Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
I just read Robert Govett's "Revelation Vol 2" on the subject, and he says that these 'ethnoi' are mortals, not immortal, but they live in "perpetual health" in their non-resurrected state. Hmm... perpetual mortals. Doesn't something strike you as odd, here? No?
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Well ... most things in end times do strike me as "odd," and "perpetual health" does sound better than perpetual burning in the lake of fire.
Govett is trying to answer some tough questions like why does He say in Matt 25.32 that all the "ethnoi" nations will be gathered before Him. Why do these sheep get rewarded for giving the "least of the Lord's brothers" a drink, some food, etc. Why does an alternative opening exist into a "kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world." They are called "blessed of My Father," but not redeemed, and there is no mention of faith for these ones.
Why are they "righteous" without faith in His redemption? Why do they enter "into eternal life" yet not the customary "have eternal life" as we believers? Why are these ones so "shocked" at the throne of glory of the Son of Man? This throne is neither the Bema seat for the children of God, not the great white throne at the end of Revelation.
I agree that Govett's "perpetual health" is not a Biblical phrase, but what would you call the condition of the future of these sheep?
We do know that some believers will "rule" together with the Lord. But who will they rule over? We also know that some Jews with be priests in the restored Davidic kingdom in Israel teaching the nations how to worship God.
It seems the Bible is way more complicated than Peter directing traffic at the "pearly gates."