Pentecost

Peter addresses the crowd in Jerusalem on Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the believers. They were able to speak the Good News to everyone - in their own language.

So everyone was surprised, and some even said “these men have been drinking!” So Peter addressed the crowd. And what He said in these verses is the description of a whole time. An entire thing is described,’ from the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, to the end of the age at the Lord’s return. Which is the beginning of “the thousand years” and the Lord’s long second advent.

And then at the very end, we are given a glimpse into that advent(?!)

Peter saying that day, quoting Old Testament prophet, Joel,
      “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God - I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before - the coming of the great and awesome day (age) of the LORD. And, it shall come to pass, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. (Acts 2:17-21)

The great “day of the LORD” extends from the fiery judgment/results at the time of the Lord’s return - through “the thousand years” and “the judgment” - to when “the Son hands all things subdued - the kingdom - over to the Father”. (Who IS a consuming/purifying fire). — 1Cor.15:22-28; Rev.21:1-5; and 2Pet.3:13 (10-13 being another such projection, encompassing the whole of the Lord’s second advent, two fiery “events” acting as bookends of that advent. Events - Jude 7!)

“And it shall come to pass that all who call upon the Lord shall be saved.” And all will call. For the Lord DID say He will “draw ALL to Himself”. (Jn.12:32)

And consider this! When? Did the Lord say the tares will be gathered to be burned? (Mt.13:36-43; 24:29-31; 2Thess.1:7-8)

And why? Does the moon turn red? (Rev.6:12; Note: the Seals are described in the same way, describing their full range, and full effects, from their first, to very last at maturity. Described in this way, at the beginning of the revelation vision, serves to cloak the vision.)

In conclusion, Peter’s quoting Joel describes the whole time, from that Pentecost and the gifting of the Holy Spirit to believers (the wheat) - to the Lord’s return, and beyond.

....“And it shall come to pass, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” from that Pentecost to the ultimate Tabernacles, when “all ..is made new”.

What Is Judgment Day?

"Penal substitution" so the most dense malefactor can understand it? I don't understand what people believe judgment day is. It seems to me like the most prevalent view is that judgment day is at one's death. At death, the 'good'/the believers in Jesus float up into heaven or are escorted there by angels. And a nonbeliever is sucked into 'hell'.

OR, all souls are held in a holding place until judgment day, when en masse, all unsaved are stamped "guilty"... Perhaps I am a 13 year old girl, and I find myself awakened from my grave, and  I find myself beside and receiving the same sentence as the worst despot, torturer and rapist of small children. It's simply unavoidable and God can do nothing about it.

OR, I have been conscious since, perhaps 1000 B.C. but now standing before God's throne, I am declared guilty. There is no trial, defense nor advocate. It's unavoidable, the means of my redemption was during my lifetime. I missed it, and God can do nothing about it. I will be tormented forever and ever, perhaps at the center of the earth, while there is great rejoicing going on above me, where everyone's joy is complete. I am forgotten by all including God. Or perhaps I perish and am no more. Not mourned, for all's joy is complete.

Then why the dramatic image of Jesus hanging upon the cross as a penal substitute? When living during 1000 B.C. I never heard about that, nor was ever exposed to the image.

I've been studying the bible for almost 40 years. I used to use the big Strong's books, but now of course there's great bible study aids and interlinear version (with links to the original words used) at my very fingertips. These have always impacted me far more than any teachings or long held doctrines. The Word itself, above, what others say the Word says.

So why 'penal substitute'/redemption if I am never exposed to it, but am simply stamped guilty and off I go? Some will say, nature/creation was your witness, you should have figured it out. Ba-bye.

Here's what I've come to believe.. Jesus is the Passover Lamb, belief equals obedience, His blood on the doorposts of my awareness saves me from (the angel of) death. He is the un-leavened (pristine) bread of life / the Truth. With no dilution/corruption. And He is "the Firstfruits of God". - 1 Cor 15:22-23 "..in Christ made alive, but each in their own order, Christ the firstfruits.."

His first advent perfectly fulfilled ancient Israel's Spring Holy Days (see Lev 23; Numbers 28,29) of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits.

Then between Spring and Fall, Pentecost, when the promised (great) gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out (ultimately?) upon all flesh.

What about the Fall Holy Days? (Lev 23; Numbers 28,29) -- Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles? Are they fulfilled by His long second advent? The pattern of them is Trumpets, upon the first day of the new month/moon, and 10 days later is Day Of Atonement. And 5 days after that is Tabernacles, which lasts a whole week, Lev 23:34.

If Trumpets - surely(?) is His return and the Trumps of apocalypse, then 10 days/1000 years(?) later is Judgment 'Day'. And 5 days/500 years after that begins Tabernacles, when the Almighty Father says - Rev 21 - He will now Tabernacle with mankind upon Earth made new!

