Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

Is this the only time during which mankind could be saved spiritually?

There is a common believe that Elohim is desperately trying to save all of mankind at this time; that He is striving with Satan to save mankind during this age, whilst  Satan is feverishly keeping as many as he can ‘lost’ eternally. If Elohim is truly omnipotent as revealed in the Scriptures, then why do only a small number of people believe in Him? Why have billions died without ever having had a chance to be saved? Many have grieved over departed family members who never confessed their faith in Messiah - perhaps over a relative who was a terrible sinner or one who even though he/she lived a ‘good’ life, never became an active member of a church. However, the teaching that a person is either saved or lost comes from the belief that Elohim is out to save all of mankind at this time – and is in line with the mission of the Christian church to convert and save everyone possible during this age – which according to them is the only day of salvation, and it is just about over! But, these assumptions are not Scripturally correct!

The vast majority of people have never heard the true gospel about the coming Kingdom of Elohim, and of those who have, most did not understand the message as Yahshua the Messiah explained in the first part of Matthew 13: 19, saying: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.” Are such people ‘lost’, through no fault of their own? The shocking truth is that it is not Elohim’s intention for everyone to understand His truth at this time! If it was, we can be absolutely sure that they would understand! Many believe that Yahshua spoke in parables to make His message more understandable. But that was definitely not His intention; He spoke in parables to hide the real meaning of what He taught to most of His hearers including those who read His words today. After Yahshua had spoken the parable of the sower, He plainly told His disciples whom He had called, in Matthew 13: 11 – 13, saying: “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. (12) For whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. (13) Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” Yes, Elohim has allowed the vast majority of mankind to be blinded to His truth at this time and has allowed Satan to deceive the whole world (as per Revelation 12: 9). It is Elohim’s purpose that, until Messiah returns one day, only those whom He has specifically chosen are able to understand the true way of salvation, as Yahshua confirmed in John 6: 65, saying: “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.” Elohim accordingly reveals in His Word, that those not yet called have not lost their opportunity for salvation, since He is not in the process of saving everyone at this time. The truth about this important matter is clearly revealed in the pages of the Scriptures.  

Presently Elohim has chosen the Jewish nation as confirmed in Psalm 78: 67 & 68, in this way: “He also rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, (68) but chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved.” However, despite choosing Judah at present, He has according to Romans 11: 25 – 29 blinded their minds to the identity of Yahshua the Messiah to allow a predetermined number of Gentiles (or more correctly Israelites from the lost ten tribes, who used to believe that they are Gentiles, plus a number of real Gentiles) to come in (according to Elohim’s gracious choice as per Romans 11: 5), at which time all Israel - the full number of Torah observant Jews and Israelites who returned to Elohim through Abraham’s one seed, Yahshua the Messiah, will be saved by Elohim in order to reestablish the Tabernacle of David (as per Acts 15: 15 – 18) or the Kingdom of Elohim over the commonwealth of Israel (as per Ezekiel 37:  15 – 28), at which time He will enter into a Renewed Covenant with both houses, but will only have to write His Torah on the hearts and minds of the house of Israel, since the house of Judah have been Torah obedient all along (as per Jeremiah 31: 31 – 33). This is in agreement with Elohim’s plan (which was known to the house of Judah because of their in depth knowledge of the Tanach), to send the Messiah to bring the lost sheep of the house of Israel back to the covenant relationship they made with Elohim (as per Isaiah 49: 5 & 6), after which He will reunite them with the house of Judah (as Yahshua told the Jews in John 10: 14 -16  and as confirmed in Isaiah 49, Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 20), and come to rule them as the greater son of David as confirmed in Ezekiel 37: 15 - 28. We see from Zechariah 12 : 7 - 10, that YHVH will save the tents of Judah first, when they will see His (Yahshua’s) hands at His return and accept Him as their Messiah, at which time the dead in Messiah will be resurrected as confirmed in Romans 11: 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4: 14 – 17.

