More on God’s Exciting Plan
A slightly difficult uphill and narrow way in Tobago
Do You Know that God Has a Loving and Exciting Plan?
Since God has a plan for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 13:38) and is a God of love (1 John 4:8,16; John 3:16), the Bible shows He will intervene for the elect’s sake (Matthew 24:22) and that He has a loving and exciting plan (Revelation 21:1-8).
Since God is love (1 John 4:16), we in the Living Church of God believe that He has a plan that takes into account how human beings would have rebelled against Him (cf. 1 Peter 1:20-21). We also believe that God is smart enough to have developed a plan that does not result in the vast majority of humanity having to suffer end-less torment. Thus we believe it is logical that His plan will result in nearly everyone who ever lived, no matter what their religion or background was, to be saved. And that there are hundreds of verses in the Bible that show this—and this is God’s will (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16-17). This plan is also consistent with writings about Christianity throughout history—though most in modern times seem to wish to overlook that fact.
We in the Living Church of God specifically believe that the Bible teaches that God made everything and it was “very good” (Genesis 1:1-31). And that God made humans upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29), but that humans felt that they could decide to disobey God’s commands (Genesis 3:6). Because of that disobedience, God stopped humans from having immediate access to the tree of life on their own (Genesis 3:22; John 6:44)–even though He had a plan of redemption from before “the foundation of the world” involving Jesus (Revelation 13:8).
We in the Living Church of God believe that God gave humans 6,000 years to live their own way (please see chapter 60). We believe that humans will mess things up so bad, “unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:22).
Notice that the Bible teaches that some are elect now, and others blinded now:
What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded (Romans 11:6-7).
And since those blinded do not have that held against them (John 9:41), scripture shows:
…all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Luke 3:6).
Thus, salvation will be offered to all—either now or later.
Predestined to Be Called, to Serve, and to Have Others Join Us
But the Bible also shows that some are predestined to be called and converted in this age.
Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote about predestination:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified (Romans 8:28-30).
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:11-13).
Paul is teaching that there is a work for those who are predestined to be called in this age. Notice also that Paul specifically refers to those who FIRST trusted in Christ. The implication is that there will be others who were not predestined in to be called in this age to be called later. And that is basically what predestination is all about—some few people were predestined to be called in this life in order to show others (both now and in the future) that it is possible to live God’s way of life and so that they can be called later.
People can only be called now if the Father draws them to be called:
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44).
It is on that last day that those predestined in this age will be the praise to Christ’s glory to those on the earth in a way that has not happened before.
Jesus was clear that only a few will find this way in this age:
23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able (Luke 13:23-24).
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:14).
So only some few will be called in this age. And there is an “age to come” (Matthew 12:32) where even infamous sinners will have an opportunity (cf. Matthew 10:15;11:22).
Jesus to establish a millennial kingdom on earth (Revelation 11:15; 20:4). During this 1,000 year reign the world will become beautiful again (Isaiah 35:1-10). Those predestined now will help rule in His kingdom (Revelation 20:4-5) to teach and assist those who will not always know how they should live (Isaiah 30:20-21).
So while some are predestined to be called in this age and to rule in the millennium, all others will be called later. After this thousand year reign, all who ever lived will be resurrected for judgment (Revelation 20:5).
One thing that many do not realize about that time of judgment is that God will not only judge, He will plead His case:
The LORD stands up to plead, And stands to judge the people (Isaiah 3:13).
A noise will come to the ends of the earth–For the LORD has a controversy with the nations; He will plead His case with all flesh (Jeremiah 25:31).
And those not called in this age, those who never really had an opportunity for salvation, will be called then.
Before explaining what God might plead, notice what Ezekiel was inspired to write happens when this noise occurs:
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ‘ ” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 “Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’ ” (Ezekiel 37:7-14).
So, after a noise there will be a resurrection and those that thought that they had no hope will be raised. It is important to understand that this time of judgment and resurrection is after the Day of the Lord and after the millennium (Revelation 20:4-13). But it is after this noise that God will judge and He will plead His case with all flesh (Jeremiah 25:31).
Why then?
This is because God will be able to point out how the human race came to the point of utter extinction, but that God prevented that for the sake of the elect. Notice:
And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:22).
God will be able to contrast His ways with the ways of humankind. When those resurrected see how humans started out with a very good and beautiful earth and messed up and nearly completely destroyed it (Revelation 11:18) in their 6,000 years, they will realize that it was not wise for humankind that distanced itself from the true God.