Note: "...the rest of the dead come not back to life until the thousand years are ended.." Rev 20:5

Doesn't this sound like 1 Cor 15? - 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: [1]Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming[2]. 24 Then comes the end, when [3]He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Rev 21:5 - "Behold I make all things new".

Matthew 13:33 - “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in 3 measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

I guess I should do a google search, see if there's anyone else in all the world who believes this - that the Ancient fall holy days are a shadow and pattern of Jesus' long second advent, from last days and His return, to when God says "behold I make all things new.. I will now tabernacle with mankind upon Earth.." He will be "all in all". [Glory!]

Isaiah 11:7 - "The cows will graze among bears; cubs and calves will lie down together, and lions will eat grass like the ox."

Note: It's DOA for the doa?! 1 Tim 4:10, Jn 12:32, Philippians 2:10-11, &tc..

Todays Christian Universalism Lesson

[Romans 11:7-10]

7 This means that only a chosen few of the people of Israel found what all of them were searching for. And the rest of them were stubborn, 8 just as the Scriptures say, `God gave to them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear,' -- unto this very day, 9 And David says: 'May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs beneath a burden that will never be lifted.'

Now let's look at verse 10 as it's written in the interlinear Greek to English (links included):

0   4654 [e] 10   skotisthētōsan 10   σκοτισθήτωσαν 10   let be darkened 10   V-AMP-3P

3588 [e] hoi οἱ the Art-NMP

3788 [e] ophthalmoi ὀφθαλμοὶ eyes N-NMP

846 [e] autōn αὐτῶν  , of them PPro-GM3P

3588 [e] tou τοῦ  -  Art-GNS

3361 [e] mē μὴ not Adv

991 [e] blepein βλέπειν  , to see V-PNA

2532 [e] kai καὶ and Conj

3588 [e] ton τὸν the Art-AMS

3577 [e] nōton νῶτον backs N-AMS

846 [e] autōn αὐτῶν  , of them PPro-GM3P

1223 [e] dia διὰ for Prep

3956 [e] pantos παντὸς ever? Adj-GMS

4781 [e] synkampson σύνκαμψον  . bow you downV-AMA-2S

Universalist Judgment Day Not A Cake Walk

It’s not that Christian Universalism believes Judgment ‘Day’ will be a cake walk! If one dies “still in their sins” then they will rise still in their sins - and, infirmities!

Just look at history! It’s a sad, pitiful, horrendous story! An intense day of its review is sure to include some weeping and gnashing of teeth, with plenty of outer darkness to go around.

It’s not like Hitler and Pol Pot, etc. will be welcomed into the bosom of God with open arms! “Our God is a consuming fire”!

But this does not nullify Jesus' words - "If I be lifted up from the Earth I will draw all to Me" -- "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross". [John 12:32; Colossians 1:19-20]

"Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth" -- "..that God may be all in all" -- "According to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" -- "My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose" -- "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise.. not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance." [Ephesians 1:9,10; 1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 46:10; 2 Peter 3:9]

"Behold, I am the Lord.. is there any thing too hard for me?" - Jeremiah 32:27

The Apostle Peter and Christian Universalism

(Top o' the mornin'!)

I was thinking, after reading it this morning, that 2 Peter 1:1 - in the interlinear - is highly Christian Universalist.

Otherwise, it reads (NKJ for example):

- "Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.."

In the interlinear, it reads:

- "Simon Peter a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ to those who equally precious with ours having obtained a faith through [the] righteousness of the God of us and Savior Jesus Christ" - http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_peter/1-1.htm

The words, "[the] righteousness" is from #G1343 - "dikaiosuné: righteousness, justice" and "(usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness."

and "having obtained" is #G2975 - "lagchanó: to obtain by lot" (by a heavenly shake of the dice!)

- "Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness/justice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.."

Now if "ones salvation is/was obtained by lot", and all others perish horribly forever and ever (as the mistranslation goes) how is that reflecting the justice and (utter) right-ness of God our heavenly Father?

Love Does Not Ever Fail

1 Timothy 2: 3 - ...God our Savior, 4 Who will have all men to be saved..

Isaiah 46:10 - I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose.. 11 ...I have purposed it, and I will do it.
   
Matthew 19:26 - with God all things are possible.

1 Corinthians 13:8 - Love never fails.

Psalm 22 Prophecy To Be Fufilled

Verse one of Psalm 22, opens with the verse Jesus quoted when He was on the cross - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?!"

And we've likely heard these following verses as fulfilled,
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
    scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
    they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
    “let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
    since he delights in him.”

12 Many bulls surround me;
    strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
    open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
    it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
    you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me,
    a pack of villains encircles me;
    they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
    people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
    and cast lots for my garment.

Hebrews chapter 2 quotes verse 22, 11 ..Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says, I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praise. (Psalm 22:22 I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.)

And the verses (same psalm) to be yet fulfilled -

27 All the ends of the earth
    will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    will worship before him..

29 ..all who go down to the dust will kneel before him —

For Whom Does The Bell Toll?

