Dear Mike,

I have recently come across your website and found some interesting answers to many questions that I have had. But I would like to know, if all men will eventually be saved, what is the purpose of serving Christ now as a Christian, since everyone will be saved eventually. One might as well live a sinful life and enjoy its pleasures. God forbid!

A____

Hi A____,

I am grateful that you have had some of your questions answered by the information on the web site. I get this question all the time and to tell you the truth, I felt the same way when I was first told the truth about God saving everyone. I have had an interest in God’s Word from my youth and was familiar enough to know that the KJV mentioned eternal torment in several places. My first reaction was, “How could anyone be so foolish as to doubt that hell was eternal? After all, anyone can read that ‘The smoke of their torment ascended up forever, and they have no rest day or night.”

But I was working with the only knowledge that I had at that time. I did not know that the word translated ‘forever’ was actually ‘aion’, the Greek word for ‘age.’

If you are truly interested in knowing the truth of God’s Word on this subject, please get a copy of The Restitution Of All Things, written over 150 years ago by a truly great scholar, Andrew Jukes. You will be amazed at how careful the translators were to give this word the meaning they wanted it to have. Their translation had to accord with the teachings of the Church of England. Otherwise, King James, the head of the Church of England, could have fired them and declared them heretics and had them put to death. To make this one little word ‘aion’ and its adjective form ‘aionian’ conform to church doctrine, the translators were forced to contort it into 18 different English words and sometimes into complete phrases like “course of time.” Read that book. Ask God to show you His mind. You will be blown away with the depth of the deceit used to further this lie against the character of a loving heavenly Father.

Assuming that you are sincere, I am going to ask you a few questions to get you to consider how your question, which was also my question at one time, appears in the light of God’s Word.

The answer to your question is found throughout the gospels in the words of Christ, and it is also found in the book of Revelation. Christ tells us:

Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

In Rev 20 we are told that “death and hell” are “destroyed” in the lake of fire, which Christ here refers to as “Gehenna.”

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Christ did not speak English and was not familiar with the English word ‘hell.’ ‘Gehenna,’ the word translated ‘hell’ here, is a valley just south of Jerusalem where garbage and the bodies of criminals were cast to be burned up. The flies would often lay their eggs on the bodies of the criminals and grow into maggots and mature into flies before the bodies would be burnt. Those are the so- called ‘immortal’ “worms [ which] dieth not.” No maggot that matures into a fly ever dies as a maggot.

Now look at this verse in Revelation:

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

There is the scriptural answer to your question:

If all men will eventually be saved, what is the purpose of serving Christ now, as a Christian, since every one will be saved eventually. One might as well live a sinful life, and enjoy its pleasures.

If our carnal nature is so ungrateful for the opportunity to rule with Christ, as opposed to being cast into a figurative lake of fire which will “destroy death,” and therefore also destroy ‘hades,’ that is, the grave, then we will not be in that “Blessed and holy… first resurrection.” We will instead be raised after the thousand years. We will come up from our graves in what is called the “great white throne judgment.” And we will at that time be “cast into the lake of fire.” But we are plainly told that it is better to endure that fire now, and be judged now, rather than to have the attitude of ‘Well, I’m going to be saved anyway, so I’ll just live for the flesh and pay the price later.’

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The fiery trials of the elect are their ‘judgment day.’ This is not called ‘the lake of fire.’ That phrase is reserved for the so- called ‘damned.’ They are not ‘eternally damned’ as taught by the orthodox church. The word damned is the same word translated ‘condemned’. Here is what we are told of that later judgment, that later”condemnation”:

1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves [ now], we should not be judged [ later with the world].
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned [ to a later chastening judgment] with the world.

Now what is the scriptural purpose of any loving Father when He judges His children? Here is the scriptural purpose for all Godly judgment:

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord …

So you see, those in the first resurrection are special to God and through those very people God will bring in the rest pf mankind.

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these [ all] also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

This “mercy” of ours is the chastening ‘torment’ Joseph put his brothers through. We too, just as Joseph was, will be used to display God’s mercy in the coming ages:

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us [ even now] sit together in heavenly places in Chris t Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

We are the “firstfruits,” but we are not the ‘only fruits.’ The “feast of firstfruits” in the beginning of the year, precedes the “feast of ingatherings” at the end of the year. Any farmer knows that the firstfruits are not as great in numbers as are the later fruits. But the first fruits are always special to a farmer because they are always much bigger and better that the later fruits. And so we are told:

1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially [ not exclusively] of those that believe [ at this time].
1Ti 4:11 These things command and teach.

Do you know of any church which dares to “command and teach” this simple gospel truth? There is not one single church in all of orthodox Christianity that believes this verse of God’s Word.

