FEEDBACK: DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF THE UNSAVED #7
12/11/09
We
appreciate feedback on the studies posted on this website. It helps us to see
if there is anything on this website that does not agree with the Bible.
Below is THE SEVENTH ROUND OF DISCUSSION ON THE
SUBJECT OF THE “THE DEATH AND
DESTRUCTION OF THE UNSAVED”.
THE READER’S FEEDBACK IS IN ITALICS. OUR
RESPONSE IS IN ALL CAPITALS AND [].
I agree that the spiritual
implications of Genesis 13:14 refer to our
eternal inheritance. In this regard, Mr. Camping correctly understands that the
word "for ever" must be examined in the light of the context. The
context indicates that God promised Abram and his seed that they would inherit
the land in accordance with God’s covenant. In other words, this promise was
conditioned on Israel's faithfulness to God’s word (Genesis 15:18).
In Genesis 28:4, we find that
Jacob received the same covenantal
promise; yet Israel was removed out of the land in 1877 BC.
[IN
THE ABOVE STATEMENTS, I BELIEVE YOU ARE COMBINING THE PROMISES OF GENESIS 13:14
AND 15:18. THEY ARE SEPARATE PROMISES AND MUST BE EXAMINED INDIVIDUALLY.
THE
PROMISE OF GENESIS 13:14-15 IS TO ABRAHAM AS WELL. ABRAHAM WAS NEVER GIVEN ANY
OF THE LAND OF CANAAN. HE HAD TO BUY A PARCEL TO BURY SARAH.
IN
GENESIS 23 GOD PUTS A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON THE FACT THAT ABRAHAM BOUGHT THE LAND
AND PAID MONEY FOR IT. THIS MEANS THAT ABRAHAM WAS NOT GIVEN ANY OF THAT LAND.
GOD’S
PROMISE TO ABRAHAM IN GENESIS 13:14-15 COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FULFILLED IN THE
LAND OF CANAAN. IT NEVER HAD ANY FULFILLMENT FOR ABRAHAM IN THIS WORLD.
THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT CLUE THAT GENESIS 13:14-15 IS NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LAND OF
CANAAN IN THIS WORLD.
GENESIS
13:14-15 TALKS ABOUT LOOKING AT THE LAND. SO, WE THINK THAT SOMEHOW IT HAS A
FULFILLMENT IN THIS WORLD. BUT, WE MUST REMEMBER VERSES LIKE MATTHEW 5:5 THAT
TEACH THAT THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH. THEY WILL NOT INHERIT THIS
“EARTH”, BUT THE NEW EARTH THAT GOD WILL MAKE.
ABRAHAM
WAS “SEEING” THE EARTH. HE WOULD BE GIVEN THE “EARTH”, BUT AFTER IT WAS
RE-CREATED AS A NEW “EARTH”.
GENESIS
13:14-15 CANNOT HAVE ANY FULFILLMENT IN THIS WORLD BECAUSE GOD NEVER GAVE ANY
OF THAT LAND TO ABRAHAM.
GENESIS
28:4 IS A REPEAT OF THE PROMISE OF GENESIS 13:14-15, BUT THIS TIME TO JACOB.
THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH IS THE “BLESSING OF ABRAHAM”. ABRAHAM NEVER WAS
GIVEN ANY OF THE LAND OF CANAAN.
ON
THE OTHER HAND, GENESIS 15:18 IS A DIFFERENT PROMISE AND IT DID HAVE A
FULFILLMENT IN THIS WORLD, STARTING IN 1407 BC.
GENESIS
15:18 IS REALLY A DIFFERENT PROMISE. ]
Moreover, we know that Solomon
lost the kingdom because Israel did not keep God’s covenant (I Kings 11:11).
[1
KINGS 11:11 TIES INTO GENESIS 15:18.
GENESIS
15:18 SAID THAT THE JEWS WOULD BE GIVEN THE LAND OF CANAAN, BUT IT DOES NOT
PROMISE HOW LONG THEY WOULD HAVE THE LAND.
OTHER
VERSES GIVE WARNINGS THAT THE JEWS WOULD LOSE THE LAND IF THEY REBELLED.
LATER,
THE LAND WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE JEWS BECAUSE THEY REBELLED.
IN
1 KINGS 11:11, GOD DOES NOT TAKE AWAY THE LAND FROM THE JEWS, BUT RATHER FROM
THE HOUSE OF DAVID BECAUSE OF SOLOMON’S SIN. ]
All of this language has to do
with God’s salvation program. In this respect, God’s salvation program will not
be completed until all of the believers take possession of the land (i.e.,
become saved). Until such time, the believers (who have inherited the land)
will sojourn in the land as strangers and pilgrims.