However, to fully explain this topic, let’s backtrack to the very beginning. In the beginning Elohim, the Ruler and Creator of the universe, assigned the archangel Lucifer to administer His government on this earth. Lucifer and his angels rebelled against Elohim’s government and became known as Satan the devil, and his fallen angels became known as demons (as per Isaiah 14: 12 - 14 and Ezekiel 28: 13 - 15), at which time Elohim destroyed everything Satan had done with water, leaving the earth formless and void. Even so, Elohim has not yet taken away Satan’s authority and rulership over the earth. He has allowed Satan to continue ruling the earth until Yahshua the Messiah will officially be given that office of authority by Elohim as per Revelation 19: 11 - 16. After Satan’s rebellion Elohim recreated the world and created mankind in His image and likeness (Genesis 1: 26 & 27), but this time He created them from the dust of the ground (physical matter). But, true to Satan’s nature he tempted Eve with the attractiveness of the forbidden tree and appealed to her intellectual vanity, by implying that Elohim was not fair to withheld certain knowledge from her and told her she would not die as recorded in Genesis 3: 1 – 6, as follows: ‘Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which YHVH Elohim had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has Elohim said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” (2) And the woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; (3) but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, Elohim has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.’” (4) And the serpent said to the woman, “You surely shall not die! (5) For Elohim knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” (6) When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.’ We see that Satan ensured Eve that she was already an immortal soul dwelling in a physical body. Eve was thoroughly deceived into believing Satan, and mistrusted Elohim, but Adam willingly disobeyed Elohim. When Adam took of the forbidden fruit, he took upon himself the authority to determine spiritual knowledge of what is good and what is evil, even though he did not have this ability of himself. Therefore the first human being disobeyed and disbelieved Elohim, choosing to follow his own way and do his own thing.

By rejecting Elohim and following Satan’s way, Adam chose Satan as the ‘god’ of this world, as he is also described in 2 Corinthians 4: 3 & 4, in this way: ‘And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (4) in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Messiah, who is the image of Elohim.’ We read further about Satan from Ephesians 2: 1 & 2, ‘And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, (2) in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.’ Satan is the prince of the power of the air and influences mankind by broadcasting his attitudes, moods and selfishness to the human spirit in each person. Humans unwittingly accept and express these attitudes as their own. ‘Human nature’ is accordingly Satan’s nature expressed in human beings. Since they have been deceived, they are unaware of this spiritual broadcasting by Satan, and are not even aware of the fact that they have been deceived. As a result of Adam’s sin, Elohim drove mankind out of the Garden of Eden and stationed the Cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life. After Noah’s flood to rid the world of all rebellious people, when mankind rebelled once again by building a tower whose top was to reach into heaven as per Satan’s example mentioned in Isaiah 14: 12 – 14, to make for themselves a name (to worship), YHVH scattered them abroad over the face of the earth. Then YHVH started over a third time with one man named Abram.  Similar to those of us whom He is calling out of the churches of the world today, YHVH called Abram to leave his country, his family and his father’s house to go to a land which He promised to his children through Isaac and then Jacob as their eternal inheritance, provided they remain obedient to Him throughout their lives, and as a sign of the covenant, Abraham (whose name was changed by then to mean ‘father of a multitude’) circumcised himself and his male offspring after him at age eight days old.  A second part of the promise that YHVH made to Abraham, was that He would bring a remnant of the children of Israel, who would later be scattered into the world because of idolatry, back to the covenant relationship He made with them and the house of Judah at Mount Sinai, through Abraham’s one seed, Yahshua, through whom He would also eventually save the rest of mankind, when He opens their minds to understand the Scriptures during the Great White Throne Judgment.

