Chapter 12: Conclusions of the Plan

As we now approach the last chapter of this book. I hope all that I have shared up to this point has been of great value to you. Maybe you have learned some new things which no one has ever told you about before? We aren’t yet fully done; we have this final chapter where I want to pull things together and present an overview of the plan, which I would say is systematic. I hope to bring it all full circle so you can see what potentially this could look like and have a different perspective on the end times narratives.

I might be challenging myself, but I would also like to share a unique perspective how I believe greater unity in the body of Christ can be achieved. I believe we can achieve this by accepting universal restoration as the most appropriate framework of interpretation. I want to share an infographic which I put together after having read Dr. Thomas Talbott’s book The Inescapable Love of God. I combined what I learned in his book, with all that I have learned over the last eleven years. I hope it is interesting in how the top seven areas which currently divide us, can actually unite us.

12.1 The Plan for the Salvation of All

The plan of Father God and Lord Jesus is truly remarkable. I would like to first clarify, in this study, I am sharing all that I currently understand of the overall plan. I certainly wouldn’t fix it in stone. My prayer is as time goes by; the Lord will continue to open my eyes to understand more along the way. And to listen to what others have to reveal in about this fuller plan. For me, the key is it has to connect into God’s Kingdom Laws under the new covenant. And whatever anyone shares, it should be as free as possible from our traditions. I believe the apostle Paul reveals the full culmination of time in 1 Corinthians 15:28. I love seeing theos panta en pasin in the ancient Koine Greek font.

BSB: ²⁸ And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.

NENT: ²⁸ And when all the things have been subjected to him, then also the Son shall himself be subjected to him that did subject all the things to him, that *God be all in all.

BGB: ²⁸ οταν δε υποταγη αυτω τα παντα, τοτε και αυτος ο υιος υποταγησεται τω υποταξαντι αυτω τα παντα ινα η ο θεος [τα] παντα εν πασιν.

BRG:T: ²⁸ otan de ypotagē autō ta panta, tote kai autos o uios ypotagēsetai tō ypotaxanti autō ta panta ina ē o theos [ta] panta en pasin.

The end game is Father God will “be all in all.” What is most interesting about this specific verse is when we look at the various translations, all of them imply this word may. Why is this? Are the translators implying God is hoping to achieve this? Maybe He will, maybe He won’t? Absolutely not! In Greek, the ē (η) before “o theos” is in relation to eimi (εἰμί / G1510). Which means “to be.” There is no may in this sentence. Why do translators include may in the translation? It is pure unadulterated “He will be all in all.” We can see in Dr. Ivan Panin’s Numeric English New Testament (NENT) the power of his translation, “that God be all in all.”

I would like to give you a small “heads up.” What follows might seem strange if you have only ever been taught eschatology through a dispensationalism framework. As I shared in chapter 11, when we view the Bible through a “historicism framework,” the fundamental difference to all interpretation is how Daniel’s 70-Week’s prophecy is handled. The historical ongoing view is “God did not stop the clock!” Therefore, if one is expecting a seven-year tribulation, a pre, mid, or post trib rapture, a third temple being built, a one world anti-christ or some mark of the beast, etc, etc. Well, that kind of all falls by the wayside. As the ongoing historical view reveals something quite different.

Finally, please do note that all that I am sharing in this chapter finds its foundations in understanding the Sabbath and Jubilee laws in relation to sin-debt management. It is these laws that will direct our understanding as we progress. If you desire to consider it as a possibility. I have approached this step by step using the diagram found in chapter 11 as the basis.

12.1.1 The First Two and a Half Days

I don’t think I have to write too much about the first 2,500 years of history. We have the creation account, the fall of humanity through Adam and Eve. We have the virus of mortality and death extended to all of creation. There are many interesting things that took place during this time.

During this age we had Jesus revealing the Fathers character via the name of El Shaddai. We have as well much rebellion in the celestial realm, which the apostle Paul talks about in Corinthians. Out of all the nations of the world the El Elyon then gives to Jesus-Yahweh a people, Jacob as His inheritance. He starts with Abram and declares “No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. (Genesis 17:5)”

The first age closes with an introduction to Moses and the burning bush. We have here circa 2,500 years, or two and a half days as per 1 Peter 3:8.

12.1.2 The Next One and a Half Days

The next phase of the plan is kicking off with Jesus, revealing the Father to the Israelites. He is now known by the name of Yahweh Elohim. “Hands Behold! Nail Behold!” The giver of the Torah, their Law! Jesus prepares a people for His inheritance. As well, preparing the way for Himself to be born into the world in bodily form in order for Him to fulfill the laws accordingly. Being able to be called a bother and a kinsmen-redeemer to Jacob-Israel and by extension Adam and all of humanity. We learn Jesus is “the Way.” All of humanity has to pass through Him by experiencing their personal “Passover event” in their lives. If one wants to move on to the promised land and receive “the life,” it is only through Christ Jesus and the cross.

Jesus as Yahweh introduces the kingdom laws to His people as they were to be—already at that time—a nation of king-priest-saints in the world. The plan has never failed. It has always been progressing just as They planned it. Nothing surprises Him along the way, as the overall plan always entailed saving, redeeming, and reconciling “the entire cosmos.” Not just a specific people. He always planned it would be through the Tribe/Nation/House of Judah to crucify Him as the world’s Passover Lamb.

The first age of the Ecclesia (Church) started with Jacob-Israel and his family. I have heard it said that the timestamp on the church only began—on the day of Pentecost. I would say this is factually incorrect. The apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear in Acts 7:38. When we look through the LXX, we learn the two key Greek words used of the Israelites, they were the synagōgēn (συναγωγὴν) and ekklēsia (ἐκκλησίᾳ) of the Lord. We see this in Deuteronomy 23:1-3 quite clearly. I want to share two short examples. Deuteronomy 23:3a (or 23:4a in WLC/LXX) and 2 Chronicles 6:3,

^a4:32 לֹֽא־יָבֹ֧א עַמּוֹנִ֛י וּמוֹאָבִ֖י בִּקְהַ֣ל יְהוָ֑ה ^3:6 וַיַּסֵּ֤ב הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶת־פָּנָ֔יו וַיְבָ֕רֶךְ אֵ֖ת כָּל־קְהַ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכָל־קְהַ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עוֹמֵֽד׃

WLC-T: ^23:4a lo-yavo ammoni umo’avi biqhal yhwh ^6:3 wayyassev hammelekh eth-panaiw wayvarekh eth kol-qehal yisra’el wekhol-qehal yisra’el omed

LXX: ^23:4a οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται Αμμανίτης καὶ Μωαβίτης εἰς ἐκκλησίαν κυρίου· ^6:3 Καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ εὐλόγησεν τὴν πᾶσαν ἐκκλησίαν Ισραηλ, καὶ πᾶσα ἐκκλησία Ισραηλ παρειστήκει.