Gen 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him,
Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and
southward, and eastward, and westward:15 For all the land which thou seest, to
thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.16 And I will make thy seed as
the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then
shall thy seed also be numbered.17 Arise, walk through the land in the length
of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.18 Then Abram
removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron,
and built there an altar unto the LORD.
Ge 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy
seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the
river Euphrates:
Gen 28:4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with
thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God
gave unto Abraham.
1Ki 11:11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of
thee, and thou hast NOT KEPT my covenant and my statutes, which I have
commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to
thy servant.
[YOU
MENTIONED GOD’S SALVATION. SOME OF THE VERSES THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE ACTUAL
PROMISES OF GOD’S SALVATION, LIKE GENESIS 13:14-15.
OTHER
VERSES YOU MENTIONED, RELATE TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL THAT WAS USED AS A PICTURE
OF GOD’S SALVATION PLAN, BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES DID NOT ACTUALLY
RECEIVE THAT SALVATION. GENESIS 15:18 IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE VERSES.
WE
HAVE TWO TYPES OF VERSES HERE. SOME THAT SPEAK OF THE ACTUAL SALVATION PROGRAM
AND OTHERS THAT SPEAK OF FIGURES OF THAT SALVATION. ]
In Jeremiah 7:3-7 and Jeremiah 25:5 we read that Israel would dwell in
the land "for ever" if they remained faithful. Of course, they did
not remain faithful; and as a result--they were destroyed by the Babylonians in
587 BC.
Jer 7: 3 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and
your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.4 Trust ye not in
lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple
of the LORD, are these.5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if
ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;6 If ye oppress
not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in
this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: 7 Then will I cause you
to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and
ever.
Jer 25:5 They said, Turn ye again
now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in
the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and
ever:
[JEREMIAH
7:3-7 AND 25:5 ARE INTERESTING VERSES.
THE
“LAND” MENTIONED IN THOSE VERSES IS ACTUALLY THE KINGDOM OF GOD, THE NEW
HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH. THAT IS THE LAND THAT GOD GAVE THEIR “FATHERS”; ABRAHAM,
ISAAC AND JACOB.
THESE
VERSES ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE READ IN MARK 1:15 AND ACTS 3:19:
Mark 1:15 And
saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye,
and believe the gospel.
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted
out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
THESE
VERSES ARE COMMAND TO TURN FROM OUR SINS AND TRUST IN GOD AS OUR SAVIOR.
GOD
FULFILLS THESE IN US WHEN HE SAVES US. WHEN HE DOES, THEN WE RECEIVE THE SAME
PROMISE OF GENESIS 13:14-15 THAT ABRAHAM RECEIVED. ]
So, when we think about the word for ever we must consider the
conditions.
[WHEN
WE LOOK AT THE ABOVE VERSES CAREFULLY, THE “FOR EVER” PROMISE OF GENESIS
13:14-15 IS TRULY FOREVERMORE. IT IS THE PROMISE OF SALVATION FOREVERMORE.
THE
“FOR EVER” IN JEREMIAH 7:7 GOES ALONG WITH THE PROMISE OF SALVATION THAT GOD
DID GIVE TO ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB, THEIR FATHERS, FOREVERMORE. THAT PROMISE
IS TRULY FOREVERMORE.
JEREMIAH
25:5 IS ALSO A PROMISE THAT IF WE REPENT AND COME TO GOD, THEN HE WILL GIVE US
A SALVATION THAT IS TRULY FOREVERMORE.
OTHER
PASSAGES TEACH THAT MANKIND WILL NOT COME TO GOD OF HIMSELF.
NEVERTHELESS,
THESE 3 PASSAGES ARE TRULY PROMISING A BLESSING FOREVERMORE.
THE
“FOR EVER” IN THE VERSES THAT YOU CITED ABOVE ARE TRULY FOREVERMORE. THESE ARE
ETERNAL PROMISES OF SALVATION.]
The unsaved will indeed suffer God's wrath for ever only in the sense
that they will not inherit eternal life after they are destroyed. Likewise, the
smoke of Sodom will rise for ever to indicate that Sodom (the church) will
never be inhabited again (Jer 50:40). The rising smoke of Sodom does not mean
that the souls of the unsaved are asleep somewhere and will be resurrected to
life on judgment day to suffer in a place called hell.
Jer 50: 39 Therefore the wild
beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and
the owls shall dwell therein: and it
shall be no more inhabited FOR EVER; neither shall it be dwelt in from
generation to generation. 40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the
neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither
shall any son of man dwell therein.
