One of the worst teachings of Christendom is the sectarian construction which has been put upon that word “believe.” To the Catholics it means to believe the teachings of the Catholic Church. To the various Protestant groups it means the acceptance of their particular interpretation of truth and how to practice it. To all and sundry it means, “Come with us, and do it before you die, or you will be forever lost”—or at least suffer for hundreds of years in a terrible purgatory of torment, as the Catholic Church teaches.
This concept of the Gospel has replaced love with fear as an incentive to believe and obey, and for this there is no scriptural authorization. There is no evidence anywhere in the Bible that the opportunity to obtain salvation through Christ is limited to this present life. In fact, we are advised by the Apostle Paul that there will be a general resurrection of ‘all’ mankind on the ‘last day’ of God’s Great Sabbath on which he is still resting. (Acts 24:15; John 6:54; John 11:24)
The basic teaching of the Bible is the ‘ransom’ and the reason for this is so that all the millions who died before Christ came will have a ‘second chance’ of acquiring all the knowledge and understanding which they never had before they died.
The Apostle Paul confirms that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous with no exceptions, (Acts 24:15) while Martha confirms that this will take place on the ‘last day’ of God’s Great Sabbath. (John 11:24) Being a wise and loving Creator, God will not judge anyone [especially when they are imperfect] by his own perfect Law and certainly not when they have been resurrected not knowing anything of the Messiah nor what God’s will and purpose is for mankind.
The fundamental teaching of the ‘ransom’ is that Jesus died for all! Including Adam! Thereby offering a ‘second chance’ for all!
If there is no ‘second chance’, then there is no resurrection, no Sabbath Millennium and no ‘second death!’ (Acts 24:15; John 11:24; Revelation 20:6; 21:
[No exceptions!]
God will not judge an imperfect race to condemnation by his own perfect Law before putting the whole race on a level perfect footing. This is the whole purpose of the corresponding ransom through the sacrifice of the Messiah Christ Jesus. At the moment, all mankind is ‘dead’ in God’s eyes, confirmed by Jesus in his words: “Let the dead carry on burying their dead.” (Matthew 8:22)
No one on earth will come to life until the end of the Sabbath Millennium, by which time all will have had an opportunity as perfect humans with full knowledge to choose whom they will follow; God or Satan. (Revelation 20:7-10) Christ Jesus only had two things to accomplish during his short period on earth, the first was to choose for himself his anointed ‘little flock’ who rule with him as joint heirs in his kingdom; the second was to die as the corresponding ‘ransom’ for Adam’s transgression and so release ‘all’ mankind from the curse of Adamic death [death without a resurrection] and open the ‘way’ to the resurrection and the opportunity of a second chance of everlasting life on the earth as originally intended, in other words; salvation! Those who still favour Satan will enter the ‘second death’! (Revelation 21:
There we are, the Bible in a nut-shell!
Yours in Truth,
Alexander