LXX-T: ^23:4a ouk eiseleusetai Ammanitēs kai Mōabitēs eis ekklēsian kyriou; ^6:3 Kai epestrepsen ho basileus to prosōpon autou kai eulogēsen tēn pasan ekklēsian Israēl, kai pasa ekklēsia Israēl pareistēkei.

BSB: ^23:3a No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD ^6:3 And as the whole assembly of Israel stood there, the king turned around and blessed them all.

CLV: ^23:3a No Ammonite or Moabite shall come into the assembly of Yahweh. ^6:3 Now the king turned his face around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel while the whole assembly of Israel was standing.

As we progress through these ages within this eon, the Israelites, as the twelve tribes of Jacob-Israel, became so sinful and so full of idolatry that two things happened. After King Solomon’s death, the nation splits into two. Becoming two distinct nations. From that point onwards, all the prophets speak about two nations, never one. Each has its own destiny and callings unique to them. At the time of this split, Yahweh is married to two wives, or two nations, no longer one. The Northern Tribe of Israel (The Ten Tribes) and the Southern Tribe of Judah (Judah and Benjamin). From Jeremiah we learn that finally, within the framework of the law, Yahweh divorces the Norther Tribe (Nation) of Israel. As clearly stated in Jeremiah 3:8:

BSB: ⁸ Because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well.

CLV: ⁸ She has seen also that due to all these causes, when backsliding Israel committed adultery, I sent her off and gave her the scroll of her divorce. Yet treacherous Judah, her sister, did not fear, and she also went forth and committed prostitution.

As the Babylonians conquered the Assyrian empire. We find the Norther Tribe/Nation/House of Israel had already begun migrating out into the world. The Southern Tribe/Nation/House of Judah remained a while longer in the land. However, because of their harlotry, they too were sent into captivity. Yahweh, however, remained married to Judah because in order for Him to have a legal right to the throne of David, he had to be born through a legitimate marriage. If He had divorced Judah, well, He would have been born illegitimately and couldn’t claim to be a “kinsmen redeemer.”

During the time in Babylon, it was revealed to Daniel that Judah wouldn’t be under captivity for only 70 years. They would be under captivity for seven times (7 X 360 Years). They were getting the maximum punishment. The Lord revealed to Daniel this would entail 2,520 years to which they would be subjected to the “Beast nations.” The book of Daniel and Revelation need to be seen as one full revelation. Hence, the time of the Beast systems (man’s government) in the world had begun. During this age, we see the Beast nations as:

• Babylonian Empire: 607 – 537 BC.

• Medo-Persian Empire: 537 – 330 BC.

• Grecian Empire: 332 – 63 BC.

• Roman Empire: 63 BC – AD 476.

Within this ages, we have Yahweh birthed into the world as Yeshua/Iēsous, the anointed. We read of His life, death, and resurrection. Looking through the lens of the historical interpretative framework, we find Daniel’s 70-Week’s ended on Passover AD 33 with the death of Christ on the cross. We find Daniel 9:27 and the declarations of Matthew 24:2 having its fulfillment in the judgment and destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.¹[1] I grew up strongly believing the “dispensationalism interpretative framework” as it relates to Daniels 70-Week’s prophecy. However, one day came I came across a writing in 2012 which piqued my curiosity. I read it and later discovered it came from the Seventh Day Adventists. I will hand it to them. Eschatology seen through a historic lens is an area they know well. This prompted me to spend more time on the topic and I spent several months studying and analyzing the different scriptures used by the various frameworks. Until that time, I had no knowledge there were other interpretative ways to look at eschatology. In the end, I could only conclude the historic, ongoing framework is the best way to process scripture. The Lord never stops time for prophecies. One thing for sure is the dispensationalism framework certainly is a cash cow. Maybe that is all we need to really understand? I can honestly say though, after I finished the study, the shock of the conclusions hit me hard. It was a huge earthquake in my Christianity. In fact, it was this event that eventually led me to look at the frameworks of eternal hell etc. The shock was so severe, I ended up laid up on my couch for a week. It hit me physically in my back muscles in a way I couldn’t have ever imagined. It was then later in 2018 I discovered Dr. Jones’ writings and I find his balance of Kingdom Law, History, and the Bible enough to recommend it here. The one thing I greatly appreciate about his ministry is all things are online for free. Which, personally, I respect so much. Resources to look at: Jones, Dr. Stephen E. “The 70 Weeks Error,” in the Foundation for Intercession Newsletter Issue #397. Aug 2021. Accessed: Oct 01, 2021. https://godskingdom.org/studies/ffi-newsletter/2021/the-70-weeks-error; Daniel’s Seventy Weeks. (God’s Kingdom Ministries, 2010). Accessed: Oct 01, 2021. https://godskingdom.org/studies/books/daniels-seventy-weeks

The second age closes with the “day of Pentecost.” The current Beast nation operating in the world is that of Pagan Rome. We have now circa 1,500 years passing, or one and a half days.

12.1.3 The Next Two Days

12.1.3.1 The Beginnings of This Age

We now come to the third age, which is the second age of the ecclesia. This is our current era. In terms of connections to the three feasts, this is the second feast, which is the Pentecostal age.

As this age begins, what we find is the Tribe/Nation/House of Judah in fact consists of two different people groups. These being Judahites and Edomites. How do we know this? Well, history reveals that in 126 BC, the Judean’s forcibly conquered Esau-Edom at the time, during the Maccabean period. The Jewish Encyclopedia affirms the Edomite absorption into Jewry under “EDOM, IDUMEA.” We read,

… They were again subdued by John Hyrcanus (c. 125 BC), by whom they were forced to observe Jewish rites and laws (ib. xiii. 9, § 1; xiv. 4, § 4). They were then incorporated with the Jewish nation, and their country was called by the Greeks and Romans “Idumea” (Mark iii. 8; Ptolemy, “Geography,” v. 16). … From this time the Idumeans ceased to be a separate people, though the name “Idumea” still existed the time of Jerome.²[2] “EDOM, IDUMEA (אדום, ‘Ιδονμάια).” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2021. Accessed: Oct 01, 2021. https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5434-edox-idumea

I share this because it helps us to understand why, in fact, Jesus was often so vicious against the Pharisees. The Pharisees being the power brokers and ruling elite of the day. It helps us to understand why He made statements such as, “But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:26-27)” And as well, “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. (Matthew 21:43)” In the natural; everyone would have appeared to be Judahite. But on a deeper level, Jesus saw two different nations and one of them; those who were Edomites, were never in history called “His Sheep.” Hence why they didn’t listen to His voice because He wasn’t their shepherd.