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner,
giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set
forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
[YOU
MENTIONED “resurrected to life”.
THE
BIBLE TEACHES THAT GOD HIMSELF IS LIFE (JOHN 11:25, 14:6) AND THAT LIFE FOR
MANKIND HAS TO DO WITH HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD (1 JOHN 5:12). BEFORE
SALVATION, WE HAVE NO LIFE IN US, THAT IS, NO GOD IN US (JOHN 6:53). WE ARE
DEAD (GENESIS 2:17, ROMANS 7:9-11, EPHESIANS 2:1,5, 1 PETER 4:6). UPON
SALVATION, OUR SPIRIT HAS PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE (JOHN 5:24, 1 JOHN 3:14)
BUT OUR BODY IS STILL DEAD (ROMANS 8:10, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:29). HOWEVER, AT THE
RAPTURE, OUR BODY WILL THEN PASS FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE. THAT IS WHY THE TRUE
BELIEVER EXPERIENCES THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE.
FOR
THE UNSAVED, THEY WILL AWAKE AT JUDGMENT DAY (DANIEL 12:2). GOD DEFINES THIS
HEBREW WORD TRANSLATED “AWAKE” TO MEAN CONSCIOUSNESS. GOD SAYS AN UNCONSCIOUS
CORPSE IS NOT “AWAKE” (2 KINGS 4:31).
NOW
LET’S LOOK AT JUDE 7.
THERE
ARE TWO WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN WRONGLY TRANSLATED IN OUR BIBLE IN JUDE 7 AND THIS
IS CAUSING PEOPLE TO MISUNDERSTAND WHAT THIS VERSE IS TEACHING.
THE
WORD “EXAMPLE” IS ONLY FOUND IN THIS VERSE. HOWEVER, THE EQUIVALENT VERB
IS FOUND IN COLOSSIANS 2:15. WE READ THERE:
And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing
over them in it.
IN
COLOSSIANS 2:15 THE VERB FORM OF THE WORD “EXAMPLE” FROM JUDE 7 IS
TRANSLATED “SHEW” OR “SHOW”. NOTICE THE PRESENCE OF THE WORD “OPENLY”
WHICH REINFORCES THE IDEA OF A “SHOWING”.
THE
CROSS WAS AN OPEN “SHOWING” OF CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER SATAN.
IN
THE SAME WAY, THE BURNING OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH IS A “SHOWING” OF THE
WRATH OF GOD.
THE
BIGGER TRANSLATION PROBLEM IS IN THIS WORD “SUFFERING”. THIS WORD IS
ALSO FOUND ONLY ONE TIME, IN JUDE 7.
HOWEVER,
IT IS MADE OF TWO COMMON WORDS. FIRST, THE VERB “TO HAVE” AND SECOND A
PREPOSITION WHICH IS COMMONLY TRANSLATED “UNDER”.
LITERALLY,
THIS VERB MEANS “TO HAVE UNDER”.
GOD
DOES DIRECT US HOW TO UNDERSTAND THIS WORD IN JUDE 7 THAT IS TRANSLATED “SUFFERING”
WHICH LITERALLY MEANS “HAVING UNDER”.
THE
TWO WORDS THAT MAKE UP THIS WORD TRANSLATED “SUFFERING” IN JUDE 7 ARE FOUND IN
LUKE 7:8. WE READ THERE:
For I also am a man set under authority, having <2192> under <5259> me soldiers, and I say unto one,
Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do
this, and he doeth it.
THE
MAN SPEAKING WAS A CENTURION WHO CAME TO JESUS FOR THE HEALING OF HIS SERVANT.
THIS
MAN RECOGNIZES THAT HE IS UNDER AUTHORITY.
THEN
WE READ WITH THE SAME TWO GREEK WORDS THAT THIS CENTURION IS “HAVING UNDER”
HIM SOLDIERS.
THE
SAME STATEMENT IS ALSO IN MATTHEW 8:9 WITH THE SAME TWO GREEK WORDS, “HAVING
UNDER”.
IN
MATTHEW 8:9 AND LUKE 7:8, GOD IS DEFINING WHAT THIS WORD TRANSLATED “SUFFERING”
REALLY MEANS. LITERALLY IT MEANS “HAVING UNDER”
FROM
THE CONTEXT OF LUKE 7:8 WE CAN TELL THAT IT MEANS “TO BE SUBJECT TO”.
IN
LUKE 7:8 THOSE SOLDIERS WERE “SUBJECT TO” THE CENTURION. HE TELLS ONE TO
GO AND THAT MAN GOETH. HE TELLS ANOTHER COME AND THAT MAN COMETH. THIS MEANS
THAT THOSE SOLDIER WERE “SUBJECT TO” THE CENTURION.
