Here is what I am working on. It is a sketch of what I believe concerning the future events according to God’s time table. I know this is terribly un-orthodox, but it is a result of my using my brain to do some thinking. Not many will engage me in a discussion of these ideas, because they immediately reject them and relegate them to the dung heap of “exegesis by majority.” “There is nothing new under the sun,” people say. “Otherwide, men a whole lot more intelligent than you would have seen it and proclaimed it.” Another comment I get a lot is, “You are a heretic.” So, here goes. I welcome intelligent comments and feedback, but ridicule and nastiness on anyone’s part will be ignored (I feel Truth Defender has an open mind and heart and will discuss these matters).
What is the meaning of life?
God created man and gave him life according to a grand divine plan. This plan includes a definite timetable of events, or stages for mankind’s development. Among others these phases include this present time period in which we are living, and the next one which is called the kingdom of God. The next period is the one that now commands our attention. Obtaining the assurance of being allowed to live in the kingdom of God should be the most important goal of every living person. This is the very meaning of our present life – to live a life that allows us to lay hold of that guarantee. There is nothing more important than to be living in the next phase of God’s plan for mankind, the kingdom of God, when He establishes it here on this earth.
How does a person secure such an assurance? First, by living a present life that doesn’t preclude one’s entrance into the kingdom. There are many who have lived lives that do not qualify them for admission, but, there are many who have and many who will. Further, an entrance ticket is gained by living a life that calls God’s attention to one’s “having done good.” What constitutes “having done good?” In Acts 10:34-35 Peter said that in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. God clarifies the term, “having done good,” to mean believing in God. This present life will be judged by “Ho Logos,” the expression of God that was put into each person from the beginning. This expression is: knowing right from wrong. We are expected to do what is right and to refrain from doing what is wrong, in good times as well as bad times. Another name for “Ho Logos” is the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, the very expression of the Living God.
There will be two types of life in the kingdom: life and eonian life. The first simply consists of living during that time, and is the only promise or hope God has ever held out to every man; but, the second is more of a “flowing life,” or life that flows from God through those possessing eonian life outward to others. The Bible is filled with descriptions of eonian life, life that flows during the “eon.” The eon is particularly characterized as the time of God’s flowing; He is the flow-er. One obtains this eonian or flowing life by laying hold of its assurance also during this present life. How? By believing on the one who was “sent” or commissioned by God, and believing the record He has given us concerning this “sent” or commissioned one. The Greek word “apostello” translated as “sent,” should more accurately and properly be rendered as “commissioned with authority” to perform a certain act or acts.
A word of clarification is in order here. Many people think of an eon as being a long period of time. It’s true that an eon can take place during a long period of time, but that’s not what the word eon means. Eon means a flow. During God’s kingdom this flow is from the One who flows, the flow-er. A period of time is coming that will be characterized by a flowing, and that time is referred to in Scripture as the Eon (in the Greek) or, the Olam (in the Hebrew). This period of time also known as the kingdom of God is called the Eon because it will be a time when God will flow through the ones who will possess eonian life. Often a period of time is called by its predominant aspect which characterizes it. This flow is so amazing that this period of time is called by its chief characterization, the flowing. I know it’s hard to understand, but even Shakespeare might possibly have appreciated this description. His home was Stratford on Avon. Avon is an old English word for river and was derived from eon, primarily because a rivers flows. The Danube River’s name is derived from Dan, which means a river, a flowing river.
The kingdom of God is going to be a training school, a period of preparation for those who will matriculate into the next phase of the divine timetable, the graduate school called the Parousia of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when He will be personally present upon this earth for one thousand years. The final exam will be a time of (the) great tribulation (there is no definite article in the original manuscripts). One can’t progress to the Parousia without having successfully graduated from the kingdom of God. There will be pressure and constriction, as the way becomes narrow. But, again the only promise ever held out to mankind by God: to be allowed to live in His kingdom when He establishes it upon this earth.
If one is not alive during the kingdom of God, one will not be alive in the Parousia. That will be a terrible loss because these will be two of the most amazing times - ever. God wants to train and prepare a people who will not need to be governed any longer, a people who will go onward and upward with Him to the new heaven and new earth.