Modern day prophecy teachers who interpret scripture through the dispensational framework tend gloss over the spiritual significance of the events from 126 BC. What happens is, much of prophecy is mis-interpreted and mis-applied to the wrong people groups. Spiritually and naturally. This could come off as offensive if one has never heard such a thing before, but it means the modern State of Israel is in fact spiritually and naturally responsible for fulfilling two different prophetic roles. The first is as the Tribe/Nation/House of Judah, and the second is as the Nation of Esau-Edom.

Further to this, and it can’t be stressed enough for consideration. Dispensationalism also significantly overlooks the separate and distinct callings (destiny) of the two nations after King Solomon’s death. The Tribe/Nation/House of Judah has its own destiny, in connection to the scepter (the Kingship) and the Tribe/Nation/House of Joseph-Israel (Ephraim-Manasseh, the 10 tribes), has their own destiny in connection to the birthright (the kingdom). This is recorded in Genesis 48:8-22; 49:8-12 and 1 Chronicles 5:1-2.

I don’t wish to go deeper here. However, if one has never considered these things before, I can only encourage you to explore the topic further, along with this endnote.³[3] I have to admit I find this specific topic a bit of a political minefield in Western Christianity. If we can only consider what I shared in section 7.3.1 regarding how little people read and study the Old Testament. Combined with what I shared in section 11.1 and the dispensationalism framework originating from the Jesuit Priest Francisco Ribera in the 1500s. Then being popularized through John Nelson Darby and C. I. Scofield and his Scofield Study Bible over the last 200 plus years. We come to a place where many Christians have never heard about the separate and distinct callings related to the Scepter as recorded in Genesis 49:8-12 in regard to Judah, and the Birthright, as found in Genesis 48:8-22 in regard to Joseph-Israel and then also in 1 Chronicles 5:1-2. These can’t be combined into one nation’s calling. As they are separate and very distinct. Then if we draw in the open prophecies for the Edomites, these can only be fulfilled through today’s Jewish people, given Edom doesn’t otherwise exist as a separate nation. It was a marriage that took place that made the Judean’s responsible for all that Edom still had to accomplish. And here, I would categorically state the focus isn’t on the average, lovely, amazing, friendly modern Israeli who makes up the general population. With Edom, it is about the elite and the power brokers who rule by their own wicked desires and ignore the needs of the average person. They honestly couldn’t care less about the general population. (Which, by the way, exists as well with every people group and nation and every religion.) What we have then is quite an interesting dynamic happening, in how to understand what God is doing in the nations and people groups and which prophecies apply to whom. Don’t you think? Then there are the open prophecies for Judah. Some understanding of this connects us into Jeremiah 19:10-11; 24; 27, Isaiah 29:1-8 and then Galatians 4:22-31. As I have come now to learn, the first coming of Christ was through the Tribe/Nation/House of Judah. This is so Jesus could lay claim to the Scepter. He then took the Kingship into His own hands. This has been achieved through His life, death, and resurrection. He is the King of Judah. The second coming of Christ, yet to be fulfilled, is through the Tribe/Nation/House of Joseph-Israel (Ephraim/Manasseh) to lay claim to the Birthright. He then is King of Israel. He then establishes “the Kingdom.” Therefore, all who claim Christ as their savior and king are of Judah and are of Israel under this current age of His ecclesia. One can only be “chosen” when one accepts the King! Only upon His return then will “Shiloh” come, and the two sticks of the House of Judah and the House of Ephraim-Israel shall be joined as one (Ezekiel 37). I only ask you to consider these things if you only have been taught dispensationalism’s view on prophecy. (Zionism, Seven-year trib, antichrist world power, mark of the beast, third physical temple, restarting of the temple sacrifices etc, etc, all originate in dispensationalism’s framework) It all changes when we really research for ourselves what the Old Testament says about these two distinctions when Jacob gave the Scepter to his son Judah, and the Birthright to Ephraim/Manasseh through his son Joseph. As it is rarely spoken about under the dispensationalism and preterist frameworks, as I have come to learn.

12.1.3.2 The Middle of the Age

Moving along, we find then, Jesus removed the kingdom from the Judahite-Edomites who were ruling it at the time and gave it to … His sheep. The twelve apostles representing His people. So, in fact, we can officially say the second church age began with Judahite’s from the first ecclesia age. We can certainly say it was a “called-out” people from an “already called out” people. It is interesting, then, when we look at the broader picture of Jesus’ statements found in John 10:16.

BSB: ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

BGB: ¹⁶ καὶ ἄλλα πρόβατα ἔχω ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τῆς αὐλῆς ταύτης· κἀκεῖνα δεῖ με ἀγαγεῖν, καὶ τῆς φωνῆς μου ἀκούσουσιν, καὶ γενήσονται* μία ποίμνη, εἷς ποιμήν.

BGB-T: ¹⁶ kai alla probata echō ha ouk estin ek tēs aulēs tautēs; kakeina dei me agagein, kai tēs phōnēs mou akousousin, kai genēsontai* mia poimnē, heis poimēn.

Overtime all who were His sheep and have heard His voice have become known by a new name. Under the name of “a Christian” we see the rise of Christendom. The dominion of Christ. This encompasses anybody who accepts El Shaddai-Yahweh-Yeshua/Iēsous as King of Judah, and King of Israel, and King of the cosmos! There is no other gate by which a person can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. One is only chosen when one accepts the Kingship of Christ Jesus our Lord.

During this age, we discover the seven ecclesia (churches) in the book of Revelation are aligned with three different functional levels.

1. Each Church was a physical group of people in the Bible in the first century.

2. Each Church represents a church age within the last 2,000 years. This is remarkable to see the fulfillment when one studies it.

3. Each Church represents a kind of Christian in their walk with the Lord. Meaning, if you become an overcomer/conqueror and you receive your crown, one reward will probably apply to you. This is personal, and each believer needs to discover this with Jesus. I know personally, He revealed to me which church represents my life. I can say it brought me to my knees in repentance when I discovered the warning He gave to that specific church.

The seven church ages within this period are not exact, but general analysis of those who have written about this, seem to put them at the following periods.

• The ecclesia of Ephesus Period: AD 70 – AD 170.

• The ecclesia of Smyrna Period: AD 170 – AD 312.

• The ecclesia of Pergamos Period: AD 312 – AD 606.

• The ecclesia of Thyatira Period: AD 606 – AD 1648.

• The ecclesia of Sardis Period: AD 1529 – AD 1750.

• The ecclesia of Philadelphia Period: AD 1730 – AD 1945.