THE
SOLDIERS WERE NOT SUFFERING AT THE HAND OF THE CENTURION. RATHER, THEY WERE “SUBJECT”
TO HIM.
A
CORRECT TRANSLATION OF JUDE 7 IS:
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha,
and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to
fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for A SHOWING, HAVING UNDER (OR BEING SUBJECT TO) the
vengeance of eternal fire.
WHEN
WE FIX THE TRANSLATION ERRORS IN OUR ENGLISH BIBLE, WE FIND THAT JUDE 7 IS NOT
TEACHING THAT THE BURNING OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH ALMOST 4,000 YEARS AGO WAS THE
ACTUAL PUNISHMENT FOR SIN.
RATHER,
GOD IS TEACHING TWO THINGS:
1.
THE BURNING OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH IS A “SHOWING” OF THE WRATH OF GOD.
JUST LIKE THE CROSS WAS A “SHOWING” THAT CHRIST DEFEATED THE DOMINION OF
SATAN.
2.
THE FACT THAT THEY WERE BURNED UP SHOWS THAT THEY ARE “HAVING UNDER” OR
ARE “SUBJECT” TO THE VENGEANCE OF ETERNAL FIRE.
2
PETER 2:6 ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH. IT CONFIRMS
THAT THE BURNING OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH WERE NOT THE ACTUAL SUFFERING OF THE
VENGEANCE OF ETERNAL FIRE.
WE
READ IN 2 PETER 2:6:
And turning the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an
ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
GOD
TALKS ABOUT SODOM AND GOMORRAH BEING AN “ensample”.
THIS
GREEK WORD IS TRANSLATED “EXAMPLE” IN HEBREWS 8:5 AND “PATTERN”
IN HEBREWS 9:23 TO SPEAK OF THE CEREMONIAL LAWS.
BY
USING THIS SAME GREEK WORD, GOD IS SAYING THAT THE BURNING OF SODOM AND
GOMORRHA WERE LIKE THE OLD TESTAMENT CEREMONIAL LAWS.
THE
OLD TESTAMENT CEREMONIAL LAWS WERE A “PATTERN” OF GOSPEL TRUTH BUT NOT THE
ACTUAL GOSPEL TRUTH ITSELF.
FOR
EXAMPLE, WHEN A BURNT OFFERING WAS MADE, THAT OFFERING DID NOT PAY FOR ANY
SINS. RATHER, IT WAS A “PATTERN” OF THE PAYMENT THAT THE LORD JESUS
WOULD MAKE FOR SINS.
BY
USING THIS SAME GREEK WORD IN 2 PETER 2:6, GOD IS SAYING THAT THE BURNING OF
SODOM AND GOMORRAH WAS LIKE A BURNT OFFERING OR ANY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
CEREMONIAL LAWS.
IT
WAS A “PATTERN” OF THE WRATH OF GOD BUT NOT THE ACTUAL WRATH OF GOD,
JUST LIKE THE BURNT OFFERINGS WERE A “PATTERN” OF THE PAYMENT FOR SIN,
BUT THE NOT ACTUAL PAYMENT.
JUDE
1:7 AND 2 PETER 2:6 ARE COVERED IN MORE DETAIL IN THIS STUDY:
http://www.isannihilationtrue.com/jude7.htm
YOU
MADE REFERENCE TO THE “SMOKE” OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH. IF YOU GO OVER TO THE
MIDDLE EAST, THERE IS NO “SMOKE RISING” WHERE SODOM AND GOMORRAH WERE.
THAT
IS BECAUSE ACCORDING TO 2 PETER 2:6, THE BURNING OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH WAS A “PATTERN”
OF THE PUNISHMENT FOR SIN, JUST LIKE THE BURNT OFFERINGS WERE A “PATTERN”
OF THE GOSPEL.
NEITHER
THE BURNT OFFERINGS NOR THE BURNING OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH WERE THE ACTUAL
GOSPEL TRUTHS. RATHER, THEY WERE “PATTERNS” OF GOSPEL TRUTH.
THEREFORE,
THERE IS NO SMOKE RISING FROM WHERE SODOM AND GOMORRAH WERE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
HOWEVER,
THE BIBLE DOES INDICATE FOR THE ACTUAL PUNISHMENT FOR SIN, THERE WILL BE SMOKE
RISING FOREVERMORE.
BY
USING THE FIGURE OF “SMOKE RISING”, GOD IS POINTING TO VERSES LIKE JEREMIAH
5:14. THE UNSAVED ARE REPRESENTED BY “WOOD” IN THE FIRES OF GOD’S WRATH. THEY
ARE BURNING IN THE FIRE AND THE “SMOKE IS RISING”.