When Paul tried to tell the synagogue of Thessalonica the good news that Messiah had come, they "contradicted and blasphemed". Heck, they caused a riot and "attacked the house of Jason"!

They were unable to believe the good news of Messiah.

Now when Paul got to the next town he preached in, at the synagogue of Berea, "they were more noble, for they searched the scriptures daily to see if those things were so".

Is it too good to be true that God wishes all to be saved? Is it too hard to believe that His Word will return to Him fully accomplishing all which He desires and intends? Is it possible for a person, or persons, to conceive of a better outcome than God Almighty does? Is it possible for Him to be less than perfect? Does perfect lose anything? Make mistakes? Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Tim 4:10) "..to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe". And Jesus Himself said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth" (on the cross!) "will draw all men unto me". Is it really too good to be true? Is it truly easier to believe He will lose the majority of mankind? Will consign to annihilation, or worse, forever, even those who never heard the "good news"?

"Love never fails" - 1 Corinthians 13:8. Never, fails. All, should at least "search the scriptures" to see if it is really so. But! We need go back to the original words. The King's men (and others) have had a couple of preconceived notions. What does it hurt to search the scriptures to see what is so?

Why Do I Believe? And What Do I Believe?

Why do I believe? One reason being God talks to me in numbers. Not just to me of course. I'm quite sure this is no singularity. It took me a while to fully realize it though, that the numbers were speaking. And of course he has many ways of communicating.

Here's a bit of my story.. Back in 1979 while in the Rocky Mountains I discovered God. It was a pretty cool experience. And after that the only dysfunction left has been in my favor! No churches for me. Hallelujah, because they've got so much of it wRong! The stories of those days in '79 are pretty interesting. But most interesting is when my son was 16. In 1996, he asked me two questions. I wasn't real happy with my answers, so I asked for better ones. It wasn't the first time I asked for a real clear understanding of things. I was a pretty solid believer, but after the answers came back like three 'bams'! Wow. Knocked my socks off. And all these years later.. still knocked off.

The questions he asked were "Why was the tree of knowing good and evil in the garden?" and "Isn't it great we get to be an ant farm!" ("A cynic is a disappointed idealist.")

The first answer that came to my mind was that God is life itself, the breath, spark and force (be with us!) And that he can only be perfect. Or he too would fade (2nd law of science.  Presently.)

I could see that before God ever did any creating he could see all possibilities and their results stretched out 360 degrees in front of his sight 'like a floating ethereal blanket'. And that he has done all things in just the way he has in order to bring about the best of all possibilities.

Then I realized that when God endowed thinking ability (to angel and man) a whole new world (or tree) of potentials came to be. Because it's only logic, you see, that with rationality will come, sooner or later, the ability to make choices.

Strangely, my whole 'bam!' experience (download from God, to borrow someone else's words) ended with a question - why did God (Yahweh) wait so-very-long and only create the  universe and man and woman, not only after the first bound-to-occur rebel thought ocurred, but after it had progressed into outright trickey and sedition? Didn't he know what would  happen?

Of course He did! And here's the paradox  - for God? - Once one chooses anything in any tiny way which difffers with what He chooses, they become imperfect, the opposite of life. Hence -  the world as we presently know it, death, and all suffer, some horribly. But God, being life, lives through, suffers and experiences it all! Why would he put himslf through all that? Because he's not creating robots or an ant farm, but an un-breakable paradise and a family of many beautiful branches. Un-breakable because etched deeply upon every heart and mind will be the full knowing and complete understanding that one cannot wander away from God, for to do so can only ever end in a puff of self destructive smoke (apocalypse/nonlife). He's letting the ability to choose run its course and has only interfered a few times. Mostly by building in the rescue "from the foundation"/beginning.

He waited (so very long) so all "in heaven and earth" would take this unavoidable journey (and lesson) all together. Or else one would wander away now, another later and another still later.. taking virtually 'for ever'. Unavoidable, if there's to be the ability to think and ponder and analyze that is!

Mostly what I learned is because He is perfect, the 'end' result can only be the best one possible.

Before and since then by continuing my studies I've learned all references to a 'hell' in the Bible are mistranslations and misunderstandings. Mostly from the Greek, there's no 'hell' in the  Old Testament (except for in the King James). And I've learned that Judgment Day will be rather - Atonement Day, for all who didn't have one previously. If Christ is the Passover Lamb -  Spring Holy Days fulfilled by His first advent - then the Fall Holy Days, Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles will be fulfilled by his long second advent.

Jesus said "If I be lifted up from the earth" (on a cross, an image strong enough to pierce every psyche) "I will draw all to me". [John 12:32] Psalm 22:27 says "all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all families of the nations will rejoice before Him". And 1 Timothy 4:10 says "God is the savior of all". And there's plenty of folks who believe these verses and many others like them. Tentmaker.org, for instance, has a lot of U.R. (universal redemption) articles and information, and an interesting discussion forum.

 Take care and God bless!

Tentmaker
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