• The ecclesia of Laodicea Period: AD 1945 to present day.

Over the course of the last 2,000 years, we find the beast nations in power being Pagan Rome, which transitioned into Papal Rome. As Papal Rome collapsed, what took its place was Mystery Babylon. It being a mystery because people don’t realize it is operating right underneath our noses all around us. Its prime power coming through the entire central banking regimes of the world and the trafficking of flesh.

12.1.3.4 The End of This Age

We are now seeing all around us in the twenty-first century, the collapsing of Mystery Babylon. Why would I say we are seeing it collapse? Well, if you recall, the Lord told the Israelites if they continued to disobey Him, they would receive a maximum punishment of seven times (7 X 360 years). He sold His people off to the beast nations and commissioned them to rule over them for 2,520 years. It is a similar situation as during the time of the Judges of Israel. What we find, then, are two different timelines to keep in mind.

• The Northern Tribe/Nation/House of Israel (the ten tribes): Deported to Assyria and beyond between 745 – 721 BC. This means, 2,520 years is complete in AD 1776 – 1800. (Hmm, what nation came into founding in 1776?)

• The Southern Tribe/Nation/House of Judah (Judah, Benjamin): Deported to Babylon between 607 – 604 BC. This means 2,520 years were complete in AD 1914 – 1917. Judah had sovereignty over itself for 100 years during the Maccabean period (163 – 63 BC). This robbed the beast nation of Greece of their full rights, so in the divine court, the Lord added 100 years from 1917, bringing us to 2017 in order to fulfill the 2,520 years.

Although the power of Mystery Babylon is collapsing, we certainly see they are unwilling to give up this power. They are fighting to hold on to it with all their might. This then gives the Lord cause in the divine courts to bring judgment against them. We see Revelation 17-18 playing out now on the Earth. At the same time, we have Christ’s Stone Kingdom gaining firm foundations. When Mystery Babylon collapses, it won’t be without the Stone Kingdom filling the gap, or at least some growing form of the Stone Kingdom. There is far more to explore here. I can encourage you to research eschatology in light of the universal restoration framework and historicism for deeper consideration.⁴[4] To date, I have found that the best ministries speaking about eschatological topics with the combination of the frameworks of universal restoration and historicism come from God’s Kingdom Ministries by Dr. Stephen E. Jones (godskingdom.org) and Stone Kingdom Ministries from Dr. James Bruggeman (stonekingdom.org). Dr. Jones has an excellent three-part Bible commentary on Daniel: Prophet of the Ages and an Eight-part Bible commentary on The Revelation (book of Revelations) which draws in history and the entire Bible together. I haven’t found anything like it until now. Further, Dr. Bruggeman is as well a very interesting person and his blog Series on Mystery Babylon and the Stone Kingdom, which certainly looks at these two biblical entities from a deeply historic perspective in comparison to prophecy teachers who teach via the dispensationalism framework. Whether one agrees with their perspectives is another thing. I have found, it only helps to challenge us to seek Jesus harder to understand how He really has been governing the cosmos over the last 6,000 years.

This third age will close in the future. Possibly, we could consider this age closed when Jesus has returned, and we see the fullness of the first resurrection in the Earth. Circa 2,000 years or two days have passed. We now have circa 6,000 years or six days complete.

12.1.4 The Seventh Day

12.1.4.1 The Years of the 1,000 Year Sabbath

My assumption is the Sabbath Millennium could theoretically begin via a transitional phase. I think we could expect this age to be in full effect when we see the resurrection of the righteous on the Earth. This will comprise everyone from the last 6,000 years who ran their race well and acquired their portion of their inheritance and their crown.

One thought which always occurs to me is if Aaron and Moses are types and shadows of those who missed the reward of entering “the promised land.” I really wonder about King Solomon. Will we see him in the resurrection of the righteous? He started out strong in his life with the Lord, but he certainly didn’t end it well as we read recorded in 1 Kings 11:4-11. Could he have disqualified himself during the last days of his life? I guess one day we will see.

This is now the kingdom age; or in terms of the feasts, it would be the tabernacle’s age; it is the time when we enter “the life.” Those who take part will receive a new name and learn of the new name of our King. It is where we see these scriptures fully playing out on the Earth in Revelation 20:2-6:

BSB: ² He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. ³ And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time. ⁴ Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. … And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

What are your thoughts? Do you see we should interpret this as pure symbolism? Or could it be something literal, or maybe a mix? What is clear for me is people coming back to life and governing with Christ has to be literal. After all, this is the purpose of the first resurrection.

Considering all that I have shared in chapter 11 about the possibility of missing this reward. I believe for all who miss it, they certainly will experience a “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Why wouldn’t you. I know I would. Considering all who miss it will still be mortal, flesh and blood, there certainly will be anger. There will be hostility, there will great, great sadness and stress for those who missed it. The good news though is although one may have missed this reward, it is clear, one won’t be in a place called hell for all of eternity.

If one is alive at Christ’s coming and one misses the reward, once Jesus heals all those who are in despair of having missed it. The fact is, they will still have a wonderful role to play in the millennium. Of course, if you are in fact dead in the ground upon Christ’s coming, well, yeah, you will remain dead. Sorry about that! One would only awaken to their rewards at the Great White Throne judgment. My understanding so far is the following, during this millennium we will have three types of people.

1. King Jesus and His king-priest-saints, being part of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Those who are redeemed and received their reward. Now essentially incorruptible and immortal. They will have their new celestial bodies, just like Jesus. (I call them bio-spirit tech bodies in my book Upgrading Earth)

2. Then we have priests of Jesus, being part of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Those who are redeemed but missed their reward. Still of corruptible flesh and blood. (having organic tech bodies)

3. The nations of people who are alive at Christ’s coming, but never took Him as their king and savior. Now considered outside the kingdom (the outer darkness). Still of corruptible flesh and blood. (having organic tech bodies).

Dr. Jones in his book Creations Jubilee helps lay out understanding, as to the possible differences between the redeemed of God who are transformed like Christ, and those who are saved but missed their rewards and remain in flesh and blood until the second resurrection. He states,

Perhaps the best explanation of the resurrected body is found in Ezekiel 44. The sons of Zadok, we are told, will have a reward different from the ordinary Levitical priesthood. In New Testament terms, the sons of Zadok represent the Melchizedek Order, those who inherit the first resurrection. These are differentiated from the Levites, who represent the rest of the Church. God tells Ezekiel that the “Levites” in that day will be allowed to minister to the people in the “outer court” (the flesh), but only the “sons of Zadock” will be allowed to minister to God as well as to men.