Whereas the house of Judah was always aware of Messiah’s purpose to bring the lost sheep of the house of Israel back into the faith into which He was born, in order to reestablish the Kingdom of Elohim over Israel, we from the lost ten tribes in conformance with prophecy only became aware of these truths about 16 years ago. At Messiah’s return the commonwealth of Israel, ruled over by Yahshua the Messiah, will become the model nation YHVH intended them to be from the beginning, and as the light of the nations in Jerusalem, the nations of the world will start following their example serving Elohim, due to the blessings and benefits He will bestow upon them because of obedience (as prophesied in Amos 9: 11 & 12 and Ezekiel 37: 15 – 28). Returning believers from the lost ten tribes belong to Messiah, because Elohim had to buy us back from the power of Satan, as we witnessed in Colossians 1: 13 & 14, as follows: ‘For He (YHVH) delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.’ Deny it as much as you want – the fact that Messiah had to pay a ransom – His life – to buy us back, proves that we used to belong to Satan, as Yahshua told Rav Shaul in Acts 26: 18, saying: “To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to Elohim, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” A second witness comes from Romans 6: 16, as follows: ‘Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?’

Even though, Elohim could foresee that Adam and Eve would disobey Him, He could not suspend the penalty He told them would follow their disobedience. But, how did Elohim rescue His potential spiritual children from Satan, their kidnapper? He did so by deciding from ‘the foundation of the world’ that He would send the Word (His visible image) as His future Son, to live a life without sin to redeem the piece of Promised Land forfeited by the lost sheep of the house of Israel because of idolatry, and save the first-born (again from the dead) children of Israel from the second death as we read from Hebrews 9: 27 & 28, as follows: ‘And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, (28) so Messiah also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.’ The fact that Satan offered Messiah rulership over all the kingdoms of the world in Matthew 4: 8 & 9 clearly shows that Satan is presently the ruler of this world. Elohim has assigned him 6,000 years to rule the world, but when that time comes to an end, Messiah will forcibly intervene in world affairs to reestablish Elohim’s government on earth. Satan’s work is to deceive mankind, turning Elohim’s truth upside down – causing honest, sincere people to accept a counterfeit faith for the real thing and therefore sin. Believe it or not, most of what mankind has learned from the religions of the world is just the opposite of what is written in the Scriptures. We are at this time near the end of the 6,000 years allotted to Satan and the coming Millennium shall be a Sabbath to Elohim. During that time Satan will be restrained, and thrown into the bottomless pit and will not be allowed to deceive anyone for a thousand years.

When Messiah came the first time, it was not to set up His kingdom. Contrary to what most in Christianity taught, neither did Messiah come to earth the first time to call everyone to salvation. Rather He came to proclaim the gospel of the coming Kingdom of Elohim, and to reconcile a remnant of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, to return to Elohim and the house of Judah (as Messiah explained in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15). Even though His message included salvation through Messiah, He did not try to get everyone to believe this message. For most of Messiah’s ministry, He avoided publicity – as it was not Elohim’s will for everyone to understand who Yahshua was. Spiritual understanding will not be granted to the world until Messiah removed Satan from earth’s throne. We see from Acts 1: 15 & 16 that even after three and a half years of Messiah’s teaching, and after His death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, only a small number of disciples believed in Him, in this way: ‘And at this time Kepha stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, (16) “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Set-apart Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Yahshua.”’  Elohim told us in His Word that His congregation would remain small and even persecuted as per Matthew 7: 13 & 14[1] and 2 Timothy 3: 12[2]. From Messiah’s ministry until His return to earth, Elohim has only called a remnant of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, plus a small number of Gentiles, to be joined to a remnant of Torah observant members of the house of Judah at His return. Those who believed in Messiah and obeyed Torah throughout the two thousand years since Messiah, has continued to be two relatively small groups – the beginning of Elohim’s new civilization yet to come. We who are called at this time are in training to rule and teach the world under Messiah, with our Torah observant Jewish Brothers during His Millennial rule as YHVH told our Jewish Brothers through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 66: 20 & 21, saying: ‘“Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain (first fruit) offering to YHVH, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says YHVH, “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of YHVH. (21) I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says YHVH.’