AS
LONG AS THAT SMOKE CONTINUES TO RISE, THE MEANS THE WOOD, THE UNSAVED, ARE
STILL IN THE FIRE OF GOD’S WRATH.
ONCE
THE WOOD IS GONE, THE SMOKE WILL STOP RISING.
GOD
TEACHES MANY TRUTHS, LIKE THE END OF THE CHURCH AGE, SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE,
AND THE NATURE OF THE PUNISHMENT FOR SIN, BY USING FIGURES.
THIS
INFORMATION IS COVERED IN MORE DETAIL IN THE STUDY AT THIS LINK:
http://www.isannihilationtrue.com/eternal1.htm
LET’S
GO BACK TO JEREMIAH 50:39-40 THAT YOU CITED. THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT TRUTH TO
BE SEEN IN THESE VERSES AND SOME SIMILAR VERSES. WE READ THERE:
39 Therefore
the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there,
and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever;
neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40 As God
overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the
LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell
therein.
IN
THESE VERSES, GOD IS TALKING TO BABYLON.
WHEN
GOD IS TALKING TO VARIOUS CITIES OR NATIONS, LIKE BABYLON, GOD IS ACTUALLY
TALKING TO PEOPLE.
GOD
IS NOT TALKING TO THE EARTH, NOR TO PIECES OF LAND OR TO CHURCH BUILDINGS OR TO
A VACANT EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. GOD IS TALKING TO THE
PEOPLE THEMSELVES. THIS IS A KEY POINT IN UNDERSTANDING THIS AND SIMILAR
PASSAGES.
FOR EXAMPLE WE READ IN JEREMIAH 50:1
The word that the LORD spake
against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
GOD IS SPEAKING AGAINST PEOPLE. GOD IS NOT SPEAKING
AGAINST AN EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. GOD IS SPEAKING
AGAINST PEOPLE.
THE “LAND OF THE CHALDEANS” AGAIN REFERS TO
THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES AND NOT A PIECE OF THE EARTH.
IN ISAIAH 62:4, GOD TALKS THAT “thy land shall be married”.
THE “LAND” IS THE TRUE BELIEVERS WHO ARE
MARRIED TO THE LORD JESUS. IT IS NOT A PIECE OF EARTH.
LET’S CONSIDER ANOTHER EXAMPLE. WE READ IN Jeremiah
50:24:
I have laid a snare for thee,
and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found,
and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.
GOD
LAYS SNARES FOR UNSAVED PEOPLE. GOD IS NOT TALKING ABOUT THE EARTH OR A VACANT
EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. GOD IS TALKING TO PEOPLE.
SO,
AS WE CONSIDER WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO “BABYLON” OR ANY OF THESE CITIES OR
NATIONS, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT GOD IS TALKING TO PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES
WE USE LANGUAGE LIKE “BABYLON IS THE CHURCH”. THEN, WE TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND
SAY THAT ALL OF THE CHURCH PEOPLE ARE UNSAVED AND GONE, SO BABYLON BECOMES LIKE
A VACANT CHURCH BUILDING OR A VACANT EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE KINGDOM OF
GOD.
BUT,
THIS LANGUAGE ABOUT BABYLON CANNOT REFER TO A VACANT EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF
THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IN THESE VERSES, GOD IS TALKING TO PEOPLE.
THIS
RAISES AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. LET’S LOOK AT JEREMIAH 50:39 AGAIN. WE READ
THERE:
Therefore the wild beasts of
the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and
the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever;
neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
WE
READ THAT BABYLON “shall be no more
inhabited for ever”. THIS SOUNDS LIKE ALL THE PEOPLE ARE GONE, SO
THEN, HOW CAN BABYLON REFER TO PEOPLE?
THE
KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THESE KINDS OF VERSES COMES FROM JEREMIAH 6:8. WE READ
THERE:
Be thou instructed, O
Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not
inhabited.
GOD
IS TALKING TO “JERUSALEM”.
AGAIN,
GOD IS TALKING TO PEOPLE. GOD IS NOT TALKING TO A PIECE OF LAND. GOD IS TALKING
TO PEOPLE.
AS
IN ISAIAH 62:4, SO IT IS IN JEREMIAH 6:8, THAT THE PEOPLE ARE THE “LAND”.
IN
JEREMIAH 6:8, GOD SAYS “Be thou
instructed, O Jerusalem”.
GOD
IS TALKING TO PEOPLE. HE IS CALLING THEM “Jerusalem”.
