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Jews: Behold Your God


Chapter 10

What is Salvation?


Salvation offered by various religions that believe in a supreme Creator God differ from one another.

Islam believes salvation means going to paradise [also called Gardens] and living forever and enjoying all the pleasures of the flesh: wine, women, food and song.  And this salvation is available only to males.  No such paradise is available for the female half of humanity.  Those who are not granted access to paradise, burn in an everlasting hellfire.  Though they feel the torture and agony of the hellfire, they are not totally consumed.  So they continue to endure this torture forever.

Hindus believe that human souls are immortal and get their chance for salvation when they come in human form.  If they do not qualify for salvation in their human life, their soul at death then transmigrates into the body of another creature.  It transmigrates into 8.4 million different creatures – such as animals, birds, insects and the tiniest of creatures – before getting another chance to be born as a human being to get another chance for salvation.  This cycle of transmigration continues until the immortal soul qualifies for salvation.  Salvation then is being merged into the Great Soul that is God from which it had originally separated.

Salvation in Sikhism is the same as in Hinduism.  Hinduism claims that you can take different paths to salvation whereas Sikhism maintains that the path to salvation is meditation, non-attachment and to sing the praises of the Eternal Creator God. The ultimate goal is to end the cycle of birth and death and merge with the Creator God.  Being born as a human being is an opportunity to do that.  Those who pursue materialism are unable to do so.  They must go through the cycle of birth and death as one of the 8.4 million species of creatures before they will get another chance to be reincarnated as a human being and earn salvation.

We will not discuss further the salvation offered by these religions.  All believe in the Creator God, but their scriptures have not provided proof that their words are backed by the power of Almighty God.  They contain no prophecy.  So the salvation offered in these religions is mere philosophies of men, or even worse, they are the diabolical deceptions of Satan the devil.

We will discuss salvation according to Judaism and Christianity as their ideas are supposedly based on the Bible.

Salvation According to Judaism

Judaism, except for the Messianic Jews, has only the Old Testament of the Bible and does not believe in Jesus Christ and the New Testament.  Hence the salvation that the Jews believe in is different from the salvation the Christians believe in.

Jews believe that they are God’s chosen people according to the Covenant God made with them at the time of Moses after they came out of Egypt.  Exodus 20:2 (NIV) states: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

Deuteronomy 7:6 (NIV) states: "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession."

The Covenant was made with the people as well as their descendants in Deuteronomy 29:10-15, " 10 You stand this day all of you before the Lord your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, 11 Your little ones, your wives, and the stranger that is in your camp, from the hewer of your wood unto the drawer of your water: 12 That you should enter into covenant with the Lord your God, and into his oath, which the Lord your God makes with you this day: 13 That he may establish you today for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto you a God, as he has said unto you, and as he has sworn unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 14 Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; 15 But with him that stands here with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:”

For the Jews salvation is collective for the nation of Israel rather than personal and individual.  The salvation of the individual is connected with the salvation of Israel.  Judaism believes based on many prophecies in the prophets that just as ancient Israel was saved out of Egypt, Israel will again be saved from its enemies to freely live in its land, restored to greatness as a nation with a new covenant between God and Israel, restoration of the Temple and sacrifices and its worship system, and all nations living peacefully under the God of Israel.

Jeremiah 31:7-14 (NKJV) describes the restoration of Israel to greatness:

“7 For thus says the Lord: "Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O Lord, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!' 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and the one who labors with child, together; a great throng shall return there. 9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.

“10 "Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.' 11 For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he. 12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the Lord – for wheat and new wine and oil, for the young of the flock and the herd; their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all. 13 "Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together; for I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. 14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord."

In verses 31-34 God promises to make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and the House of Judah:

” 31 "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah- 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

Jews expect God to restore them collectively to greatness as a nation when the entire world will look to them for spiritual guidance.  This is prophesied by the prophets as well.

Micah 4:1-4, “1 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. 2 Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 4 But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken…”

Zechariah 8:20-23, “20 Thus says the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying , Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. 22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

Moses mentioned this in Deuteronomy 30:1-10 (NKJV): “1 "Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, 2 and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. 5 Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.

“6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. 7 Also the Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. 8 And you will again obey the voice of the Lord and do all His commandments which I command you today. 9 The Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the Lord will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, 10 if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

A belief in the afterlife through a resurrection has developed with the writings of the prophets and in the psalms.