We are told that the “sons of Zadock” will wear their linen garments when ministering to God; but then they must change into woolen garments when ministering to the people (Ezekiel 44:19). Linen here represents the spiritual state; while wool, which comes from animals, represents the physical state. In other words, the sons of Zadok, those who inherit the first resurrection, will be able to move from the spiritual dimension into the physical at will, even as Jesus did. The rest of the Church will not be allowed this privilege until they are transformed at the second resurrection a thousand years later.⁵[5] Jones, Dr. Stephen E. “Chapter 5 The Restoration of All Things,” in Creation’s Jubilee. (God’s Kingdom Ministries, 1991). Accessed: Oct 01, 2021. https://godskingdom.org/studies/books/creations-jubilee/chapter-5-the-restoration-of-all-things; “Levi vs Melchizedek,” in Foundation for Intercession Newsletter Issue #390. (God’s Kingdom Ministries, Jan 2021). Accessed: Oct 01, 2021. https://godskingdom.org/studies/ffi-newsletter/2021/levi-vs-melchizedek

When I read this, it certainly developed in me a deep desire to be a part of this first resurrection. I would like to present an allegory which I also share in Upgrading Earth. We could see it as the following, those of the order of Melchizedek have bio-spirit tech bodies. Everybody else remains in their virus-infected organic tech bodies. Does that make sense?

Now, in terms of the Earth and the Heavens, we have this imagery found in 2 Peter 3:10-12 of everything being destroyed by fire. Should we take this literally? Maybe? Or could it be that this fire is Christ, His king-priest-saints and the Holy Spirit, His fiery law and His messengers in the celestials bringing the destruction AND restoration? The imagery the Lord gave me on this was the millennium being as one huge thousand-year upgrade and restoration. The world will learn the ways of the Lord and He will be exalted. All will be restored as we upgrade it into a “new Heaven and new Earth.” At the end, the switch is flipped and “Behold, I make all things new. (Revelation 21:5)”

During the millennial Sabbath, we come to see nations and people groups joining the kingdom of Heaven on Earth. They will declare their allegiance to King Jesus with this culminating in the whole Earth being filled with the glory of the Father. Those who are part of the kingdom walk in the light of the kingdom. Those who are not, walk and live in “outer darkness.” Though it isn’t as if they really live in real darkness where no physical light shines. It really is an allegory for not being in God’s kingdom where the true light is.

12.1.4.2 The Final Years of the 1,000 Year Sabbath

However, there is still an issue. We have the nations who were living over the millennium, still living in their flesh and blood bodies. They still comprise organic tech infected with mortality and death. Because of this, the flesh still wants to rebel against Christ and His laws. They haven’t been able to rebel, because the Adversary (or Slanderer) isn’t around to stir up action in them to rebel. This is why the Adversary (the Satan) is released from the abyss. He has a purpose! We need him to stir up the last rebellion against Christ and His king-priest-saints. This is a good thing. This is now where the law of war takes effect. King Jesus has a reason to respond to being attacked. What happens in Revelation 20:7-9:

BSB: ⁷ When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore. ⁹ And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

NTAT: ⁹ And they marched across the earth’s broad expanse and encircled the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city, and fire descended out of the sky and consumed them.

Is what we read here literal or symbolic? I really believe it is literal. I know this might be deeply offensive to someone who believes in eternal hell, but what takes place here is the fire, as it is represented, comes down from Heaven to “destroy all flesh” and consume all flesh infected with sin, death, and mortality. What is transpiring is, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:5:

BSB: ⁵ hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.

NTAT: ⁵ To deliver such a man to the Accuser for destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit might be saved on the day of the Lord.

The Lord doesn’t destroy the people. He destroys the sinful flesh. What remains is the kind of imagery from my book Upgrading Earth. “What will happen is that all virus-infected organic tech will be destroyed and burned up in a blink of an eye. The virus of death and mortality will be burned up, leaving everyone standing in new organic cleantech bodies. The antivirus will have been administered. All will now be free of the virus of mortality and death. Sin, which is missing the mark of Abba Father, will have no power over the organic cleantech body. Death will be burned up with life!”⁶[6] Slaats, Jamie. “6. The Takeover and Upgrade Process,” in Upgrading Earth – It was never meant to be saved, it was always meant to be upgraded! (TwelveGates e.U., 2020). Accessed: Oct 01, 2021. https://upgradingearth.org/read/upgrading-earth/6-the-takeover-and-upgrade-process/

12.1.4.3 The Great White Throne Judgment Begins

As I have grown to understand the laws of God, what follows, is how I would understand we could see things play out, according to the laws of Christ and the kingdom. We come to the last days of the millennial week. All who were living over this week have had their mortal, sin filled flesh destroyed. They reside in organic cleantech bodies. Now the big event takes place. As we read in Revelation 20:11-15,

BSB: ¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. 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 was found whose name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

All who are raised to life are not raised to life in mortal, sin filled flesh. They are raised to life as a new creation. What we find then is all creation is in organic cleantech bodies, in comparison to Jesus and His king-priest-saints, who comprise bio-spirit tech bodies (allegorically of course). All who are raised to life at the second resurrection will differ in bodily form compared to Jesus and His king-priests-saints. This is why we see the rewards of living for Jesus now so valuable compared to what will be.

I will try to make this as short as possible on what follows. We have two kinds of people being judged at the Great White Throne. What is important to reiterate with the Lord’s plan, “God does not judge mankind beyond his level of accountability. And God also fulfills His own obligations according to His own sovereignty”⁷[7] Jones, Dr. Stephen E. “How to Believe in God’s Sovereignty without Being a Fatalist,” in Articles. (God’s Kingdom Ministries). Accessed: Oct 01, 2021. https://godskingdom.org/studies/articles/how-to-believe-in-gods-sovereignty-without-being-a-fatalist I am focusing only on humanity. What could it look like to judge the celestial beings? Only time will tell.

First Group: Those Who Accepted Christ in their Life – Missed the First Resurrection

If found in this group of people. Fear not, you are saved. However, you are being judged according to your life, “after you have been saved.” This is all about your reward in the kingdom. What will that look like? Only Jesus knows this. Given what I have learned so far, the question is more: “will you be ready to immediately enter your reward to receive the new spiritual (bio-spirit tech) body?” I guess some will, and I can imagine some may not. There could still be time needed in order for you to mature and learn the ways of the kingdom, and how to govern with the mind of Christ. One isn’t given all authority if one isn’t ready yet for it.

If you were Jesus, how would you judge yourself on this at the moment? I don’t think it is something to fear, but something to be aware of. He loves us so much and He wants to make sure as well; we are on the right track. How long can it possibly take to mature in the ways of the kingdom? I am not sure? Though, if we consider the current age of Pentecost to be circa 2,000 years. Could this be an indicator?