THIS IS LIKE WE READ IN JEREMIAH 50 WHEN GOD IS TALKING TO “BABYLON”.
GOD IS TALKING TO PEOPLE AND NOT TO THE EARTH OR A CHURCH BUILDING.
IN
JEREMIAH 6:8, GOD IS TELLING THEM “Be
thou instructed”. THEY HAVE TO REPENT OF THEIR SINFUL WAYS AND START
DOING IT GOD’S WAY.
IF
THEY DO NOT REPENT, THEN GOD WILL “depart”
FROM THEM. GOD WILL LEAVE THEM.
THEN,
WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE PEOPLE?
THE
PEOPLE THEMSELVES WILL BE “a land not
inhabited.”
THIS
IS A KEY VERSE AND TELLS US HOW TO UNDERSTAND PHRASES LIKE “not inhabited”.
GOD
IS NOT SAYING THAT THIS WORLD WILL BE “a
land not inhabited”. NO. GOD IS SAYING THAT THE UNSAVED PEOPLE WILL
BE “a land not inhabited”.
THE
UNSAVED PEOPLE WILL “not inhabited”
BY WHOM?
WE
HAVE THE ANSWER IN THE FIRST PART OF JEREMIAH 6:8. GOD WILL “DEPART”
FROM THEM. THEY WILL “not inhabited”
BY GOD.
GOD
WILL ABANDON THEM. THEY WILL NOT BE INHABITED BY GOD.
JEREMIAH
6:8 HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD MEANS BY THE PHRASE “not inhabited”. IT MEANS “not inhabited” BY GOD. THIS MUST BE
THE CASE BECAUSE WHEN GOD TALKS TO “BABYLON” OR “JERUSALEM”, GOD IS TALKING TO
PEOPLE.
GOD
IS TELLING THE PEOPLE THAT THEY THEMSELVES WILL NOT BE “inhabited”. THEY WILL NOT BE “inhabited” BY GOD HIMSELF. HE WILL
“DEPART” FROM THEM AS WE READ IN JEREMIAH 6:8.
Jeremiah 17:5-6 teaches the same truth. We read
there:
5 ¶ Thus saith the
LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm,
and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert,
and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the
wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited <03427>.
IN JEREMIAH 17:5-6, GOD IS TALKING about UNSAVED PEOPLE.
GOD IS SAYING THAT THE UNSAVED PEOPLE THEMSELVES WILL BE “not inhabited”.
At judgment day, the unsaved will “not be
inhabited” by god. God will “depart” from them.
We SEE THE SAME TRUTH IN Jeremiah 22:6.
We read there:
For thus saith the LORD unto
the king’s house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head
of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which
are not inhabited.
THE UNSAVED PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE “cities which
are not inhabited”.
THEY ARE “not inhabited” BY GOD.
HERE IS ONE MORE EXAMPLE.
We read a significant verse in Jeremiah
44:22 that relates to this topic.
We read there:
So that the LORD could no
longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the
abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and
an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
AGAIN, GOD IS TALKING TO PEOPLE. GOD TALKS ABOUT “your
land”. THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE THE “LAND”. THIS AGREES WITH THE
TRUE BELIEVERS BEING THE “LAND” IN ISAIAH 62:4.
THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE THE “LAND” THAT IS A
“desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse”.
THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE “without an inhabitant”.
THEY ARE WITHOUT GOD AS THEIR “inhabitant”.
Notice that jeremiah 44:22 is not talking about the
future. Rather, it says “as at this day”.
Jeremiah 44:22 already applies today because we have
come to the end of the church age and god has left all of the local
congregations.
ACCORDING TO JEREMIAH 44:22, THE CHURCHES ARE ALREADY
“without an inhabitant”. GOD IS THE “inhabitant” THAT IS NOT THERE.
THERE IS MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC AT this link:
http://www.isannihilationtrue.com/nodweller.htm
WITH
THIS BACKGROUND, WE CAN GO BACK AND UNDERSTAND JEREMIAH 50:39-40. WE READ
THERE:
39 Therefore
the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there,
and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever;
neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40 As God
overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the
LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell
therein.
REMEMBER,
IN THESE VERSES, GOD IS TALKING TO “BABYLON”. HE IS NOT TALKING TO THE
EARTH OR A PIECE OF LAND OR A VACANT EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE KINGDOM OF
GOD.
IN
VERSE 39 WE READ THAT BABYLON “shall
be no more inhabited for ever”. THIS IS THE SAME HEBREW WORD “inhabited” THAT WE FIND IN JEREMIAH
6:8.