But this leads us to ask the following questions: Does Elohim know beforehand whether someone will be lost or saved? Has He preordained that some would be saved, while others are destined to be lost? Do we have any choice regarding being saved or not? In addition, if Elohim knows beforehand how I am going to decide, then it is all predetermined? If Elohim knows beforehand that I am to be lost, then that is the way I will have to decide in the end, and since I will lose out anyway, why try? Conversely, if Elohim knows I am going to repent, accept Messiah and be saved, I will have to do it in the end anyway, whether I try or not? If my ultimate destiny was already predestined in advance, then we simply are not free moral agents, and have nothing to say about it? These are puzzling questions about predestination, but what do the Scriptures teach about the subject of predestination? Let’s turn to Romans 8: 28 – 30 where the Scriptures show  that we are predestined to be called at this time, in this way: ‘And we know that Elohim causes all things to work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; (30) and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.’ A second witness about the subject is found in Ephesians 1: 11 & 12, as follows: ‘Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, (12) to the end that we who were the first to hope in Messiah should be to the praise of His glory.’  Are other foreordained to be lost? We read accordingly from 1 Peter 2: 7 & 8, ‘This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” (8) and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.’

Predestination has nothing to do with any specific decision you will make, or your fate, but, it has everything to do with the time of your calling – whether Elohim calls us at this time or later. There is not a single word in the Scriptures about anyone being predestined to be lost! The decision we make regarding our salvation, is not predestined. Elohim has given each and every one of us free moral agency – He has ordained that we make our own decisions. That is one of the main reasons why we do not force anyone to believe what we teach! It is up to each one of us to check whether the things we are taught, appear in the Scriptures, and that there are at least two or three witnesses bearing out these facts. Remember that Elohim’s purpose is that we develop His righteous character, and that character can only be created over an extended period of time. It must be developed through us experiencing different situations and conditions, yet making the right decisions. Although Elohim tells us which decisions we should make in Deuteronomy 30: 19, saying: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” The final decision to choose life or death for eternity remains ours! The only decision that is predestined is Elohim’s. He has predestined some to be called at certain times for a specific purpose. The rest will be called by Elohim to understand the way of salvation later. So as mentioned before, predestination simply has to do with when one is called. Being an all-knowing Elohim, YHVH knew long ago that He will need leaders, teachers, and governmental administrators for His Kingdom. He therefore planned ahead or predestined to call some during this age to train them to fulfill the required functions. We read about Elohim calling certain ones at certain times from 2 Timothy 1: 7 – 9, as follows: ‘For Elohim has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. (8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Master, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of Elohim, (9) who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Messiah Yahshua from all eternity.’  A second witness comes from Ephesians 1: 4 & 5, in this way: ‘Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. (5) He predestined us to adoption as sons through Yahshua Messiah to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.’ If we are called at this time, Elohim chose (or foreknew) us before the foundation of the world. According to Romans 8: 29 & 30 quoted previously: ‘whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.’ Likewise, ‘whom He predestined, these He also called.’ Not will call in the future – but called now during this age! If you are called and Elohim has revealed this wonderful truth to your understanding, and you are begotten by His Spirit (were immersed in the Name of Yahshua Messiah), then you are having your one and only opportunity at this time. Yes, this is then your only opportunity to prepare yourself to be used by Messiah in the labor of love, helping to save the vast majority of mankind in the world to come (the Olam Haba). Those not called at this time are neither finally lost nor saved – despite what they think or believe.