Daniel the prophet mentions the resurrection in Daniel 12:2-3, “2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

Ezekiel 37:21-28 mentions David again being set up as King over Israel and the Temple being established:“21 And say unto them, Thus says the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: 23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince forever.

“26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.”

The Sadducees in Jesus’ days discussed the resurrection with Him and He corrected their ideas about it.  The discussion is mentioned in Matthew 22, Mark 12 and Luke 20.

Matthew 22:23-32, “23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection [whereas the other sect, the Pharisees believed in the resurrection], and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, You do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

However the ideas of the Jews [except the Messianic Jews who believe in Jesus Christ] about the afterlife and the resurrection are still hazy because their understanding is based on the writings of the prophets.  Jesus’ disciples understanding of the afterlife based on the Old Testament was also hazy until Jesus clarified it for them.  That is why Jesus mentioned in Matthew 13:17: “For verily [or truly] I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men [Luke 10:24 adds ‘kings’] have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.”

With only the Old Testament scriptures as a guide, the disciples had only hazy ideas about eternal life and the resurrection, and the reestablishment of Israel as a great nation on earth. But the resurrection and the kingdom of God were indelibly ingrained in the minds of the apostles and Jesus’ other disciples when they saw Jesus Christ after His resurrection and explained the kingdom of God to them.  [I hope some Jews don’t stop reading here because they don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It will be proved in this book.  Don’t reach a conclusion until you ‘hear’ or read about the whole matter.]  They saw and understood what the prophets, righteous men and kings had desired to see but had not seen them.

Thus salvation for the Jews means God forgiving their sins, restoring their national blessings as a great nation with the Temple built in Jerusalem and the world coming to worship God in Jerusalem and seeking spiritual guidance from the Jews.

Salvation According to Mainstream Christianity

Christianity has over 2,000 major denominations and then further more than 30,000 groups within them because they have differences of beliefs among themselves.  But one thing is common to all of Christianity: the centrality of Jesus Christ to salvation.

Christians believe that “23 …all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  As a result they believe they are all subject to the death penalty because Romans 6:23 says, “23 …the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Salvation for the Christian is forgiveness of his sins so that he can qualify for eternal life.  All have sinned.  But because Jesus Christ was the Creator and God of the Old Testament who created everything, His life was more valuable than all His creation put together.  The God of the Old Testament emptied Himself of His divinity and came to earth as the human being Jesus Christ.  He lived a sinless life and did not earn the death penalty.  But He died so that He could pay the death penalty on behalf of all His creation.  Because He paid the death penalty, all of humanity’s sins can be forgiven and they can now qualify to receive eternal life as a free gift as stated in Romans 6:23. Salvation for the Christian therefore is having his sins forgiven and receiving the free gift of eternal life.  But that is where the differences between different Christian denominations begin.

The first major issue dividing Christians in their beliefs is how they can qualify to receive eternal life, and how many will qualify to receive it.  Some believe only a few qualify whereas others believe many will qualify.  Christians also believe there is some time limit before which people can accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of their sins.  After that time limit there will be judgment.  Those who qualify to receive eternal life will receive it.  Others will not.

Some believe that since Jesus Christ paid the death penalty for all sinners we are no longer required to keep the Law (the Old Testament Law of Moses).  Yet they are blinded to the fact that any violation of the Ten Commandments automatically exacts a penalty.  The penalty is quick when we violate the last six commandments that have to do with our relationships with fellow man.  The penalty takes some time when we violate the first four commandments that deal with our relationship with God.

The second major issue dividing Christians is “what is the form of eternal life the Christian qualifies for?”  Some believe the immortal Christian is a physical human being who never dies, whereas others believe that the immortal Christian receives another type of body, a spirit body.

Then the third major issue causing some division among Christians is “What happens when the Christian receives eternal life?”  Much of Christianity agrees on this.  They believe that those who qualify to receive eternal life go to heaven where God dwells.  It is supposed to be a place of unspeakable joy and happiness.  There is some disagreement on what we are supposed to do when we get to heaven.  Some believe that we will spend eternity on the clouds plucking our harps and enjoying celestial music.  Others believe that we will gaze on the face of God for eternity and find unsurpassable joy in doing so.  There is not a line in the Bible that says that’s what Christians will do for eternity once they attain salvation.