JEREMIAH
6:8 PROVIDES DEFINITION FOR HOW TO UNDERSTAND JEREMIAH 50:39. GOD IS SAYING
THAT BABYLON, THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES, “shall
be no more inhabited for ever” BY GOD. HE WILL “DEPART” FROM
THEM, AS WE READ IN JEREMIAH 6:8.
THE
KEY TO UNDERSTANDING JEREMIAH 50:39 AND SIMILAR PASSAGES IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT
WHEN GOD SPEAKS TO “BABYLON” AND OTHER CITIES AND NATIONS, GOD IS NOT SPEAKING
TO PIECES OF LAND OR A VACANT EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THOSE THINGS DO NOT SIN.
GOD
IS SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES “shall be no more inhabited for ever”
BY GOD.
NOW,
LET’S LOOK AT JEREMIAH 50:40
IN
VERSE 40, GOD POINTS US TO THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH.
REMEMBER,
WHEN WE FIXED 2 TRANSLATION ERRORS IN JUDE 1:7 AND ALSO EXAMINED, 2 PETER 2:6,
WE LEARNED 3 IMPORTANT TRUTHS ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH:
1.
THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH WAS A “SHOWING” OF THE JUDGMENT OF
GOD, LIKE THE CROSS IS A “SHOWING” OF CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER THE DOMINION
OF SATAN (COLOSSIANS 2:15).
2.
THEIR DESTRUCTION SHOWS THAT THEY ARE “HAVING UNDER” OR ARE “SUBJECT”
TO THE VENGEANCE OF ETERNAL FIRE (LUKE 7:8).
3.
THEIR DESTRUCTION IS A “PATTERN” OF THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, LIKE OLD
TESTAMENT CEREMONIAL LAWS WERE A “PATTERN” OF THE SALVATION PROGRAM.
THESE THINGS WERE NOT THE ACTUAL GOSPEL TRUTH, BUT RATHER “PATTERNS” OF
THEM (HEBREWS 8:5, 9:23).
THE
3RD POINT TIES INTO JEREMIAH 50:40.
BEFORE
GOD DESTROYED SODOM AND GOMORRAH, GOD FIRST BROUGHT OUT THE TRUE BELIEVERS. SO
THAT WHEN THE DESTRUCTION CAME, THERE WERE NO TRUE BELIEVERS THERE.
GOD
INDWELLS THE TRUE BELIEVERS. GOD DOES NOT INDWELL THE UNSAVED.
THEREFORE,
WHEN THE TRUE BELIEVERS LEFT, GOD EFFECTIVELY LEFT WITH THEM. GOD “DEPARTED”
FROM THE SODOM AND GOMORRAH. THEY WERE NO MORE “Inhabited” BY GOD TO USE THE LANGUAGE OF JEREMIAH 6:8.
THIS
IS WHAT GOD IS SAYING IN JEREMIAH 50:40 BY THE PHRASE “so
shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein”.
THE
WORD TRANSLATED “ABIDE” IN JEREMIAH 50:40 IS THE SAME HEBREW WORD
TRANSLATED “INHABITED” IN JEREMIAH 6:8.
THE
LORD JESUS IS THE “MAN” AND THE “SON OF MAN” THAT WILL NOT BE
THERE.
THERE
IS ANOTHER CLUE IN JEREMIAH 50:39 THAT THIS VERSE IS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND
NOT A VACANT PLACE.
THERE
IS AN IMPORTANT CLUE IN JEREMIAH 50:39 THAT SHOWS THAT THIS VERSE IS TALKING
ABOUT PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS HIDDEN BY THE TRANSLATORS.
IN
VERSE 39, WE READ ABOUT THE “wild
beasts of the islands”.
THIS
PHRASE IS ONE HEBREW WORD. IT IS THE WORD THAT IS TRANSLATED “ISLES” OR
“ISLANDS”. IT IS REFERRING TO THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD.
THE
TRANSLATORS ADDED THE PHRASE “WILD BEASTS” BUT THAT IS NOT IN THE HEBREW
TEXT.
HERE
ARE A FEW EXAMPLE VERSES WITH THIS SAME HEBREW WORD TRANSLATED “wild beasts of the islands” IN
JEREMIAH 50:39:
Psalms 97:1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let
the multitude of isles <0339> be glad thereof.
Isaiah 41:1 Keep silence before me, O islands <0339>; and let the people renew their
strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to
judgment.
Isaiah 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he
have set judgment in the earth: and the isles <0339> shall wait for his law.
Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles <0339>, unto me; and hearken, ye
people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my
mother hath he made mention of my name.
THIS
HEBREW WORD TRANSLATED “ISLES” OR “ISLANDS” IS NEVER USED TO
SPEAK OF ANIMALS. IT IS ONLY USED TO SPEAK OF PEOPLE.