All people who ever lived sinned and therefore earned the death penalty for sin (eternal death), as witnessed in Romans 3: 23, as follows: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Elohim.’ It was for this reason that the Creator of all mankind, gave His sinless life to pay for the penalty of our sins, as Rav Shaul witnessed in Romans 5: 8 – 10, saying: ‘But Elohim demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. (9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of Elohim through Him. (10) For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to Elohim through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.’  We from the lost ten tribes are fully aware that salvation can only come through Yahshua our Messiah, as recorded in Acts 4: 11 & 12, in this way: “He is the stone WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone. (12) And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” We can only have the death penalty that we incurred paid in and through the name and authority of Yahshua the Messiah!  In fact no returnee or non-Israelite can receive the benefit of Messiah’s payment unless he has an opportunity to accept it. No one can build Elohim’s character without His Spirit indwelling him/her, and that Spirit is only given after repentance, belief, immersion in Yahshua’s saving name and the laying on of hands! The truth is that Elohim will not give immortality to anyone who has not already proven that he/she will live Elohim’s way! Millions have lived and died without any opportunity to fulfill any of these essential requirements. They cannot be given eternal life yet – since they cannot yet be trusted with the awesome powers that we will one day have as part of Elohim’s family. Such people are not ‘saved’ yet, but neither are they lost – They will have their opportunity to be saved after the second resurrection. However, there is also bad news. Those whom Elohim has already called to receive salvation at this time, must be very careful what they do and how they live, as we are warned in Hebrews 6: 4 – 6, as follows: ‘For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Set-apart Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of Elohim and the powers of the age to come, (6) and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of Elohim, and put Him to open shame.’  A second witness comes from Hebrews 10: 26 & 27, in this way: ‘For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.’

But, to receive this punishment, it is first necessary for them to have known Elohim’s way and truth! It is only those to whom Elohim has revealed the knowledge of His truth who have been given a chance to understand spiritual salvation and receive eternal life. If they sin willfully after receiving that knowledge, they will not have another chance for salvation – ever! However, there is a big difference between sinning willingly and willfully. Adam sinned willingly, but that does not mean he is condemned to perish in the lake of fire. There are a few, like Satan who have sinned willfully with all knowledge. Those are ultimately condemned to the lake of fire. Elohim will forgive any sin that is repented of; even if through weakness, temptation or habit, the sin is repeated. As long as the person’s intention and desire is to obey Elohim, he will repent, and Elohim will forgive him, as we read from 1 John 1: 9, as follows: ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ In fact we read Yahshua’s answer to Kepha in Matthew 18: 21 & 22, in this way: ‘Then Kepha came and said to Him, “Master, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (22) Yahshua said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”’ Elohim is even more willing to forgive than that! But what is a willful or an unforgiveable sin? If a person has been given spiritual understanding of Elohim’s way and has experienced the blessings of that way, but decides he no longer wants to follow it, and changes his attitude and deliberately chooses a life of rebellion, despising Elohim’s Law, then this sin is unforgivable because he will not repent of it! The fact is that Elohim will not give eternal life to anyone who insists on living Satan’s way! 

Satan sinned with full knowledge and was thrown out of heaven (Revelation 12: 9). As spirit beings he and his angels will ultimately be doomed to the black darkness forever (as described in Jude 13). Those people who have been specifically chosen by Elohim and given His Spirit, yet at some point in time they purposely, knowingly, rejected it! This could be through bitterness, refusal to forgive others, or neglect of prayer, meditation and Scripture study, they stopped allowing Elohim to build His character in them, and will be in the second resurrection to be doomed to the lake of fire. Like the servant who did nothing with his mina or talent, they failed in Elohim’s purpose for them. Yahshua also spoke about another sin that will not be forgiven by Elohim in Mark 3: 28 & 29, saying: “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; (29) but whoever blasphemes against the Set-apart Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” What gave rise to what Yahshua said here? We find the answer in Mark 3: 22, ‘And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He (Yahshua) is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” To intentionally speak abusively against the Set-apart Spirit and attribute works of Elohim’s Spirit to the devil is blasphemy and is to deliberately reject the only power by which one can be changed spiritually and be given salvation. It is therefore a deliberate, premeditated, willful rejection of Elohim’s Set-apart Spirit.

