The In Crowd (Reposted from 2010)

[Sundog]

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, This Bible verse tells of the people all over the world that have taken God's offer of free salvation that is available to everyone. All their sins have been covered over by the redeeming blood of Christ. It is our nature to be in the "in crowd," to want to be a part of something that is well known by people. But to be known by Jesus Christ who promises he will never turn anyone away who seeks him, and be a part of his crowd is something we all need to do. What About Jesus?

 

[Tinkerpeaches]

I don’t think we were meant to understand Revelations other than at the most basic level.

 

[Grasshopper121212]

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, This Bible verse tells of the people all over the world that have taken God's offer of free salvation that is available to everyone. All their sins have been covered over by the redeeming blood of Christ. It is our nature to be in the "in crowd," to want to be a part of something that is well known by people. But to be known by Jesus Christ who promises he will never turn anyone away who seeks him, and be a part of his crowd is something we all need to do. What About Jesus?

You do realize that 90% of the world has never heard of Jesus Christ. And, if they have, it's only by way of the use as a cuss word. So, how will the tens of billions of people who have never heard of Christ be given free salvation? Remember, they have to accept Christ. When will they learn if they are dead? Explain.

 

[Daisy]

They'll be given the chance to learn...

"And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." Acts 24:15

In the judgment scene at Revelation 20:11-15, during Christ’s Millennial Reign “the scroll of life” is shown as opened to receive additional names; scrolls of instruction are also opened. Those who come back in the ‘resurrection of the unrighteous’ will thus have the opportunity of having their names written on “the scroll of life,” provided they obediently perform deeds that are in harmony with the scrolls of instruction. (Ac 24:15) Of course, faithful servants of God who come back in the ‘resurrection of the righteous’ will already have their names in “the scroll of life.” By their loyal obedience to the divine instructions, they will keep their names in it.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002739#h=42:0-43:0

 

[Sundog]

You do realize that 90% of the world has never heard of Jesus Christ. And, if they have, it's only by way of the use as a cuss word. So, how will the tens of billions of people who have never heard of Christ be given free salvation? Remember, they have to accept Christ. When will they learn if they are dead? Explain.

Psalm 14 :1 - The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”,
1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Luke 23:34 - Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Thanks for reinforcing the Bible.

 

[Grasshopper121212]

Psalm 14 :1 - The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”,
1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Luke 23:34 - Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Thanks for reinforcing the Bible.

Those scriptures don't answer my question. When will the dead learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Your answer says never. Yet, in first Peter, Jesus preached His gospel in the spirit world.

 

[Daisy]

The Bible says that Jesus “preached to the spirits in prison.” (1 Pet. 3:19) What does this mean?​

The apostle Peter identifies these spirits as those who had “once been disobedient when the patience of God was waiting in Noah’s days.” (1 Pet. 3:20) Clearly, Peter was referring to spirit creatures who chose to join Satan’s rebellion. Jude mentions the angels who “did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place,” saying that God “has reserved [them] with eternal bonds under dense darkness for the judgment of the great day.”—Jude 6.
In what way were spirit creatures disobedient in Noah’s day? Before the Deluge, these wicked spirits materialized in human form—something that God had not purposed for them. (Gen. 6:2, 4) Furthermore, those angels who had sex with women were practicing a perversion. God did not create spirit creatures to engage in sexual relations with women. (Gen. 5:2) These wicked, disobedient angels will be destroyed in God’s due time. For now, as Jude notes, they are in a condition of “dense darkness”—a spiritual prison, so to speak.
When and how did Jesus preach to these “spirits in prison”? Peter writes that this occurred after Jesus was “made alive in the spirit.” (1 Pet. 3:18, 19) Note, too, that Peter says that Jesus “preached.” Peter’s use of the past tense suggests that the preaching occurred before Peter wrote his first letter. It seems, then, that sometime after his resurrection, Jesus made a proclamation to the wicked spirits regarding the fully justified punishment they are due to receive. It was not a preaching that held out any hope for them. It was a preaching of judgment. (Jonah 1:1, 2) Once Jesus had demonstrated his faith and loyalty to death and then was resurrected—proving that the Devil indeed had no hold on him—Jesus had the basis for making such a condemnatory proclamation.—John 14:30; 16:8-11.
In the future, Jesus will bind and throw into the abyss both Satan and those angels. (Luke 8:30, 31; Rev. 20:1-3) Until that time, these disobedient spirits are in a condition of dense spiritual darkness, and their final destruction is certain.—Rev. 20:7-10.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2013447

 

[Overitall]

Very good explanation on Jesus preaching to the imprisoned spirits @Elora. One other element of the purpose of this event was to declare to these spirits that despite their attempts to thwart the promised seed succeeding in redeeming man Jesus' appearance to them in his resurrected form loudly proclaimed their failure. Man's redemption was completed.

 

[Daisy]

Very good explanation on Jesus preaching to the imprisoned spirits @Elora. One other element of the purpose of this event was to declare to these spirits that despite their attempts to thwart the promised seed succeeding in redeeming man Jesus' appearance to them in his resurrected form loudly proclaimed their failure. Man's redemption was completed.

Thanks, OIA, many mistakenly think Jesus is speaking to the people who have died, but when actually understanding what the Bible says about the dead, we know that cannot be true...the spirits Jesus is speaking to are the angels, who have fallen into sin, following Satan and his debauched state...

 

[Overitall]

Thanks, OIA, many mistakenly think Jesus is speaking to the people who have died, but when actually understanding what the Bible says about the dead, we know that cannot be true...the spirits Jesus is speaking to are the angels, who have fallen into sin, following Satan and his debauched state...

A little bit of common sense goes a long way. The second coming involves the raising of those that have died (in Christ). If they're already raised then what's he coming back to do? A person can't be dead if they still have some type of existence somewhere.

 

[Daisy]

A little bit of common sense goes a long way. The second coming involves the raising of those that have died (in Christ). If they're already raised then what's he coming back to do? A person can't be dead if they still have some type of existence somewhere.

Exactly...common sense goes a long way in understanding the Bible...as Paul said," a sacred service with your power of reason." Romans 12:1

 

[Grasshopper121212]

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, This Bible verse tells of the people all over the world that have taken God's offer of free salvation that is available to everyone. All their sins have been covered over by the redeeming blood of Christ. It is our nature to be in the "in crowd," to want to be a part of something that is well known by people. But to be known by Jesus Christ who promises he will never turn anyone away who seeks him, and be a part of his crowd is something we all need to do. What About Jesus?

It takes more than just seeking the Lord. The rich man sought out Jesus and was turned away because the rich man could not give up his riches. Also, salvation is available. But, to everyone? Only 30% of the world are Christians with most of the 70% non-Christians never having heard of Jesus Christ. How does Christ help those people from Adam to the present know of Him and give that opportunity? Also, they have not been baptized. Jesus said the only way to the Father in Heaven is through baptism. It's an ordinance that must take place on earth. John 3:5, "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."