Is this the only place this truth is stated? Consider these verses:

Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all [ the saved at this time, and the unsaved in this age] and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: [ There is no difference as far as salvation is concerned. There is a great difference as far as “ruling during the thousand years is concerned].
Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one [ Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Ti 2:3 For this [ is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1Jn 2:2 And he [ Christ] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

But we have been so blinded by the doctrines of The Babylonish ‘Mother of harlots’ and all of her false doctrines, that we have allow the hypnotic effect of the lie of eternal torment to keep our eyes from seeing the true gospel. Eternal hell- fire for most of mankind, or for that matter eternal death as some claim, is not ‘good news at all. The fact that God “Works all things After The Counsel of His Own Will,” and the fact that “AS IN Adam all die, EVEN SO in Christ will all men be made alive” truly is good news for mankind. Be sure to click on that link and read that paper. You will wonder how it was possible to miss so much of what is plainly written in God’s Word.

You are right, “God forbid” that just because God has decided to save all men, therefore we should act ungrateful for our special calling by continuing to live in sin, as if this ‘lake of fire is something to take lightly. I have never taught that. What I do teach is that Joseph’s brothers typify that ‘lake of fire experience.’ If we consider God to be a “hard man”, then He will show Himself that way to us in the judgment, just as Joseph showed himself to his brothers when they came down into Egypt to buy grain. They were “tormented in the presence of the lamb” who was listening to them confess that this was happening to them because of what they had done to their brother Joseph. Joseph heard every word they spoke because they did not realize who he was as he had spoken to them through an interpreter.

I do not think you realize how miserable Joseph’s brothers’ lives were while they were enduring this ‘lake of fire’ experience. It is not something to be taken lightly. Even though their lives were never in danger, they were “hard men” and therefore perceived their brother as such many years after he had shown himself to them as their savior:

Seventeen years after Israel came into Egypt he died. During all those years Joseph’s brothers were still so full of their ‘eternal hell fire” attitude, so to speak, that they still did not know their own brother for who he really was. They still believed that he was the same kind of orthodox Christian, as it were, as they were. They thought that just as soon as Jacob their father died, that Joseph would exact his revenge. “I knew you were a hard man,” said the “wicked and slothful servant.”

But look now as Joseph reveals for us why God created all evil:

Gen 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it [ That very ‘evil,’ and all evil is what God means] unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Gen 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

That is what a loving Father does to His wayward children. He torments them in their own ways till they are purified of their sins:

Psa 18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

The ‘master’ had done nothing of the kind, for he had given this servant one talent to work with, but “to the froward He showed Himself froward.” Do you think God will not redeem his marred vessel which He has created marred? Beware that ‘lake of fire.’ It is composed of a resurrection full of Josephs whose orthodox Christian brothers have sold them into Egypt for a few silver coins.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion [‘Zion’ is a spiritual code word for the people of God in all ages] are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us [ Who among those in the seven spiritually dead churches of Rev 2 and 3] shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

That is a fair question. Who is this ‘lake of fire? It is not at all who you have been told. Rather it is:

Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Isa 33:16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

This “devouring fire and everlasting burnings” is the word of God in the mouths of the Josephs who will come up in that “blessed and holy… first resurrection.” It is even now purging the lies that have been told about our loving heavenly Father from the minds of those “few chosen” called “out of” the “many called,” who are not chosen.

Referring specifically to the churches of orthodox Christianity, the Holy Spirit gives us all this stern warning:

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

The churches of Christianity do accomplish a lot of very good works. They are being used of God to bring the name of Christ to billions of God’s creatures. At the very same time, it is these very works which are used of God to deceive so very many. Though they be ‘many wonderful works,’ whenever we deny God’s Words, we are denying Christ Himself!

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are lif e.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

The ‘hell fire’ of Mat 5 is as figurative as the “cutting off” of one’s limbs in those same verses. Compare these two statements of our loving Savior. First this:

Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And then just a few verses later:

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Are we to believe that God wants you and me to “love our enemies” while He Himself does nothing of the kind, but rather roasts His enemies and many of our loved ones in real physical fire for all eternity?

It is time that we repent of such blasphemy and come out of all of the lies of the orthodox Christian whore who tells herself…:

Rev 3:17 … I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

I hope this has helped you to see that the saving of all is not a very good excuse to do all the carnal things that the carnal mind wants to do. I hope that you see that even though God will bring all to Himself, that in the meantime He is judging mankind and ‘making him anew as seems good to the Potter.’

Jer 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

“Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound” is not an encouragement to continue in sin. It is rather a stern warning that “grace chastens… us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts”

Tit 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching [ Greek- paideuo – chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Be sure to read The Purpose and Function of Grace, in the paper entitled, Will God’s Strong Delusion Deceive You? As it turns out, ‘grace’ is a chastening verb, and not just a passive noun that guarantees you salvation with no price to be paid for your foolishness. That is not the teaching of scripture, and it is certainly not the teaching of this web page!

Nevertheless “all is of God”, even the very evil of Joseph’s brothers.

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Pro 20:24 Man’s goings [ good or evil] are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

In His service,

Mike