This age is indeed the age of salvation for those whom Elohim has chosen at this time, but all others will have their ‘day’ of salvation later. Elohim is only calling a relatively small number of people during this age to be trained to become rulers and teachers of those who will be called during and beyond the Millennium, but the vast majority is blinded at this time. Therefore, most people simply have not had a chance to understand the truth about salvation yet. Whereas the Torah observant Jews are given the Set-apart Spirit ensuring them eternal life because of obedience, those of us from the lost ten tribes who are returning to YHVH through Messiah, have to be immersed in Yahshua’s saving name (as per Acts 2: 38) and by the laying on of hands (as per Acts 8: 16 & 17), when the Set-apart Spirit merges with the human spirit in us. It impregnates us with Elohim – life, which makes us the begotten children of Elohim, heirs with Abraham of the Kingdom of Elohim, but not yet inheritors. It is the Set-apart Spirit that imparts the physical brain with Spiritual understanding to know the things of Elohim, as Rav Shaul explained in 1 Corinthians 2: 9 – 12, in this way: ‘But just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT ELOHIM HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” (10) For to us Elohim revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of Elohim. (11) For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of Elohim no one knows except the Spirit of Elohim. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from Elohim, that we might know the things freely given to us by Elohim.’ The Set-apart Spirit allows us to develop Elohim’s character, His very divine nature in us as we are also promised by Rav Kepha in 2 Peter 1: 4, saying: ‘For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.’

Even though the world is currently ruled by Satan, Elohim knows that this was the best way for humans to learn their lesson. Those called before Messiah’s return to earth, must with the help of the Set-apart Spirit, overcome Satan while he is still ruling. It is not easy, but it helps them qualify for a greater position of responsibility in the coming Kingdom of Elohim. Greater character is built when one has obstacles, such as Satan’s influence to overcome. Living in a world filled with sin also helps us learn to thoroughly hate sin. Very soon the 6,000 year sentence on Satan’s world is due to end, when Yahshua Messiah will come in power and glory to rule the world as King of kings and Master of masters. He will remarry His bride, who made themselves ready and will make a new (marriage) covenant with the house of Judah and the house of Israel, when He writes His covenant (the Commandments, the statutes and the judgments given to Israel by the hand of Moses) on the hearts and minds of the house of Israel as may be read from Jeremiah 31: 31 - 34. Then after this world has been freed from Satan’s rule and deceptions, it will once again be under Elohim’s Government. Millions of modern-day descendants of the lost ten tribes of Israel, together with those members of the house of Judah, who will only return to worshipping Elohim’s Torah fully during the coming great tribulation, will have been rescued from slave labor camps. Many will recall the warnings given them by the prophets in the Scriptures, about the coming Great Tribulation. Others will have been warned during the Tribulation by two witnesses, recorded in Revelation 11: 3 – 12. They will be willing to admit that their old ways of life in a civilization founded by Satan, was wrong; and will then gladly accept Elohim’s way of life. These millions will upon repentance be spiritually begotten, and will then grow in Elohim’s character and be born into Elohim’s spiritual family during the course of the thousand year reign of Messiah and the resurrected first born believers. Gentiles will also be taught Elohim’s way of life during the Millennium rule of Messiah. First, the modern day descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel will learn to obey, and then, following their example, also all the other nations. All who live during the Millennium will have their chance to participate in the salvation process. But what about those who died, before having had the opportunity to understand Elohim’s truth? Yahshua described a time during which people from all generations will be resurrected and judged at the same time in Matthew 12: 42, as follows: ‘The Queen of the South shall rise up with this generation at the judgment and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.’ The Queen of the South will be in the second resurrection, after the millennium. She will repent and accept Yahshua Messiah as her personal Savior. She will also accept and live by what is written in the Scriptures and her name will be entered into the book of life.