Thus we see that mainstream Christianity does not get all its ideas on salvation from the Bible.  Many have been borrowed from ancient paganism.

As proof that the reward of the saved is heaven Christians cite the following scriptures:

John 14:2 “2 In my Father's house [which is in heaven] are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

2 Corinthians 5:8 “8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord [Who at present is seated in heaven at the right hand of God the Father].”

Philippians 1:21-23 (NIV) “21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”

Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) “20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

Revelation 21:4: “4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 22:1-5 (NKJV):“1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

According to mainstream Christianity this supposedly describes heaven.

As further support, they cite several other experiences of godly men in the Bible.

2 Kings 2:11, “11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”

As Jesus hung on the cross, He told one of the criminals hung with Him in Luke 23:43 (NKJV), “43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

According to mainstream Christianity the wicked are punished by being sent to hell and tortured there for eternity.  They cite the following scriptures in support for their belief:

Matthew 10:28, “28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Revelation 14:9-11, “9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.”

2 Thessalonians 1:4-9, “4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”

Revelation 19:20, “20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Luke 16:19-31, “19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

“22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

“27 Then he said, I pray to you therefore, father that you would send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham says unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Mainstream Christianity does believe in some sort of hell, but there is wide disagreement over it.  It is impossible to reconcile the idea of a merciful Creator God whose basic character is LOVE for His creation tormenting sinners for eternity in the worst possible way in an ever-burning hell, but their bodies never really being consumed.

Do These Concepts of Salvation Make Sense

Do you know that all religions which believe in a higher power believe that salvation is only for their religion?  Catholicism believes that salvation is only for Catholics.  All others will burn in hell for eternity without being consumed.  Protestants believe that Catholics don’t get their beliefs from the Bible.  Hence it is not true Christianity.  They believe they are the true Christians and salvation is only for them.

The Jews believe that they are a chosen people and they will be the leading nation on earth.  They believe salvation is only for them.

Islam believes that salvation is only through Islam, and very few will qualify.  All others will burn in hell forever.  Sikhs believe that salvation is only for Sikhs, the pure.  Hinduism believes that salvation can be obtained through good deeds by anyone, but by worshipping their gods, who are the true gods.  Then there is the German nation, which now openly acknowledges that Satan is their god.  They believe that they are a special creation and are the only ones who have the divine spark in them.  They are the only ones who can escape the human body that entraps the divine soul in them. Rest of humanity is mere creatures like animals and insects.  When they die, that will be the end of their lives.  But the Germans will escape this physical body and obtain salvation.////Now consider these ideas of salvation.

Islam offers an idea of paradise where one can enjoy all fleshly pleasures forever.  Those in paradise will be able to eat, drink, listen to great music and enjoy sex all day long for eternity.  They will have nothing else to do.  Can you imagine spending eternity enjoying pleasures of the flesh with nothing else to do?  But this reward is offered only to a tiny portion of male half of humanity.  Can you imagine God creating humanity male and female and then offering salvation only to one half of His creation?  And since only a few will qualify for this salvation, most of the rest of humanity will be tormented forever in an ever-burning hell.  Can you imagine a Creator God creating His creation and then subjecting most of it to be tormented forever in pain and suffering?  What a sadist God is pictured to be in Islam?  Salvation in Islam thus does not make sense.

Now consider salvation offered by Hinduism and Sikhism, which is essentially the same in both religions.  The goal or salvation offered to the Hindu and Sikh is to have his immortal soul be free from the cycle of birth and death as 8.4 million different creatures and merge with the great supreme soul from whom he was originally separated.  Ask what purpose could God have had in creating creatures, have them go through birth and death through 8.4 million species of creatures till finally they can be born as a human being to obtain the chance to qualify for salvation through good deeds, and or worship of the Creator God and finally merge with Him?  Why would God separate something from Himself (the so-called immortal soul) to create living creatures and then have them merge with Him? And why should the immortal soul be put through the horror of living life as 8.4 million creatures before getting the chance to qualify to merge with the supreme God?  And it may not qualify for this ‘reward’ even in hundreds of such chances.  It would be condemned to go through the same cycle one more time. The god of Hinduism appears to be a sadist as well.