But, what if a person who is eligible for entrance into the kingdom is dead when it begins? Well, that’s what resurrection is for. If people were alive and happy with God in heaven, what need would there be for resurrection? It would be an awful let down, wouldn’t it? So, if a person is dead when God’s kingdom comes, that person will need to be resurrected by the one who is the resurrection and the life, Jesus Christ. He will speak a person’s name and that person will come forth just like Lazarus did. Resurrection is the antidote for death; it is the only escape hatch from Sheol, which is the Hebrew word for the state of death. In Greek mythology Hades is a place, but in Holy Scripture Hades also means the state of death. Through the principle of divine interchange, the Holy Spirit saw fit to select the exact Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Sheol, and it is Hades. Sheol and Hades are interchangeable – they mean the exact same thing, the state of death.
The order or time of a person’s resurrection will be in three companies, starting with the first fruits company. The resurrections will be orderly according to plan, in various orders, starting with the key people first, for there will be organizational structure in the kingdom. An analogy would be the calling up of an army unit: first the officers would be called and put in place, so that when the others showed up there would be leadership and direction for them. Wouldn’t that make more sense than resurrecting everyone all at once?
Some people will not be resurrected at the beginning of, nor during the kingdom of God. They will not be resurrected until the end of the Parousia. Some will be resurrected at Christ’s second coming; these are the martyrs who give their lives during the rebellion against the kingdom. As mentioned, not experiencing the wonders and the glory of these two periods will be a terrible loss. So, what determines if and when a person will be resurrected? God certainly has some criteria for determining if a person should be resurrected at the beginning of the kingdom, or during the kingdom, or not until after the Parousia. This order will be based upon the service that person will render. I guess the main thing is to be resurrected at some point in time to live once more; but, again the loss of not experiencing the kingdom and the Parousia would be very sad indeed.
If a person is alive at the beginning of the kingdom, that person will need to be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, in order to be able to continue living in it. There are many wonderful changes that will distinguish and characterize life in the kingdom of God. The most significant characteristic will be “life,” so much so that this time will be called “the life.” The present time in which we are living is characterized by death. From the moment someone is born, death begins to work in that person until it achieves its ultimate victory. Sickness and disease are part of the death process.
How many people today think about the kingdom of God? How many people know anything about it? How many people even care? Isn’t that amazing? Here we have a most curious development: people giving no consideration or regard to what should be the most important thing in their lives – the kingdom of God. What’s up with that? When the eight people emerged from the ark, God let man walk after his own ways in order to demonstrate what would happen if left alone. Today we see the results. We see a world filled with people who choose to walk without God and who strive to eliminate God from every aspect of their lives.
At various times along the way God exercised judgment when He chose to do so; and, He acted in grace at other times when He chose to do so. However, since Acts 28:28 God has been acting only in grace, both active and passive grace. This was a great “secret” that God kept hidden from the foundation of the world. The Greek word “musterion” doesn’t mean “mystery,” it means “secret.” He is presently writing into the record His countless and tremendous acts of Grace which He displays to the undeserving. He has long been showing this unmerited favor to the undeserving instead of judgment. God has not been acting in judgment, because grace and judgment are mutually exclusive concepts. In situations where God cannot exercise grace, he doesn’t act at all. This is a time of God’s administration of grace toward mankind. God’s coming kingdom will be a time of government, a time of judgment. No grace – only judgment. This doesn’t preclude mercy, just no amazing grace.
How does a person secure such an assurance? First, by living a present life that doesn't preclude one’s entrance into the kingdom. There are many who have lived lives that do not qualify them for admission, but, there are many who have and many who will. Further, an entrance ticket is gained by living a life that calls God’s attention to one’s “having done good."
I don't have enough information to comment on the rest of what you wrote, but you've definitely got this part backwards. If your "entrance ticket" is earned by you then God owes it to you, and it is no longer by grace that you have been saved, which directly and explicitly contradicts what the Bible says about the subject:
2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. "[a]4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7"Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."[b]
Romans 4:2-8
Cordially,
Thank you for the compliment. I'm sure I'm not the only one that will respond intelligently. However, many who will respond intelligently may not have the studious background or seriousness that you have. Be that as it may, consideration of what is said is a virtue many don't have.
ALL ---!
I will have to put off responding to any messages for a little while. I'm on a different computer and have only a little time available to use it. My main computer has suffered a hit from a storm and lightning apparently destroyed my hard disk. It seems that I lost everything stored on it. Very discouraging, to say the least. Hopefully I will be back up before the week is over. Then I will respond to messages with some things I have been working up: The thief on the Cross and The parable of Lazarus and the rich man, being among them. Patience, please.
Have to go now...times up!