Posted on 02/05/2017 3:05:14 PM PST by metmom
So, you are not going to answer the question regarding these ‘other ways’ to God? BTW, Jesus IS God, as He informed His Disciples in that 14th Chapter on John’s Gospel which seems to elude you. JESUS, being God, is not some guard at the door, like the Mormons portray Joseph Smith.
It's a simple allegory representing "No one comes to the Father except through Christ" - John, and "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it..." - Rev.
Again, this is how I see it: Christ judges everyone in the end, i.e., guards the door/gate to heaven, or if you prefer, "No one comes to the Father except through Him"
According to the scriptures, there will be two future resurrections. First, those in Christ, both living and dead, will join Him in heaven at or prior to the second Advent.
Lastly, everyone else at the end of Christ's earthly 1,000 year reign will be resurrected and judged at "The Great White Throne Judgement" - Rev. 20
This represents two paths, a way for "those in Christ" - the best way, before the worst of the trib - and a way for "everyone else" at the great white throne judgement, to enter heaven.
Actually at the very end, a new heaven and a new earth.
I found the second; could you point out the first for me?
I'm with you, but that's not how they are numbered in Rev., maybe because it was written after what you and I consider the first?
Rev 20
"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."
After the thousand years...
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."
pingaling
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit[a] and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!
Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven[b] and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
As is textual comments/explanations included with any presentation of a block of highlighted text.
BTW, that's why I gave the you chap. quoted from:
Rev. 20
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