Salvation in Judaism is only for the Jews.  But their ideas of salvation are hazy.  There are many unanswered questions.  Where does the resurrection mentioned by Daniel the prophet in Daniel 12 and by Ezekiel the prophet in Ezekiel 37, which is a vision of the whole house of Israel being resurrected to physical life, fit in in the Jewish scheme of salvation?  Such issues are still unresolved in Judaism.  Can you imagine all those of the House of Israel who have ever lived being resurrected to live as human beings and then having children and this continuing forever. Eventually humanity will run out of land on earth.  Would God design such a plan guaranteed to ultimately lead to destruction?  Again ideas of salvation in Judaism are hazy because they only have the Old Testament to rely on.

Jesus Christ’s statement to His disciples explained why their understanding of the afterlife based on the Old Testament was hazy until Jesus clarified it for them.  He said in Matthew 13:17: “For verily [or truly] I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men [Luke 10:24 adds ‘kings’] have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.”  The Old Testament simply does not give a complete picture about God’s plan for humanity as explained in the pages of the Bible.  That’s why Jewish ideas on salvation still remain hazy.

However, from the ideas of salvation as interpreted from the Bible, it seems that mainstream Christianity may not be faring any better than Islam, Hinduism or Sikhism.  Does the idea of going to heaven and gazing at God’s face for eternity, or alternately plucking harps on clouds and listening to celestial music for eternity sound appealing to anyone?  Eternity is a very very very long time.  It is never-ending.  John MacArthur in his book “The Glory of Heaven” p. 49 said that if this is all they are to do forever, then the prayer of many could be: “Please God, don’t take me to heaven yet…I haven’t even been to Hawaii!”

And then there is hell to contend with.  Can you imagine God creating humanity where a large portion will end up in hell tortured for eternity?  And the agony will be felt deeply by even those in ‘heaven’ because they are sure to have some relatives, possibly their own children or spouse or parents, consigned to hell for eternity.  Thus the idea of going to heaven as salvation or being consigned to hell does not make sense.  It is not appealing to most.

Salvation According to the Church of God

The problem with mainstream Christianity’s idea of going to heaven or hell at the end of one’s life is that it is based on an incorrect interpretation of the various passages in the Bible.  We will not go into a detailed proof of this in this book because proof has been provided in detail in the United Church of God booklet “Heaven & Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach?”  It is available free of charge to read download or order a printed copy at the Church’s web site www.ucg.org.  All literature provided by God’s Church is free of charge, without cost or obligation.

Essentially confusion arises because the Bible mentions 3 heavens and 3 places called hell.  The 3 heavens are, 1) The earth’s atmosphere, 2) Where celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, stars and galaxies are located, and 3) Where God’s throne is located.  In interpreting some of the passages mainstream Christian denominations confuse one with the other.

Similarly in the Bible 3 kinds of words are translated as hell, 1) The grave (translated from the Hebrew word sheol or the Greek word hades), 2) place of restraint or imprisonment for the angels on earth (translated from the Greek word tartaros, mentioned only once in the Bible), and 3) Lake of Fire (translated from the Greek word gahenna, referring to the Valley of Hinnom in Israel).

The truth according to the Bible as proved in the booklet is that humans do not go to heaven on death.  Jesus’ plain statement in John 3:13 is, “13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”  If no man has ascended to heaven, then humans do not go to heaven at death.  Thus heaven cannot be the reward received by any who have died.

Many believe that they will go to heaven at death because Matthew mentions the Kingdom of Heaven’ many times in his gospel.  For example, Matthew 5:3 states, “3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  He is the only writer who uses the term ‘kingdom of heaven.’  For the same situation Luke and other writers use the term ‘Kingdom of God.’  Luke 6:20 states, “Blessed be you poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”  When using the term ‘kingdom of heaven’ Matthew does not refer to God’s kingdom being in heaven.  It is not in heaven, but of heaven because at present the King [Jesus Christ] resides in Heaven.

These and many other passages interpreted by mainstream Christianity to support its belief that the reward of the saved is going to heaven are explained in detail in the booklet.

The booklet also thoroughly explains that the punishment of the incorrigibly wicked is not to burn in hell (gahenna or Lake of Fire) and be tortured forever.  A merciful Creator God would not create beings with a plan of salvation that could potentially torture them forever. But the Bible does mention a real hell fire or Lake of Fire into which the wicked will be cast who do not repent of their sins and accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment of the death penalty on their behalf.  These wicked will burn up and be consumed in the fire.  Their death is permanent and will last forever.  Such people are not tormented forever in the Lake of Fire.  Their lives are just extinguished which lasts forever.