God might point out that He had to intervene to stop this destruction and that he implemented His kingdom for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-5), God may also point out how well humans did during the millennium (Isaiah 35:1-10).
Most resurrected humans will realize that it is God’s way of life that worked best and they will accept His generous offer of salvation.
Those who are called now in this age were predestined to serve. We in the Living Church of God believe that the way of God is the way of give, while the way of the world is the way of get. And because of Satanic deception (Revelation 12:9), human society cut off from God (1 John 2:15-17; 2 Peter 1:4), and personal selfishness (James 1:14-15), all sin (Romans 3:23)—this is why Jesus taught that few are chosen in this age (Matthew 20:16).
This differs greatly from much of what passes for mainstream Christianity as the Catholics and Protestants normally teach that most who ever lived are such horrible people that God will torture them for all eternity.
The Holy Days Reveal This Plan
We in the Living Church of God believe that the biblical Holy Days (Leviticus 23) reveal God’s loving plan of salvation.
The following is from the Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the Living Church of God:
ANNUAL FESTIVALS PICTURE GOD’S MASTER PLAN OF SALVATION
God’s annual Festivals are listed in Leviticus 23 and in Deuteronomy 16. These God-given holy days were commanded to be observed “forever” (Leviticus 23:14, 21, 31, 41). The Apostolic Church observed the annual Sabbaths (Acts 2; 12:3-4; 18:21; 20:6, 16; 27:9; 1 Corinthians 16:8). These Sabbaths will continue to be observed during Christ’s millennial rule (Zechariah 14:1, 9, 16-19).
God’s annual Festivals picture the seven vital steps in His plan of salvation:
1. The Passover pictures the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:6) sacrificed for us, (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus established the New Testament Passover with the symbols of bread and wine (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
2. The Seven Days of Unleavened Bread typify purging the leaven of malice and wickedness out of the believer’s life, and partaking of God’s nature, the “unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:6-13; Luke 12:1).
3. The Feast of Firstfruits (Pentecost) pictures the small harvest of “begotten” followers of Christ who will be harvested at the “first resurrection” (Revelation 20:4-5), as “a kind of firstfruits” (James 1:18).
4. The Feast of Trumpets points prophetically to the second coming of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 11:15-18; 19:15; Zechariah 14:9).
5. The Day of Atonement pictures the banishment of Satan, and man’s becoming “at one” with God (Leviticus 16:8, 10, 15-27; Revelation 20:1-3).
6. The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the soon-coming wonderful world under the government of Jesus Christ and His saints (Zechariah 14; Matthew 9:37-38; 13:1-30; Luke 12:32; John 7:6-14; Acts 17:31; Revelation 12:9; 20:4-6).
7. The Last Great Day features the great judgment that will occur at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on earth (John 7:37; Leviticus 23:36, 39, 33-34; Revelation 20:11-12).
RC Meredith of LCG also added:
Notice Revelation 20:11-12: Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books…
Revelation 20 then describes the opening of another book—the Book of Life. What is this books purpose? Paul explains that the saints names are written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3). Revelation 21:27 describes the New Jerusalem as inhabited by only those who are written in the Lambs Book of Life.
The opportunity for eternal life is at last presented to these multitudes of people small and great. They are resurrected back to physical life for perhaps a period of 100 years—long enough for a thorough opportunity for them to learn, grow and be tried and tested as to their willingness to live eternal life Gods way (Isaiah 65:20). They will be called and have the opportunity to study and to understand the Bible. Then—and only then—God says that these resurrected people will be judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books (Revelation 20:12). Finally, after being given a genuine opportunity to know and to act upon the Truth, these people are judged by how they respond to and obey the teachings of the books of the Bible.
God truly does have an exciting plan. All who ever lived will be offered an opportunity for salvation.
Several articles of related interest may include:
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Is God Unreasonable? Some have suggested that if God requires Sabbath-keeping He is unreasonable. Is that true?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?
Melito’s Homily on the Passover This is one of the earliest Christian writings about the Passover. This also includes what Apollinaris wrote on the Passover as well.
Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? What is leaven? This article supplies some biblical answers.
Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2? Many “Christians” somewhat observe Pentecost. Do they know what it means? It is also called the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks, and the day of firstfruits.
Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? Did they? Did Jesus? Should you?
The Book of Life and the Feast of Trumpets? Are they related? Is so how? If not, where not?
The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance The Jews call it Yom Kippur, Christians “The Day of Atonement”. Does it have any relevance for Christians today?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians?
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