Author	Thread: The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel.
Admin	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 11 Mar, 2011 09:39 PM THE LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BY DIVINE ARRANGEMENT, WHO ACTUALLY HEAR THE GOSPEL. ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ It is difficult to believe that the Triune God intended Christ's death for every man woman and child, the blessing of which is enjoyed upon condition that they believe in him, when he has not arranged for everyone to hear the Gospel. While it is true that Christ has commanded his church to carry the gospel to the nations, it is equally true that many people throughout the course of history have lived and and died in spiritual darkness, never having heard the gospel. And biblical evidence would indicate that God, by determining as he has the recipients of special revelation and by governing the geographic directions of missionary history, determined that some people would not hear the gospel. For example, throughout Israel's history in the Old Testament, God related himself to that nation in a way he never did to any of the Gentile nations. He left the Gentile nations "alienated from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12). Throughout Old Testament times he "let all the nations go their own way" (Acts 14:16) and "overlooked their ignorance" in the sense that he did nothing directly to overcome it (Acts 17:30). Exclusively to Israel did God entrust the oracles of God (Rom. 3:1-2). And the Psalmist even evokes praise to the Lord because "He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the Lord" (Ps. 147:19-20). Furthermore, God adopted only Israel as his son (Rom. 9:4). As God declared to Israel through Amos: "You only have I known ["loved covenantally" ], of all the families of the earth" (Amos 3:2). Accordingly, in their midst alone the shekinah presence of God dwelt. With them he made his covenants, to them he revealed his law, they alone possessed the temple services which instructed them in the salvific ways of God and the promises of God, and theirs were the patriarchs and from them came the Messiah according to the flesh, who is over all, the ever-blessed God (Rom. 9:4-5). During his earthly ministry Christ praised his father, the lord of heaven and earth, that he had HIDDEN the gospel mysteries from the wise and learned and had revealed them to "little children" (Matt. 11:25), tracing his Father's actions to his good pleasure (11:26). He also declared that only those to whom he reveals the Father know him (11:27). On his second missionary journey, Paul and his companions "passed through the Phyrgian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas" (Acts 16:6-8). As a result the gospel spread westward into europe and NOT eastward toward Asia, and many Asians died never having heard of Christ. Clearly, the matter of who hears the gospel is under the providential governance of the sovereign God, and he has so arranged gospel history that many people will never hear about Christ. It is unthinkable to suppose then that God sent his Son to save people who, by the ordering of his own providence, never hear the gospel in order that they may believe and be saved. From: A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith by: Dr. Robert L. Reymond Post Reply
View Profile History	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 14 Mar, 2011 09:10 PM Calvinism is not based on truth, but by those that desire to exalt themselves above the knowledge of God. Post Reply
Hilltop View Profile History	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 15 Mar, 2011 03:02 AM James, I was hoping you would compare the title of this thread with the 2 scriptures I posted from Revelation. They seem to be opposite positions. Explain yourself. Helloooooo. James are you there? Post Reply
View Profile History	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 15 Mar, 2011 04:10 AM Don't hold your breath, Hilltop. It might take James a while to figure out how to redefine "every" in order to say "every" doesn't really mean "every". :goofball: Post Reply
Hilltop View Profile History	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 15 Mar, 2011 05:08 AM very funny Post Reply
View Profile History	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 15 Mar, 2011 03:37 PM actualy...its kinda sad....xo Post Reply
View Profile History	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 15 Mar, 2011 03:54 PM Hilltop posted these two scriptures, and wanted to know about what they say verses the Title of this thread. Rev 14 vs 6 : Then I saw another angel flying in the mist of heaven, having the EVERLASTING GOSPEL to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation,tribe,tongue, and people-- James replies: Well, we know that there have been millions of people who did not hear about Jesus. The article I posted to start this thread, talking about the Apostles heading one way, and not the other. I do think that before Christ returns, we WILL have preached the Gospel to people of every nation, tribe and tongue. We have radio technology, and Airplanes, etc. The question is, have we already done this???? Have we fulfilled Rev. 14:6? I honestly don't know. I would like to know the answer to this question. Hilltop said: vs 7 :saying with a loud voice," Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgement has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." James replies: This is deep stuff, and so, don't put much stock in what I say here. Could this angel be a literal angel that proclaims this over the whole Earth right before Christ returns? I tend to think, no. but then again..... I don't think I can answer this. What I will do, is to try and find out what different church fathers, and theologians have said about this passage. I am Amillenial, so I will check and see what modern day Reformed theologians say also. In Christ, James Post Reply
Hilltop View Profile History	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 15 Mar, 2011 05:26 PM Would it be fair to say James that since you are Amillenial that you do not believe that the book of Revelation is to be taken literally? How much do you believer is literal 0%,10%,20%,30% ect? I realize it's just an estimation. Would it be accurate to say that even if figurative language is used that there is still a literal meaning to scripture? Post Reply
View Profile History	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 15 Mar, 2011 07:06 PM Hilltop said: Would it be fair to say James that since you are Amillenial that you do not believe that the book of Revelation is to be taken literally? How much do you believer is literal 0%,10%,20%,30% ect? I realize it's just an estimation. James replies: Well, I believe all the numbers are symbolic. We should really start a new thread for this one! This is a big subject. I would have to say 30% symbolic, but the one everyone keys in on is Rev.20. That is where all the views go there separate ways, except of course preterists. Hilltop said: Would it be accurate to say that even if figurative language is used that there is still a literal meaning to scripture? James replies: Yes, of course! The main way you have to take it symbolically is in the numbers. Remember John was being shown a vision. How do you literally see a thousand years???? How do you literally see 144,000? It is a big subject, and I just think that of all the views, the one that has the least problems is Amillenialism. I am not adament about it, and I just want John's revelation to bring comfort and confidence and guidance to all Christians. The only thing I am really adament about is that Premillenial dispensationalism has enough holes in it to drive a truck through. And that is the only interpretation you hear these days. they never even mention that there are several views, and that the church has been Amill for most of its history. In Christ, James Post Reply
View Profile History	The limited number of people, who actually hear the gospel. Posted : 16 Mar, 2011 03:47 PM Amillennialism (Latin: a- "no" + millennialism) is a view in Christian end-times theology named for its [ rejection ] of the theory that Jesus Christ will have a thousand-year long, physical reign on the earth. This is in opposition to premillennial and some postmillennial views of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation. *** SOooo you do not Accept Christ Jesus will reign on earth physicaly for 1,000 years as written in the Bible ??? In contrast, the amillennial view holds that the thousand years mentioned in Revelation 20 is a [ symbolic number, not a literal description; ] that the millennium has already begun and is identical with the current church age, (or more rarely, that it [ ended with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 ] � see Preterism). Amillennialism holds that while Christ's reign during the millennium is spiritual in nature, at the end of the church age, Christ will return in final judgment and establish a permanent physical reign. *** Like I said afor...everything that is in Calvinist Doctrine is presented in PAST tense...WAS...SOooo...now the same in Amellennial...PAST tense...WAS...:rolleyes:...go figer...xo Post Reply

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