Salvation thus according to the Bible as understood by the Church of God is NOT going to heaven as a reward.  Nor is the punishment being tortured forever in a burning hell.  The punishment definitely is burning in a fire and the body and soul being consumed together (Matthew 10:28, “28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [gehenna]).  Once the body and soul are consumed and turned into ashes, there is no more torment.

In contrast to the ideas of mainstream Christianity about Christians going to heaven or hell, God’s Church believes in the return of Jesus Christ to earth very soon to set up the Kingdom of God.  At His return, the saints that God has called through the first 6,000 years of man’s history will be resurrected to eternal life as God’s literal sons and daughters with a body like that of Jesus Christ Himself, and will reign with Him on earth.

This is stated in 1 John 3:1-2, “1 Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him [meaning have a spirit body like that of Jesus Christ]; for we shall see him as he is.”

1 Corinthians 15:47, 49 say the same thing, “47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

Our reward is not going to heaven with Jesus Christ but reigning on earth with Him.  This is stated in Revelation 5:10, “10 And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 20:4-6, “4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death [that in the gahenna fire] has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Thus salvation according to the Church of God is for humans to be changed or born as God’s literal immortal sons and daughters through a resurrection from the dead and enter the Kingdom of God as co-rulers with Jesus Christ on earth first and then in the universe for eternity (Deuteronomy 4:19).

God’s Plan of Salvation for All Mankind

Now that we have explained from the pages of the Bible what salvation is, does the Bible explain if only a few qualify for salvation, or only Jews or only Jews and Israelites qualify for salvation, or almost all of humanity will qualify for salvation?The Bible commands all Jews, Christians and all of humanity to keep the Sabbath holy and to keep God’s seven annual holy days mentioned in Leviticus 23.  The so called Christian holidays such as Christmas, Easter [mentioned once in the KJV which is a mistranslation for the word for Passover], Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Lent etc. are not even mentioned in the Bible.  So these are not commanded festivals but are pagan holidays foisted on Christianity by the false Roman Church.  The only commanded festivals are those mentioned in Leviticus 23.  Those are the only holy days Jesus Christ and the apostles kept.  Christmas, Easter etc as Christian festivals did not exist in their time.

Is there any significance to the Sabbath and the seven holy days God commands all people to keep?  Nothing God commands is ever without significance.  So there has to be deep significance to the only holy days God has commanded Israel and all of Christianity to keep.  And there is.  But that significance cannot be understood from the Old Testament alone.  It cannot be understood without the New Testament.  That’s why Jews do not understand the true significance of the holy days they keep year after year.

The truth is that the Sabbath and these seven annual holy days picture God’s plan of salvation for mankind.  This plan of salvation is explained in great detail in the United Church of God (UCG) booklet titled “God’s Holy Day Plan: Promise of Hope for all Mankind”, available free of charge at the Church’s web site www.ucg.org.  Since the subject will require a great deal of space, the details will not be provided here and the reader can obtain them from the UCG booklet.  But brief outline is given below.

First of all the weekly Sabbath pictures the duration of God’s Plan for salvation of mankind. Peter the apostle said in 2 Peter 3:8, “8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”  Without this scripture the duration of God’s plan could not be understood as pictured by the seven day week.

Six days of work picture the 6,000 years God has allotted mankind to rule itself according to the choice Adam and Eve made.  But then God will provide a Sabbath rest for mankind from the pain and suffering for the next 1,000 years of His Kingdom as pictured by the seventh day Sabbath.  Proof that the duration of God’s kingdom will be 1,000 years is provided by Revelation 20:4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

Then the first holy day is the Passover which pictures the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God for the sins of mankind.

The second festival is the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread which pictures the putting away leaven [which symbolizes sin] out of our lives.  Sin is defined as transgression (violation) of God’s Law (1 John 3:4).  This means humanity is required to keep the Law of Moses, except the sacrificial and ceremonial laws.  Later we will explain why keeping the sacrificial and ceremonial part of the Law is no longer necessary.