PROBABLY
THE TRANSLATORS SAW THE WORD “owls”
AND REMEMBERED OTHER PASSAGES LIKE ISAIAH 13:19-22 AND DECIDED TO ADD THE
PHRASE “wild beasts of the”.
BUT, BY DOING THAT, THEY HAVE HIDDEN TRUTH.
THIS
HEBREW WORD TRANSLATED “wild beasts
of the islands” SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED AS “ISLES” OR “ISLANDS”.
IT IS NOT USED TO SPEAK OF ANIMALS. GOD ONLY USES IT TO REFER TO PEOPLE.
THE
SAME IS TRUE FOR THE HEBREW WORD TRANSLATED “wild beasts of the desert”. GOD DOES NOT USE THIS HEBREW
WORD TO REFER TO ANIMALS. IT REFERS TO PEOPLE.
BECAUSE
GOD HAS PUT TWO KEY HEBREW WORDS IN JEREMIAH 50:39, TRANSLATED AS “wild beasts of the desert” AND “wild beasts of the islands”, THAT
ARE NEVER USED TO REFER TO ANIMALS, BUT ARE USED TO REFER TO MANKIND, THEN WE
HAVE EXTRA ASSURANCE THAT GOD IS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE IN JEREMIAH 50:39.
THE
TEXT, “Therefore the wild beasts of
the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and
the owls shall dwell therein” SPEAKS OF THE UNSAVED DWELLING THERE.
THEY ARE PART OF THE “BABYLON” THAT IS UNDER THE WRATH OF GOD.
THE
NEXT PART, “and it shall be no more
inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation”
IS TALKING GOD. THESE UNSAVED PEOPLE ARE “NOT INHABITED” BY GOD. WE
LEARN THAT FROM JEREMIAH 6:8 AND OTHER VERSES.
THIS
MATERIAL IS DEVELOPED IN THE STUDY AT THE LINK:
http://www.isannihilationtrue.com/birds1.htm
LET’S
LOOK AGAIN AT JEREMIAH 50:39-40 AND SUMMARIZE THE KEY POINTS. WE READ THERE:
39 Therefore
the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there,
and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever;
neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40 As God
overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the
LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell
therein.
IN
OUR STUDY, WE HAVE LEARNED THE FOLLOWING KEY POINTS:
1.
WHEN GOD TALKS TO “BABYLON” OR ANY CITY OR LAND, GOD IS TALKING TO
PEOPLE. THE WRATH OF GOD IS AGAINST PEOPLE. PEOPLE SIN. GOD IS NOT TALKING
HERE TO THE EARTH, A PIECE OF LAND OR A VACANT EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE
KINGDOM OF GOD, THE CHURCH.
2.
THE HEBREW WORDS TRANSLATED “wild
beasts of the desert” AND “wild
beasts of the islands” NEVER REFER TO ANIMALS, BUT REFER TO PEOPLE.
THE TRANSLATORS HID THIS TRUTH BY ADDING THE PHRASE “wild beasts of the” WHICH DOES NOT BELONG. THEREFORE,
JEREMIAH 50:39-40 IS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE, NOT A VACANT EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION
OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
3.
WITH THE HELP OF JEREMIAH 6:8 AND OTHER VERSES, WE LEARN THAT JEREMIAH 50:39 IS
TALKING ABOUT UNSAVED PEOPLE AND THAT THEY “shall be no more inhabited for ever” BY GOD. GOD
WILL COMPLETELY ABANDON THE UNSAVED AT JUDGMENT DAY.
4.
WITH THE HELP OF 2 PETER 2:6 AND A CORRECTED TRANSLATION OF JUDE 1:7, WE LEARN
THAT THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH WERE A “PATTERN” OF THE
JUDGMENT OF GOD.
IN
THIS PATTERN, GOD FIRST BRINGS OUT THE TRUE BELIEVERS AND HIMSELF ALSO, AND
THEN GOD BRINGS JUDGMENT. THE PHRASE “so shall no man abide there, neither shall any
son of man dwell therein” IS REFERRING TO THE FACT THAT GOD HIMSELF
COMPLETELY DEPARTS FROM THE UNSAVED AT JUDGMENT DAY.
JEREMIAH
50:39-40 IS A HARD PASSAGE, BUT WHEN WE CAREFULLY COMPARE SCRIPTURE WITH
SCRIPTURE, WE CAN OBTAIN A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT GOD IS TEACHING
THERE.
THANK
YOU FOR THE ATTENTION. ]
Hope you have a blessed Sabbath my friend.