Elohim will resurrect these people who died throughout the ages during the second resurrection and open their minds to understand the Scriptures as witnessed in Revelation 20: 12, in this way: ‘And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne (during the great white throne judgment), and books (the Scriptures) were opened (to their understanding); and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”  They will be given a chance to make an informed decision, before they will be judged.  The reason is that these people from all ages – sinful as some of them were – had no knowledge of the true Elohim and His Messiah or His Torah. Those of us called out of the world to follow the way of Elohim at this time are first fruits to be harvested at Messiah’s return, whereas these people will be part of the second great harvest. After death, these people wait for the resurrection and judgment from YHVH, as witnessed in Hebrews 9: 27, as follows: ‘And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.’  We read more about those who will be in the second resurrection from Isaiah 25: 7 – 9, in this way: ‘And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, even the veil which is stretched over all nations. (8) He will swallow up death for all time, and YHVH Elohim will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for YHVH has spoken. (9) And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our Elohim for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is YHVH for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”’ The veil which is over all nations will only be destroyed when death will be swallowed up, after the Day of Judgment described in Revelation 20: 11 – 14. The Day of Judgment for all the billions who lived over the past centuries will only come after the Millennial rule of Yahshua Messiah.

We see that the people who were blinded in the past will have the veil, which is stretched over them, removed. But do not be mistaken; if these untold billions of formerly blinded people are merely judged by their works, many of them who were thieves, prostitutes, dictators and false prophets will all perish in the lake of fire. They did not ever repent and were not immersed, nor did they study the Scriptures as we are instructed in 2 Peter 3: 18, as follows: ‘But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Master and Savior Yahshua Messiah. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amein.’  This is truly (YHVH)’s Last Great Day; the time spoken about by Rav Shaul in Philippians 2: 9 - 11, saying: ‘Therefore also Elohim highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Yahshua EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Yahshua Messiah is Master, to the glory of Elohim the Father.’  We see from John 7: 37, that Yahshua stood up and cried out to His people on the last day, the great day of the feast, saying: “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”  This indicates that all the unsaved dead are to be raised and given a final opportunity to kneel before Messiah. Their ‘day of salvation’, their period of judgment will begin at that time. We see from Isaiah 65: 20 that this period will last for one hundred years, as follows: “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred shall be thought accursed.”  There will be no premature deaths and those who repent and overcome during that period of time, will be given the opportunity to accept Yahshua as their Master and Savior, or reject His way of life. Those who accept Yahshua as their Savior will after living out their lives on earth following the way of Elohim,  be changed into His spiritual sons and daughters. But, there will be some who will never accept Elohim’s way of life. Their fate is to be burned up once for all. They will not be tormented forever, as only spirit beings like Satan and his demons have that fate awaiting them. Unrepentant human beings made from flesh and blood will burn to become ashes under the feet of the righteous, as may be read from Malachi 4: 1 - 3.

The second resurrection is the resurrection of the wicked and unsaved dead. YHVH our Elohim does not have double standards – the countless unsaved billions deserve to have the same chance that we are having. They will only be judged on what they did, after they learn about the truth of Elohim. The damnations that we read about in the Scriptures apply to those of us called during this age, as we are being judged at this time (as per 1 Peter 4: 17[3]); those of us who do not qualify at Messiah’s return, will simply be burnt to ashes together with the wicked who sinned with full knowledge. For the unsaved billions who died without knowing Elohim’s truth, the Scriptures will be opened to their understanding after the 2nd resurrection. That will not be a second chance – since they were blinded by YHVH Himself in the past. That will be the second great harvest of human beings into Elohim’s kingdom. After this the holy city, New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven and Elohim Himself will come and dwell among His people as recorded in Revelation 21: 1 – 3. Baruch HaShem YHVH!

 

[1] Matthew 7: 13 & 14, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”

[2] 2 Timothy 3: 12, ‘And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Messiah Yahshua will be persecuted.’

[3] 1 Peter 4: 17, ‘For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of Elohim; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of Elohim?’