The third holy day is called the Feast of firstfruits which pictures God calling into His Church only a limited few (saints) called the firstfruits to God during mankind’s first 6,000 years of history.  This means that God is not offering most humans their one and only chance for salvation during the first 6,000 years.  They will get their chance to qualify to receive eternal life later.  Those among the firstfruits who qualify to receive eternal life by overcoming sin, never denying Jesus’ name and doing God’s work of preaching the good news of the remission of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the establishment of God’s kingdom will receive eternal life through the first resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ.

The fourth holy day is the Feast of Trumpets which pictures the return of Jesus Christ to earth and the resurrection of the saints to eternal life as immortal sons of God.  The fifth holy day is the Day of Atonement which pictures the putting away of Satan and the demons as rulers on earth and reconciliation of God to man.

The sixth festival is the Feast of Tabernacles which pictures the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ with the resurrected saints on earth as kings and priests.  In God’s Kingdom God will pour out His holy spirit on all humans who will receive their chance to qualify for eternal life.

The seventh festival is called the Last Great Day and pictures the resurrection of all of humanity to physical life (this is the second resurrection) to receive its true one chance to qualify to receive salvation, which is to be resurrected as God’s immortal sons and daughters and rule in God’s Kingdom.  This means that all those who died without knowing the true God will be resurrected and taught God’s way of life and can qualify to receive eternal life.  Most of humanity will qualify and receive eternal life.

Although God will in His great mercy extend the opportunity for salvation to every human being born, what happens to those who don’t qualify to receive eternal life because they refuse to repent of their sins and lifestyles that are contrary to God’s way of life?  All of them will be resurrected to physical life.  This is the resurrection “to shame and everlasting contempt” spoken of in Daniel 12:2.  This is the third resurrection mentioned in the Bible.

The Bible reveals that, rather than be tortured forever in an ever-burning hell, their lives will simply be permanently extinguished.  They will cease to exist, and will be as though they had never been.  Even their memory will be forgotten (Revelation 20:15; 21:8).

These incorrigibly wicked, along with Satan and the demons who led the final rebellion of humanity will all simply be consumed as the earth is set on fire to cleanse it.  The fire will keep burning to finally consume the earth itself (2 Peter 3:7, 10-12).  They shall be ashes under the soles of the feet of the righteous (Malachi 4:3).

After Jesus Christ and the saints (the firstfruits) have brought salvation to all of humanity on earth, then the entire universe is available to rule for all of humanity together now glorified as sons of God.  In fact God has already allotted the stars and planets to various nations to rule after they become sons of God.  Moses prophesied this in Deuteronomy 4:19, “19 And lest you lift up your eyes unto heaven, and when you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, should be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord your God has divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.”

When God’s plan of salvation for all of humanity is complete, humanity will get to see God the Father whom no human has ever seen, because He will live with mankind, who will then have become His literal immortal sons and daughters just as Jesus Christ is His Son now.  After all God is reproducing Himself to have an everlasting relationship with His children.  This is prophesied in Revelation 7:17, “15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.”

Revelation 21:1-5, “1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

As we have seen from the pages of the Bible, God has a dynamic plan for humanity.  Humans will be able to see and meet the supreme God personally, look at Him as long as they want.  He also has a dynamic future planned for them which includes ruling the universe with Him.  That means no scarcity of anything.  They will be given spirit bodies that will not be subject to the limitations of time and space.  And they will have gained victory over death. There are other exciting things God has planned for us which we don’t yet know (1 Corinthians 2:9, “9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him”).

To learn more about what is salvation according to God’s Church, obtain a free copy of the UCG booklet titled “Why Were You Born?” The way to attain salvation is explained in the United Church of God booklet titled “The Road to Eternal Life” available free of charge and without any obligation at the Church’s web site www.ucg.org.

Now we see why Jews still have hazy ideas about salvation based only on the Old Testament scriptures.  The Old Testament scriptures are incomplete in explaining prophecy, salvation, the resurrection and many other concepts.  These concepts cannot be understood without the New Testament.  Neither can these concepts be understood only from the New Testament scriptures.  Certain details for many concepts are available only in the Old Testament scriptures.  That’s why mainstream Christianity’s ideas about salvation are equally hazy.  Therefore one must use the complete Bible, both the Old and New Testaments to form one’s beliefs.

Now from the complete Bible let’s look at the sequence of prophesied end-time catastrophes.  Perhaps Jews can then realize the urgency in getting to know who their true God is.



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