Second Group: Those Who Never Accepted Christ in their Life

Right now, I can only share a glimmer of what I currently understand, given the law. There are parts which are exceptionally clear when we review the laws of God how this group of people is to be judged. Yet, what life really looks like in the millennia after is only guessing at this stage. What we find clear, though, is how the law functions.

1. Jesus has atoned for ALL the sins of the cosmos. This is still the fulfillment of the law of atonement.

2. All the other laws of the kingdom come into play now to judge each individual according to their deeds/works, as read Revelation 20:13. All will be judged; nobody will escape judgment. After judgment, all go to the lake of fire, which as we have explained is a time where all need to go through learning the fiery law. You, as a king-priest-saint, will be this lake of fire with Christ and the Holy Spirit.

The king-priest-saints those who are “as Jesus is” now come into their role as Christs Anointed. Here is where the law of redemption carries on to its next level. All the work is flowing out of Jesus’ work of the cross. Our example of how all of this could function comes from the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, which Jesus told in Matthew 18:21-35. Here we have layers of servanthood and sin-debt management. First there was the King. Second, there is the head servant owing the king. Third, there are servants owing head servant. Let us now once more review the law of redemption in connection with Jubilee. Leviticus 25:47-50a:

BSB: ⁴⁷ If a foreigner or temporary resident living among you prospers, but your brother dwelling near him becomes poor and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan, ⁴⁸ he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him: ⁴⁹ either his uncle or cousin or any close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself. ⁵⁰ He and his purchaser will then count the time from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee.

As I would see this, what follows is the unrepentant have been judged and found to have sin-debts. Clearly, they can’t pay their debt. We have learned the law forbids torture or unending servitude. Now all the king-priest-saints take on the role through Christ as “kinsmen redeemers” to our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, cousins, and relatives who have been judged at the Great White Throne.

Jesus redeemed the first fruits saints → the saints redeem all of humanity together through Christ → Time passes until they fulfill the individual debt, or Creations Jubilee comes into play at the 49,000^th year.

We have now come to the close of the first millennial week. The Great White Throne judgment is complete. All have been judged according to their deeds. We have 7,000 years or seven days having passed.

12.1.5 The Eighth Day and Beyond

We now enter the 8^th day. A whole new millennial week begins. Father God and Lord Jesus dwell among humanity on the Earth. We have a new Heavens and a New Earth. God has made all things new!

My assumption of what follows is the role of the saints over the millennia, will be the same as Jesus was performing with us, when we were first saved. With Christ Jesus, we guide all peoples through their own Passover’s “The Way,” Pentecost’s “The Truth” and finally into their Tabernacles “The Life.” We govern with Jesus until all debts are finalized, all reconciliation is achieved, and creations Jubilee comes. We work on all that the Lord has us to work on in leading all people into their inheritances. I can only quote 1 Corinthians 2:9 here, “Rather, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.’”

My belief is probably 1 Corinthians 15:28 is fulfilled at the invoking of creations Jubilee at the 49,000^th year. Then we would see, “God be all in all.”

12.2 On Unity in the Body of Christ

Now that we have reviewed the plans of God in light of a salvation, reconcilation, and restoration of all things framework. I wanted to share how I see we could become better united within the Body of Christ. It was Autumn 2020 when I read Dr. Thomas Talbott’s book The Inescapable Love of God. It is an impressive book and one all who desire to grasp the three interpretative frameworks should definitely read. As I finished the book, I had the image in my head to draw up a kind of infographic. This is of the top six areas of division we have in the body of Christ. What I found was if we begin re-arranging them and adding some order, the top areas of division, in fact, become our top areas of unity. I want to share this for your consideration.

12.2.1 Schools of Theology

When we study the history of the early church, what we find is during the first centuries, there were six principal schools of systematic theology. As I shared in the conclusion to chapter 3, there were five in Alexandria, Egypt, with Greek as their focus. Four were of universal restoration, where two were based on the work of Origin of Alexandria and two were based on the work of Theodore of Mopsuestia. And one was based on annihilationism. Last, we had a school in Latin Carthage of North Africa. This school focused on eternal hell as its foundation.

When we review the graphic below, we can see I have labeled the six areas where I see the greatest divisions. At least as I have come to learn them. We can see that even within Protestantism, there are two key divisional areas. Given all that we have learned through this study. Now let’s put things in order of the plan, and see how in fact, these actually unite us, rather than divide us when we step out of our denominations to see the bigger plans of God and set aside, the eternal hell and annihilationism frameworks for good.

12.2.2 Reordering our Divisions to Bring Unity

1. Protestantism/Orthodox: We are saved by faith alone, not of works. So, nobody can boast. We have to come to the throne of God with the faith of Abraham. The law of faith in Christ Jesus.

2. Catholicism: After we are saved, our works then determine our rewards in the ages to come. This is on one hand, for the reward of taking part in the first resurrection and, on the other hand, for the ages ahead in the greater plan of salvation.

3. Annihilationism: Ultimate everlasting destruction. It is the destruction of the flesh. It is the destruction of the natural/old man. The fire of God destroys and annihilates our Adamic nature. We become a new creation and the old will never be again.

4. Calvinism: Jesus is fully sovereign. His plan will be done! There are a people who are predestined and elected to take part in the first resurrection. They are the first fruits anointed, the overcomers, the five virgins. They have been chosen to rule and reign with Christ over the millennial kingdom age and beyond. This is the great double portion inheritance that only comes from being a firstborn in the family.

5. Arminianism: A degree of free will exists. This is like an atom molecule, where it can freely move within the range it was created with. We have been given a level of authority, not so much free will. We are responsible only for the level of authority that God has given us. All events and circumstances we can’t control in our life lead us to a compelling decision for Jesus … eventually. The testimony of C. S. Lewis is a good example of this.

6. Annihilationism: There is a level of conditional immortality being offered to us. I would connect this to our works. It is our works and deeds we walk in, after having been saved, that lead us to conditionally receiving our rewards and taking part in the first resurrection. There certainly are conditions to be met for this level of immortality or … aionios life in the age to come. We shouldn’t expect God to put babies in charge of His kingdom. He desires maturity.

7. Finally, a time of judgment will begin at the Great White Throne. After the 1,000 years is complete. All in the cosmos will be judged according to their deeds. Judged in righteousness, justice, and love. All according to the kingdom laws of Father God and Christ Jesus. Judgment occurs, but it is restorative, not punitive. They restore and repair, not destroy, and to punitively harm with torture and torment. It is ages of chastisement, correction, and restoration. All according to the law of Christ, not the lawlessness of man. The ages ensue until finally the glorious Creations Jubilee arrives.

