THOSE  WHO  WILL  LEARN  THE  TRUTH  THROUGH TORMENTS AFTER DEATH     AND THE REASONS WHY.

"Those who have misused My Law will be taken by surprise; their contempt for it will bring them continual torment. All who in their lifetime failed to acknowledge Me in spite of all the good things I had given them, all who disdained My Law while freedom still was theirs, who scornfully dismissed the thought of penitence while the way was still open     all these will have to learn the truth through torments after death."  (2 Esdras 9:9  12 NEB).

(1) Those who have contempt for Jehovah the Most High manifest it in various ways,
but will all learn the truth through torments after their deaths.
 These include:
(a) Those who have shown contempt for the Law of God by their misuse or abuse of it.
(b) Those who have failed to acknowledge God in spite of all the good things He has given them.
(c) Those who have contempt for the Law of God and in their freedom they have rejected it.
(d) Those who scornfully dismissed the thought of repentance while the way was still open.

These are the many who are lost. "They were given freedom and used it to despise the Most High, to treat His Law with contempt and abandon His ways. Yes, and they trampled on His just servants; they said to themselves, "There is no God", though well aware that they must die. Yours, then, will be the joys I have predicted; theirs the thirst and torments which are prepared. It is not that the Most High has wanted any man to be lost, but that those He created have themselves brought dishonour on their Creator's Name, and shown ingratitude to the One who had put life within their reach." (2 Esdras 8:55-61 NEB).  They all chose to live an unrighteous way of life. They gave conclusive proof to God that they did not have "love of the truth".  In fact, some were so contemptuous of the Law of God that they twisted its meaning to spiritually "trample" on His just servants. (2 Esdras 8:57 NEB & 9:9 NEB). Because they reject the "fine wine" of spirit refining truths issued through faithful anointed sons of God, they will be everlastingly cut off.  (John 2:10)  (Matt 25:44  46)  (2 Thess 2:8  10).

(2)  So who are the saved ones? According to the "good news" of faith, they are those who are being spiritually created by God through The Christ. They endure spirit persecution and humbling spirit readjustments for the sake of righteousness, that they may be made subject to God and ready to inherit incorruptible everlasting heavenly life.  (Matt 5:10).  They are those who have not misused or disdained the Law of God, nor have they scornfully dismissed the thought of penitence, and they have not trampled on His just servants.

(3)  Who else may be saved? Those once held under a "veil" of spirit ignorance from satan, but who after witnessing fear-inspiring calamities by the Spirit of God, exercise faith and turn to Him for forgiveness. They too will be given an opportunity to be spiritually created by God through The Christ in their spirit "image" and "likeness".  (2 Cor 3:16)  (2 Cor 4:6.  Gen 1:26).

(4)  All mortals are subject to an earthly death. But for many there will be a "second death".  Wilfully wicked spirits, who knowingly sinned against Almighty God during their lifetime and so are unforgiven, are subject to the "second death". These include satan the devil, his demon cohorts, members of the political "wild beast" and the sectarian "false prophet", the cowardly, the faithless, the vile, murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars. (Rev 20:10.  19:20.  21:8 NEB).  At the sight of the Most High in His glory, they will "break  down in shame" and "waste away in remorse" remembering how they sinned against Him. (2 Esdras 7:86,87 NEB).  Those described in paragraphs (1) and (4) will suffer the reproach of eternal abhorrence. This is the "second death". (Dan 12:NEB).  (Please read 2 Esdras 7:19-25 NEB).

23/4/98.
 

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