simon Peter answered. "To whom shall we go Master? You have words of eternal life;
69 and we have learned to believe and we know that you are the holy one of God."
70 In reply Jesus said to them. "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? And yet even of you one is an enemy."
71 Now Jesus was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; for Judas was to betray him, although he was one of the Twelve.
Then there are those who don’t understand the gospel; Satan also prevents the message from taking root in their mind
Matthew 13:19 (KJV)
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Do we understand what Jesus is saying here? Satan is the one who steals away what is put in the mind of this individual; Satan does not allow what is sown to take root and grow. This is happening with out the person realizing it. To such a person he or she just believes that they are not interested in the message, and just forgets about it and go on with their lives.
Jesus did not want everyone to know who He was
Mark 1:23-26 (KJV)
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
Mark 1:34 (KJV)
34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
What would be a better witness (not counting the miracles that He did) than the demons themselves of who Jesus was? Had Jesus aloud the demons to speak all the people would began to believe that Jesus was whom He said He is….the Son of God…God in the flesh.
Jesus did not want those whom the Father had not called to understand His message
Mark 4:11-12 (KJV)
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
The unbeliever is already separated from God; they are already dead….spiritually.
Matthew 8:21-22 (GW)
21 Another disciple said to him, “Sir, first let me go to bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Most unbelievers do not believe not because he will not but because he cannot….it is not in our nature to do what is right in God’s eyes. Our natural nature is to do what we feel is best to us or as we see it.
Romans 8:7-8 (KJV)
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Jeremiah 10:23 (ASV)
23 O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Deuteronomy 12:8 (NASB77)
8 "You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;
Proverbs 21:2 (ASV)
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
Our natural nature is to do what we feel is best to us or as we see it. But our experience often tells us that more often that not what we thought was right was not right after all.
Proverbs 14:12 (ASV)
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
God allows the unbeliever to be the way they are so that He will have mercy on them.
Romans 11:32 (BBE)
32 For God has let them all go against his orders, so that he might have mercy on them all.
Luke 23:34 (MontgomeryNT)
34 Jesus kept saying, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his garments among them, casting lots for them,
God does not hold the unbeliever responsible for their unbelief….Satan, whom the Bible calls the god of this world is the one who is responsible for deceiving the unbeliever.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (ASV)
4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.
God will have mercy on the unbeliever and at the time appointed and raise them from the dead or if alive at Jesus’ second return open their mind to the truth.
Revelation 20:5 (NKJV)
5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
Both the just (Christians) and the unjust (unbeliever) will be resurrected…but the unjust will not be resurrected together with the just. The just will be resurrected to eternal life, but the unjust will be resurrected to their former state of existence. It is that time God will offer them eternal life, by giving them His Holy Spirit as He did Christians, whom at this time have been gloried.
Acts 24:15 (ASV)
15 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.
The prophet Ezekiel in a vision was told by God that He will resurrect the house of Israel from the dead. They along with all people who died without hope God will pure out His Spirit on them, then they will not only know that God is, but they will be able to obey Him as well.
Ezekiel 37:3-14 (ASV)
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah.
5 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and, behold, an earthquake; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
8 And I beheld, and, lo, there were sinews upon them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.
12 Therefore prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O my people.
14 And I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it and performed it, saith Jehovah.
Joel 2:28 (ASV)
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
As a result of God’s love and mercy all nations will come and worship before the feet of Jesus in His kingdom; which He will set up in Jerusalem.
Psalms 86:9 (ASV)
9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify thy name.
Isaiah 2:2-4 (ASV)
2 And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.
4 And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Now there will be those; and I believe it will be just a few who will still reject God’s gracious gift of eternal life. God will not force people to receive His Holy Spirit if they refuse it. God will not force anyone that does not want to become His son and the blessings of inheriting everything that He owns….those that knowingly reject His gift will be cast into the lake of fire. They will be burnt up….they will cease to exist. Contrary to what many Christians believe God will not torcher sinners in hell forever. Unrepentant sinners are not promise life without end in hell. The wages of sin is death, not spiritual death; they were already spiritually dead. Now, when they are cast into hell (fire) they will be burnt up. The ultimate separation from God is to be removed from existence….all life comes from God and belongs to Him, so He will remove or separate them from existence.
Revelation 20:14-15 (ASV)
14 And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.
15 And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
God will destroy both soul (psucho) and body in Hell
Matthew 10:28 (ASV)
28 And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
No one will live forever in an ever burning hell….the Bible says the wicked will go into eternal punishment. Notice that it does not say, “eternal punishing” but eternal punishment. The punishment not only will be final and irreversible, but nothing about them will ever be remembered….it will be as if they had never existed.
Matthew 25:46 (ASV)
46 And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.
What does the word that is translated Eternal means?
Eternal:
Greek Word: αἰώνιος
Transliteration: aiōnios
Phonetic Pronunciation: ahee-o'-nee-os
Root: from <G165>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 1:208,31
Part of Speech: adj
Vine's Words: Eternal, Everlasting
from <G165> (aion); perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well) :- eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).
—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
If you notice that the Greek word that is translated eternal does not only refers to the future but the past as well. The word does not just mean immortal, but means without beginning or end. The word immortal simply means incorruptible. Why do I say this? Because the word that is translated Eternal in Mathew 25:46 is the same Greek word that is used to describe God. God is eternal, meaning He has always existed and will always exist in the future as we know it.
No more past
Isaiah 65:17 (ASV)
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
This is why it is called eternal punishment….time will be erased; like cleaning off what was written on a black board….the past will exist no more which actually mean that the past never existed. The earth and the former things of this world has become something that never was and will never be. The saints will be with God in eternity…where time does not exist.
Even Satan will no longer exist
Ezekiel 28:15-19 (KJV)
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
This is how the ASV reads it…the last part.
Ezekiel 28:19 (ASV)
19 All they that know thee among the peoples shall be astonished at thee: thou art become a terror, and thou shalt nevermore have any being.
So with this understanding, what should we do as Christians?
Mark 16:15 (KJV)
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
And if they don’t believe, what should we do?
Matthew 10:14-15 (ASV)
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Mark 6:11 (KJV)
11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Jesus is saying that one would not be responsible for the unbeliever not hearing the gospel; because they heard it but choose not to accept it. It will be much easier for Sodom and Gomorrah because there is a greater witness than Lot, which is Jesus, yet they did not repent. Mathew is not saying that they are doomed, but in there Day of Judgment repentance will be harder than those from Sodom and Gomorrah.
Now, we have read all those scriptures, the question is, what does it have to do with me personally? The answer has something to do with the question that the disciples asked Jesus about who was the greatest in the kingdom of God?
Here is Jesus’ answer
Matthew 18:3-4 (ASV)
3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
In other words what Jesus is saying is that in order to be called the greatest in the kingdom, we must have a teachable attitude in relation to God’s word. If we insist that what we have always believed is the truth, and I am not changing that, even when the scriptures tells us you’re incorrect, then you not the greatest in the kingdom. In fact, you might not even be in the kingdom, since having a childlike/teachable attitude enables one to enter the kingdom.
So when we are witness to an unbeliever, bare in mind what the scriptures says about the carnal mind, and that only God is able to give the individual a receptive attitude of the gospel….a Christian’s responsibility is to help spread the message regardless whether or not anyone believes.