8. Then the end comes. 1 Corinthians 15:28. Christ hands back the keys of the kingdom to the Father and the Most-High God becomes “All in All.” The consummation of time, as we can currently understand it comes to an end and what follows … is anybody’s guess.

I find it a beautiful thing to see that we can really have unity. That it is possible and that the top doctrinal divisions pointed out here could in fact be the top doctrinal points of unity. I want to close with the word of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:3-4. Try replacing his name and Apollos’ name with the name of the denominational you adhere to.

BSB: ³ for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? ⁴ For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?

NTAT: ³ For you are still fleshly. For, wherever there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and proceeding in a human manner? ⁴ For whenever someone says, “I am Paul’s” while another says, “I am Apollos’s,” are you not being human beings?

BGB: ³ ἔτι γὰρ σαρκικοί ἐστε. ὅπου γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν ζῆλος καὶ ἔρις, οὐχὶ σαρκικοί ἐστε καὶ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖτε; ⁴ ὅταν γὰρ λέγῃ τις “Ἐγὼ μέν εἰμι Παύλου, ἕτερος δέ “Ἐγὼ Ἀπολλῶ, οὐκ ἄνθρωποί ἐστε;

BGB: ³ eti gar sarkikoi este. hopou gar en hymin zēlos kai eris, ouchi sarkikoi este kai kata anthrōpon peripateite? ⁴ hotan gar legē tis “Egō men eimi Paulou, heteros de “Egō Apollō, ouk anthrōpoi este?

What are your thoughts on this? Could you see some merit and opportunity through this overview to see how we can better achieve unity? That in fact, it is through universal restoration that we can achieve a huge step in finding unity in the body of Christ.

12.3 Conclusions

As we now come to the close of this chapter. Eschatology and what will happen in the future is certainly of interest to us all. However, it is also clear in the twenty-first century there is a plethora of interpretational frameworks through which scholars, theologians, and those found in Christian Middle Earth interpret the end times. So, which is the correct interpretation? How do we sift through all of our traditions? Do we want to?

I don’t know what kind of background you are coming from with interpreting end times. Some of what I have shared in this chapter you may have already known. Maybe much of it is quite surprising in how it is presented. When we include the laws of God into the discussion and how He governs time, we learn there has never been a “stopping of the clock” on prophecies. One single verse of scripture can, of course, span thousands of years in its fulfillment, yet there never is a pause or gap in the timelines. Time is a continuous technology in all prophecy. Eschatology, through the lens of the restoration of all things, fills us with a great hope for all of humanity.

Of course, we still have some challenges ahead. It isn’t all roses because as Mystery Babylon collapses over the coming time after 2017, the Babylonians clearly won’t go down without a fight. After all, they want to wipe out most of humanity before they can learn the truth of God’s grace and love. They want to prevent as many as possible from becoming sons and daughters of God and stepping into their inheritances. Our hope is as we see its demise, we will be able to see the strength of the Stone Kingdom as well filling the gaps. Christs millennial kingdom is being established on the Earth. This also means, we don’t look for a rapture to be taken out of the Earth. We stand steadfast on “what am I to be doing now Lord, to establish your kingdom on Earth.” Our hope is not Heaven, our hope is our inheritances of the reward and crown of the first resurrection, and the coming restoration of all things on the Earth, with Christ ruling and reigning. It is so exciting!

Finally, my prayer is that if we truly desire unity in the body of Christ, we will first be able to see, we really need Jesus for this. It won’t work if we are trying to build our own kingdoms, rather than Christ’s kingdom. As you have now seen this infographic, my hope is the Lord will stir in you that unity begins in the body when we acknowledge, “we all see in part, and hear in part.” Our top six divisions are “the parts we believe are in fact, the full part.” Yet, when we step back and see this from a bird’s eye view, we only need to re-order the parts, and move it all under the framework of the restoration of all things. With this, I am certain we can walk in greater unity, like the world has never seen before. What are your thoughts? Does your spirit ring true to all of this or not?

12.4 Final Parting Thoughts

As I have progressed through this study, I have only tried to be as honest as I could with you along the way. I hope that throughout this writing, my tone has been respectful. Though, with such a topic, I know it can really rile people up and many can take deep, deep offense at it. I know as well, there are many things I see which really frustrate me, as you have likely gathered. When I write, I do my best to let 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 govern my speech.

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Do you think I have been successful at speaking in this agapé love throughout this study? I want us to recall three of the most important aspects of the God’s laws once again.

1. The Jubilee law is Grace in its fullness. Jesus as Yahweh gave us grace in His law.

2. If we truly believe Jesus is using the laws of the kingdom to govern the cosmos and “… not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18)” Then when we look at the law of redemption, we can’t separate it from the law of Jubilee. It is therefore decreed by law, all sin-debts must be released at God’s great Jubilee. Meaning, the law of Christ decrees the salvation, reconciliation and restoration of all things.

3. Finally, a small portion of humanity will enter into their Passover experiences. These are those that accepted Christ in their lifetime. While the rest of humanity will take part in the second Passover at the time of the Great White Throne judgment. The second Passover along with the law of atonement, the law of redemption and the law of Jubilee are God’s way of ensuring, He achieves His plans. Nothing will thwart it.

I am reminded of the words of Jesus when He was speaking to Job “Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right? (Job 40:8 NLT)” So shall we discredit the His justice? I certainly won’t tell Him He’s wrong to let humanity take part in the second Passover and later to proclaim the Jubilee and set His creation free.

Now I would like to return to the questions I posed to you in chapter 2. If you recall, I shared this verse with you from the apostle Paul. “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! (1 Corinthians 6:2-3)” I then made the following statement, “it will be you and I in our roles as king-priest-saints, along with King-Priest Jesus, who will personally be part of the last judgment of all things in the cosmos.”

I then asked, “how do you feel about all of this? Are you comfortable owning such authority? Could you feel comfortable to condemn someone to eternal punishment in hell, or eternal annihilation?” Finally, one of the key questions I had posed was “by what standards are we then to make such judgments?”

Do you recall your thoughts and feelings about these questions before you began this study? What are your thoughts and feelings about these questions now that you have completed the study? Has anything changed? Do you feel more peace or less peace in your life? Do you have more hope for the future and the plans of God? Has there been any transformation in your heart as to how you perceive the Fathers love and justice? Have you possibly encountered “God writing His laws on your heart and on your mind?”

Maybe you need time to let all of this great news sink in and to process it. It might be, this was only the beginning of what the Lord has in store for you in the coming years. I expect He’s got you. He will lead and direct you as He wants in taking you further in your own life’s journey.

Finally, I would like to highlight some last things as we conclude which I have found important along this journey.

