IS THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT HARSH AND LACKING KINDNESS?
This is the line of human reasoning, especially of those who wish to undermine religion and or the Laws of God which are given in the Old Testament –– GODLY LOVE. Critics of the Bible do not understand the plans of God nor the EVIL conditions of the ancient world. Therefore they do not understand God.
Psalms 92:5-6, “How great are thy works, O Jehovah! Thy thoughts are very deep. 6 A brutish man knoweth not; Neither doth a fool understand this:” (ASV)
All of us should concede that it is better to admit that we do not always understand God's motivation than to say He is wrong. Modern thinkers will have to someday repent of such arrogance. The first point, unknown by most, is that the God of the Old and the New Testament are the same deity.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” (NKJV)
John 8:56-58, “‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.’ 57 Then the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ 58 Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’”
The leaders knew that Jesus was saying that He was the Eternal, ever-existing God of the Old Testament and so they tried to stone Him. Further, God is never wrong and has unity of purpose.
Hebrews 13:8-9, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines…"
One should reject strange doctrines that assert that the God of the O.T. was harsh and lacked kindness. God is wise enough to know when tough love is required. There is unity of deity from the O.T. to the N.T. Some believe that the God of the O.T. was devoid of kindness and graciousness. Clearly this is not true. What did prophets like Jonah know about the God of the O.T.?
Jonah 4:2, “So he prayed to the LORD, and said, ‘Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness, One who relents from doing harm.”
They knew that God was gracious, slow to anger, and full of kindness. God eliminated certain individuals to keep them from getting too perverted, knowing that He will work with them later in a more controlled environment. This will occur in the second resurrection.
THE REST OF THE DEAD WILL BE RESURRECTED LATER. WHY?
God's plan of Salvation has two more steps. One is the millennial reign of Jesus at His second coming. But note that another step exists because vast numbers are being resurrected later. Why bother bringing people back from the grave if everyone is either in heaven or hell?
Rev 20:4-5, “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 … and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But therest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
If you have a FIRST RESURRECTION, then a SECOND one is coming. The words are so meaningful: “The rest of the dead lived not again until…” The true Christians, both dead or alive at the second coming, who have not worshiped the beast will reign with Christ. They will be raised from the grave if need be to rule with Christ. We know for certain that Billions with a 'B' have lived in the past and not been called by God or saved.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. (KJV)
We have a clear statement by Jesus explaining that many who heard him preach could not understand and be saved then because God had not called them. Their minds were still closed as are most men still today. It would be unfair of God to close their minds and not give them another chance for salvation. Many through the centuries either never heard the name Jesus Christ or that he was only part of a rival religion they should ignore or hate. Blessed and special are those who have part in the best or first resurrection.
Rev. 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection…but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
The rest of the dead never had a chance. They were not called by God. Should they burn in hell, tortured forever because of a calling which they could not control? The premise behind such a doctrine makes God into a sadistic monster. Naturally it is not true. God is –– first of all –– love. He loves many so much that in Satan's age he does not want to risk their salvation now. Note what he said about the Jewish nation:
Romans 11:30-33, “[Y]et have now obtained mercy through their disobedience…32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (NKJV)
God will forgive billions because they were deceived and disobeyed out of ignorance. Mankind does not go to hell or heaven at death, but to sleep. People do not want to believe this wonderful truth.
1 Thess. 4:13-17, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope…16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
IF THIS IS THE ONLY DAY OF SALVATION THEN SATAN IS WINNING
It is comforting to know that all our relatives that have passed away are asleep waiting their turn at the resurrection when they will be given an opportunity for salvation. God has promised to resurrect all of the dead –– some to everlasting life in his family and others to a chance to be saved by God's grace. These are the “rest of the dead.”
1 Timothy 2:4, “Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (KJV)
2 Peter 3:8, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
“9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that ALL should come to repentance.” (NKJV)
God desires to save nearly all mankind. IF THIS IS THE ONLY DAY OF SALVATION we have to say that the THE DEVIL IS WINNING OVERWHELMINGLY. God's will has to prevail. God will save the vast majority of mankind. The day is coming in the controlled environment run by God, in the future, when ALL will know God.
Isaiah 11:9, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.”
