Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
If our Father's goal is mature sons ("let us be brought on to maturity" - Heb 6.1), which often requires times of testing, even fiery trials and tribulations, then would it not be reasonable to suppose that the timing of one's rapture or the time spent "weeping and gnashing" would differ for each child of God?
|
time of rapture differ = yes (to some extent, there is not one individual rapture per every believer, they are grouped)
time of "W&G" = yes. W&G describes a human condition, an experience; it is not a place, not a location. There is no clear description linking "W&G" with time. So we cannot conclude that since "W&G" is relative that there is no possibility of 1,000 year exclusion from the Kingdom reward.
The Bible shows us two ways God executes His judgments:
1.) An absolute, permanent type and
2.) a relative, temporary type. Sometimes both are somewhat combined.
Examples of 1.)
Adam and Eve sinned = expelled from Paradise
Disobedient Israelites = "they shall never enter My rest"
Moses failed the Lord = excluded from entering the Good Land
Esau sold his birthright = lost it and could not get it back
Homosexuals, etc. = will not inherit the Kingdom
Not in the book of life = lake of fire
Examples of 2.)
Adam sinned = ground is cursed, through toil you will eat of it
Unfaitfhul servants = "some will be beaten with many blows, some with few blows"
Unforgiving brother = "Reconcile quickly, you may see the judge, he may hand you to the officer, you may be thrown into prison. You will not get out until you have paid the last penny."
"God’s righteous judgment" = God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”
The dead = "And the dead were judged according to their deeds"