When this eternal hell interpretative framework gets disturbed in our lives, it actually can set off a kind of earthquake in us. It shifts our entire paradigm. We can’t take the concepts of eternal hell and directly transfer them into universal restoration. We really need to throw out some bad ideas first and reframe our understanding. It takes a bit of time to resettle on these new foundations. Is this disruption good? Or is it dreadful? Well, I see it as an amazing earthquake and a time of amazing disruption. My own life experience reveals that, in fact, Jesus is not a God of boredom. He will shake all that needs to be shaken in our lives that doesn’t agree with His word or His character. If we will let Him shake us, and even sometimes when we don’t want Him to shake us, He will force a shaking upon us. In the end, He is sovereign, and His will and plan will be done.

From what I have learned, much of the church and the world really, is still to this day struggling with this hell topic. There are people, in fact, seeking answers but not getting them. Or … afraid to ask them. The questions are pretty standard. “They can’t reconcile a loving God with eternal wrath and punishment.” Actually, the real statement is “They can’t reconcile a God of justice, with eternal wrath and punishment.” That is the real problem and issue. Then they can’t reconcile “God’s ways are not our ways” just accept it in faith. And yet, He did say we should love Him with our minds and with our hearts, right. We need unity between the heart and the mind to fully love Father God and Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The eternal hell framework is ridden with flaws, contradictions and explaining away scriptures to make it all fit. It has serious flaws when we study the Old Testament. I can understand why today many are walking away from their faith, among others. From what I have come to learn, many never have peace in their own salvation. Can you imagine that!? I know many do, but the fact that many don’t is also a concern. The potential of ending up in eternal hell is always knocking at their door, even though they took Jesus as their savior. It certainly doesn’t help when there are big-name preachers and evangelists out there telling not only the unrepentant, but also the saved, they will find themselves in hell. So, of course, how does this bring any security in the work of the Cross?

All things to do with truth are a journey. In specific, it is a journey that finally only Jesus can bring a revelation to us on. One can read and hear what others write or say. But it won’t register unless Jesus really makes it click in each one of our hearts. He has to open our eyes and give us that “click … Kaboom” moment that is personal for each one of us. That is why I know all I can do is share what I am called to share. I know for anybody who wants to ask this question to Jesus. It is a slow, revealing process. It can take years. It doesn’t happen all at once. All we have to be is open to considering, could we be seeing the Word of God through a painfully powerful tradition of man? The idol called tradition! One that has been prevalent for 1600+ years.

As you recall, my story began from first deciding to read the Bible in full and spending some proper time in the Old Testament. That’s where it all started. Imagine that. Reading the Bible broke my Christianity. Isn’t it funny how Jesus works in us through reading His word? Yet it truly awaked in me, His heart, and the heart of Father God.

I don’t share my story and testimony as an attempt to convince you I am right. It is to share with you, different perspectives exist and that, in fact, I am sorry to say the eternal hell framework is not a settled topic. In fact, it is the most terrible framework of all to try to interpret the Bible through.

Today, I stand more firmly in my faith than I ever have. I stand on the knowledge that Christ Jesus will save all, that all things in Heaven, on Earth and under the Earth will be reconciled to the Father. I stand firm on the restoration of all things as the foundation of my love for my sovereign King and Savior and Father God. It is also about sharing the good news. This is what the true gospel is all about. It is what Paul preached. The reconciliation and restoration of all things through the powerful sovereignty of King Jesus. Sharing this testimony is also all about sharing the amazing fruit I have seen from it in my life, in being able to Love God, Love People. The fruit of this interpretational framework in my life convicts me that this is a radical truth Jesus wants to bring us back to. Each one of us in His own due course and time. If we are willing to really test these things.

If you have come this far with me, thank you. I want to bless you and I pray you will just consider my story and journey and all that I have shared. I am curious to hear … what your future story may sound like? I leave you with these closing scriptures in 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 4:10-11 along with Psalms 66:1-5: 67.

LSV: ^2:3 for this [is] right and acceptable before God our Savior, ⁴ who wills all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth; ⁵ for [there is] one God, also one mediator of God and of men—the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself [as] a ransom for all—the testimony in its own times— ^4:10 for this we both labor and are reproached, because we hope on the living God, who is Savior of all men—especially of those believing. ¹¹ Charge these things, and teach;

BGB: ^2:3 τοῦτο καλὸν καὶ ἀπόδεκτον ἐνώπιον τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Θεοῦ, ⁴ ὃς πάντας ἀνθρώπους θέλει σωθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν. ⁵ Εἷς γὰρ Θεός, εἷς καὶ μεσίτης Θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων, ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς, ⁶ ὁ δοὺς ἑαυτὸν ἀντίλυτρον ὑπὲρ πάντων, τὸ μαρτύριον καιροῖς ἰδίοις· ^4:10 Εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ κοπιῶμεν καὶ ἀγωνιζόμεθα, ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν ἐπὶ Θεῷ ζῶντι, ὅς ἐστιν Σωτὴρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων, μάλιστα πιστῶν. ¹¹ Παράγγελλε ταῦτα καὶ δίδασκε.

BGB-T: ^2:3 touto kalon kai apodekton enōpion tou Sōtēros hēmōn Theou, ⁴ hos pantas anthrōpous thelei sōthēnai kai eis epignōsin alētheias elthein. ⁵ Heis gar Theos, heis kai mesitēs Theou kai anthrōpōn, anthrōpos Christos Iēsous, ⁶ ho dous heauton antilytron hyper pantōn, to martyrion kairois idiois; ^4:10 Eis touto gar kopiōmen kai agōnizometha, hoti ēlpikamen epi Theō zōnti, hos estin Sōtēr pantōn anthrōpōn, malista pistōn. ¹¹ Parangelle tauta kai didaske.

LSV: ^66:​1 TO THE OVERSEER. A SONG. A PSALM. Shout to God, all the earth. ² Praise the glory of His Name, || Make honorable His praise. ³ Say to God, “How fearful Your works—By the abundance of Your strength, || Your enemies feign obedience to You. ⁴ All the earth bows to You, || They sing praise to You, they praise Your Name.” Selah. ⁵ Come, and see the works of God, || Fearful acts toward the sons of men.

^67:1 TO THE OVERSEER. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM. A SONG. God favors us and blesses us, || [And] causes His face to shine with us. Selah. ² For the knowledge of Your way in earth, || Your salvation among all nations. ³ Peoples praise You, O God, || Peoples praise You, all of them. ⁴ Nations rejoice and sing, || For You judge peoples uprightly, || And comfort peoples on earth. Selah. ⁵ Peoples confess You, O God, || Peoples confess You—all of them. ⁶ Earth has given her increase, God blesses us—our God, ⁷ God blesses us, and all the ends of the earth fear Him!